Road bike for commuting
Discussion
I've been using a hardtail mtb for commuting a little bit, and I want to upgrade to a road bike - I have a Specialized Allez elite from a few years ago that would work well, but it doesn't have the mountings in order to have a pannier rack installed.
Just been perusing eBay to see what is available s/h, as whilst its a commuter bike, and to be left outside work I don't want to have a flash new bike - I can't seem to find much that has pannier mounts on the rear of the frame. It might not help that I need a bloody big frame, as I'm 6ft4......any suggestions or help please?
Just been perusing eBay to see what is available s/h, as whilst its a commuter bike, and to be left outside work I don't want to have a flash new bike - I can't seem to find much that has pannier mounts on the rear of the frame. It might not help that I need a bloody big frame, as I'm 6ft4......any suggestions or help please?
Yes - this:
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/helium-27l-trail-backp...
I was trying to find the one I've got but it looks like it's been discontinued. But anyway, I used one of the Decathlon backpacks for two years' London commuting, 11 miles each way per day, and it was perfect. You're a lot more manoueverable than with panniers, and it means you can use your existing bike. Just make sure you get one of the ones with a chest and a waist strap so that you're spreading the load.
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/helium-27l-trail-backp...
I was trying to find the one I've got but it looks like it's been discontinued. But anyway, I used one of the Decathlon backpacks for two years' London commuting, 11 miles each way per day, and it was perfect. You're a lot more manoueverable than with panniers, and it means you can use your existing bike. Just make sure you get one of the ones with a chest and a waist strap so that you're spreading the load.
My search for a non-flash commuting bike sent me in a different direction... https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
My 2009 Allez has mudguard and pannier mounts, but I thought it might be too flash to leave locked up in Croydon. You could try and look for one of those frames or I'd guess any earlier allez would also have them - handily you only need the frame as you have all the other bits. I think it was right after in model year 2010 they stopped having the bosses on the frame.
My 2009 Allez has mudguard and pannier mounts, but I thought it might be too flash to leave locked up in Croydon. You could try and look for one of those frames or I'd guess any earlier allez would also have them - handily you only need the frame as you have all the other bits. I think it was right after in model year 2010 they stopped having the bosses on the frame.
Would a seatpost rack be suitable for what you have?
http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bike-accessories/b...
Just as a starter, no personal experience...
http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bike-accessories/b...
Just as a starter, no personal experience...
I can absolutely use a backpack, of which I already have one that I could use - I prefer to use a set of panniers for my kit if possible.
The seatpost mounted rack may work, but they are limited on weight, which again is the issue.
Ideally I want a fancy pants bike, but it really is just an excuse to buy something new really......
The seatpost mounted rack may work, but they are limited on weight, which again is the issue.
Ideally I want a fancy pants bike, but it really is just an excuse to buy something new really......
KrisP said:
I have a Specialized Allez elite from a few years ago that would work well, but it doesn't have the mountings in order to have a pannier rack installed.
I can't seem to find much that has pannier mounts on the rear of the frame. It might not help that I need a bloody big frame, as I'm 6ft4......any suggestions or help please?
Buy some P-Clips and a seatpost clamp with bosses on it, attach the rack using those. Easy peasy and will only be a few quid.I can't seem to find much that has pannier mounts on the rear of the frame. It might not help that I need a bloody big frame, as I'm 6ft4......any suggestions or help please?
http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/07/19/p-clamps-a...
Barchettaman said:
KrisP said:
I have a Specialized Allez elite from a few years ago that would work well, but it doesn't have the mountings in order to have a pannier rack installed.
I can't seem to find much that has pannier mounts on the rear of the frame. It might not help that I need a bloody big frame, as I'm 6ft4......any suggestions or help please?
Buy some P-Clips and a seatpost clamp with bosses on it, attach the rack using those. Easy peasy and will only be a few quid.I can't seem to find much that has pannier mounts on the rear of the frame. It might not help that I need a bloody big frame, as I'm 6ft4......any suggestions or help please?
http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/07/19/p-clamps-a...
Search Ebay for a Genesis Vapour, there is a 60cm frame set on there at £20 which you could chuck some cheap bits on.
I have one which I use for commuting, nice and subtle whilst being quick enough with Tiagra kit and some cheap wheels. Definitely has rack mounts as I have a rack mounted child seat.
I have one which I use for commuting, nice and subtle whilst being quick enough with Tiagra kit and some cheap wheels. Definitely has rack mounts as I have a rack mounted child seat.
Looking at your latest set of criteria, I think you're better off going with a CX bike.
But I actually think you're hard pressed to beat a rigid MTB for commuting. I think having the brake levers easily to hand for idiots doing unpredictable things makes more sense to me than a road bike - but that might just be a personal thing. Saw a few cm off the bars and it makes it easier to filter through traffic. It's likely to have all the mounts you need for panniers, mudguards and probably discs too.
Having commuted through London for the last 20 years the two things that made the biggest difference to me are decent mudguards and disc brakes.
Mudguards, IMHO, are a must for any commuter bike and discs do take away some of the uncertainty of being able to stop when it's chucking it down.
As I now have a Brompton discs (sadly) remain a very expensive (and non-OEM) option, but if Brompton ever offered them as a factory fit, I'd sell my current bike and buy one with discs.
But I actually think you're hard pressed to beat a rigid MTB for commuting. I think having the brake levers easily to hand for idiots doing unpredictable things makes more sense to me than a road bike - but that might just be a personal thing. Saw a few cm off the bars and it makes it easier to filter through traffic. It's likely to have all the mounts you need for panniers, mudguards and probably discs too.
