Wanted: Commuter Bike Recommendations?

[Eric]

Thanks Eric, good to keep that in mind.


Is something like this good? Probably out of my price range:


http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/lapierre-cx-alu-200-fdj-cyclo-cross-bike-2017/rp-prod148716

Sora is one of the lower drivetrain ranges and the rim brakes are old school now .
For similar money , tiagra and discs
https://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m7b0s194p7465/CANNONDALE-CAADX-TIAGRA-2017.

I just sold a minter cx bike was a focus mares, great fun only sold it as I knew it would be used for a while

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[saccades]

I wouldn't get hung up on a cx bike, I used one for several years as it was as close to the bike I wanted as you could get at the time and it's a bit shit for commuting. Race geometry, no rack mounts and not a lot of clearance for mudguards or really big tyres.

Replaced it with a proper commuter (gravel) bike as that's what I was using nearly everyday, it has decent road geometry so you can see what the traffic is doing, rack mounts everywhere and I can fit 29er wheels with mudguards if I so want.

I've also done sub 9 hour Wicklow 200s (I'm a fat bastard, them climbs is hard) and regular 85km road spins on it. Stuff that would be no fun on a cx.

Mine's a planetX London road, I recommend the bike highly even if they are a bit shit in customer service and quality control.

[James R]

I wouldn't get hung up on a cx bike, I used one for several years as it was as close to the bike I wanted as you could get at the time and it's a bit shit for commuting. Race geometry, no rack mounts and not a lot of clearance for mudguards or really big tyres.

Replaced it with a proper commuter (gravel) bike as that's what I was using nearly everyday, it has decent road geometry so you can see what the traffic is doing, rack mounts everywhere and I can fit 29er wheels with mudguards if I so want.

I've also done sub 9 hour Wicklow 200s (I'm a fat bastard, them climbs is hard) and regular 85km road spins on it. Stuff that would be no fun on a cx.

Mine's a planetX London road, I recommend the bike highly even if they are a bit shit in customer service and quality control.

Thanks Ian, I hadn't heard of Planet X until you and Juan mentioned them to me.

[James R]

Thanks Eric, good to keep that in mind.


Is something like this good? Probably out of my price range:


http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/lapierre-cx-alu-200-fdj-cyclo-cross-bike-2017/rp-prod148716

Sora is one of the lower drivetrain ranges and the rim brakes are old school now .
For similar money , tiagra and discs
https://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m7b0s194p7465/CANNONDALE-CAADX-TIAGRA-2017.

I just sold a minter cx bike was a focus mares, great fun only sold it as I knew it would be used for a while

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That's a fair point, I'll defo hold out for disc brakes.

[James R]

So I've narrowed it down to three potentials:


Genesis Croix de Fer
Planet X London Road
Planet X Kaffenback 2


Only issue with picking up a second hand one is I need an XL or L. At least I have some bikes to go search for now.


Thanks all!

[Liam Phelan]

Yeah I'd recommend the Planet X bikes. I've had road bike one for a few years. Good value for money.


These have hydraulic brakes for nearly the same money:
https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBPXLDNRIVHRD/planet-x-london-road-sram-rival-11-hydraulic-disc-road-bike
https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBPXLDNRIV1/planet-x-london-road-sram-rival-1-hydraulic-disc-road-bike


I've never trusted mechanical disc brakes.

[Eric]

you know theres a planet x shop in athlone ,
they do be at alot of cx races with demos , so you might get a demo of a few from the shop if you drop down

[Ratz]

https://www.facebook.com/groups/490954040982138/permalink/1528621310548734/?sale_post_id=1528621310548734

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[James R]

Saw that one on FB mark. Didn't realize it would work for a commuter. Thanks.

That place in Athlone has the London road drop bars for slightly more than the U.K. But the kaffenback is about €999.

Speaking of which just saw this:

https://www.donedeal.ie/bicycles-for-sale/planet-x-kaffenback-sram-rival-22-road-bike/17371001

[Eric]

https://www.facebook.com/teambiking.ie/posts/1998952803679699

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[James R]

https://www.facebook.com/teambiking.ie/posts/1998952803679699

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58cm probably too small. I reckon I need an XL. A few decent Large sized bikes around but might be best to hold off for the right frame size rather than faffing about with longer stems, seat posts etc.


London Road and a Charge Plug 4 are top of my list at the moment.

[saccades]

Just a quick note, I found importing my bike from the UK direct from planetX was cheaper and had a higher spec than the athlone franchise.


Liam: bb7's are awesome mech disc brakes, had them on one bike for over 7 years now.

[saccades]

My pc LR is a large if you want to sling a leg over, although I'm nearly in Wexford.

[James R]

My pc LR is a large if you want to sling a leg over, although I'm nearly in Wexford.

Thanks Ian. I ended up getting a good deal on a new Genesis CDA 20. It doesn't have hydraulic brakes or Tigra but it sure is pretty. What mudguards did you put on yours for commuting? Any point in getting the ones that can be clicked off and removed?

[Liam Phelan]

I have these on my road bike. Nice and light and not too bulky. Easy to fit too.


https://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/accessories/mudguards/road-mudguards/product/review-crud-roadracer-mk2-mudguard-39903/