where from Matt?


The new colours poc's are a bit cheaper £195 and Evans a 10% code for helmets, I've seen them for 175 in a couple of other places too, I really should go for something cheaper, and put the difference towards a decent Groupset

I have a kask vertigo which I really like but I got it for cheaaaaaap (less than half of current RRP). Madness paying anything over £100ish for a helmet imo.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v234/kknull/IMG_4968_zpsj19v77n1.jpg

1000 miles on this muck and it's been nothing but great

yeah it's got quite a slopping top tube. essentially mtn geo with drop bars. i hiked the post up a bit even more yesterday so i could ride with my thick soled sandals
just been cruisin at 25-30 psi.

they're the standard viscacha and tangle packs. definitely worth the cash in my opinion. use em all the time cramming beaucoup stuff in em. the pica is just a tad smaller than the viscacha. would you be using it for your krampus?

for the moment i'm just using a folding chair bag up front strapped to an anything cage hd. it's clumsy, but is doing the job for now. i may grab one of the rubberized salsa bags eventually..

Wouldn't fancy taking a sup outta that bottom bottle after trawling through a sheep shit infested Welsh forest trail

mud

Decent start to the Giro. No great surprise at an Orica win, but a good afternoon

Anyone got any experience with the BMC Alpenchalenge? I'm stuck between the ac01 sora and ac02 deore.

I tried the ac02 out today and I really liked it, I preferred it the Cannondale Badboy that originally set out to buy, I also have the ac01 on the way to try, both are priced at £900 although the ac01 should be £1000 but has 10% off

http://www.bmc-switzerland.com/int-en/bikes/lifestyle/mountainroad-alpenchallenge-ac01-sora/

http://www.bmc-switzerland.com/int-en/bikes/lifestyle/mountainroad-alpenchallenge-ac02-deore/

The reviews of the ac01 are really good it appears to be very fast and light, but from the review sounds like it will be shit off road!
I don't intend mountain biking on the thing but I will be going on some trails canal paths etc, looking at the specs it sounds like you can't really go bigger than 32c on the tires, I will be using it to ride to work as well which is about 8.5 mile and a bit hilly, but I'm about as unfit as it gets so the lack of gears worries me a little too.

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/reviews/hybrids/bmc-alpenchallenge-ac01-sora

The ac02 has700 x 37 tires and the deore group set so I would presume it would be better off road and on hills but I doubt it will be as quick, I cant find any reviews anywhere so I'm just guessing.

Anyone got any advice? I am open to other options but I really like the look of the BMC's plus I'm getting it on the ride to work scheme so limited to Evans I don't really want to spend more than £900 either as I'm already adding cash to my voucher, I can upgrade parts etc as I go along though

I was close to pulling the trigger on one of the higher spec Alpenchelenges last year but decided that it was just too handsome for city use. Flash bike = stolen bike.

The range is really geared towards the road side of hybrid. You will have serious problems with traction and punctures if you attempt even the most basic off-road. The rigidity of the frame will also make rutted tracks very jarring and uncomfortable.

Despite being road-oriented, the frame's geometry is still very much designed for city use. City bikes prioritise visibility, maneuverability and comfort over aerodynamics and efficiency. I wouldn't fancy doing an 8.5 mile commute in an upright position with flat handlebars. It's a very inefficient riding position.

If i were you I'd be looking at cyclocross/gravel/adventure bikes. They have fast-road geometry but fatter knobbled tyres and are designed to be compliant on off-road surfaces.

http://www.evanscycles.com/categories/bikes/cyclocross-bikes/f#!!price_from=500;price_to=1000;on_sale=;sort=desc;