I get why this is so expensive, I mean it doesn't have a 105 groupset?
MAdam98 to gta15
25 Jul 17#6
Hub gearing is completely different.
BigD83
25 Jul 17#5
I personally wouldn't pay that much for a commuter, because you can get better MTB/Road bikes for the money. But if you are just after a commuter it's not a bad deal with the Alfine etc, should. low maintenance as well.
rodman
25 Jul 17#7
tempting
wild_quinine
25 Jul 17#8
FYI that's the right picture, but the video link you have added to the main post is a different model.
michaeljb
25 Jul 17#9
If the T1000 was to mimick a bike...
Clisig
25 Jul 17#10
Noticed, the one in the video has a rear derailleur which should be this one,
Reports on the site suggest it comes with a cheap pair of Cannondale pedals. If it doesn't now, it probably did at some time. I've actuallly ordered one of these, so I'll let y'all know.
Suits you pretty good then.
darren.hardie
25 Jul 17#15
That is one ugly bike
dbailey10
25 Jul 17#18
I couldn't find anything searching online about the Contro 2 but a few 'best bike' articles (can't comment on the legitimacy of them) mentioned the Contro 3 in their roundups so I ended up going with the Contro 3 (and the fact I think the 3 in black doesn't look quite as awful as this one in silver...). Can anyone who might be more knowledgeable comment on the differences between the 2? Tried to research the individual component specs online but not being an expert didn't really get far. Many thanks
wild_quinine to dbailey10
26 Jul 17#19
The main difference is that the Contro 2 has hub gears, and the Contro 3 has a rear derailleur. Hub gears are lower maintenance than derailleurs, so they're a decent choice for commuter bikes.
Here's some guy showing you the difference:
Additionally, the brakes are similar but different model numbers.
The bikes have different saddles. I'd assume the Contro 2 has the more premium option, but what that means in the real world I couldn't say.
tek-monkey
26 Jul 17#20
Still toying with the idea.....
darren.hardie
26 Jul 17#21
intelligent comment
ArthurDent1
26 Jul 17#22
Hmmm. This is very tempting. It ticks every box for my ideal commuter bike; disc brakes & hub gears for low maintenance (my ideal bike maintenance schedule would be; ride it in the rain regularly in lieu of washing it), light enough to carry up steps (12.8kg for size L is OK as that includes mudguards and rear rack), tough enough for the towpath and best of all it looks a bit weird (actually, having watched the video it looks a LOT better in black).
But I REALLY don't need another bike. Must keep telling myself that.
(and for those who didn't get the joke about the pedals, yes it comes with Cannondale Octo pedals and a built in lock too, apparently).
tek-monkey
26 Jul 17#23
It does tick all the boxes, very low maintenance and good brakes. My spesh hardrock lasted 7 years of commuting (now lives at the caravan in Wales), I'm currently on a rigid hybrid but am hating the v brakes in the wet after coming from hydraulics. Can I justify £750 for something that will literally go to and from work and to the pub in the next village once in a while though?
Pub, hmm. Maybe I can after all!
MaximusRo to tek-monkey
22 Aug 17#46
Don't drink and ride. Seriously, in Germany, if caught drunk on a bike, you lose your driving license as well.
andreasuk to MaximusRo
23 Aug 17#48
So you should. But if you don't have one you don't risk anything?..(apart from your life)
wild_quinine to andreasuk
23 Aug 17#50
You shouldn't be punished for risking your own life. You should be punished for risking other people's.
Which is the case with drink cycling, don't get me wrong. Although the risk ratios are definitely different to driving, it's not like you can't maim or kill on a bike.
That said, I'm personally a bit uncomfortable with the idea of being banned from driving for an activity that doesn't involve driving, even a dangerous activity.
andreasuk to wild_quinine
23 Aug 17#51
Agreed.
MaximusRo to wild_quinine
24 Aug 17#52
You should be banned from driving as you violate the road code. What you said is similar to "I am a pro driver, why should I be banned from drivi g cause I was dri king?"
wild_quinine to MaximusRo
25 Aug 17#53
I disagree. Your assumed equivalence between cycles and cars is begging the question.
I think cycles shoulld be punished for crimes and violations of the highway code.
I don't think cycling and driving are the same thing, and I'm not convinced it makes sense to take away a driving license for something not related to driving.
Yes, cycles are covered by the highway code. So are pedestrians.
Do you think driving licenses should be taken away for drunk and disorderly offences?
Don't get me wrong, nobody is saying those offences shouldn't be punished. Just.., removing a driving license seems kind of unrelated.
