First time roadey or hybird???? for daily commute

[deanogtv]

Hi Guys

Looking for some advice really, I'm considering taking a job closer to home and fancy cycling the journey in most days. Its 12 miles, 4 of which are country lanes the rest is single carriageway A road which I've cycled on before with no issues with the commuting traffic. Things is I'm an avid mountain who is looking to punt for a commuter bike. The question is do I go for a full out road bike or meet it half way with a Hybrid?? Would the road like be too hash every day or is it the perfect tool for the job??
I've never owned either and have only ever really ridden 'off road'

Also I'm looking for a decent every level bike as cash is tight at the mo however once I have my feet in the door at the new job I can opt into the cycle to work scheme and get something i little better

[Rolls]

Cyclocross bike could well be the key...
(I commute 13 miles each way with one on slicks)- slightly more upright than an out and out road bike, loads of clearance for guards etc...

[Accelebrate]

Rolls said:

Cyclocross bike could well be the key...
(I commute 13 miles each way with one on slicks)- slightly more upright than an out and out road bike, loads of clearance for guards etc...

I was just about to say that, something like this...

http://www.totalfitnessbath.co.uk/Specialized-Tric...

[anonymous-user]

cx bike makes sense but get a proper one...

i'd still go for a full on roadie though, you'll find you want to go out for longer rides and enjoy it, even as a die hard mtber... sure you can do that on a cx bike but its a compromise.

However, if attacking the local singletrack, rupps, by ways and things appeals, go for the cx bike, they are hugely capable off road and are much more than the "rugged road bikes" that people assume they are... if you cant see yourself doing that and opting for the mtb for all things loose surface, go for a full on roadie.

[bert11]

Difficult situation really...

If you go with hybrid, then get 'into' road cycling, then buy a road bike, you will feel just how good the road bike is.

However, If you go with a road bike from-the-off, you have little to compare it with and might not think it was the best decision...

Defo get the road bike though

[Accelebrate]

I guess it also depends on how often you'll be commuting, if you're doing it every day including through the winter/snow/ice you'll probably want something that won't restrict your tyre choices and luggage carrying abilities.

[DrMekon]

What you need is both - CX for the commute and something light and skinny for proper rides.

HTH.

[deanogtv]

Thanks for the heads up guys, I start next month and will prob break myself in easy possibly 3 times a week and will only do it till Oct max. The more I think about it a hybrid more be better for me and if I get into it I can always upgrade through the c2w scheme

[Gumstabber]

I've got two mountain bikes for proper riding. I've been commuting on an old hybrid since October and am now about to upgrade....to another hybrid a Boardman team version. Carefully considered all variations, roadbikes, Cx, etc but one of my over-riding wants on the new bike was discs because the rim brakes have been such a pain over the winter months. The team comes with hydraulics which is even better.

So I'm completely with you on the hybrid thing and I still wouldn't swap mountain biking for road riding!

[964Cup]

Get a sportive/gran fondo roadie. I started commuting on a hybrid, then took up road cycling for pleasure, and now take the roadie to commute even if it's filthy weather because I can't bear the weight, slack responses and sit-up-and-begness of the hybrid. Avoid full-on racing machinery because the riding position will be too aggressive and the ride too stiff. Get a compact chainset if your ride is hilly and expect to upgrade the wheelset if you're buying at the "affordable" end of the market. There's lots of reasonably-priced used bikes on Bike Radar.

[oyster]

I'm amazed at all the support for CX bikes on here.

They are designed for cyclocross racing - conditions far removed from tarmac commuting. What is the point having drop bars that you'll almost never use because you won't be racing?

And the same to disc brakes. In the dry with fairly fat tyres on my commuter bike I can lock up the rear with ease. In the wet the front can lock too, even with reduced rim grip. The tyres are the limiting factor, not the brakes, so why would anyone need more powerful brakes?

[donfisher]

oyster said:

The tyres are the limiting factor, not the brakes, so why would anyone need more powerful brakes?

It's more to do with not having to clean all the cr4p off the rims once the rainy season starts I'd have thought.

[Accelebrate]

Rim brakes are a pain if you don't have time to clean your bike regularly, I've worn a couple of sets of rims thin due to the added abrasion of road crud in the winter, and I'm forever replacing brake pads. Colleagues who commute similar distances with disk brakes have far less maintenance.

[oyster]

donfisher said:

oyster said:

The tyres are the limiting factor, not the brakes, so why would anyone need more powerful brakes?

It's more to do with not having to clean all the cr4p off the rims once the rainy season starts I'd have thought.

It doesn't need to be cleaned all that often.
Unless you're running super expensive wheels, replacing damaged brake discs will cost as much as replacing damaged wheels anyway.

And given the filth that attaches itself to the hubs on my bike in the winter, I'd be amazed if brake discs are really much cleaner than rims.

Discs are just a shiny gadget that adds no performance benefit for 99.9% of the time. I guess if you've spent the money on them then you feel the need to justify them.

[oyster]

Accelebrate said:

Rim brakes are a pain if you don't have time to clean your bike regularly, I've worn a couple of sets of rims thin due to the added abrasion of road crud in the winter, and I'm forever replacing brake pads. Colleagues who commute similar distances with disk brakes have far less maintenance.

I can only go on my experience, which is front brake pads that last an average of 3,500 kms per pair and rear pads that have done 7,000 kms and still have a bit left on them. And I pass 140 sets of lights each day, so do a fair bit of braking.

[Accelebrate]

Disc brakes pretty much self clean, and I'm not sure how the cost of a new rotor can be compared to a wheel set.

oyster said:

I can only go on my experience, which is front brake pads that last an average of 3,500 kms per pair and rear pads that have done 7,000 kms and still have a bit left on them. And I pass 140 sets of lights each day, so do a fair bit of braking.

I would genuinely be interested to hear what sort of brakes and pads they are? I've used all sorts of admittedly cheap pads (mostly SuperStar recently) and usually get through a couple of sets each winter. Maybe cheap pads are the issue?

Edited by Accelebrate on Wednesday 27th February 17:41

[garrykiller]

I did a similar thing in July last year and went with a hybrid. 2 weeks ago I brought my first roadie to do the same commute plus long distances. Now I have 2 bike so worked out nicely.

[Rolls]

Agree with the comments on discs- by far preferable on a communting bike IMO - make life much much easier as they don't need constant fettling like rim based brakes, and the pads / discs last forever in comparison.

Agree on a power disc vs rim brake - there isn't anything in it - its purley more a convienence thing :-)

[Rolls]

oyster said:

I can only go on my experience, which is front brake pads that last an average of 3,500 kms per pair and rear pads that have done 7,000 kms and still have a bit left on them. And I pass 140 sets of lights each day, so do a fair bit of braking.

Thats very impressing then, as I go through a set of pads every 3 months at best on my cross bike (rim braked) whilst commuting - 76 sets of lights each way :-)
Also IME there is a noticable difference between braking on clean rims rather than ste covered ones!

[bert11]

garrykiller said:

I did a similar thing in July last year and went with a hybrid. 2 weeks ago I brought my first roadie to do the same commute plus long distances. Now I have 2 bike so worked out nicely.

ya same, and the feeling of going from hybrid to roady is gurt lush