 You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
My requirement for a road bike is centred around getting fitter and improving endurance for MTBing. Also I'm sure I'll get enjoyment out of the road riding itself!
I live in Edinburgh and currently avoid riding a bike on the road at all costs, using the Water of Leith and Union Canal to get me out into the hills/quieter areas.
Bike wise I'm looking at the new Decathlon BTWIN Tribans coming out next month (maybe?), which seem good value.
However, I'm having niggling thoughts as to whether it's a road bike I actually want. Possibly a better option is a CX type bike, I can take advantage of Water of Leith and other trails to get about. A CX bike would almost be twice as much as a Decathlon BTWIN
Thoughts? Some good road routes around Edinburgh would be good if anyone has any too!
Depends which Triban but I would say a CX bike doesn't have to be double the price.
http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/products/revolution-cross-disc-14?bct=browse%2fbicycles%2fcyclocross-bikes
They do a cheaper, non-disc, version too. Local as well.
I ride a low end Genesis road bike all round Edinburgh and it's fine - cycle to work and have done some sportive. I ride on 28mm gatorskins.
However, if I was to buy again I'd get a cross bike. I had one for a little while and really enjoyed it. Just as fast as the road bike (with similar tyres) but able to go on gravel paths etc with 35mm cx tyres. I cycled along the union canal to Glasgow on it no problem.
Only reason I sold was that it was bought as a reliable winter bike (singlespeed) but was cursed and broke down all the time.
That's not indicative of all CX bikes though.
I normally kept it on the cx tyres - they weren't much slower and the extra grip and cushioning was nice on the cobbles and potholes.
My fav East Lothian road route is Edin/Haddington/Whiteadder Res/Gifford/Edin. Some good elevation and quiet roads
I bought a triban 5 about a month ago. It's freakin great!
I have nothjng to base this on though as it's my first road bike for 25 years!!
I have to keep telling myself I don't need [url= http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/products/revolution-country-traveller-13?bct=browse%2fbicycles ]this one[/url] (another Edinburgh Bike Company bargain)
Thanks for info. I should add that I also have a 29er hard tail MTB in my fleet and have run this with thinner, slicker (but not slick) tyres for on road use. Because it's similar in some ways to a CX bike was why I was thinking of going full on road bike
FWIW I just finished building a fast, light hybrid and I don't know why it took me so long- tried the drop bars thing, it never took. Just a Boardman, nothing flash but it takes proper mudguards, sensibly fat tyres (got Kojaks on it, none of your silly razorblades), cx tyres if I want, and it uses mtb bits so no extra spares/consumables- it'll be the retirement home for half-shagged kit I think. Ridden it more in a fortnight than I rode my cross bike in 6 months.
Sure, it's a little slower than a road bike and has less positions, but the one position it does have is so comfy, I don't mind.