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Looking for a do it all bike that will triple as a commuter w full fenders, rack (to hold one pannier) and ideally lights / summer gravel bike / winter road training bike. So far I've found the Bergamount Grandurance RD5 to fit the bill pretty well. I'd like 105 over Sora, but that breaks the budget at least for this model.
Any other good budget options?
Boardman ADV 8.9 with Tiagra hydraulic brake group for £1k including 10% British Cycling discount? Set up email notification for when they come back in stock and then reserve one ASAP after getting email.
London Road? £799 with apex 1x. Sell the apex and buy 105 x2. Should come in under £1k
Halfords also seem to be offering 10% off if you set up a stock reminder.
I'm selling this.
If the OP buys it I'll chuck in a rack and guards with it
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/334155030194
There is a Niner in the ads which I’m seriously considering making a commuter. Please do me a favour and buy it first (I already own one!).
Need a 61 cm frame..
Another option, Cube nuroad fe..
I have a cube nuroad, it rides well, all parts are good quality. Mine is a carbon one.
I had a lengthy look at the alu FE model in the shop, and tbh, it looks like the perfect machine for a great many people.
Seeing as it's you, and in the usual trope of recommending what you have...
I've got the earlier V-brake version of this.
It spends half the year with an 18t freewheel and the other half with a 16t fixed + guards and front rack (i find the front rack works better for just bungeeing stuff to it+handlebars).
They come up cheap 2nd hand because they've got unfashionable straight steerer alloy forks. But I can't tell the difference between them and the carbon ones on my cannondale once there's a 28mm+ tyre on it.
Also, dynamos like the Bergamont are a game changer for commuting, add that to your list of requirements.
Kona Rove AL?
I think Wheelbase had some in a week or so ago.
They get great reviews on here.
Also, dynamos like the Bergamont are a game changer for commuting, add that to your list of requirements.
This has been said more than once now, so ok, dynamo is a requirement, and minimal faff, I want a complete bike with rack, mudguards (ideally ones that go further down than the bergamot..) and dynamo lights.
Just bought a Decathlon RC520. 105 brifters/mechs, microshift cassette, hy/rd brakes - works well. £850 so change for rack/guards. Worth signing up for updates on their site as sizes come in and out of stock all the time.
Darn good value that RC520 with full 105, my main gripe is lack of dynamo hub, guess you could buy it all, but it's out of stock here in krakow and online unfortunately.
Get hydraulic calipers if you can.
Guess one could upgrade to TRP HY/RD
Get hydraulic calipers if you can.
Second this. I'm really liking my GRX brakes (actually, the whole drivetrain). I know it's probably overkill for commuting, but braking is clearly important and they're head and shoulders better than the HY/RDs I took off.
Decathlon RIVERSIDE TOURING 520? XT dynamo hub and AXA lighting.
Looks like it could do everything, and again lots of change left over for longer guards/new helmet/gloves/lock etc if required. Out of stock online tho
GRX should be a bit stronger than 105 I believe? Another pure mechanical option is TRP Spyre, but like you say, for commuting the brakes should be plenty, only need strong brakes for longer descents imo, and there are none here.
singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/all-year-commuter-gravel-bike-w-mudguardsracks-under-1000/#post-12050946
Want drop bars to train for sprints hehe.
like you say, for commuting the brakes should be plenty
Ha, what I meant was having slightly blingy GRX for a mainly-commuter bike is a bit unnecessarily spendy. But the brakes on my commute bike are the most important brakes of all my bikes and not an area to be skimped on! I can put up with ratty drivetrain and non-indexed gears on a commuter but brakes are v important. As it happens, GRX isn't compatible with ratty drivetrains so the drivetrain's bling too 😀
Aah, well shimano mechanical disc brakes are plenty strong - in fact stronger can mean less safe with narrow(er) tyres, so i wouldnt call it skimping. But hydros are more fun and a bit less faff once setup (again trp hybrids can be a good upgr for mechanical groupsets).
One reason why i don't want a very expensive bike is that it has to be parked on the street a lot during the day, plus resale value is relatively better. Grx looks tempting though, but not for 105 money.
One reason why i don’t want a very expensive bike is that it has to be parked on the street a lot during the day
That's why my commuter cost me £80 (used handbuilt 531 audax/tourer) with guards, rack etc and yet rides better than a modern ‘budget’ bike costing £1k
Looks rubbish locked up too…
Hehe, rides better.. depends what you're after.. the audaux is very nice, but it's not for my riding style, and there are none to be bought here.
A €999 bike isn't exactly cheap, but it's decent value (+entry lvl models keep their value best) and with insurance + the option to just replace it with the same model w very little faff it's not the end of the world if it gets stolen. Usually harder to replace a second hand vintage bike, find what you want in the right size etc.
Go flat bar and put some time trial clip on bars on top and save some money. It's the brifters that are expensive.
