Dirt cheap commuter
Discussion
Hi all, after some recommendations / thoughts from cyclists more experienced than myself.
I've currently got a Cannondale Topstone 105 that I use for EVERYTHING. 3 years of ownership have put 10,000 miles on it. It's great and I love it. However the bulk of my riding is to and from work in all weathers and I don't want to knock the bowlocks out of it.
I'm looking for a cheap (like really really cheap) road bike that can be pressed into service, saving my "good" bike for best.
Requirements - pannier rack, able to cope with living outside. That's it. Don't care about spec, weight, brand. Purely a hack for work. 7.5 miles each way, dead flat, fenland winds to contend with.
Have seen Barracuda bikes on eBay for the £130 mark, which is about the most I'd really want to spend. I'm fairly sure they're terrible bikes, but I don't really need it to NOT be terrible, as long as it works. Don't seem to have rack mounts though, and some ebay scouring seems to reveal that many road bikes don't facilitate this, which I guess makes sense.
I definitely want drop bars and road gearing - I average 18-20mph on my Topstone.
Presumably secondhand is where it's at, but what should I look for to get what I'm after? Touring rather than road?
Appreciate I'm an idiot and my budget is ridiculous. My alternative idea is to buy a Pinarello Grevil or something equally delicious for best and use the Topstone as my hack, though finances don't really stretch to that just yet.
Thanks in advance
I've currently got a Cannondale Topstone 105 that I use for EVERYTHING. 3 years of ownership have put 10,000 miles on it. It's great and I love it. However the bulk of my riding is to and from work in all weathers and I don't want to knock the bowlocks out of it.
I'm looking for a cheap (like really really cheap) road bike that can be pressed into service, saving my "good" bike for best.
Requirements - pannier rack, able to cope with living outside. That's it. Don't care about spec, weight, brand. Purely a hack for work. 7.5 miles each way, dead flat, fenland winds to contend with.
Have seen Barracuda bikes on eBay for the £130 mark, which is about the most I'd really want to spend. I'm fairly sure they're terrible bikes, but I don't really need it to NOT be terrible, as long as it works. Don't seem to have rack mounts though, and some ebay scouring seems to reveal that many road bikes don't facilitate this, which I guess makes sense.
I definitely want drop bars and road gearing - I average 18-20mph on my Topstone.
Presumably secondhand is where it's at, but what should I look for to get what I'm after? Touring rather than road?
Appreciate I'm an idiot and my budget is ridiculous. My alternative idea is to buy a Pinarello Grevil or something equally delicious for best and use the Topstone as my hack, though finances don't really stretch to that just yet.
Thanks in advance
As above, look on ebay. When I was looking for a cheap bike I picked up a Giant hybrid in excelllent condition for £70.
Look for auctions that end at awkward times, when people are less likely to be at their computer, and don't bid until the last few seconds. The bike I bought was ending at 9am on a monday morning, and so I ended up being the only bidder.
Look for auctions that end at awkward times, when people are less likely to be at their computer, and don't bid until the last few seconds. The bike I bought was ending at 9am on a monday morning, and so I ended up being the only bidder.
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