I’m looking for some advice on choosing my next bike. My daily ride is 19 km each way (about 11.8 miles) mostly on paved flat bike paths, I’m based in Italy and plan to ride 3 times a week, year-round, in a place with well-defined seasons and temperatures ranging from -5°C to 35°C (23°F to 95°F). I’d really appreciate your overall opinion, I might be overthinking this a bit.
My idea isn’t to carry much weight, just one rear bag with my laptop and tablet, plus a small front bag with a rain jacket and basic tools for a flat tire, and sometimes a lunchbox on top of rear rack.
Which option would you choose?
How noticeable is the comfort difference on longer rides?
Is there a noticeable difference in speed on flat terrain between these options?
My priorities are comfort over longer distances, efficiency, durability, and manageable maintenance.
Bikes I’m considering:
- Bianchi Arcadex AL (aluminum + carbon fork)
- Bottecchia Gravel Monster (aluminum + carbon fork)
- Bomtrack Munroe SG Commuter (full aluminum)
- Locomotive Blue Train (full steel or steel + carbon fork) (site is down at the moment)
- Bombtrack Ariser Tour (full steel)
- Cinelli Hobootleg Easy Travel (full steel)
- Kona Sutra (full steel)
- Fuji Touring (full steel)
- Genesis Tour de Fer 20 (full steel)
Also, if you have suggestions for good bikes available in Europe, I’d love to hear them.
Thanks in advance any advice is very welcome.
by gfleck
5 Comments
Anyway to test ride them? Ultimately, it all comes down to personal preference.
Tires make biggest difference, carbon seatpost can make tiny difference, but once you use 35mm or wider tires, frame or fork material has no impact on comfort.
Pick bike that has hydraulic brakes, rest is just matter of personal preference.
I have a Bianchi Arcadex AL, if a man can be in love with a bike then that’s me. It’s a joy machine. Use it for work commute and fun. Test ride one if you can.
I commuted for years on a steel hybrid frame that a neighbour found in a hedge, built up as a drop bar commuter with mini V brakes. It was great.
https://preview.redd.it/jv3v4c9eohzg1.jpeg?width=1811&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e9a0c679ea532574bece4ebc02b5b951f5998eab
I then converted a disc braked hybrid to drop bars. That was great too. No real difference in speed, I was using Vittoria Zaffiro tyres on both. The main advantage was the cable discs in the winter.
Carbon fork is definitely more comfortable. If you’re in the southern half of Italy with those rough roads then it would be more comfortable.
That said you’re going to carry a decent amount of weight, laptop + tablet + other stuff is not light. That would point in the direction of the steel touring bike.
Of course, technically there’s no reason you can’t have 2 bikes, and pick the best one depending on what you’re planning on a given day. Joking aside that is the best solution.