(recommend what you bought)
I had very similar requirements and opted for the genesis day one.
8spd hub gear is luxury after many years commuting SS. Everything about it is an improvement, size!, slightly flared drops, mech discs, stable rack, actually waterproof pannier (Vaude), guards that stay attached.... the bike it replaced had served its time
possibly doesnt tick your "winter training road bike"
Which genesis did you get?
cant actually find it on the genesis site currently..
https://www.biketart.com/bikes-c1/hybrid-city-bikes-c36/genesis-day-one-2021-p52580
i spent at least six months choosing between the Flyer as the straight replacement for my old SS and the 'upgrade' to the hub gear..... ultimately the colour swung it!
Bit of a leftfield spot that comes close to budget...
https://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/16185429/polygon-bend-r5-gravel-bike-16185429
£1250, but Topcashback offers 12.5% on online purchases over £80, plus Halifax has a 7% cashback ending (no idea how cmmon this is, but I eventually got stacked cashback for my NowTV broadband and phone package earlier this year). Would make net cost ~£1006.
Never heard of Ploygon bikes until this summer, but component spec looks decent for ~£1k.
That Polygon Bend R5 looks like a good deal.
It got a good review on Cycling News too
https://www.cyclingnews.com/reviews/polygon-bend-r5-gravel-bike-review/
Think I'll order the Grandurance RD3 in "silver" for £860, since my only gripe is mechanical disc brakes which can be remedied by getting TRP Spyres or Hybrids.
I’ve just put a Giant on the classifieds that fits much of the original request
So far happy with the Grandurance, very smooth, Shimano Claris is plenty good too.
Minor gripe: Rear rack is a bit limited and you can't really change it without major mods as it attaches to the mudguards.
Tires feel very slow rolling (confirmed by testing), getting some 32 mm roubaix pros..
Shall we place bets on how much your going to spend on upgrades? Wheels next, then hydraulics, followed by cockpit, saddle and seatpost.
Thread needs pictures now
Wheels def not, hydraulics def not, cockpit def not, seatpost??? saddle possibly, the one it came with ain't comfy, but I've got a comfy one at home I can bring 😉
Tires and pedals are getting replaced.
Bad photo I took to document my very DIY pannier setup..
I did end up making some further changes, but more sidegrades than upgrades to make it fit me better.
40 cm compact long reach handlebars from 45 cm wide 15 cm drop ones.
170 mm tourney crank instead of 175 mm claris - technically a downgrade (dislike long crank arms for spinning in an aero pos, save them for mtb).
Got some Roubaix Pro 32s on it, very very pleased.
Claris groupset works great and Shimano mechanical breaks are strong and completely silent even in the wet - in fact the bike makes no noise at all even when coasting which suits it. Don't miss anything from the 105 groupset I have on my racer.
Dynamo front and rear lights are a revaltion.
A530 pedals are perfect for this application, got some Specialized Recon 2.0 shoes and they work well for both walking, training and commuting - quite water resistant too.
Tempted to spray-paint the front fork matte black..
Tempted to spray-paint the front fork matte black..
I just sprayed a (white) mismatched mudguard with some rattle-can stuff by the name of ‘Simoniz Tough Paint’. Needs no undercoat. It says ‘satin black’ and turned out way better than expected. Took two coats.
Very nice, no matte overcoat either then? Need to figure out what they have here in Poland..have some experience spray painting parts so..
no matte overcoat either then?
No, just as it was. It does reflect a little more than in the pic, so is definitely not ‘matte’ but it matched the stock replacement mudguard perfectly. In fact I’m pretty sure this will be useful for just about any (non-glossy) black bike part requiring a tart-up. Next stop my chipped old (silver-grey) Tubus Disco rack.
Nice, and it doesn't rub off on clothes? I've had that exp when not using clearcoat..
^ Sorry no idea as yet, ie not used in anger and it doesn’t tend to get near clothing.
*edit* - I just (vigorously) rubbed some old dry white cotton rag on the underside edge of the guard 10 or so times and nothing visible. I repeated it with dampened rag and still no black coming off that I can see. HTH
‘SATIN BLACK TOUGH PAINT - Protection Paint’. I actually bought it to protect the car sills, it was recommended by a local mechanic.
Looks brilliant, also checked out the amazon uk reviews - now where to find it or something equivalent here hmm - thanks for the tip!
Think Wurth Matte Varnish black could work
Wonder if I can spray it right on the fork, presumably it has a matte clearcoat? hmm
I’d probably first (very) lightly sand any existing topcoat with a superfine grit wet and dry paper (soak the paper & wet the fork first) to give a key, then (it being a fork which will take some scrapes) maybe build up 4 or 5 thin coats of the Tough Paint , letting dry between each?
(Disclaimer not a paintshop professional or even amateur)