London commuter for under £1k. Road or hybrid?
Discussion
Now I know this is the question that seems to divide people, and the more compelling responses I've read seem to say that for road cycling, buy a road bike.
So my question really is, does this also apply to commuting in London and the challenges that presents - potholes, heavy traffic, the need to have good visibility, the need for a more sturdy bike that can take the abuse?
I currently cycle 10 miles each way on a carerra mountain bike with road tyres, and it's feeling pretty awful now. So I'm looking to replace with something I am hoping will make the journey quicker and more satisfying. I need to have a pannier rack, which will exclude some road bikes, but I'm not sure which way to go, so any advice is welcome.
So my question really is, does this also apply to commuting in London and the challenges that presents - potholes, heavy traffic, the need to have good visibility, the need for a more sturdy bike that can take the abuse?
I currently cycle 10 miles each way on a carerra mountain bike with road tyres, and it's feeling pretty awful now. So I'm looking to replace with something I am hoping will make the journey quicker and more satisfying. I need to have a pannier rack, which will exclude some road bikes, but I'm not sure which way to go, so any advice is welcome.
Ive had all 3 (mountain bike , roadie and hybrid) and used them on 10-15 urban & rural commutes
Hybrids are great in traffic/urban situations, quick and simple. Less fine tuning and "fitting" needed than a full bike roadie and easier to manoeuvre and filter . Simples...job done!
But I found as soon as I got on the open road, away from start/stop urban the downsides of a hybrid were obvious and I missed roadie. But the more upright position is easier for observing obstacles
Roadies are a bit more intimidating @ first in traffic and can be harder to master (at first) , lots of riders don't actually use the drops , which is one of the main advantages!! I also find they require more setting up if you have any back or knee issues to get everything just right.
But on the plus side, you can exploit a roadie for a lot more speed than a hybrid and the multitude of handlebar positions (hoods, drops etc) make them more accommodating and comfy when setup properly.
If you enjoy pushing hard I'd get a roadie, if you just want no hassle A-B urban riding I'd get a hybrid.
Hybrids are great in traffic/urban situations, quick and simple. Less fine tuning and "fitting" needed than a full bike roadie and easier to manoeuvre and filter . Simples...job done!
But I found as soon as I got on the open road, away from start/stop urban the downsides of a hybrid were obvious and I missed roadie. But the more upright position is easier for observing obstacles
Roadies are a bit more intimidating @ first in traffic and can be harder to master (at first) , lots of riders don't actually use the drops , which is one of the main advantages!! I also find they require more setting up if you have any back or knee issues to get everything just right.
But on the plus side, you can exploit a roadie for a lot more speed than a hybrid and the multitude of handlebar positions (hoods, drops etc) make them more accommodating and comfy when setup properly.
If you enjoy pushing hard I'd get a roadie, if you just want no hassle A-B urban riding I'd get a hybrid.
I personally find it easier to filter on the road bike - the bars are 20cm narrower for a start - though the main reason for drops is that you have a choice of positions. But up to half an hour that's immaterial.
Hybrid covers a wide range: MTBs with slick tyres, full road bikes with flat bars, and everything in between. As I said earlier - for me, that distance, I'd have a Hoy Shizuoka, the one with the 1x8 hub gears for about £650. If I was planning some longer riders at the weekend there are a million options in the 800-1000 region for road bikes, or the Boardman CX (two models) which will also go off- road (paths and bridle ways).
Hybrid covers a wide range: MTBs with slick tyres, full road bikes with flat bars, and everything in between. As I said earlier - for me, that distance, I'd have a Hoy Shizuoka, the one with the 1x8 hub gears for about £650. If I was planning some longer riders at the weekend there are a million options in the 800-1000 region for road bikes, or the Boardman CX (two models) which will also go off- road (paths and bridle ways).
I bought a hybrid for commuting (only about 5 miles each way), but before too long I found myself heading out for longer rides at weekends etc. I've found it to be pretty good overall, but I get the feeling that it's perhaps less than ideal for longer rides (the upright position is a bit of a pain in headwinds, and the single hand position gets a bit monotonous after a while). My longest ride yet was 57km last Sunday, with quite a few in the 35-50km range, so I'm not going far by the standards of your average road-warrior.
