… The scheme that is.
My plan is up soon and the Bianchi road bike I got off the scheme last year is almost paid off so it is time to look for something else to spend ( save ) money on in 2010 and not because I have to but because I end up paying so little for a great bicycle and while I can I may as well take advantage.
I thought “another road bike” but no because spending up to a grand on another road bike will only get me the same one again with 010 hardware and what would be the point in that?
“How about another track bike?” I say to myself. Answer – No. I already have two and three would be just greedy!
So I think I am settled. Settled on something like the Specialized Globe Live:
Perfect for cycling to work on a day like today when it is minus 2 degrees and all I want to do is coast and then slow down using a mechanically operated braking system. Comes complete with guards and a rack too which has bonus points on so many levels I can’t even explain!
This is also great for the lady in my life because with the saddle down she too could use this. During the summer her trips to and from the market / park and other things that girls like to do like collect flowers for flower arranging would be just that little bit more… well, more lovely.
So having an option for Amy to use this ‘cycle to work bike’ also means we can do away with her Colnago ( Fauxnago ) thus not adding to the pile of bikes that litter our dining room. This will keep ‘her indoors’ happy no end as it means the bike stash won’t get bigger thus enabling her new sewing machine to remain out and ready to utilise at any given moment.
So there it is. My cycle to work choice for 2010 is the great Specialized Globe Live, because it’s a do everything, for everyone kind of bike and right now that is what I need ( want ).
See more here.
Tags: 2010, cycle to work, globe, hybrid, live, mudguards, rack, scheme, specialized
January 9, 2010 at 5:19 am |
hello mate,
I thought you would like to know that I’ve tried the Live and the Haul (and end up getting the Haul).
I must says that they’re excellent bike, usually I’m skeptical when brand company make those utility bicycle, which were usually rigid MTB frame with rack and skinny tyres.
But the Globe impressed me with how well they’re designed, when I rode the Live, it was very stiff being alu, but I find it an advantage, on my old dutch bike, the dutch was quite flexy being steel with relaxed geometry that when I have too much load on the bike, it shimmer badly at speed and I can feel the frame flex a lots.
The Live is nice and light too, not as light as your track bike, but light enough to ride around town, the fact it have coaster brake make it even better – it give you the most predictable braking performance ever regardless of weather condition, and it helped massively especially in the rain where rims brake often take a while to ‘grip’, it also remain predictable after months of usage unlike rims brake, you can ride it without a front brake as it’s the norms for those kind of bike, I’d prefer Globe to have front and rear drum brake as they’re more idea than a V-brake set-up.
The rack is without a doubt massive, enough to fit and deliver a pizza, it’s great to simply drop your shopping on it and ride away, and because of how well the Globe is designed, it wasn’t difficult to ride with the load on the front, the little spring that connect the fork and the downtube keep the front wheel straight when you have load on it.
I went for the Haul because in the long run, a rear rack seemed idea as it will be my main ‘transport’, from going to the shop to moving equipment several miles, also I can put a frame mounted rack on the front later so I have the best of both world, I’d rather have the Live because it’s zippier, lighter and more fun to ride.
despite the white tyres, it gave me a remarkable amount of grip for a white tyres much to my surprise.
the downside;
the kickstand is fine, but you must upgrade it to a double leg one, there’s nothing worse than the bike falling over even with the slightest weight.
saddle is way too narrow, those bike are a ‘sit-up-and-beg’ kind so all your weight is on the saddle, and because of the upright position, your sit-bones get wider, so replace the saddle as soon as possible, I have a cheap Veloplush saddle with spring on it, and it’s fine.
it’s very stiff, and I mean too stiff for those kind of bike (but a good compromise for stability), a spring saddle, different handlebar (one that flex) and tyres (or lower tyres pressure a tad) helped a lots.
It’s too pretty, with my old dutch bike I can lock it up anywhere and not get worried about it getting stolen, even weeks in end, and just use the frame-mounted lock to lock the wheel when popping down to the shop, it’s too heavy to be carried by theft mind, I can’t exactly do that with the Globe but again it’s a good compromise I’m willing to accept.
Here’s my Globe Haul I got from Brixton Cycles, I already changed a few bits on it, new Nitto Promenade bar from Freshtripe, double legs kickstand, removed the front dérailleur (never got used, 8 speed rear is plenty).
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh167/edscoble/DutchHaul.jpg?t=1263013879
Not finished with it thought, the rear is going to get replaced with internal gear hubs and thicker tyres.
I hope these information helped massively for you.
January 11, 2010 at 12:09 pm |
Great response!
Thanks Ed… I am sure your words will not only benefit me but also the fine readers of this blog.
thanks again.
January 9, 2010 at 5:24 am |
Oh another thing (and sorry for the long post!) the main reason why I went for the Haul is simple; the missus can hitch a ride on the rack like my old dutch bike, we do that quite regularly enough for me to get the Haul over the Live.
I love those kind of bike, it’s the kind that you’d ride if you don’t feel like cycling.
January 16, 2010 at 10:29 am |
You should build it up from scratch. We’re doing racks from Paul, Wald & VO. You can stick these racks on pretty much any frame with a bit of common sense.