commuter bike recommendation
Discussion
I have just moved 15 miles away from work and am looking to commute by bicycle.
budget at the moment is limited to £350 so will likely be 2nd hand, I'm 6'1 and the commute will take me up Highgate hill so space for oxygen tanks and defibrillator required.
my last bike was a Carerra Subway which I used for an 8 mile commute, London to Brighton, Oxford to Cambridge etc and since has rusted to s
t from being left outside and disinterest but I would like a lighter and more efficient bike now.
Can anyone suggest a bike and possible links
budget at the moment is limited to £350 so will likely be 2nd hand, I'm 6'1 and the commute will take me up Highgate hill so space for oxygen tanks and defibrillator required.
my last bike was a Carerra Subway which I used for an 8 mile commute, London to Brighton, Oxford to Cambridge etc and since has rusted to s
t from being left outside and disinterest but I would like a lighter and more efficient bike now.Can anyone suggest a bike and possible links
Should be do-able in your price range, will be reasonably light etc...
Of course, you'd love a carbon road bike, but they're likely to be out of budget..
Discs : because once setup they;re essentially maintenance free ime, especially for commuting. I'd love discs on my commuter. I get sick of changing pads..
I changed the pads on my trek once in 3 years comuting in all weathers. I change the pads on my cross bike every 3 months at monst
Of course, you'd love a carbon road bike, but they're likely to be out of budget..
Discs : because once setup they;re essentially maintenance free ime, especially for commuting. I'd love discs on my commuter. I get sick of changing pads..
I changed the pads on my trek once in 3 years comuting in all weathers. I change the pads on my cross bike every 3 months at monst
Rolls said:
Should be do-able in your price range, will be reasonably light etc...
Of course, you'd love a carbon road bike, but they're likely to be out of budget..
Discs : because once setup they;re essentially maintenance free ime, especially for commuting. I'd love discs on my commuter. I get sick of changing pads..
I changed the pads on my trek once in 3 years comuting in all weathers. I change the pads on my cross bike every 3 months at monst
I have seen Specialized Sirrus in budget? not discs but good components / frame?Of course, you'd love a carbon road bike, but they're likely to be out of budget..
Discs : because once setup they;re essentially maintenance free ime, especially for commuting. I'd love discs on my commuter. I get sick of changing pads..
I changed the pads on my trek once in 3 years comuting in all weathers. I change the pads on my cross bike every 3 months at monst
http://www.cyclesurgery.com/pws/UniqueProductKey.i...
Rolls said:
Ideally a hybrid or cross bike with discs if do-able in your price range...
I would totally agree with this.People may well be along shortly to tell you that with the width of the average road tyre, rim brakes work perfectly well, and disc brakes are an unnecessary additional weight. I would argue that these are people who ride mostly for pleasure, and don't tend to ride much in the rain. Rim brakes are fine for occasional use in the rain but you categorically do not want them on an all weather daily commuter.
I started commuting 15 miles each way into Central London on an old road bike, and was replacing the pads every 4-6 weeks in winter, as the crap on the roads just turned them into mush almost instantly. Add to this the fact that over time they grind the rims away, and the amount of crap that you'll get all over your hands, clothes and just about everywhere else if you have to fix a puncture, and you'll rapidly decide that they absolutely are not a long term commuting option.
I've subsequently bought a Boardman CX Pro, and the difference is night and day. I'm still on the same set of pads after 1,650 miles and a full winter, and the wheels basically keep themselves clean and don't wear every time I hit the brakes. There's also no noticeable deterioration in braking power in the rain either. It's definitely the tyres that lose traction first, whereas with the rim brakes they'd often not have enough power in them to lock up the wheels even in the pissing rain.
I'd go for a hybrid or CX bike rather than a mountain bike just because they're lighter and faster, so you're more likely to find you're doing the ride in an acceptable time. If your ride is anything like mine (81 sets of traffic lights!!!), then you'll be constantly slowing down and speeding up as well, so will want something fairly responsive.
Whatever you get, however, if it's for riding in all weathers, make sure you keep enough money back for a set of decent mudguards (around £30), as these make an enormous difference to how (un)pleasant cycling in the rain can be.
Have a look at the Revolution range from Edinburgh Bicycles.
Good components, good reviews, good value for a commuter hack.
I would definitely go for disc brakes if you can - it's the only thing I'd really change about my current commuter.
This is slightly above budget but is obviously brand new:
http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/products/revolutio...
Also consider a Hoy (a fair bit above budget thought):
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/hoy/shizuoka-0...
Good components, good reviews, good value for a commuter hack.
I would definitely go for disc brakes if you can - it's the only thing I'd really change about my current commuter.
This is slightly above budget but is obviously brand new:
http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/products/revolutio...
Also consider a Hoy (a fair bit above budget thought):
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/hoy/shizuoka-0...
Kermit power said:
I would totally agree with this.