I've bought a roadbike (an older one that I've stripped down and rebuilt, but haven't ridden yet), so it will be interesting to see how much difference it makes on the longer rides. I'll be keeping the hybrid however, as it is perfect for my commute.
I've bought a roadbike (an older one that I've stripped down and rebuilt, but haven't ridden yet), so it will be interesting to see how much difference it makes on the longer rides. I'll be keeping the hybrid however, as it is perfect for my commute.
If I did go hybrid it would be a road biased one rather than MTB. I did actually have a loan Dawes hybrid recently and found the upright seating position horrible as it felt like I wa fighting against the wind the whole time. From what I read the Boardman hybrid has a more aggressive position which would be better.
Are there road biased hybrids that have a seating position very much like a road bike but with flat handles and slightly tougher wheels?
Are there road biased hybrids that have a seating position very much like a road bike but with flat handles and slightly tougher wheels?
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/... ... But I'd have the CX bike...
Gizmoish said:
As I said earlier - for me, that distance, I'd have a Hoy Shizuoka, the one with the 1x8 hub gears for about £650.
I can only find ones with normal cassettes on their site. http://www.hoybikes.com/city
For me the ideal bike would be what you suggested if the hub geared one is available.
IMHO if it’s mainly being used in London to regularly (4 or 5 times a week) then you want that sort of geometry, hub gears and discs to cut down the mess and maintenance in the wet and dark half of the year.
I can’t work out if they have rack mounts but that is also a useful feature not essential though IME.
People can and do use a proper road bike in London and it’s something you do get used to but I make much better progress on average, year round, on my old MTB that has been sort of hybridised than I do on my road bike.
I’m big and fat and while my road bike can cope with it I do find myself wincing when I have to go over some of the rougher sections and I find that every week something needs adjusting or fiddling with. A friend borrowed a 3 speed Brompton for a while and confirmed my own experience that for commuting in London, within zone 4 anyway, you only really need three well chosen ratios. Having 8 ,9 or 10 is nice though if you have any long sections and the wind is with or against you. Reducing the amount of time you need to keep cleaning and fixing the bike each month makes the whole thing a better proposition. Coming back in the rain and dark late and then having to clean the crap off the rims and fiddle with the gears as someone must’ve knocked the derailleur in the bike shed is just a PITA.
Edit
I see you're not planning to so ignore this bit:
However If you were planning to use it to go and do 20 or miles on the weekend as well as the commute I’d be looking at a CX bike.
Planet X XLS cyclocross bike? (Carbon frame, 105 group, disk brakes)
I've been commuting cross country on a MTB for 3 years, then bought a road bike in april which is great for the open road but fiddly in traffic. I sold my old Hybrid last week and bought the Planet X and I'm really liking the compromise. Wider bars, shorter reach so much more chuckable (i.e. like the MTB and I've been doing some proper CX on it too) but still got most of the speed of the road bike. To be honest I'm riding it on nobblies at the moment as I'm doing a couple of miles of mucky canal (and proper CX racing) but I've got a set of 32mm? Schwalbe Marathons ready to go on for a bit of proper street work.
You can buy it as a straight bar bike too...that would be my only query but I'm happy with 44cm drops at the moment as you can get through narrow gaps and I ride on the hoods 95% of the time.
I've been commuting cross country on a MTB for 3 years, then bought a road bike in april which is great for the open road but fiddly in traffic. I sold my old Hybrid last week and bought the Planet X and I'm really liking the compromise. Wider bars, shorter reach so much more chuckable (i.e. like the MTB and I've been doing some proper CX on it too) but still got most of the speed of the road bike. To be honest I'm riding it on nobblies at the moment as I'm doing a couple of miles of mucky canal (and proper CX racing) but I've got a set of 32mm? Schwalbe Marathons ready to go on for a bit of proper street work.
You can buy it as a straight bar bike too...that would be my only query but I'm happy with 44cm drops at the moment as you can get through narrow gaps and I ride on the hoods 95% of the time.
uncinqsix said:
I bought a hybrid for commuting (only about 5 miles each way), but before too long I found myself heading out for longer rides at weekends etc. I've found it to be pretty good overall, but I get the feeling that it's perhaps less than ideal for longer rides (the upright position is a bit of a pain in headwinds, and the single hand position gets a bit monotonous after a while). My longest ride yet was 57km last Sunday, with quite a few in the 35-50km range, so I'm not going far by the standards of your average road-warrior.
