Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

forum
road.cc bike forum

Difficult dilemma : what new bike?

by MartinL
Thu, Feb 19, 2015 21:00
6

Dear Road.cc Users,

First of all, hello from across the Channel, I'll try and send you a bit of sun for this weekend...

So, I'm for now a single gear rider : I live in Paris, and I have just enough legs to climb Montmartre.
But as the news would put it, fixed gear was for me a gateway drug : now I long for bigger rides, and off-city adventures.

So I've been looking to add my first N+1 to my stable : A road bike.
Problem is, I think I'll go on a cycling trip this summer, so I'd like a 'Randonneuse' too.
But I have only (and storage space) for one, so I guess I need the perfect hybrid, and this is where you come in.

Please help me choose my bike, as as I see it from here, weekend club rides British cyclists have the closer needs to mine: a fast road bike, able to sometimes venture off roads, sturdy and confortable, but reasonnably light too.

I set my eyes on a 105 groupset (Wiggle sale got me good), and I think I'll take a set of Mavic Open Pro.

But now the frame:

I had my eyes on the Genesis Croix de fer frameset, but I haven't seen it in a 9-ish Kg configuration : it seems a bit too heavy.
So What about the Genesis equilibrium (no discs frameset) : eyelets for cyclotourism, clearance for the CX tires, but what about the road performance and climbing potential? What would be a nice configuration around it to keep the spirit of adventure bikes without their weight?

I'm open to any suggestion as to make my entry in big boys cycling.
Thanks
Take care & Regards,

Martin

If you're new please join in and if you have questions pop them below and the forum regulars will answer as best we can.

Add new comment

6 comments

Avatar
MartinL | 9 years ago
0 likes

These are all British firms though, so not very likely to be found in Parisian bike shops!

Oh Noes! I'll be forced to spend a casual weekend in London, what a shame! 3

The Acciaio has poor rear tyre clearance. The Fratello is better all-round if you like Condor.

What I love with Condor in the fitting session in the London shop prior to acquisition... Seems very useful for a first bike.
Is the Fratello Colombus steel instead of dedaccai not that bad?

God it seems so difficult to choose a ride : I want best of both worlds, every frame has its pros and cons, but I find it hard to lean in a way or the other...

Equilibrium no-disc is indeed in my short list, but I still doubt its asphalt racing capabilities over that of the more expensive acciaio...

Avatar
chokofingrz | 9 years ago
0 likes

The Equilibrium 20/30 is lovely. Ticks all the boxes you've mentioned and should be near the top of your list.

The Acciaio has poor rear tyre clearance. The Fratello is better all-round if you like Condor.

Charge have the Plug 4, which is the same kind of bike again, a sporty steel everything-bike. And Cotic have just released the Escapade which looks good in yellow. Both have disc brakes.

These are all British firms though, so not very likely to be found in Parisian bike shops!

Avatar
AndyNotts | 9 years ago
0 likes

Have you looked at Kinesis frames? The Racelight 4S seems to fit what your looking for. As you said not all carbon is good, not all aluminium is bad.

Avatar
MartinL | 9 years ago
0 likes

Thanks for the replies!

Colin, I agree, I'd prefer to go towards a racing bike, but with eyelets.
I don't feel a pure-CX bike would perform well on tarmac.
And as far as material is concerned, I feel Alu won't be confortable (my alu track frame is fine, but not after 3+ hrs...) and carbon might be too expensive to get good quality.

What about the Equilibrium from Genesis? Is it as sluggish as the Croix? 2,60Kg frame + fork as stated by Genesis, only 50g heavier than the Volare : is this for real?

The Condor Acciaio Frameset is lovely, but the price...

Also, I was thinking normal road brakes, not discs or V-brakes, as I don't feel I know how to fix them myself, and I'm quite reluctant weight-wise. Road are not often wet here...

Avatar
Colin Peyresourde | 9 years ago
0 likes

Condor Bivio/Terra-X? Bit of British heritage for you there.

A Specialized Crux or Trek Crockett. These are all CX bikes, but fast bikes are fun bikes - which is why you don't want something sluggish like the Croix fe Fer.

TBH I would just get a racing thoroughbred and enjoy the speed.

Avatar
PonteD | 9 years ago
0 likes

I did want a CdF but am put off by the weight. Have you looked at the Canyon InfliteAL? Weighs in at 9kg with 105, so not too heavy. Alternatively there's planetX who do a carbon cyclocross (SLX?).

I'm sure you're going to get bombarded with suggestions from others with far more experience and knowledge than myself.

Good luck, and let us all know what you decide to get.

Latest Comments