Having commuted through London for the last 20 years the two things that made the biggest difference to me are decent mudguards and disc brakes.
Mudguards, IMHO, are a must for any commuter bike and discs do take away some of the uncertainty of being able to stop when it's chucking it down.
As I now have a Brompton discs (sadly) remain a very expensive (and non-OEM) option, but if Brompton ever offered them as a factory fit, I'd sell my current bike and buy one with discs.
Edited by Kell on Thursday 11th May 17:02
KrisP said:
Thanks for that - its made me start to look at a different type of road bike, with disc brakes, ability for wider tyres and all that
So its been a month since I posted the thread originally, and I still haven't made any decisions or bought anything - research and visiting some shops has made things a touch clearer on what I want, though I cannot find anything that ticks all the boxes, so anything similar to the below that I've missed please?Whyte Wessex - lovely bike, wide tyres, light as its carbon, decent groupset and decent discs brakes, but as its carbon, no facility to mount a pannier rack (the next step down, the Suffolk, doesn't have through axles, which I'd like because of my weight at close to 100kg, nor is the groupset/brakes quite as good)
Pinnacle Dolomite 6 - this looks to be a good option, but there are question marks over the wheelset for me, and it can't take that wide a tyre
Genesis Croix de Fer 30 - I can't one at the moment, and it has QR rather than through axles
Trek Crossrip - again no through axles
what am I missing?
Probably not that much.
My 2p: ask yourself again whether you really want panniers. For two reasons.
First, as you're finding, it directs your bike search down a particular path.
Secondly, what are you carrying regularly that needs panniers? My view is that luggage expands to fit the space available for it. Small backpack or courier bag = travel light because you have to = more enjoyable.
It may be that you don't have a lot of scope to travel light - dunno. My "baseline" luggage is wallet, glasses, phone, shirt, pants, rain cape, keys, miscellaneous tools which I never use and some detritus which I also never use (the bottom of my courier bag is worse than my wife's handbag, but I'd never confess that to her!).
My 2p: ask yourself again whether you really want panniers. For two reasons.
First, as you're finding, it directs your bike search down a particular path.
Secondly, what are you carrying regularly that needs panniers? My view is that luggage expands to fit the space available for it. Small backpack or courier bag = travel light because you have to = more enjoyable.
It may be that you don't have a lot of scope to travel light - dunno. My "baseline" luggage is wallet, glasses, phone, shirt, pants, rain cape, keys, miscellaneous tools which I never use and some detritus which I also never use (the bottom of my courier bag is worse than my wife's handbag, but I'd never confess that to her!).
Dont over think it all tbh
How much stuff do you need to bring? When I first started commuting years ago I had a heavy rucksack , then a small bag , now I just fit it all in my jersey. I drive once a week and bring a fair amount of clean clothes and then get by day to day with just jersey pockets
As for bikes, there is too much choice now a days!!! Personally I would just pick one and get out there, the risk of leaving it much longer is it will be heading towards winter. In my experience it doesn't matter what you ride in the winter as it will be a grimy mess after a couple of rides anyway!
My steel bike and main comuter can accommodate panniers, I dont bother with them though. I'm not a fan of rucksacks as they knock me off my position on the bike a bit and bounce around. If I HAD to carry stuff everyday I would get one of these: https://www.alpkit.com/products/koala?gclid=CjwKEA...
Or similiar
How much stuff do you need to bring? When I first started commuting years ago I had a heavy rucksack , then a small bag , now I just fit it all in my jersey. I drive once a week and bring a fair amount of clean clothes and then get by day to day with just jersey pockets
As for bikes, there is too much choice now a days!!! Personally I would just pick one and get out there, the risk of leaving it much longer is it will be heading towards winter. In my experience it doesn't matter what you ride in the winter as it will be a grimy mess after a couple of rides anyway!
My steel bike and main comuter can accommodate panniers, I dont bother with them though. I'm not a fan of rucksacks as they knock me off my position on the bike a bit and bounce around. If I HAD to carry stuff everyday I would get one of these: https://www.alpkit.com/products/koala?gclid=CjwKEA...
Or similiar
To be honest, the panniers are about carrying clothes, lunch, and my laptop - I don't go into the office every day, and on the days I'm in I sometimes need to drive because of other commitments - the upshot of that is that I can use my bike one day a week at the moment.
Panniers feel better over a rucksack for me, but having tried the Wessex out for size, thats my favourite, and being carbon, the panniers are a no go.
Panniers feel better over a rucksack for me, but having tried the Wessex out for size, thats my favourite, and being carbon, the panniers are a no go.
You can get a rack that clamps on seat post
Personally I would just get out there doing it
One downside I found from panniers was that anything in there takes all the vibration off the bike and I wouldn't trust them with a laptop
Where as with a rucksack the rider absorbs all the impacts and poor road surface
Personally I would just get out there doing it
One downside I found from panniers was that anything in there takes all the vibration off the bike and I wouldn't trust them with a laptop
Where as with a rucksack the rider absorbs all the impacts and poor road surface
I commute with panniers (bad back). Laptop is fine in them, so long as you power it down, you'll do no damage. Unlike some of the muppet's who aimlessly walk around my office with them turned on, and then wonder why they have hard-drive issues. Soon they're all going to be upgraded with SSD, so it will no longer be an issue for anyone.
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