I've bought a roadbike (an older one that I've stripped down and rebuilt, but haven't ridden yet), so it will be interesting to see how much difference it makes on the longer rides. I'll be keeping the hybrid however, as it is perfect for my commute.
Sounds just like me...I bought a Specialized crosstrail last october for my 6 mile commute and the odd weekend jaunt on/off road. It's a great bike - very comfortable, but as I'm now more into cycling, especially at the weekends, I've bought a mate's old Wilier...and OMG, commute to work now 5 minutes quicker!!!I've bought a roadbike (an older one that I've stripped down and rebuilt, but haven't ridden yet), so it will be interesting to see how much difference it makes on the longer rides. I'll be keeping the hybrid however, as it is perfect for my commute.
However, saying that, I also still use the crosstrail to nip into town (we live on the outskirts of a city) and for small shopping trips etc. Best thing I ever did was have 2 bikes
For the OP, I would suggest getting a hybrid, but with road biased tyres...If you can't afford carbon forks, get one with front suspension - it really helps when nipping on/off the kerb, riding over potholes etc...
Deanno1dad said:
For the money you want to spend..a carbon Planet X Hybrid would be top of my list..for Traffic congested streets a Hybrid for me best suits.
I've tried it on all versions and the upright riding position gives a quicker reaction time.
I've tried it on all versions and the upright riding position gives a quicker reaction time.
I bought a Planet X flat-bar-road-bike. You can narrow the handlebars (hacksaw) and fiddle with stem height and length so that your hand position on the flat bars is around the same as being on the hoods of a road bike (which is where the vast, vast majority of London commuters who use road bikes keep their hands; even into headwinds 
).Carbon frame to soak up vibration, 8.0kg all-in weight (and that's with the stock heavy/cheap wheels), very fast.
12 months of daily commuting in London and not a single problem. Wheels untouched and still true.I have a strong preference for flat bars for London commuting but they don't mean you are obligated to be sitting up in the wind, or sitting on a heavy bike.
That said, the current offering is based on a heavier CX bike now, rather than the Pro Carbon road bike that mine is:
http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/CBPXXLSFB/plan...
BaronVonVaderham said:
Mountain bike because then you can also use it to have fun at the weeekends instead of just learning how to 'train' (
) on a roadie.
Also you won't won't feel compelled to shave your legs or buy s
te with pink trim from rapha 
The downside to a mountain bike is that you'll end up walking slightly lob-sided due to the weight of the massive chip on your shoulder...) on a roadie. Also you won't won't feel compelled to shave your legs or buy s
te with pink trim from rapha donfisher said:
I can only find ones with normal cassettes on their site.
http://www.hoybikes.com/city
For me the ideal bike would be what you suggested if the hub geared one is available.
IMHO if it’s mainly being used in London to regularly (4 or 5 times a week) then you want that sort of geometry, hub gears and discs to cut down the mess and maintenance in the wet and dark half of the year.
I can’t work out if they have rack mounts but that is also a useful feature not essential though IME.
That looks like stonking value. It has rack mount points too according to the description.http://www.hoybikes.com/city
For me the ideal bike would be what you suggested if the hub geared one is available.
IMHO if it’s mainly being used in London to regularly (4 or 5 times a week) then you want that sort of geometry, hub gears and discs to cut down the mess and maintenance in the wet and dark half of the year.
I can’t work out if they have rack mounts but that is also a useful feature not essential though IME.
For a London commuter you want reliability, low maintenance, decent strength (wheels in particular) and the ability to fit rack and guards.
Personally I'd also go for disc-brakes so that if a wheel does go out of true it doesn't make the bike unusable (and your wheels will wear less quickly, reducing costs).
You don't need 28 million gears. You don't really need drop bars (if you want them, I'd suggest CX style dual brake levers on the top bar - but then you're adding to potential maintenance).
You also really want to consider buying a bike that is unnattractive to thieves - the "big brand" names are very easily sold on.
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