I’ve used a cyclo cross for commuting for 17 years. It works great on roads, trails, forests and I’ve done many day trips/big rides on it. They call them gravel bikes these days, but it’s essentially the same thing. You can attach a pannier rack if you don’t like riding with a ruck sack. If you like speed then go for slightly less wide wheels than the mountain bike variety.
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This looks like a good Love International afters affair.
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Currently on two wheels in that there London on a little cycling trip.
Just been to see The Moonwalkers at Light Room. A 360 sound & vision experience about the Apollo Moon landings, narrated by Tom Hanks. Absolutely mind blowing, a must see if in London. It’s on until October 
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When I bought a new bike in 2020, I wanted something primarily for commuting, but good enough for longer rides, for under a grand.
I was unsure of what to go for so asked for advice in my local bike shop. I’ve got some lower back problems and because I was commuting with a backpack, they advised a straight-handle-barred hybrid.
They suggested a BMC (a Swiss company whose bikes they could still get hold of - this was maybe a month into lockdown).
I read the reviews, which were all very favourable. A hybrid towards the road bike end of that spectrum, with commuter tyres on - 35mm road tyres with bulletproof puncture protection.
I’ve done plenty of cycling on it, including a 6-day ride, a couple of 4-day jaunts and plenty of other long rides. Best £900 I’ve ever spent.
The obvious upgrade to most bikes around that budget is to replace the stock wheels. After a couple of years I went for some Hunt wheels and went tubeless with some chunkier Pirelli gravel tires. Probably spent around £400 on that upgrade.
I do sort of get bike envy when I’m out. Fancy drop handle bar gravel bikes look well sexier than mine, and if I had more disposable income, I’d definitely like a fancier bike.
*edit
It’s a BMC Alpenchallenge 3. They’ve got various similar models available. The 2023 model seems to be slightly better specced in terms of chainset/brakes/tires than mine, but at a slightly higher price, although I can see it reduced online.
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Super! Thanks for the info. The flat handlebar and that model in particular looks very much like what I have in mind. Will dig deeper into the brand.
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We got one of those that eats everything off the floor, then vomits at 2 am.
Also known as a Lab.
(Week 4 of her being in season)
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I like this a lot.
I have a bullitt from when I lugged both kids to and from places. I
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Doing a little bike trip from Vienna to Regensburg, following the Danube. Pretty nice overall, especially the Austrian part. Next time, I would do it the other way around, heading east and ending at the Black Sea through Romania (and avoiding the headwinds!).
Super light setup: one-person tent and some essentials. Doing 100+ kms a day but doesn’t feel super heavy as it is mostly flat!
Here are some pics.
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Sounds amazing. Enjoy the rest of your trip 
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Those look amazing, would really like a front carry for when I have the dog on board, but this bike still does what I need well.
I have a brace of female suited bikes around 5’-3" or slightly less for the MTB
Giant Liv Brava
Giant Liv TCR (Rabobank team frame), all Ultegra Di2, verry nice
Condor Fratello in small, full 105 spec, powertap wheels
Trek Supefly 5 650 b wheels, smallest frame, a full carbon seatube can stretch it up to 5’ 3" with shorter leg rider.
Also I have Giant TCX cross bike and a Cannondale Supersix. Ebay is proving to be a waste of time, just silly offers and demands to deliver etc. These two suit me at 5’ 11"
5 bikes in total. The value for money for these used bikes is insane compared to new. They are all in very fine order as I personally build up and maintain this fleet.
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I met an old BMX buddy last weekend and he told me he restored his GT performer over the last few years with mostly original parts,he has it hanging up at home…I wasn’t expecting this 
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That’s a beauty, does he ever ride it?
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It was the first edition I think, before the spinning gyro and hollow stem bolt, he got into boxing soon after getting it and put it away. . Never used it much and sold it in the 1988/89 and managed to buy it back soon after… Lucky worth a few $$$ now in that condition…
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Evans sale on. They’re not doing too well at all!
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This is great - thanks a million for posting!
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I have an E-bike gripe after having had one for a good few months now…
They are too slow, i literally never ride my bike at 15mph unless i am doing some sort of slog up a hill, or riding into a heavy wind. As a result i just find myself pushing the pedals through the motor and wishing i was on my almost identical non-e-bike.
Everything else is amazing on it though and you non beliebers should all try one.
I’m very tempted to take it to an uplift day at Glentress just to get used to how it handles on all the different downhill trails there.
Are there any folks here that ride Glentress?
You can’t remove the limiter? Most will do at least 30kmh once jailbroken.
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I’ve considered it, but it would void the warranty and this bike was more expensive than my current car… Giving it some serious thought though.
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