I plan to purchase a bike ($5,000 range) this spring.
I was looking at the 2020 Specialized Vado 5.0 (which looks to be replacing the 6.0 - at least spec-wise) and the 2019 Trek Super Commuter+ 8s. Since my initial research, I have also been reading up on bulls, riese/mulller, juiced, and stromer but was leaning toward one of the "mainstream" brands (giant, trek, specialized, cannondale, raleigh).
My Scenario - The bike would be used for work commute - 40 miles round trip (20 miles each way). Mostly flat, mostly paved with some unpaved areas that are "groomed". Some stop and go but mostly go. I have decided on a class 3 - 28mph. I would also like to use it for some camping trips that may have a little rougher trails in certain areas (nothing extreme), but that would be optional in my decision - the primary use is work commute.
The weather around here will not be good enough to test ride for about a month and some brands/models will be difficult to find test bikes for. For around 5,000 and using it for the scenario described above - which bike would you buy?
I was looking at the 2020 Specialized Vado 5.0 (which looks to be replacing the 6.0 - at least spec-wise) and the 2019 Trek Super Commuter+ 8s. Since my initial research, I have also been reading up on bulls, riese/mulller, juiced, and stromer but was leaning toward one of the "mainstream" brands (giant, trek, specialized, cannondale, raleigh).
My Scenario - The bike would be used for work commute - 40 miles round trip (20 miles each way). Mostly flat, mostly paved with some unpaved areas that are "groomed". Some stop and go but mostly go. I have decided on a class 3 - 28mph. I would also like to use it for some camping trips that may have a little rougher trails in certain areas (nothing extreme), but that would be optional in my decision - the primary use is work commute.
The weather around here will not be good enough to test ride for about a month and some brands/models will be difficult to find test bikes for. For around 5,000 and using it for the scenario described above - which bike would you buy?