mi23

Hi.

I had recently had my bike stolen (Specialised Ariel). I am absolutely gutted but have thankfully had it insured. Also, thankfully the insurance is helping get a new bike and I have narrowed it down to two: TREK DISTRICT 1 EQ LOWSTEP DISC HYBRID BIKE 2023 and SPECIALISED SIRRUS 3.0 STEP THROUGH. They are both step through as I find it a bother to mount the bike if I have two full panniers (and sometimes a plant bungeed to a rack). I live in London and cycle everywhere so have to cover a lot of distance and contend with some hills. Now, I loved my Arial but not it's gears. They were always a pain, from when I got it new. The insurance company has recommended Trek but I have never had such a chunky bike and I don't know how it rides? How is it on distances and how it handles hills? The attraction is the belt drive and internal gears, though (who doesn't want something low maintenance in their lives?) On the other hand, Specialised I know can handle distances and hills but I am highly suspicious of it's gear drive. If anyone has experience of these bikes, I would really appreciate some insights. Thank you all!

Iride01 

I think the Trek District might be a tad more comfortable riding around the urban areas. However at 17.7 kg (39 lbs) it's a beast to have to get up stairs or put in your car much less any hills you have to climb. The Specialized is prettier, but for urban stop and go traffic I wouldn't care much for that particular model of bike.

Have you looked at Trek's Electra line of bikes? While they also are heavier than anything I'd want for a road bike on open roads, for the urban areas and comfortable upright pedaling they would be my choice. While Specialized does have some I'd get for urban riding, they are above your price point.

https://electra.trekbikes.com/gb/en_.../loft/c/EB400/

https://electra.trekbikes.com/gb/en_...r-lux/c/EB610/

mi23

Thank you! Electra indeed seems lovely! If they had disc-breaks, it would be perfect but it has definitely entered the running!

TiHabanero

When I worked a regular job the commute was 15 miles each way. I tried several of my bikes on the commute to get a feel for efficiency and found my favorite road bike was also the best commuter. Each bike I had mounted a rear rack and panniers plus a top bag. Fully loaded up with work shoes and clothes, lunch and 4 bottles of water the road bike totaled close to 40 pounds.
On the way to work I rolled down into the river valley, and on the way home I had to climb out of it. The grade was fairly steep and the climb was about a mile in length. There were additional hills along the way, however coming out of the valley was the worst of them.

All the bikes handled the job just fine as one can expect, however the road bike made the climb much easier and faster. Gearing, weight, and body position all affect the ride. A 39 pound bike is not acceptable to me for the commute I had, however your experience will vary from mine. Additionally I prefer a derailleur system over an IGH as rear tire flats are much easier to deal with and I don't like the feel of IGH let alone the added rearward weight bias. Again, your experience will vary from mine, however you have asked for opinions and each one of us has one!

mi23

Hi. Thanks. I see what you are saying and that is one of the reasons I have posted this question. I have had road bikes before and did just fine. The biggest issue is that it is hard to find one that is a step through. I am 50 and have no issue swinging my leg over usually, but if I have stuff at the back, it becomes a logistical problem. :-D I really appreciate help here. If the insurance company would give me the money, I could go to the local shop and try bikes, but they are buying on my behalf. :-(