Winter Bike/Tourer - Advice needed...

[Deleted]

Having only recently been bitten by the cycling bug I am still getting to grips with the multitude of bike options that are out there. And since this forum seems to be the closest thing there is to a panel of experts, here goes...

Wondered if anyone might have any advice they could give me on the purchase of a second road bike. Ideally I would be looking to get something pretty sporty that I could use as a winter training bike, but one that could also take paniers so I could use for a bit of (low load - Credit Card) touring too.

Does anything like that exist? Or am I looking for two completely different types of bike?
Had a look at the Trek Pilot series but not convinced. Would like to lean more to the sporty side. Off the peg or custom build. Budget 1500 quid.

I know there will be tonnes of different preferences out there. Just looking to canvas opinion see what you folks might have to say on the subject... Brands, suppliers, general pointers, good/bad experiences with purchases.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Cheers for now

Stuart

[Deleted]

Hmmm... it's a thorny one alright...
Should be do-able, though.
My first thought after reading your request was steel frame with eyelets, maybe Surly, with Open Pros, Conti gators, 105 groupset, or Tiagra would do. Build the rest up with whatever you fancy. That would be a nice bike and would do the job and Brixton Cycles could bring it in within your budget.
You could get a right bike for less cash, though...
Ribble do an Audax/ Winter Trainer for under £500 (Sora or Xenon). I don't know what it's like, though.
And then there's second hand...
Hey, it's confusing, but good luck choosing

[Deleted]

£1500 for a second bike??? You lucky b*st*rd!!!

Sounds like you should be looking for an audax bike.

Condor do the type of thing that Guy suggests - Steel frame with eyelets for panniers (jumpers for goalposts?). Called a Fratello, it's £1100 with 105 or £1200 with Centaur. Probably not the lightest thing when built up, but hey! they look good !

[Deleted]

That's exactly what I've got: Condor Fratello Centaur and it's great. Exactly the same geometry as my racer - which I think is also important. As Graeme says, its not the lightest thing, but I have been known to strip it down and drag it round Palace when my racer was out-of-action; not that I'd recommend that! It's perfect winter trainer/audax bike and can be built up by Condor as you like.

Oh, and it might take them 6 months to do it.

[Joe R Booth]

The Tifosi TK7 is another option as an audax/tourer. My wife got one from Edwardes in Camberwell last year with Veloce for about £900. www.tifosi-cycles.co.uk/frames/ck7.html

[SeanMcKibben]

What about a cross bike - can be used for road training, off road or touring, depending on tyres, and you could do the 3 Peaks next year... We're planning some on road/off road rides soon, for which a cross bike is ideal - mtbs are too much like hard work on the road. You could easily build up a v. good cross bike for £800 - £1000 - maybe a Condor with Campag Centaur kit.

[Deleted]

I agree, cross bike's a very good idea - a true all-rounder. But I wouldn't recommend one from Condor - they tend to break (twice!)

[Deleted]

Wow - loads of reponses! That's great folks. More than enough for me to be getting on with I am sure. Sounds like I've opened up a bit a can of worms on the whole race/touring dichotomy. Cheers for all the advice. I am sure an ideal solution is out there...