Cycle or drive to work

[macp]

SWMBO and I need a car each no doubt about it but I started to think maybe I should get a cycle and a car within my meagre 1200 quid budget.Its only about 4mls to work and I am becoming more rotund as I get into my early 40`s.I know I can do that no prob on something fast and light so thinking of a road bike maybe like a Claud Butler Echelon but we are looking at a minimum of 500 quid for a relatively decent road bike.Means the car budget is slashed to around 700 though and there are no feckin showers in our building.

Anybody else doing this or had similar thoughts.

[Deluded]

At the moment I live around 10 miles from work. I try to cycle 2 times a week (weather permitting). I find it pretty easy now i've been doing it for about 2 months. Takes me around 45-50mins.

We have put an application in for a house that is around 4 miles from my work so hopefully will be in early next month. I will be cycling everyday (weather permitting) and am tempted to sell the car and buy a very cheap, small run around. Something like a Cinquecento/Seicento. Just something that can sit there all week and not cost me much on insurance & Tax whilst it's not being used.

4 miles is nothing. 15-20mins, if that. Just do it.

£500 for a bike is a bit excessive though imo. Especially just one for 4 miles to work and back a day. There are some amazing bargains on ebay. That £500 bike will soon become £200 and in just as good nick. I run a Fuji Nevada 4.0 running road slicks. Does exactly what I want and can swap the tyres if I decide to do some off road cycling. Definatly worth having a look at hybrids rather than just a road bike.

Edited by Deluded on Sunday 16th May 09:49

[sday12]

Great in the summer.

PITA some days in the winter, especially if you have no other option.

Sometimes quicker if in town.

[heebeegeetee]

Yes I tried it once, and when I discovered how car drivers treat cyclists i gave up after 2 days and got back in my car and clogged the roads up along with everyone else.

Having said that, i have changed jobs and i only work 2.9 miles from home and would like to cycle for the exercise, and i think i've managed to find a route (albeit a bit longer) that takes in quiet roads and a park.

So I might give it another go.

[anonymous-user]

If you are looking at a second hand car why not a second hand bike! loads of good ones about!

[magpie215]

Have a look at the Specialized Sirrus the base model is fine for short commutes...one of these will be my next commuting cycle.

[redstu]

Get a cheap second hand bike and see if you take to it first, spending £500 on a bike for work is just a waste IMO.
4 miles is nothing assuming it's not uphill going!
And don't be afraid, I'm getting a bit pissed off with grown men cycling on pavements, it's all about listening and judging what's going to happen.
Do get some proper shorts though it makes cycling much more pleasant, you can even get a flash helmet if you like though I don't bother.

[XitUp]

If I lived less than five miles from work I would probably cycle if the weather was nice. And if I had a bike.

[AnotherClarkey]

Another vote for a half decent 2nd hand bike. You can do 4 miles on anything without even having to get all togged up in lycra. Full length mudguards are a really good idea.

I started from a similar point - approaching 40, rotund, always commuted by car. I switched to the bike last summer, have not looked back and would never go back. Even the winter is no problem, decent clothes and waterproof shoes shrug off any weather.

[kma]

I reckon mountain bikes with front suspension (not rear) are the most versatile because you can pretty much ride them anywhere, so if you need to go up a dirt track or bumpy lane they are excellent. Personally I much prefer the way mountain bikes ride, even on the road, compared to full on road bikes.
When I ride I use a combination of road + pavement because it cuts journey times by loads. Everytime I see someone on a pushbike waiting at red lights I think wtf are you doing, why not cross the road like the other pedestrians and be on your way?

[amare32]

4 miles is nothing - a hybrid bike for £300 should do the trick. Between May - Oct, I cycle 2-3 times a week to work. 16 miles each way takes me 45mins on a fairly flat route. That way, my cardio is done when I'm home so less time is spent in the gym doing cardio and just concentrate with weights.

Can get away with eating more aswell

[sjg]

Four miles is an hour's easy walk which you can do for free.

Else any cheap shonky bike will be fine for getting you there faster - no need to spend hundreds. And no need for showers either - just leave plenty of time and cycle at a nice easy pace. Don't try to race the traffic.

[macp]

Thanks guys I will drop my budget to around 300 but I still think it needs to be fairly lightweight with road tyres.Dont mind 2nd hand but never seem to find anything nearby.

[Merlot]

I'm tempted to cycle, but my route includes a 1:10 hill a mile long which would kill me!

[ewenm]

Merlot said:

I'm tempted to cycle, but my route includes a 1:10 hill a mile long which would kill me!

Or get you fit.

[redstu]

Whatever bike you get make sure the tyres are not to small, they might be quick but you will get a lot of punctures. I used a bike with 700c rims and 25mm tyres for a while, puncture galore !
Inch and a quarter was better , but the current MTb bought from halfords for 308 on a special offer has suffered none so far.

[macp]

Ive currently got a Halfrauds Mogul limited edition MTB.I switched the tyres to Schwalbe road tyres which helps but it still weighs a ton and gears are still all over the place even though they have had it back twice.Once because the crank was shagged from new!!

So Ive done the commute one or two times and I know I can do it but a lot of it is NSL B roads with blind bends.Scary stuff

I had a Dawes Discovery 601 which I flogged to help pay for a family holiday.It was lovely & light with carbon forks.A Rolls Royce in comparison wish I still had it.

[F i F]

Well I'm too far to commute on bike in UK but not in Sweden which is admittedly much more bike friendly. What helps is that the route in is more or less all downhill, or as downhill as Sweden ever gets, so no need for shower on arrival and whilst uphill into the wind all the way home grinds a bit after a hard day but it's not all that uphill apart from one bit so the whole process is a no brainer really.

Except that we are suffering from a spate of thieving pikeys going around nicking bikes by the van load, even when the whole thing is locked down it seems it still doesn't stop them. My Claud Butler went that way last week so from now on it's a cheap snotter with a S-A 3 speed and back pedal brakes for the cycling commute. The trip home uphill will be hard work though. Bastids.

[Deluded]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/FUJI-NEVADA-3-0-GENTS-MOUNTA...

Get some road slicks on that and it will be spot on. Pretty much the bike I have except that has disks all round where as mine came with v-brakes (mines a 4.0). I've converted mine to disk on the rear but kept the front as Vs. Nice and lightweight and good gearing for offroad and onroad with a nice long top gear for fast cruising.

edit -

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/FUJI-ABSOLUTE-LX-GENTS-HYBRI...

spotted that too from the same seller. Might be better for you as it comes ready for the road and is fixed front suspension.

The bikes in places like Halfords are only as good as the numpty that built it. If you insist on buying from a shop, get it from a proper independent retailer. Might be a bit more expensive but will ultimately be a better bike.

Edited by Deluded on Sunday 16th May 15:21

[pbirkett]

sjg said:

Four miles is an hour's easy walk which you can do for free.

Agreed, but I wouldnt say it was an "easy" walk, you make it sound like a stroll - thats pretty fast for a walk, and most people would have a sweat on doing 4mph walk for an hour (I certainly would be!). I'd say you'd end up as sweaty as you would had you cycled.