People may well be along shortly to tell you that with the width of the average road tyre, rim brakes work perfectly well, and disc brakes are an unnecessary additional weight. I would argue that these are people who ride mostly for pleasure, and don't tend to ride much in the rain. Rim brakes are fine for occasional use in the rain but you categorically do not want them on an all weather daily commuter.
I started commuting 15 miles each way into Central London on an old road bike, and was replacing the pads every 4-6 weeks in winter, as the crap on the roads just turned them into mush almost instantly. Add to this the fact that over time they grind the rims away, and the amount of crap that you'll get all over your hands, clothes and just about everywhere else if you have to fix a puncture, and you'll rapidly decide that they absolutely are not a long term commuting option.
I've subsequently bought a Boardman CX Pro, and the difference is night and day. I'm still on the same set of pads after 1,650 miles and a full winter, and the wheels basically keep themselves clean and don't wear every time I hit the brakes. There's also no noticeable deterioration in braking power in the rain either. It's definitely the tyres that lose traction first, whereas with the rim brakes they'd often not have enough power in them to lock up the wheels even in the pissing rain.
I'd go for a hybrid or CX bike rather than a mountain bike just because they're lighter and faster, so you're more likely to find you're doing the ride in an acceptable time. If your ride is anything like mine (81 sets of traffic lights!!!), then you'll be constantly slowing down and speeding up as well, so will want something fairly responsive.
Whatever you get, however, if it's for riding in all weathers, make sure you keep enough money back for a set of decent mudguards (around £30), as these make an enormous difference to how (un)pleasant cycling in the rain can be.
That sums it up perfectly for me ( I commute 13 miles each way into london each day)!People may well be along shortly to tell you that with the width of the average road tyre, rim brakes work perfectly well, and disc brakes are an unnecessary additional weight. I would argue that these are people who ride mostly for pleasure, and don't tend to ride much in the rain. Rim brakes are fine for occasional use in the rain but you categorically do not want them on an all weather daily commuter.
I started commuting 15 miles each way into Central London on an old road bike, and was replacing the pads every 4-6 weeks in winter, as the crap on the roads just turned them into mush almost instantly. Add to this the fact that over time they grind the rims away, and the amount of crap that you'll get all over your hands, clothes and just about everywhere else if you have to fix a puncture, and you'll rapidly decide that they absolutely are not a long term commuting option.
I've subsequently bought a Boardman CX Pro, and the difference is night and day. I'm still on the same set of pads after 1,650 miles and a full winter, and the wheels basically keep themselves clean and don't wear every time I hit the brakes. There's also no noticeable deterioration in braking power in the rain either. It's definitely the tyres that lose traction first, whereas with the rim brakes they'd often not have enough power in them to lock up the wheels even in the pissing rain.
I'd go for a hybrid or CX bike rather than a mountain bike just because they're lighter and faster, so you're more likely to find you're doing the ride in an acceptable time. If your ride is anything like mine (81 sets of traffic lights!!!), then you'll be constantly slowing down and speeding up as well, so will want something fairly responsive.
Whatever you get, however, if it's for riding in all weathers, make sure you keep enough money back for a set of decent mudguards (around £30), as these make an enormous difference to how (un)pleasant cycling in the rain can be.
So essentially:
Discs
Mudguards
Don't scrimp on tyres: get something with decent puncture protection
Means you can then spend the £10 daily train fare on bike bits instead.. (this is how it works, right?)
Actually, Rolls makes a good point about train fare.
Does your employer offer a Cycle to Work scheme? If they do, this provides you with 12 months' interest free credit, and the payments come out of your salary before tax, not after.
Once you take this and what you would otherwise be spending on fuel or train tickets into account - especially if you're a higher rate tax payer - you may well find your can double your budget or more and still have more cash in your pocket at the end of each month than would otherwise have been the case.
Does your employer offer a Cycle to Work scheme? If they do, this provides you with 12 months' interest free credit, and the payments come out of your salary before tax, not after.
Once you take this and what you would otherwise be spending on fuel or train tickets into account - especially if you're a higher rate tax payer - you may well find your can double your budget or more and still have more cash in your pocket at the end of each month than would otherwise have been the case.
A hybrid is a road biased bike with an off-road position, so you get narrower tyres and an upright position.
They're a bit of an odd fish, really- not that good for anything.
If you want a town bike, then get a town bike - it'll be a lot more fun.
For the sort of commute you are talking about then something like the Allez would be good- I'd second the "get mudguards" advice, and to be honest, discs are nice - but not essential.
I'd add a rack and some panniers - just one pannier will do for laptop, folded shirt, pair of strides and some socks, plus tube/pump/multi-tool, and it makes a big difference getting that lot off your back and onto the bike.
I commute ~10 miles each way on this (and do my mid-week training):
It has mudguards, and the front hub is a dynamo, which powers the bolted on lights.
