Commuter bike (Cheap and cheery)
Discussion
Chaps,
I've just read with interest the thread on here about a 42 year old getting on a bike for the first time in 20-something years, and need to ask a similar question ...
I haven't ridden a bike seriously for about 8 years but have just landed a job which is about 12 miles away from where I live. Options to get there are drive (in London rush-hour), tube (expensive and a long way from a tube station) or perhaps get back on a bicycle.
I still have my Peugeot Premiere road bike (it would probably be sneered at on here, but was quite a nice machine when I bought it) but feel that it is a bit "dedicated" for commuting use. It has fragile thin wheels, the riding position is quite canted-forward and it is high geared.
Therefore, I am thinking of getting something a bit more commuter-friendly. I am thinking something more like a mountain bike, with some smoother tyres on it (mountain bikes being stable, low-geared and robust). Does this sound like a sensible suggestion? I want something that isn't totally hard work to push along the road, but which will cope with the rough-and-tumble of commuting without falling to bits. I kind of expect it to be nicked at some time or another, therefore don't want to spend a lot on it - I was thinking of buying second-hand from eBay or the like. Can anyone recommend anywhere else to buy from, or give me some pointers to the sort of thing I should be looking at buying?
I still have a helmet and gloves, but will need to buy some lights. Somehow I will need to be able to transport a laptop on the bike - any suggestions on this?
Thanks. Oh, and wish me luck ...
Oli.
I've just read with interest the thread on here about a 42 year old getting on a bike for the first time in 20-something years, and need to ask a similar question ...
I haven't ridden a bike seriously for about 8 years but have just landed a job which is about 12 miles away from where I live. Options to get there are drive (in London rush-hour), tube (expensive and a long way from a tube station) or perhaps get back on a bicycle.
I still have my Peugeot Premiere road bike (it would probably be sneered at on here, but was quite a nice machine when I bought it) but feel that it is a bit "dedicated" for commuting use. It has fragile thin wheels, the riding position is quite canted-forward and it is high geared.
Therefore, I am thinking of getting something a bit more commuter-friendly. I am thinking something more like a mountain bike, with some smoother tyres on it (mountain bikes being stable, low-geared and robust). Does this sound like a sensible suggestion? I want something that isn't totally hard work to push along the road, but which will cope with the rough-and-tumble of commuting without falling to bits. I kind of expect it to be nicked at some time or another, therefore don't want to spend a lot on it - I was thinking of buying second-hand from eBay or the like. Can anyone recommend anywhere else to buy from, or give me some pointers to the sort of thing I should be looking at buying?
I still have a helmet and gloves, but will need to buy some lights. Somehow I will need to be able to transport a laptop on the bike - any suggestions on this?
Thanks. Oh, and wish me luck ...
Oli.
Shameless plug, if you want something cheap, how about this:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Raleigh-Max-Mou
I may even be able to throw in some road tyres with it.
If your after something better though, ebays not a bad place to start there are an awfull lot of bikes on there. See my Raleigh USA thread for my latest acquisition.
Phill
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Raleigh-Max-Mou
I may even be able to throw in some road tyres with it.
If your after something better though, ebays not a bad place to start there are an awfull lot of bikes on there. See my Raleigh USA thread for my latest acquisition.
Phill
PhillVR6 said:
Shameless plug, if you want something cheap, how about this:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Raleigh-Max-Mou
I may even be able to throw in some road tyres with it.
If your after something better though, ebays not a bad place to start there are an awfull lot of bikes on there. See my Raleigh USA thread for my latest acquisition.
Phill
Phill, http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Raleigh-Max-Mou
I may even be able to throw in some road tyres with it.
If your after something better though, ebays not a bad place to start there are an awfull lot of bikes on there. See my Raleigh USA thread for my latest acquisition.
Phill
Ahhh. Hmmm. Wasn't expecting this. Errr, how much are you expecting the bidding to go up to? And if I said I was 5ft9, would an 18inch frame fit me?
And do you have some mudguards for it?
And where are you? <Looks at eBay thread. Woking. OK, I'm in London.>
And, be honest, would it suit the job in hand?
Oli.
ETA: Forgot to say thanks!
Edited by zcacogp on Friday 16th February 13:41
I'm hoping for bidding to get to around £30 ish.
It would be adequate for your 12mile commute and if you didn't like it you should be able to get your money back on ebay.
I do not have mudguards, I'm 5 foot 8 and can trundle round on the bike comfortably.
However, if you intend to persue cycling as a hobby, I'd spend a bit more and get something like this:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dl
for the simple reason that it will be a lot lighter, all the equipment will work much mpore crisply and it will be althogether more pleasant to ride.
Horses for courses really.
Any queries give me a shout.
Phill
It would be adequate for your 12mile commute and if you didn't like it you should be able to get your money back on ebay.
I do not have mudguards, I'm 5 foot 8 and can trundle round on the bike comfortably.
However, if you intend to persue cycling as a hobby, I'd spend a bit more and get something like this:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dl
for the simple reason that it will be a lot lighter, all the equipment will work much mpore crisply and it will be althogether more pleasant to ride.
Horses for courses really.
Any queries give me a shout.
Phill
I've just rebuilt my old Marin hardtail as a commuting bike.
Set of wide-ish slick tyres was the only real adaptation but I replaced a lot of other worn-out components at the same time.
Its amazing how much quicker it is on tarmac than my off-road machine even though its actually heavier. Pretty much all down to the tyres.
Regarding laptop, I just bung mine in a rucksack. Luckily I haven't come off with the laptop on board (yet!) so if you're going to be doing this regularly you might want to pad it out a bit in case of the occasional spill.
Set of wide-ish slick tyres was the only real adaptation but I replaced a lot of other worn-out components at the same time.
Its amazing how much quicker it is on tarmac than my off-road machine even though its actually heavier. Pretty much all down to the tyres.
Regarding laptop, I just bung mine in a rucksack. Luckily I haven't come off with the laptop on board (yet!) so if you're going to be doing this regularly you might want to pad it out a bit in case of the occasional spill.
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