Fulci

What do you think of this type of bikes for commuting. They're full road bikes but with a flat bar and cost between €600 and €750.

Has anyone rid any of these?

Bianchi Camaleonte II Sora (I want it in black, not celeste blue - beautiful!)
https://www.bianchi.com/en/products2008/Sport_Y8BB2.aspx



Scott Speedster S60 FB
https://www.scottusa.com






And also, what do you think of the Scott Sub 20?

Fulci

So, no one has an opinion on these?

pinkrobe

Personally, I like the Bianchi, but in Celeste. If you have the money, go with the Camaleonte 4 with 105 components. Alternatively, buy a used road bike and get a flat bar, Deore shifters and basic mtn brake levers.

Fulci

Thanks for you answer... I can't go for the Camaleonte IV. It's too expensive. My budget is around €600 but I could go for the €750 of the Camaleonte II if it's really worth the diference.
It's hard to get good used bikes around here, specially road bikes.

I do have an old and heavy steel mountain bike, but I'm not in the mood to spend a small fortune to make it anything good. I'd rather get a new one, and the in a couple of years change what is needed.

I'm almost definitely going for the Scott SUB 20, but I'm still considering those other two.
Plus, no one stocks these bike in my country, so they're just available through ordering, so I can't try them out to see what fits me the best and most confortable.

gulfcoast

The Bianchi looks nice. Have you checked out the Jamis Coda series bikes; Very fast, well designed, steel frame, comfortable riding bikes and a good value.

DVC45

+1 on what Gulfcoast said ' bout the Jamis.
Of your choices, I like the Bianchi too.

nowheels

+2........look a Jamis Coda if you can......other wise the Bianchi

Fulci

It's very difficult to get Jamis around Portugal. I have looked but didn't found any seller. The importer is in Spain, so it's hard to get them. The Bianchi's are also hard, but I found a store selling them in 50km from here.

But what do you think of flat bar road bikes as commuters? Is it better to get a goat horn road bike or a hybrid than these?

DVC45

How far is your commute? I would put at least a barend or a trekking bar for added hand position option. If its less than 10mi, then a straight handlebar would probably be okay.

My hybrid commuter;


A flat bar road bike would be a lot zippier than a hybrid bike for sure.

Fulci

20 to 30 min. It's only 4 or 5 miles but it's on a hill, so it's always climbing, so it takes a little longer...

The Bianchi already comes with the bar extensions but anyway, it only costs €20 or 30 for the Scott ones...

stormchaser

I can't add anything other than this; when I first saw the title of your thread I thought 'What manufacturer is naming their bike ********?'

Coronado

Here my Sub20, very fast and very light. Although without racks I don't use it so offen to commute.

Fulci

Yeah, I'm probably going for the SUB20... What else did you change besides the handlebar?

MichaelW

Beware with caliper-brake versions such as the Speedster. If they use std sizr racing calipets you wont have enough tyre clearance for practical use. If the frame is designed around long drop calipers you can fit 32mm + fenders which is enough for bad roads in wet conditions.
Some flat-bar road bikes do away with rack and fender eyelets altogether.

Fulci

Well, the Bianchi comes with a pair of 28's and I don't know if it has any place to put the fenders and rack. I don't know about the Speedster either, but the tires come in 28. The fork doesn't seem to have any eyelets on any of the bikes though, but my only concern is for the rack, as I won't probably be riding much often on rainy days.

The SUB20 comes with a 32's, but it's the 26'' version as there isn't any site specifying the 700's, but this has the eyelets for fender and rack, as Scott sells a kit for €60 with both of them, plus a stand or holder or whatever it's name. This bike was made for this anyway. I just want to take a look at the Bianchi and then I'll decide it, but I'm going almost definitely going for the SUB20. It looks pretty cool and it's only around 24lbs.

Fulci

https://www.orbea.com/caste/interior....=39&modelo=114



What about this one, the Orbea Aneto? Does anyone have one or knows anything about her?
It's beautiful, mostly Tiagra, carbon fork...

ginsoakedboy

Very pretty, as are all the Orbea's. The wheels are pretty low spoke-count, and that cassette isn't going to give you a very wide gear range. Those factors, to me, speak to it being more of a speedster than a commuter.

I've ridden both the Scotts -- we sell Scott at the shop I work at. The Sub 20 is more suitable as a commuter, IMO. However, I'm not crazy about either one for this purpose. I've never ridden the Bianchi.

I suppose these flat-bar road bikes hit a certain target audience, but I'm not a fan, especially for a commuting application. Like hybrid bikes in general, the flat-bar road bikes try to strike a balance but really just end up leaving you wanting. For a true commuter, I think you want something with a little more beef -- these flat-bar road bikes (especially as you go toward the higher performance end) are a bit too delicate to carry a load and take the pounding. Conversely, as a road bike, they fall short because I think you really want a drop bar on a serious road bike for the efficient riding position and the ability to vary your hand position. About the only people I really feel right about putting on these flat-bar road bikes are the people that want a performance road bike, but can't ride one because they have some physical limitation from a prior neck or back injury that prevents them from riding the drop-bar position.

bkrownd

The flat bar road bike setup is ideal for commuting, provided the components are robust and not flimsy lightweight stuff. The flat bar gives good control on all surfaces and speeds, and you get solid trigger or grip shifters and brake levers instead of the stupid wobbly brifters that drop bars come with. Don't know about the particular models mentioned above. Both frame and fork should have anchors for mounting fenders and rack, but it's not hard to make your own mounting points if absolutely necessary.

Coronado

I bought frame and fork, and then I choose the rest of the components. I was using the Tiagra triple crank in another bike, so I bought some LX shifters, levers and with some more parts I had around I finished it.

I wish I had cyclocross bikes or frames around here, but it's not even known here! That's a shame...

Fulci

Yeah... That's the problem here too... There is no commuting tradition here in Portugal, even the road laws are against the cyclists, so there is no market for any of these. If I want one of these bikes, I have to order them, so there's no way I can try them on before buying. There is no cyclocross nor urban nor hybrid nor anything. If you want a bike, you get a mountain bike because it's all there is for sale here. Most people probably don't even know there are bikes other than mountain bikes. That's why all we see on the streets are off road bikes. Anyway, thanks for the help and opinions.

The Orbea looks pretty cool, though it comes with an aluminum fork, which must be painful to ride. It's goes for €616. The Scott has a new price for the 2008 model, costing €700! Too expensive for me.

I just don't know if the Orbea has the eyelets for the rack.

Fulci

https://www.orbea.com/caste/interior....=39&modelo=115


I'm sorry... this is the one that costs €616, the Anayet. The Aneto goes for €750! It's a mix of Sora and Tiagra, but pretty cool too.

bkrownd

That's unfortunate, since you want to find a comfortable configuration for your purpose. There's a lot of difference in how "hybrid", touring, flat-bar, road racing and mountain bikes feel in when used in different conditions. Also, when you buy a bike from a dealer you can swap components to get it configured and sized the way you like - tires, stems, saddles, etc...