That said, I've got this for when it's truly horrendous:
Which has the disc brakes that people are recommending (and rack!)
They're a bit of an odd fish, really- not that good for anything.
If you want a town bike, then get a town bike - it'll be a lot more fun.
For the sort of commute you are talking about then something like the Allez would be good- I'd second the "get mudguards" advice, and to be honest, discs are nice - but not essential.
I'd add a rack and some panniers - just one pannier will do for laptop, folded shirt, pair of strides and some socks, plus tube/pump/multi-tool, and it makes a big difference getting that lot off your back and onto the bike.
I commute ~10 miles each way on this (and do my mid-week training):
It has mudguards, and the front hub is a dynamo, which powers the bolted on lights.
That said, I've got this for when it's truly horrendous:
Which has the disc brakes that people are recommending (and rack!)
I wouldn't buy an Allez personally, but you may want to look at the Boardman CX Comp from Halfords - £600 at RRP and we can get you money off that. Discs, mudguard mounts, space for wider/puncture-resistant tyres, drop bars... good bike.
Failing that a Triban 500SE from Decathlon plus a set of Roadracer mudguards - £450 for both, bingo.
Failing that a Triban 500SE from Decathlon plus a set of Roadracer mudguards - £450 for both, bingo.
You wont get a very good CX for £350 and I doubt it will have disks at that price. If it did they'd be Avid BB5s which require lots of tweaking. I know guys who absolutley hate them and constantly go back to the shop to get them adjusted. I bought a bike with BB7s on and they're now in an envelope ready to post to anyone who wants to pay £25 for them! I fitted hydraulics which are ace and I cant wait for CX season to start again.
I do occasionally take the CX on my commute but only becasue it means I can take the canal towpath and avoid a couple of miles of road. If my wife wants to ride the CX then I'll take my Boardman Team and hit the road. Its quick but it only takes 23mm tyres and little scope for mudguards.
I used to have a Marin hybrid but the Team is much faster. My colleague has just moved from a Sirrus to a Scott CR1 and again, much faster.
If you want a really comfortable long distance endurance bike with clearance for mudguards and larger tyres without the compact racey CX stance then bikes like the Cannondale Synapse or Spec Roubaix are what you need. They are just that bit more relaxed but still have lots of speed potential. My lad has one like this but his is 48cm so I cant ride it.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Cannondale-Synapse-Alloy...
One of his friends has the BTwin Triban 5 which is a fantastic spec bike too for rock bottom price.
I do occasionally take the CX on my commute but only becasue it means I can take the canal towpath and avoid a couple of miles of road. If my wife wants to ride the CX then I'll take my Boardman Team and hit the road. Its quick but it only takes 23mm tyres and little scope for mudguards.
I used to have a Marin hybrid but the Team is much faster. My colleague has just moved from a Sirrus to a Scott CR1 and again, much faster.
If you want a really comfortable long distance endurance bike with clearance for mudguards and larger tyres without the compact racey CX stance then bikes like the Cannondale Synapse or Spec Roubaix are what you need. They are just that bit more relaxed but still have lots of speed potential. My lad has one like this but his is 48cm so I cant ride it.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Cannondale-Synapse-Alloy...
One of his friends has the BTwin Triban 5 which is a fantastic spec bike too for rock bottom price.
Kermit power said:
I started commuting 15 miles each way into Central London on an old road bike, and was replacing the pads every 4-6 weeks in winter, as the crap on the roads just turned them into mush almost instantly. Add to this the fact that over time they grind the rims away, and the amount of crap that you'll get all over your hands, clothes and just about everywhere else if you have to fix a puncture, and you'll rapidly decide that they absolutely are not a long term commuting option.
What on earth were you doing to them?!? I get thousands of miles to a set of pads under those exact circumstances.Mr Will said:
Kermit power said:
I started commuting 15 miles each way into Central London on an old road bike, and was replacing the pads every 4-6 weeks in winter, as the crap on the roads just turned them into mush almost instantly. Add to this the fact that over time they grind the rims away, and the amount of crap that you'll get all over your hands, clothes and just about everywhere else if you have to fix a puncture, and you'll rapidly decide that they absolutely are not a long term commuting option.
What on earth were you doing to them?!? I get thousands of miles to a set of pads under those exact circumstances.ETA - and also not cleaning the rims after every ride because life's too bloody short!
Kermit power said:
Slowing around 140kgs of me, bike and kit from around 17-18mph for various of 80+ sets of traffic lights, a handful of roundabouts and God only knows how many utter planks turning across the bike lane into and out of central London on a regular basis.
ETA - and also not cleaning the rims after every ride because life's too bloody short!
my commute is way further than yours and I struggle to see how pads could last just 4 weeks!!! ETA - and also not cleaning the rims after every ride because life's too bloody short!
I bet you were buying cheap pads or don't anticipate things very well! Swisstop pads are excellent in the wet and last ages btw
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