What about loitering on a crossing while drunk. That's a strict violation of the highway code. Think you should lose your driving license for it?
What about being fall over drunk on a bus? Lose your driving license for it?
What about puking in a taxi?
Nobody is arguing any of these things are right, or shouldn't be punished.
Cycling and driving are different activities, they have different risk profiles, in general different laws apply to them. I don't think cross pollentation of punishments immediately makes sense.
I'm open to be convinced, but if the best you've got is suggesting that I'm in favour of drunk driving because I don't agree with a very specific interpretation of how to punish drunk cyclists, I can't help you.
MaximusRo to wild_quinine
30 Aug 17#54
I understand where you're coming from, but...
I don't think walking (being a pedestrian) is the same as cycling :smile: why? Cause you can walk outside the road, if you walk on the road on the other hand...
I think if you are drunk and going walking in the middle of the road, you clearly have no idea of the highway code and you put people's life in danger (I am deliberately not touching the aspect of putting your own life in danger, let's say that's your own problem)
So why hold a license if you clearly do not know the code? My reasoning here it's a bit rough around the edges, I know.
Please note I started this from the observation that this is how Germans do it (when cycling and caught drunk).
Not sure what happens in the UK if a cyclist is caught cycling and drinking... Defientely a cyclist can also kill. So can a drunk pedestrian, just by not walking straight, he could push someone in front of the bus.
There a lot os scope for discussion
bonzobanana
27 Jul 17#24
2% at topcashback, also you could buy it with £375 of Tesco clubcard vouchers plus another option is there are discounted gift vouchers at zeek of 5%. Every little helps. Looks a fun, interesting bike but the original £1500 price looks ridiculous but £750 seems pretty fair. I know they are made in the far east now with a lot of them by fuji-ta but a Cannondale bike still seems something above the norm. The only Cannondale product I have is my bike helmet.
Old_King_Doran
27 Jul 17#25
Would happily pay 375 if I had the tesco vouchers.
ArthurDent1
29 Jul 17#26
For £375 this is a fantastic bargain (even better than the £150 Treks my teenage kids ride and my £150 Gary Fisher which got stolen - even after the excess there was enough money from the insurance to pay for the kids' bikes and buy me a SH bike). But I don't have that many clubcard vouchers either and can't justify £750.
However, if I could get it through Cyclescheme it'd be tax free and paid in interest free instalments.... (but my wife says "No!").
wild_quinine
31 Jul 17#27
I've got an appointment to pick mine up on Tuesday, I'll post back later. Anyone else actually bite the bullet?
Nookster
1 Aug 17#28
Thinking about it....
I've been holding out for another great hybrid deal along the lines of last years Marin Muirwoods that was half price. This seems more appropriate for my commute I suppose.
wild_quinine
2 Aug 17#29
Bike seems decent. Gear switches are very smooth. Weird not having to cycle down gears coming up to the lights.
Not night and day compared to my Tern Verge P9, which is a folding bike. It's a very, very nice folding bike but I expected a decently expensive commuter bike would knock it out of the park. I think I still prefer the Verge.
The lefty fork is a gimmick. Bottom bracket is quite high, means I'm on tiptoes in the saddle, but I can't get a full leg extension on the pedals. Will need to inch that seat up a bit more still, I think.
It doesn't exude quality, but nor does it obviously lack it in any department, and the disc brakes and hub gears are very nice to have and add a lot of value.
Got it through cyclescheme which means a total cost to me of something in the region of 570, and I think this is probably more than justified, but at 1500 I would not have known where the extra money was going.
wild_quinine
3 Aug 17#30
I've raised the seat again and this has put things right. Handlebars are my least favourite part of the bike, I'm really warming to the rest.
I love Carrera bikes which are fantastic for the money especially when on offer but they don't offer anything like this bike. Only medium and large frames left but there seems to be an offer where you get £100 of cycling clothes included in the price now going by the banner on the page.
Don't forget you can exchange any clubcard vouchers you have for 2x their value as Evan's vouchers and zeek occasionally have discounted evan's vouchers that can be used. Combined with topcashback you can erode that £750 price a bit.
AdamKnowsIt
17 Aug 17#32
Cold, it's not a tandem bike.
M1LFHunter
17 Aug 17#33
Not bad spec, I would upgrade the drive train, wheels, brakes and frame to carbon, you know, roadie style and end up with a more expensive bike that I may as well have bought in the first place, tools.
solsurf
17 Aug 17#34
Great bit of kit and having a hub gear is great especially during winter. Great buy
Jefft
17 Aug 17#36
This bike is not a BSO!!
