S
Steve Smith
Guest
I would like the group's views on which bike to buy.
I currently have a Specialized Allez Sport and a Kona Hahanna. The Kona
is multi-purpose covering winter commuting, family leisure rides and
light touring (i.e. hotels/B&B/youth hostels, not camping) as well as
off-road.
I am looking to treat myself for losing weight (a stone and a half -
target two stone) and would like to get a new bike (budget about £1,100-
1,200). My thoughts were to leave replacing the Kona until another time
and get a new bike to cover the commuting, leisure and touring side. I
would like something that is happy on "gentle" off road stuff (towpaths
etc) but also is as light/sporty as possible. It needs to be able to
take rear panniers but I'm not too fussed about mudguards.
I have read many good reports about the Specialized Tricross and the
Comp version would fit in with my budget but I fancy something other
than another Spesh (no good reason really - just for a change).
So maybe a cyclocross bike from another maker?
Another thought is a custom made frame but this might blow the budget?
I'm no mechanic so would need to get the full bike built for me.
Recommendations of framebulders would be welcome - I'm in Surrey so
would prefer someone relatively local if poss.
Would a steel frame be light enough? I'm no climber and need all the
help I can get on the hills!
I currently have a Specialized Allez Sport and a Kona Hahanna. The Kona
is multi-purpose covering winter commuting, family leisure rides and
light touring (i.e. hotels/B&B/youth hostels, not camping) as well as
off-road.
I am looking to treat myself for losing weight (a stone and a half -
target two stone) and would like to get a new bike (budget about £1,100-
1,200). My thoughts were to leave replacing the Kona until another time
and get a new bike to cover the commuting, leisure and touring side. I
would like something that is happy on "gentle" off road stuff (towpaths
etc) but also is as light/sporty as possible. It needs to be able to
take rear panniers but I'm not too fussed about mudguards.
I have read many good reports about the Specialized Tricross and the
Comp version would fit in with my budget but I fancy something other
than another Spesh (no good reason really - just for a change).
So maybe a cyclocross bike from another maker?
Another thought is a custom made frame but this might blow the budget?
I'm no mechanic so would need to get the full bike built for me.
Recommendations of framebulders would be welcome - I'm in Surrey so
would prefer someone relatively local if poss.
Would a steel frame be light enough? I'm no climber and need all the
help I can get on the hills!