winter bike needed with Discs?

Will soon need a winter commute bike. I would like disc brakes and a frame that has mudguard fixing points.

I’ve looked at the kaffenback2 but not keen on the frame.

I ride a specialized tarmac at the moment.
Ide like to have a go at building my own but think it’s cheaper to buy one straight from dealer.

Kinesis Tripster ATR.

I’ve just bought a Whyte Shoreditch. Brilliant toy. No problems with any of it. Loving the simplicity of 1×10.

Planet X London Road?

brilliant timing as i’m looking the same issue. I like the look of the cotic escapade but want full cable outer routing. the shoreditch is the first whyte that i’ve liked but none of the above (except the escapade) have a secure front wheel, for me if it has discs it needs a bolt thru.

Just found this

http://www.cyclesuk.com/10492256/products/whyte-sussex-2014-in-matt-silver.aspx?origin=pla&kwd=&currency=GBP&gclid=CPWYovua5cACFUex2wod6hMArg

I have a charge plug 5 (SRAM hydro discs rather than cable). Loads of clearance, mounts for guards and racks and not too heavy

this weekend I’m test riding a Whyte Suffolk. Also on my list of possibles and not already mentioned were Pinnacle Pyrolite, Saracen Hack. The Tripster looks lovely but it deserves good components and I wouldn’t subject a bike like that to regular commuting.

nickhart – you’re going to be limited for choice by insisting on bolt through – is an allen key skewer an acceptable compromise?

My Pinnacle Arkrose has done 18 months and 4000 miles of towpath commuting and slicked up winter road rides. Not had an issue with it only being QR.

Genesis Equilibrium?

Depends on whether you want a ‘road bike with discs’ or a ‘cross bike.’

If you have a Tarmac already I’d probably lean towards get a disc braked ‘cross’ bike that gives you the option of venturing off road. Wide tyres will also give you a bit more of a fighting chance in the wet/ice. It won’t be a light or fast as a ‘disc road’ bike but you have the Tarmac for that.

This year I ended up getting Croix De Fer stainless, I’m running it with fat 42c rubber for mixed on/off road summer commutes but I’ll be switching it to 32c winter slicks and mudguard soon enough… winter is coming.

Disc brakes have been a revelation on my commute, the calipers on my ‘Sunday best’ road bike feel utterly ineffectual by comparison.

Depends on whether you want a ‘road bike with discs’ or a ‘cross bike.’

I had to explain the difference to my LBS… 🙄

I don’t have that problem. Road bikes with discs aren’t featuring at all this year and they have TWO cross bikes with discs amongst the 20-odd cross bikes on display. It’s a bit strange.

Tripster or Roadrat would be at the top of my list.

Might want to mention your budget, OP.

they have TWO cross bikes with discs amongst the 20-odd cross bikes on display. It’s a bit strange.

Ouch, they’ll need good luck shifting those! I’ve done a few Saturdays helping at my LBS recently and even the most newbie of leisure riders or commuters knows disc brakes are ‘better.’

We had a 105 equipped Cube with Cantis that sat there for months as we sold Tiagra & Sora equipped Treks & Genesis’s from around it because the customers consistently wanted disc brakes.

the problem came up when I went in to book a test ride. I said “I’m looking for a winter road bike with discs” and they replied, “you need a cross bike”. It was like one of those STW threads when all the replies answer the wrong question and tell the OP that he’s wrong.

I’m uneducated, what’s the difference between a winter road bike and a cross bike, is it just geometry and tyre clearance?

I also wouldn’t mind a cheap disc braked winter commuting bike, can anyone recommend one at the cheaper end of the scale? Anything worth looking for second hand yet? Sorry for the thread hijack.

Saracan hack. I have one therefore i must recommend it!

I’m uneducated, what’s the difference between a winter road bike and a cross bike, is it just geometry and tyre clearance?

These are both correct; one other difference is that there are different CEN testing standards[/url] for bikes intended for use purely on the Road and those designed to be taken OffRoad.

‘Cross’ bikes have to pass the Offroad CEN tests so they will generally have to be built stronger than ‘Disc Road’ bikes that only have to pass the less punishing ‘racing bike’ standard.

