Short commute to work - bike dilemma

[Viperzs]

Hi all,

I am going to start cycling to work shortly but have a bike dilemma. I currently have 3 bikes. 1) Cube Agree GTC, 105 with Xentis wheels. 2) Kona Kula Watt. 3) Ghost AMR 7500 full sus.

The commute is a mix of cycle path and road use and probably about 5 miles each way. I am reluctant to use the Cube due to the value of the bike with the wheels, I don't think the Ghost is perfectly suitable so that leaves me with the Kona. Not too bad an idea but still a little slow on MTB wheels and tyres (even low tread ones).

Do I man up and use the Kona or use n+1 and get a CAADX Ultegra in US Army green?

[CoolC]

You know the correct answer, so go get it bought.

[Kermit power]

It's only 5 miles! You could stick slicks on the Kona and maybe be a couple of minutes slower than you would be on the new bike.

[m444ttb]

N+1 is always the answer! I cycle a similar distance (about 11km) over a mixture of road, Tarmac cycle path and gravel cycle track and my CAADX Tiagra has been great. Does the Ultegra model come with mechanical discs? That's one thing I wish mine had.

[scherzkeks]

Viperzs said:

Hi all,

I am going to start cycling to work shortly but have a bike dilemma. I currently have 3 bikes. 1) Cube Agree GTC, 105 with Xentis wheels. 2) Kona Kula Watt. 3) Ghost AMR 7500 full sus.

The commute is a mix of cycle path and road use and probably about 5 miles each way. I am reluctant to use the Cube due to the value of the bike with the wheels, I don't think the Ghost is perfectly suitable so that leaves me with the Kona. Not too bad an idea but still a little slow on MTB wheels and tyres (even low tread ones).

Do I man up and use the Kona or use n+1 and get a CAADX Ultegra in US Army green?

You are riding 5 miles. Buy an old steel beater or ride one of the two entirely suitable bikes you already own.

[bakerstreet]

Viperzs said:

Hi all,

I am going to start cycling to work shortly but have a bike dilemma. I currently have 3 bikes. 1) Cube Agree GTC, 105 with Xentis wheels. 2) Kona Kula Watt. 3) Ghost AMR 7500 full sus.

The commute is a mix of cycle path and road use and probably about 5 miles each way. I am reluctant to use the Cube due to the value of the bike with the wheels, I don't think the Ghost is perfectly suitable so that leaves me with the Kona. Not too bad an idea but still a little slow on MTB wheels and tyres (even low tread ones).

Do I man up and use the Kona or use n+1 and get a CAADX Ultegra in US Army green?

I'd get the Caad. They are great looking bikes. I've ridden a friends one and thought it was actually marginally better than my Carbon Planet X bike. I'd probably ditch the knobblies in favor of something like the Continental Sped King, which has a mud tread on the side and light tread in the middle.

[Daveyraveygravey]

Or...man up, and make it worth getting the good bike out. 5 miles is what, 20 minutes max? In winter it can take that long to get all the kit together. Make it an hour and you can have a warm up and do some good intervals.

[lufbramatt]

I used to have a similar commute, used my old Orange evo2 with 1.9" schwalbe cityjet tyres, ate up kerbs, drain covers etc with ease and was ok on the occasional diversion through the woods on nice evenings. Disc brakes were great in the wet too. Much preferred it to commuting on my road bike.

[The_Jackal]

It's only 5 miles, surely no "manning up" is required to just get the Kona out of the garage and ride to work without a second thought.

[troc]

I commute a similar distance on the same basic type bike as everyone in Holland uses for that sort of distance. Something old, heavy, ultra stable and old. I wear my work clothes. Like everyone else. My bike weighs 22kg has a lovely slack head tube. I can practically read a paper whist riding. Great for texting!


Man up and Keep the good stuff for what it's designed for. If you need to n+1 the. This is a perfect opportunity to add a Dutch-style bike to your collection of course.

The hassle with putting any bike specific gear for such a short distance is just not worth it. Just some waterproofs if ncessary. Flat pedals. Comfy saddle. Decent podcasts to listen to. Easy. I do it every day. Rain or shine.

[Viperzs]

The_Jackal said:

It's only 5 miles, surely no "manning up" is required to just get the Kona out of the garage and ride to work without a second thought.

My main worry is the value of the current bikes. If they got nicked from work or damaged on the ride then I'm essentially £3k down on any of those bikes :/

I do quite like the idea of making the commute into even more of a ride though, amazing thought!

[lufbramatt]

A CAADX ultegra is still a £1500 bike though! Surely if it getting nicked is an issue then get down to Halfords for a £200 jobbie?

[TwistingMyMelon]

Single speed for under £200 if it was me, having said that punctures are a complete pita on mine and ironically I spent more time than any other bike I've had maintaining it, so Ive stopped using it for a bit

Kona Dew or similar hybrid for £300, or an old school rigid MTB are the best all round commuters i've had, flat bar hybrids that can handle 35c tyres and gravel tracks are great all rounders.

Ive started commuting on my nicer bikes again, I miss leaving them outside shops and not worrying about it and hitting potholes and thinking "that sounds expensive"

Personally I'd just do it on the bikes you have and then see if it necessitates a new bike

Edited by TwistingMyMelon on Wednesday 30th March 10:56

[Daveyraveygravey]

Viperzs said:

My main worry is the value of the current bikes. If they got nicked from work or damaged on the ride then I'm essentially £3k down on any of those bikes :/

I do quite like the idea of making the commute into even more of a ride though, amazing thought!

It works for me, although I admit I only commute 2-3 times a week in the winter months; if I feel I have to ride every day it becomes more of a chore than fun. I love being out and about when most people are still tucked up in bed; this morning I did hill repeats and managed 2000 feet of climbing in about 15 miles. I passed a dog walker on my last climb, he said "Ah, hill sprints" and I mumbled "not any more..."

[strattonkillick]

Brompton, no worries about leaving it at work as it can sit under your desk.

[anonymous-user]

For that terrain you need at least a Paris Roubaix S works
Failing that, a Brompton is more than capable