MAdam98 to Jefft
19 Aug 17#37
Well, technically it is since it is an object that is shaped like a bicycle...
SimyJo
22 Aug 17#38
This a woman's bike?
pollo
22 Aug 17#39
I got one. The rack is terrible (good luck finding a pannier or bungee hook that fits that over-sized tubing) and I don't have much confidence in the disc brakes which squeal like pigs in the wet but that apart it's great commuting bike for the price.
wild_quinine to pollo
22 Aug 17#44
I don't have a pannier for it yet. Don't know what they were thinking with the rack. I'm told it's designed for Ortlieb's QL3 system, but I don't know where the anchor fitting would go, if true.
Meanwhile the Ortlieb QL1,2 connectors seem to fit the top rail fine without any adaptors in the grips, but the anchor hook on those fittings is no good with the oversized tubing.
I haven't got to the bottom of this yet.
No. Odd question. Is SimyJo a woman's name?
Less flippantly, the slightly dropped bar is just a weird design choice. I kind of wish it was a woman's bike, because I have long legs, and I need the seat really high on this thing to stretch out - ignoring the sexist drop bar bs, the difference between men and women's bikes geometrically speaking tends to be the assumption that women have longer legs than men proportionally...
markbartlett
22 Aug 17#40
£160 for the rear hub alone. I'm after a nice MTB though.
slannmage
22 Aug 17#41
I got Disc Brakes on my new Bike... I don't see the point in them personally as they're easier to lock up than Rim brakes and you constantly have to adjust the Discs and Callipers as they often rub slightly. I never had a problem with Rim brakes, how much braking power do you need on a Bicycle? I would definitely say they're not worth the extra money and personally I prefer Rim brakes for ease of maintenance.
Also I bought an Electric Bicycle recently too, just because I go to work 40 miles (total trip) and I have one massive hill that kills me and leaves me stinking all day. The Electric Bike gets me up there with no effort and it's made me enjoy biking to work again. I'd really recommend them to people who are commuting and dread going to work each day. Though I think Front Wheel drive is the best, I don't like the feel of mid drive and rear makes maintenance more complicated, Front is easy and I'll probably whack a conversion kit on my Road Bicycle eventually.
abdishah
22 Aug 17#42
Test rode it last week, feels very weird having a long wheel base and narrow steering, not impressed. Don't think they sold any at the RRP
bonzobanana
22 Aug 17#43
If you have topcashback to pay out you can get a 10% boost by exchanging it for evan's vouchers.
I think wild quinnine had the best idea though buying it through a work's cycle scheme.
SimyJo
22 Aug 17#45
Legitimate question seeing as though the only dropped crossbar bikes I've seen are for women. Any guy coming off the seat onto the crossbar knows the pain, you'd think it would be the other way round really wouldn't you. Is the dropped women's crossbar a throwback to sidesaddle and wearing skirts?. Who the hell wears a skirt to bike anyway apart from Mary bloody Poppins. Anyway, I think the wrong kinda seat hurts Women more than men - something about making their front-bottom painfully sensitive if they ride too much.
My daughter's been riding this bike for a few months now. Worth it at £750, although a pedal failed after a few weeks (maximum 20 miles): Evans provided a new, cheap-looking set of own-brand pedals that seem reasonable.
![Fresh Breakfast Meat Box (Using code) @ Campbells Meat [Haggis / Lorne Sausage / Bacon / Black Pudding & More]](/images/topics/208684_1.jpg)
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Opening post
Also comes with the rack as standard.
The specs read like a who's who of buying a nice commuter bike.
EDIT: Possible 2% cashback through Quidco - thanks Johnnystorm
Full info
All comments (54)
evanscycles.com/can…610
The Contro 1 had dynamo lights powered from the front hub (Shimano DH-S501), and it used a completely different fork (Fatty DL50).
You can still see that here: evanscycles.com/can…608
Suits you pretty good then.
Here's some guy showing you the difference:
Additionally, the brakes are similar but different model numbers.
The bikes have different saddles. I'd assume the Contro 2 has the more premium option, but what that means in the real world I couldn't say.
But I REALLY don't need another bike. Must keep telling myself that.
(and for those who didn't get the joke about the pedals, yes it comes with Cannondale Octo pedals and a built in lock too, apparently).
Pub, hmm. Maybe I can after all!
