Winter bike deals.

[Andrew G]

Not the cheapest option as you can pick up a decent secondhand one, however although this is £1,100 it's 41% off and is Reynolds 853 and has a decent spec (even if it's Shimano). Good make and would last years.

[url]http://www.spacycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m1b1s21p2040&tbv=DAWES_Sportif_Elite_BIKES_Touring,_Audax_&_Sportive[/url]

Similar priced and good bike, Super Galaxy.

[url]http://www.spacycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m1b1s21p1989[/url]

Cheaper aluminium version of sportif one with flat pedals, no mudguards (although it has clearances for them), and a lower spec. down from £630 to £425.

[url]http://www.spacycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m1b1s21p2037[/url]

Galaxy in Reynolds 631 at a bargain £750 (39% off) if you don't mind bar end shifters. If you want to change them you could pick up some cheap 2nd hand Sti levers and sell the bar end shifters to a time trialist.

[url]http://www.spacycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m1b1s21p1987[/url]

Good deals at Spa at the moment, personally I'd go for the Sportif Elite as 1st choice with the Galaxy or Super Galaxy depending on budget as 2nd choice.

[NeilAS]

Thanks for this Andrew; timing couldn't be better. As some know I've been thinking about a replacement/ part replacement for my faithful hybrid - thanks to all those who've offered guidance and advice - with encouragement from some of you I might do both to keep the hybrid as the spare/ winter hack. For the replacement I was erring on a Galaxy Plus, but then I followed your link to the Sportif, and now I'm sold! I'm not too worried that the steel frame will weigh too much; as my father-in-law observed, I've at least a stone to lose anyway!

Because my work has a bike2work scheme running with Evans, I'm just in the process of twisting their arm to price match and then go for the 41% discount that the government haven't totally ruined (I'll wait for them to agree before I ask whether they'll give me another 10% for CTC membership!).

Thanks again Andrew. I've never been into Facebook, Twitter and the like, but I love this forum. I'll even push the boat out and use a smiley

Neil

[Andrew G]

A lot of rubbish talked about steel frames, a well made one with good tubes can be reasonably light and stiff enough for most people. For club run and leisure riding frames like this will often provide a better perch than a steep angled race frame.
There's an awful lot of badly made heavy carbon frames on the market.

[Mike I]

What? You can get frames that aren't steel?

What will they think of next?

[Dombo]

[quote="Andrew G"]A lot of rubbish talked about steel frames, a well made one with good tubes can be reasonably light and stiff enough for most people. For club run and leisure riding frames like this will often provide a better perch than a steep angled race frame.
There's an awful lot of badly made heavy carbon frames on the market.