So if you’re a big, heavy rider and value pothole smashing robustness over low weight, better get something labelled as a ‘cross’ bike.

I you want something nippy then go for ‘Disc Road.’

darkslider – geometry yes, tyre clearance not so much difference (road bike needs room for guards), mounts for racks/guards aren’t needed on cx bikes, cx bike might get sissy levers, gearing could/should be different, tyres are certainly different (though lots of “cross” bikes now come with slicks)

EDIT: also what hatter said which I didn’t know (every day’s a school day)

I’d recommend a Ridgeback X1 for those that prefer flat bars.
I’m selling a 19″ rolling chassis if anyone’s interested…

Hatter is a font of information *waves*

I am waiting for one of these to arrive but will be going Ultegra 11 speed on it. It will be my “I only need one bike” bike until something else shiny takes my eye.

Hatter is a font of information *waves*

Most of it useless in fairness.

Genesis Day One Alfine 8 is on my winter bike shopping list. has all you need
steel frame/discs/no gear cables/ mud guard eyelets. all for a grand….

If you have a stretchy budget, Saracen Avro (See here) seems to tick all the boxes.

No budget. 0% finance.

Like this, thoughts anyone?

http://www.bicicielo.com/bikes/whyte-2015-suffolk-rd-7-road-disc.html

Mister p

What is it please? Name ?

Thats the new genesis equilibrium disc, Titanium by the looks of it. Nice.

http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/blog/15/07/14/2015-bike-launch-equilibrium-disc

Thank you slackboy cheers

I just took delivery of one of these the other week…

It’s not likely to win the traffic light sprint, and the 11-32 9speed cassette it comes with has some big gaps for a road bike, but that really is all the criticisms I have to level at it…

The brakes are fantastic. And not just because they’re powerful, they’re far smoother and less grabby than most caliper brakes. The ride position is agressive enough that it won’t turn off seasoned roadies, but also can be relaxed enough for all but the portliest of “sportive” riders. Clearance for bigger tyres (up to 35’s with guards, and bigger without) and full guards is awesome, as is the ability to take a lightweight rack if needed.

Thoroughly impressed with it so far, in fact if it was my own (rather than a demo bike) I’d upgrade it with a 1/2 decent 10spd setup and 12-30 or 12-27 cassette, lighter wheels and faster/lighter tyres…

you will be wanting the new yank craze

‘A Gravel bike’ 😉

Don’t know if the spec is any good for the price, but I like the look of this one from Planet X, the London Road.

http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBPXLDNRIV/planet-x-london-road-sram-rival-22-road-bike

Though I think I’d be looking for a cheap Boardman CX bike with my money, either in the sales or second hand.

Because I have got one http://www.tritoncycles.co.uk/road-bikes-c5/cyclocross-bikes-c36/all-city-macho-man-disc-cyclocross-bike-p1205 very nice.

I’ve got a Specialized Diverge Elite on order at LBS at the moment as I had the same brief as OP.

I have a charge filter which is the forerunner of the plug mentioned above. Built up for £400 with eBay bargains. It’s super comfy on Devon lanes and only slightly slower than my caad8 racey bike with slicks on. Fun off-road too. I’m sold on the steel cx thing for summer variety and winter road riding.

You can build yourself cheap if you shop around.

Main question to answer is do you want proper off road capability or just potholed on road

mboy – How did you find the whyte sizing?

I’m test riding a suffolk this weekend which has some of the upgrades you mention. I’d normally say a 56 is my size but they look to have a *very* long tube so I’m trying a 54. Unless I’ve got the figures all wrong (this is possible) it seems to have the same “effective” TT as my 56 Domane. FWIW I’m portly by race snake standards but not by sportive standards

Mr nice, I’m glad you mentioned that. I ride a tarmac 61cm (extra large). I was wondering about whyte sizing because they only go to 58cm. So if your trying a size smaller the 58cm should be ok for me. I’m 6ft 3 and my tarmac has 59.5 top tube so I hope the whyte’s 58 will be the same.

I do like the look of what whyte has to offer for winter use.

The size guide on the whyte website says I should be on a 56 (based on rider height) but the chap in the LBS says he often sees customers take a smaller size due to the TT length. I will report back after the weekend if I remember.