I retire in a couple of months and as a retirement gift I am getting a new bike. There will be around £1,000 ($1500) to play with and I am having trouble deciding on the new bike.
To remind you on the bikes I have- Couple of MTB's-Bianchi Grizzly from 2000- A Kona Explosif from 1992- Cannondale full offroad Tandem from 2002 and a couple of road bikes from 2007- The giant TCR-C and the Boreas Ignis.
Type of riding-Mainly road but the thrill of the hills still gets me but not as much as it used to as those hills have got longer and steeper so I have to take them slower and steadier. So not looking for an MTB- the ones I have will do.
But associated with Offroad-I fancy a CX. Mainly for the gentler offroad trails but there is a problem with a CX. They have gearing that is not low enough for the offroad 15% rutted trail for a mile-
36/26 is not even as low as the compact on my road bike of 34/27 and I use that often enough. I know I can put on a compact and change cassette and RD to a 12/34 but that is an expense that would push the bikes over my budget. Still a possibility though.
Then looking at road bikes. It would be aluminium and 105 or Tiagra and a bit heavier than I am used to but this is not going to be problem. Ride quality would be though so looking at a few possibilities. Last years models do not exist over here right now- They have all been sold so no special prices about. Well there are but not on the quality of bike I would like.
Then there is the Hybrid style-A remote choice but I am getting older and have to accept that the body may not be as Supple in 10 years time as I would want. Will have to think about this style as "IF" I want an upright bike- then I could convert one of the MTB's.
So what are your suggestions? I have too many ideas running through my brain and just can't decide. Currently the favourite is a Whyte Charing cross but Test rides are the problem. Not enough stock in any shop and the smallest they do is a 53-I ride a 51.
http://www.whytebikes.com/2012/bike_...dNo=W-1-037-12
But whyte bikes are known for top end Mountain bikes and have been on of my dream Bikes for years. Just wish the limit was $6,000 and I know what I would be getting.
