Cheap vaguely decent commuting bike with discs.
Discussion
I know it's being a bit hopeful, but my Mrs needs a "new" bike to cycle to the station as she's worn the last one out.
It needs to be decent enough to last and be repairable, but preferably not look too flash as it sits in the station bike rack all day.
The journey there involves a 200 ft climb and 348 ft drop and return via a less extreme but longer hill is 436 ft up and 292 ft down; Unfortunately she is a very nervous rider and goes the same speed down hill as she does up, so has the brakes on for almost half of her journey, and there's no persuading her otherwise, so she got through the last set of rims in about 8 months, which makes discs a major consideration.
Obviously a decent range of gears are also important, and both the gear range and discs are easily available on mountain or hybrid bikes, but not often without suspension (which adds weight and maintenance) except in bikes well outside our price range as we are both on very low (Cornish) incomes and have two expensive kids.
I'm happy to maintain the bike, but just don't have the time to start building one from scratch, so I need to find something which I'm likely to be able to find second hand (better quality for the money, and less knickable), at a reasonable (seeing prices discussed on here read that as Low) price.
Personally I like the old reynolds tubing steel frames more than the chunky alloy ones, but I don't think I'm likely to get one with disc brake mounts and I'm dubious about clamp on brake mounts.
Any ideas ?
It needs to be decent enough to last and be repairable, but preferably not look too flash as it sits in the station bike rack all day.
The journey there involves a 200 ft climb and 348 ft drop and return via a less extreme but longer hill is 436 ft up and 292 ft down; Unfortunately she is a very nervous rider and goes the same speed down hill as she does up, so has the brakes on for almost half of her journey, and there's no persuading her otherwise, so she got through the last set of rims in about 8 months, which makes discs a major consideration.
Obviously a decent range of gears are also important, and both the gear range and discs are easily available on mountain or hybrid bikes, but not often without suspension (which adds weight and maintenance) except in bikes well outside our price range as we are both on very low (Cornish) incomes and have two expensive kids.
I'm happy to maintain the bike, but just don't have the time to start building one from scratch, so I need to find something which I'm likely to be able to find second hand (better quality for the money, and less knickable), at a reasonable (seeing prices discussed on here read that as Low) price.
Personally I like the old reynolds tubing steel frames more than the chunky alloy ones, but I don't think I'm likely to get one with disc brake mounts and I'm dubious about clamp on brake mounts.
Any ideas ?
Maybe a Carrera subway. Thousands around second hand (about half of them have disc brakes). I bought one last year for £50 (with disc brakes) bit tatty looking but perfect for a pub bike (aka you can leave it places without worry unlike an exspencive bike). Rides well enough (basic mtb frame with road wheels, not that light but fairly hard wearing).
mikey P 500 said:
Maybe a Carrera subway. Thousands around second hand (about half of them have disc brakes). I bought one last year for £50 (with disc brakes) bit tatty looking but perfect for a pub bike (aka you can leave it places without worry unlike an exspencive bike). Rides well enough (basic mtb frame with road wheels, not that light but fairly hard wearing).
Seconded on the subway. BOught my wife one for her to pootle round on about four years ago. Only paid about £90 for it. Probably much cheaper now. Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff