Lu_X

Hello People, this is my first post!

I have £1000 to spend on a new bike with the ride 2 work scheme here in the UK and I have to use Evans cycles.

I've been riding my lovely 2012 Trek 7.5FX for some time now and I want something that cruises a little bit faster (it's not very fast and the gearing ratios are bit off for me).

I've narrowed it down to these bikes that I like the look of, I want something that I can also take out at the weekend for a good long ride around London or the countryside without too much of a faff (I like a little adventure, not too much just a little

Here are my options, they all have pretty similar specs mostly Shimano 105 series. I'm not that great on the kit, but would like to get the best I can.

My first choice at the moment is

GT Grade 105 2015 Adventure Road Bike | Evans Cycles

Followed by these guys,

Cannondale Synapse Alloy 105 Disc 2015 Road Bike | Evans Cycles
HOY Sa Calobra .003 2015 Road Bike | Evans Cycles
HOY Sa Calobra .004 11 Speed 2014 Road Bike | Evans Cycles

The Hoy bikes appear to be the same frame and for £80 I think I get better kit on it.

I'd really appreciate your opinions on this, thank you from now. Happy to answer any questions.

Edit: The GT is on there because it is a bit more comfortable and has the possibility with a few tweaks to be a touring bike, from what I've read.

acidfast7

why do you have to use Evans cycles ... I think you can use any shop that participates in the Cycle2Work scheme?

I haven't do it myself, but my colleagues buy a bike every year.

Also, don't forget that you can throw some gear into that as well.

Lu_X

That's a different scheme my company has made Evans the only option for reasons unknown.

asmac

I don't think this would be much good for touring or commuting as it can't take a rear rack. Look at the Qs and As.

Lu_X

Bike radar suggests there are some aftermarket racks that fit.

bmthom.gis

Have not heard of HOY, but I love my Synapse. Though tbh, the hoy looks pretty nice. CDale has pretty darn good cust. service though. I'd say blah to GT. They aren't the company they used to be

acidfast7

Ah, sorry, it's not the national scheme with salary sacrifice?

Lu_X

It is salary sacrifice. Just with Evans as the only option 😔

Lu_X

I'm open to other suggestions.

pitaklein

This is not accurate. In fact, GT went out of their way to make sure it could take a rack or fender. The alloy versions (like this one you link to, I think) has a permanent bridge on the seat stays with an eyelet, and the Carbon versions come with a special mountain bracket so you can add it. There are also eyelets on the bottom end. I have the Carbon GT Grade 105, but know that the alloy should be even easier in this regard.

Here's a thread that has a post with a picture of the alloy version with a rack mounted on it.
https://www.bikeforums.net/recreation...e-ultegra.html

pitaklein

In addition to my other post regarding the rack, I wanted to follow up to say that all of the amazing reviews of this bike match my experience with it. I bought the carbon version but rode the alloy, too, and both are extremely comfortable. I'm not sure why somebody thinks that GT "isn't the company they used to be," but I know GT continues to make various types of well-regarded bikes. This is a new kind of bike, and they spent years designing this particular bike, rather than just jumping onto the bandwagon a few years ago, and it seems to have paid off with a very thoughtful design. It's extremely versatile, handles well, and looks great, too.

By the way, while I was looking, I also looked at the Synapse as well as a couple of the Specialized models (Roubaix and Diverge). The Diverge and Grade are much better comparisons to each other, while the Synapse and Roubaix are more similar. I think the Grade might be a bit more versatile than the Synapse because it is designed to do really well on gravel, as well as road. I'm sure you'd be happy with either, though!

Darth Lefty 

The bikes are fine, but the company isn't what it used to be. GT was an American company that made cool, innovative bikes in Santa Ana, California. Now it's a brand of the company Pacific Cycles, along with Schwinn, Cannondale, Iron Horse, Roadmaster, and Mongoose, and made in China. You can read the Wikipedia articles if you like. The stories all seem sad. Schwinn lost the race to the bottom, Cannondale tried to make motorcycles and blew it, GT's founder died in a motorcycle wreck, etc.

Lu_X

Thanks Pitaklein and Darthlefty. I'm kinda smitten with the GT and will go with the alloy, If I can justify the £1000 extra I may go for a Carbon. ))

Lu_X

Also is the extra £500 worth it on these bikes?

GT Grade X 2015 Adventure Road Bike | Evans Cycles
GT Grade 105 2015 Adventure Road Bike | Evans Cycles

Lu_X

I've just noticed that Evans has copied and pasted the same parts.

Lu_X

Products Comparison List - GT Bicycles

You can compare them here.

pitaklein

Darth Lefty - Thanks for the reply. I totally agree with the stories of the bicycle companies, and GT may not be what it used to be. What should be clarified from the person who posted this originally (for anybody looking to buy) is that most companies aren't what they used to be, but the bikes are still good quality (GT, Cannondale, Giant, etc.). Saying GT is worse than Cannondale or others is more of the issue, given that they are also made in Taiwan, owned by a larger company, etc. Almost all bikes of the large bicycle companies are made in the same few factories (many owned by Giant, I think), so they share a lot of those qualities. So, I suppose I should have been more specific that GT is not unique in their story, and these companies still have people designing cool bikes, just not producing them here in the US. Welcome to the globalized world and the need to find cheap manufacturing! On the up side for us buying the bikes - we likely get a lot more for our money.

asmac

I see what you mean and don't understand why the vendor said otherwise. Just a mistake, perhaps. Thanks for the correction.