Which bike?

my work is offering bikes through the tax-free cycle to work scheme, and they're using edinburgh bicycle co-op. the 3 bikes iv narrowed it down to are a spesh tricross, a charge plug or a giant bowery. any advice or opinions? my current feelings pull towards the bowery but im not sure! also it'll be my first road type frame so any advice on sizing gratefully received too. im 6ft and i currently ride an 18 inch/large mtb frame. thanks.

plug.

tricross is closest to mountainbike, could have one bike with tricross.

Get on them mtbfixie. Ride them about for a bit, then take what you will from them both, then look at our comments....
Don't be swayed by opinions without testing them.

(Plug FTW ha ha)

I think with cycle scheme, you can take the money for a custom build too can't you? it's just proportional for the price of the bike.....i never really got my head round it when i worked in a shop.

Ie. I wouldn't recommend any of them. The bowery is ok, just boring as sin, and the charge is kinda generic and over priced

If it were me (which of course it isn't) I think I'd go for the Tricross.

Plug

Bowery for speed
Tricross for versatility
Plug for 'freestyling'

Size would be 56 - 58 I would imagine, but best to try if you haven't ridden a road bike orientated frame as you may have long torso/arms with short legs or long legs/shoft arms.

I'd go for the ridgeback Solo. Very much a road bike though.

its something fast to commute on im after really. teleflorist, yes you could custom-build but since there is a limit of £1000 max on the cyclescheme i thought otp would be better vfm.

In that case, why not go for the Condor Pista? they're a great bike and should serve you well for decades even.

Fuji Track if you can, cheap and a really solid frame IMO... After having a go on elsquire's Plug the other night I'm quite taken with the frame... Way lighter than my Sparton, which was a surprise...

Not an option if he's limited to Edinburgh Bicycle, but agreed that there's definitely better value out there. £489 seems steep for a Plug, for example - a quick google gave me £399 elsewhere and even that seems less of a bargain than one of Mr Biddlebikes's finest Fuji Tracks, which is why I bought one of those instead.

because edinburgh bike co-op dont sell them. just noticed they do a fixie inc for £1038, should be able to scrape together the extra for that if it worthwhile? also there is a bowery 84 with aero rims and pursuit bars.

Given EB do other Wiliers and Cycle Surgery list the Wilier Pista at £849, it might be another one to consider. Never ridden one though.

For £1000 I would get someone to build you a really nice custom bike.

I haven't seen said fixie inc though.

i know there are other options but through cyclescheme the employer selects the shop you have to use. i may phone and ask about custom builds but the otp bikes i've mentioned are whats on display oo the website.

Still think the best SS bike on that site is the Ridgeback, although its a tad expensive at £589. The combination of reynolds 520 tubing (produced in the far east and very decent), carbon fork, and good geometry, should make it a really nice ride.

The fixie incs are highly over-priced, but do look great tis true. If your pocket and the scheme (ie if not limited to £1000) streatch to £1918, one of my dream bikes is the Pureblood cyclocross. It has interchangable drop-outs, so you could alwats ride it as a fixed/SS cross bike and save the Sram red groupset for best.

(*ED: think thats the forth time I've posted that bike. I'll stop now I promise)