But if you don't have one you don't risk anything?..(apart from your life)
Which is the case with drink cycling, don't get me wrong. Although the risk ratios are definitely different to driving, it's not like you can't maim or kill on a bike.
That said, I'm personally a bit uncomfortable with the idea of being banned from driving for an activity that doesn't involve driving, even a dangerous activity.
I think cycles shoulld be punished for crimes and violations of the highway code.
I don't think cycling and driving are the same thing, and I'm not convinced it makes sense to take away a driving license for something not related to driving.
Yes, cycles are covered by the highway code. So are pedestrians.
Do you think driving licenses should be taken away for drunk and disorderly offences?
Don't get me wrong, nobody is saying those offences shouldn't be punished. Just.., removing a driving license seems kind of unrelated.
What about loitering on a crossing while drunk. That's a strict violation of the highway code. Think you should lose your driving license for it?
What about being fall over drunk on a bus? Lose your driving license for it?
What about puking in a taxi?
Nobody is arguing any of these things are right, or shouldn't be punished.
Cycling and driving are different activities, they have different risk profiles, in general different laws apply to them. I don't think cross pollentation of punishments immediately makes sense.
I'm open to be convinced, but if the best you've got is suggesting that I'm in favour of drunk driving because I don't agree with a very specific interpretation of how to punish drunk cyclists, I can't help you.
I don't think walking (being a pedestrian) is the same as cycling :smile: why? Cause you can walk outside the road, if you walk on the road on the other hand...
I think if you are drunk and going walking in the middle of the road, you clearly have no idea of the highway code and you put people's life in danger (I am deliberately not touching the aspect of putting your own life in danger, let's say that's your own problem)
So why hold a license if you clearly do not know the code? My reasoning here it's a bit rough around the edges, I know.
Please note I started this from the observation that this is how Germans do it (when cycling and caught drunk).
Not sure what happens in the UK if a cyclist is caught cycling and drinking... Defientely a cyclist can also kill. So can a drunk pedestrian, just by not walking straight, he could push someone in front of the bus.
There a lot os scope for discussion
But I don't have that many clubcard vouchers either and can't justify £750.
However, if I could get it through Cyclescheme it'd be tax free and paid in interest free instalments.... (but my wife says "No!").
I've been holding out for another great hybrid deal along the lines of last years Marin Muirwoods that was half price. This seems more appropriate for my commute I suppose.
Not night and day compared to my Tern Verge P9, which is a folding bike. It's a very, very nice folding bike but I expected a decently expensive commuter bike would knock it out of the park. I think I still prefer the Verge.
The lefty fork is a gimmick. Bottom bracket is quite high, means I'm on tiptoes in the saddle, but I can't get a full leg extension on the pedals. Will need to inch that seat up a bit more still, I think.
It doesn't exude quality, but nor does it obviously lack it in any department, and the disc brakes and hub gears are very nice to have and add a lot of value.
Got it through cyclescheme which means a total cost to me of something in the region of 570, and I think this is probably more than justified, but at 1500 I would not have known where the extra money was going.
Oh, and the bike came with decent pedals.
And a less impressive lock. But gift horses.
More bike costs, more chances it will be stolen.
Don't forget you can exchange any clubcard vouchers you have for 2x their value as Evan's vouchers and zeek occasionally have discounted evan's vouchers that can be used. Combined with topcashback you can erode that £750 price a bit.
Meanwhile the Ortlieb QL1,2 connectors seem to fit the top rail fine without any adaptors in the grips, but the anchor hook on those fittings is no good with the oversized tubing.
I haven't got to the bottom of this yet.
No. Odd question. Is SimyJo a woman's name?
Less flippantly, the slightly dropped bar is just a weird design choice. I kind of wish it was a woman's bike, because I have long legs, and I need the seat really high on this thing to stretch out - ignoring the sexist drop bar bs, the difference between men and women's bikes geometrically speaking tends to be the assumption that women have longer legs than men proportionally...
Also I bought an Electric Bicycle recently too, just because I go to work 40 miles (total trip) and I have one massive hill that kills me and leaves me stinking all day. The Electric Bike gets me up there with no effort and it's made me enjoy biking to work again. I'd really recommend them to people who are commuting and dread going to work each day. Though I think Front Wheel drive is the best, I don't like the feel of mid drive and rear makes maintenance more complicated, Front is easy and I'll probably whack a conversion kit on my Road Bicycle eventually.
The free £100 of clothes is still on offer too.
evanscycles.com/hel…des
I think wild quinnine had the best idea though buying it through a work's cycle scheme.
...And no,
It's a Bear's name