Originally Posted by
lurrego
Thanks for the response guys. I actually can't test ride either of these, none are in stock anywhere near me in my size, and the only one i DID manage to find was a trucker that was several sizes too big. I am indifferent between the barends and the integrated shifters because, as I mentioned, this will be the first time in several years I have ridden a bike, so I shall test one out then buy a budget version of the other and see which feels best. But as it is, these two do seem very close.
With the Cass being mostly Tiagra with some Sugino, and the trucker having XT and an Andel crankset, what is the difference between these, if any?
Don't buy a bike you haven't ridden. That's generally good advice, but it's particularly true of a new rider. You may well discover you want something else entirely. You don't want t oend up with a bike you don't like, because you won't ride it.