I need a new commuter. Contains reward.

I had a bit of a search for an appropriate thread but couldn't really find the right one. Happy to post elsewhere if there is a better place.

I'm moving to Walthamstow in a couple months time and with a daily commute from there to Soho I need a new bike.

It's going through my cycle to work but could top it up if I really have to but I also want a summer bike so don't want to go to crazy.

I've worked out I want the following
Full 105
Disc Brakes
Mudguard mounts
More of an endurace fit rather than long and low
I don't like brightly painted bikes

I've trawled the net but haven't really found anything that jumps out. The Ribble r872 disc looks OK but it was a wait time till March and not full 105. The boardman 9.0 disc is about £50o over budget and the one I looked at thr finish of the frame looked average at best.

Any suggestions welcome and if a suitable one is found I'll buy you some beers / wine / non boozey drinks / forum donation as a thank you.

The 2019 Pinnacle Arkose range from Evans looks excellent for design and value

Weirdly the pictures of the 105 equipped bike has FSA cranks and chains set. A trip to Evans will be organised.

What’s your budget

Cannondale Synapse Disc 105 fits the bill I think

£849 in size 54 Colour isn't too bad..?

Planet X London

Bit of a bitsa when it comes to gearset plus is that a 2016 version?

That's a no from me on that one unfortunately.

Planet x is sram not 105.

One here too

https://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m7b0s6p8569/CANNONDALE-SYNAPSE-105-DISC-2018

Cycle to work so a grand with the option of topping it up. But I don't really want to put say another £500 quid on something that is going to be an all year round commuter.

No worries. Pretty easy to swap out that chainset to a 105 and you wouldn't lose too much ££

PX is hydro disc so thought you might be swayed

Giant bikes tend to give good bang for their buck with groupset specs

If it were me I'd look on ebay for Cannondale / Giant secondhand around £400 then you own it. I looked into bike to work myself and seemed a bit complicated. Does it work out well for you in the end? I know it says you get 1/3 off but does it work out to that finally?

Yeah the only things is if I start swapping out parts I may as well have just paid more in the first place plus I want it to keep it factory spec for warrenty purposes.

The giant website winds me up, They include a frameset as the lowest price so they hype you up and then smash your dreams. There is a giant shop in St Paul's which I could do after going to an Evans near Oxford st

I've had 2 bikes on cycle to work and it's pretty easy to sort out and the payment comes out pre tax. So I'm not not paying the tax on the 80 odd quid a month. So 400 would actually be 550 or something like that.

Fair enough. I notice a lot of the bigger companies put those cheaper cranks on their claimed '105 ultegra' etc builds. It's annoying.

All the best searching.

Yeah I just keep going round in circles currently looking for something suitable. Thanks!

My main priorities in a commuter would be full mudguards and 30c or bigger tyres. Eg Charge Plug, something like that.

If you have a good place to store it at work, then maybe a more expensive bike makes sense. But otherwise, cheap and simple has a lot to recommend it.

http://www.steve-goff-frames.co.uk/frames.shtml

Get a custom fit Steve goff 531 or 525, new 105 groupset, some entry level wheels and a finishing kit together. Should come in a shade over £1000. Get Steve to build it if you need a all-in one receipt for cycle to work. Much more character and a better fit than a bland Chinese factory bike.

I keep it inside the building so will never get left in the street.

I think a bland Chinese bike is more my style.

Plus I don't think I could get that via cycle to work.

Great idea.. but add labour if your unable to do this your self and potential time factor.
And it's really worth bespoke if you've had the advantage of a bike fit too.
But it goes to show that a British steel made in uk frame can still be had at a decent price point.

It would be nice as a Sunday cruiser rather a 200km a week commuter through what ever weather London has to offer.

So I popped I to Evans Spitalfields to have a look arou d and the one bike that I've thought was the Pinnalce Dolomite disc but they didn't have one.

A single speed wasn't really one the list due to lack of disc brakes but thinking it might be a good option. Stratford to Walthamstow isn't really much of a hill.

Any one ridden one?

Think dolomite disc is being phased out. Reasoning being the 2019 arkose covers both bases. @jameso ? I had an Arkose singlespeed. Ace bike.

Oh really! I might need to try and act fast if I can find one.

Did you have the alfine?

Oh I see it's a gravel single speed.

Mine was one of the first singlespeeds. Dont think they do them now. As said really rate the arkose and would choose over the dolomite. I wouldnt underestimare the benefit of bigger 40mm tyres for a commuter.

I’ve got the Alfine with 38mm gravel kings and SKS guards. It’s good - a bit of a tank but 3,500km in and I’ve not needed to clean it nor do any maintenance except replace the chain.