deskthority

With summer coming up, I realised I need a bike to take my daughter around and about on. Hence, the bike must be able to take a (frame mounted) child seat and I should be able to park it by the beach or wherever, without being too concerned. When summer is up, so is my parental leave and it'll serve as my commuter and kindergarten-run bike.

Looking at what's out there, I soon realised that the supply is quite daunting. Despite the apparent abundance, I have a difficult time finding something that suits my requirements, for reasonable money.

My apparently impossible requirements are:

• Metal frame
• Drop bars
• Hydraulic disc brakes
• 1x10/11 drivetrain
• Fenders and/or fender mounts

Is there really nothing out there? Or am I not seeing the forest for the trees? I'd consider anything up to around about €1500, but cheaper is of course better. So far, my best option seems to be the Charge Grater 4, which fits the bill except for the straight bar.

Anyone got any other suggestion for me.

I have a hard time believing there is a shortage of good bikes in Sweden. That Charge Grater 4 looks pretty good, not exactly cheap though. I'm not sure if Canyon bikes are available in Sweden, good bikes and also not cheap!

https://www.canyon.com

Canyon are available in Sweden, but i've not quite found anything that fits. The closest options are the Inflite 8.0/S (too expensive), the Commuter 7.0SL (flatbar, expensive) and Roadlite (2x11 and flatbar). Out of those the roadlite, with some fenders, seems like the best option, but for whatever reason I prefer the Charge.

OK but there must be other options. Hmm...

http://www.radon-bikes.de/bikes-2016/urban/urban/

http://www.cannondale.com/en/Europe

https://www.specialized.com/de/de/bikes/fitness

http://www.focus-bikes.com/de/de/bikes/ ... lanet.html

http://www.giant-bicycles.com/de-de/bik ... grader/24/

There are, but anything that fits the bill is ridiculously expensive. The Specialized Crux E5 X1 would be perfect. But it's almost €1000 more than I'm willing to pay. It seems that the cheapest available bike with hydraulic disc brakes and drop bars is the Cannondale CAAD12 105. But then I get a front derailleur and I've never liked those. And it's still too expensive.

I seebarted some links in my post, not sure if it helps you.

PILEN SPORT

http://www.pilencykel.se/site/en/pilen-sport

Yeah, if I skip one of my requrements (most notably the drop bars or if I'd be willing to spend even more) there are a lot of alternatives. But I really prefer drop bars to straight ones and disc brakes to rim brakes (I know there are mechanical disc brakes, but I don't fancy them).

Get a Kaffenback.
Great steel frame, drop bars, fender and pannier mounts, and 2x10 groupset. Very nice price as well, and if you end up not liking the Avids you can upgrade later.

Disc breaks are fine. I've tried all kinds of breaks, I'd have to say the Magura HS33 is way up there.

http://www.magura.com/en/components/bik ... ge/?p=2597

The Kaffenback looks really promising. Shame shifting to hydraulics cost a f-ing furtune, maybe mechs'll have to do...