Flat-bar road bike options - thoughts?

[jimmyjames]

After getting my Orbea Carpe stolen a few months ago (locked in my apartment garage but some idiot left the garage door open over a long weekend while I was away), I'm back in the market to get a new flat-bar roadie for commuting. Looking to spend around $900 or so, I'm tossing up a few options. Have yet to ride any of them, but interested in gauging thoughts around these first? Anyone been riding these models?

Scott Metrix 20
Trek 7.4 FX
Cannondale Quick SL3
Specialized Source 8
Focus Planet TR 4.0

They're reasonably close in specs - mostly alloy/aluminium frame, carbon forks, Shimano Sora/Acera/Alivio derailleurs.

[nezumi]

I had a test ride of the Trek. It was good, but unremarkable. I moved my sights on to a drop-bar/CX bike soon after that, so I don't recall any detail on it, sorry.

[jimmyjames]

Thanks anyway Nezumi - sounds like you made the right purchase for your commute. Mine's a lot easier than that, 7km from Clifton Hill to Richmond so no need to get anything too fancy. Plus I have a Madone for weekend rides anyway.

[briztoon]

If you're after a proper commuter, I'd go the Specialized if it comes with the mud guards and rear rack.

Or the Focus as it looks kinda cool.

[rangersac]

Jimmy, I've sent you a PM you may be interested in, if you fancy another Carpe.

[thejester]

sit on them.
bar widths, reach, saddle can vary.

[jimmyjames]

Planning on test riding a few of them this weekend, Jester.

How important are disc brakes in the grand scheme of things? Reason being, one of the bikes has included them for an extra $100, just wondering if I should stretch the budget...

[jasonc]

Planning on test riding a few of them this weekend, Jester.

How important are disc brakes in the grand scheme of things? Reason being, one of the bikes has included them for an extra $100, just wondering if I should stretch the budget...

If riding all weather, I'd want it

[rangersac]

How important are disc brakes in the grand scheme of things?

MTBing discs all the way, but for road a well adjusted set of dual pivot calipers or v-brakes fitted with decent pads are just as powerful as discs, and are not far behind in the modulation stakes either. I certainly don't feel nervous running either of these in the rain. The real benefit of discs is if you do high mileage you don't wear out your rims, it's much cheaper to replace pads at $20 - $30 than get a new rim and wheel rebuilt

[rjk]

your commuting, yep disc brakes are a big plus

[jimmyjames]

Thanks to all for your assistance. Just as an update, I ended up buying the Trek 7.4 with disc brakes. Loving it so far, although it's taking a little while to get used to the flat bar after many years in the drops!