New Commuter Advice

[dai1983]

Morning.

I mentioned in another post that my commute is changing from a mile to 9 miles each way around Yeovil. I quite fancy a cyclocross bike as I can use it to commute on the road and also do some fitness riding on off road tracks. I also have a young son who I plan to ride off road with as I don't want him on the road. Firstly any advice on this choice of style?

My requirements:

-ideally disk brakes
-mudguard fitment but not fussed on panniers
-light as possible within budget
-best spec as possible within budget
-head says max £600, heart says max £1000!

I'm a firm believer in buy cheap, buy twice but I also love a bargin so if it's reduced in the winter sale then that's a bonus!!!

I've considered the ribble winter bike but discounted it due to lack of clearance.

The saracen hack 2 can be found reduced but I think it's more urban computer than cyclocross

Genesis volant cx?

The Planet X bike fits the bill but unfortunately has no guard mount provision.

Thanks in advance!

Edited by dai1983 on Monday 30th December 08:22

[LotusMartin]

check out Kinesis - I have a race light, but the cross light would suit your needs.

[uncinquesei]

Genesis Day One Disc. (maybe the alfine if you need >1 gear...) I am planning to get one on cycle to work ASAP. My perfect bike, just needs slight change of gearing.

[dai1983]

Just went to a bike shop and they had a limited range but saw a few Giants and an orange rx9. If I'm honest the orange looked like a better quality item compared to the Giants and some Specialised bikes I've seen. The only problem is that it was slightly heavier and had Ali forks.

The salesman has sort of persuaded me that mudguards are not really essential. I'll get showered and changed at work. I'm not afraid of dirt and skins waterproof anyway. Think I still want a cyclocross for the disk brakes though.

Off to a few more shops and also Halfords now.

[Rolls]

If it is a commuting bike, get mudguards 10000000%
It will mean you actually arrive at work not covered in crap.

My ideal commute bike (which I will build next year; currently have a cross bike filling these duties)

Cross Frame, drop bars
Disc specific wheelset
mudguards

Simples!

[uncinquesei]

Rolls said:

If it is a commuting bike, get mudguards 10000000%
It will mean you actually arrive at work not covered in crap.

My ideal commute bike (which I will build next year; currently have a cross bike filling these duties)

Cross Frame, drop bars
Disc specific wheelset
mudguards

Simples!

Absolutely. Mudguards are essential. As are discs, drops and single speed. Hence:
http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/adventure/urba...

[dai1983]

uncinquesei said:

Absolutely. Mudguards are essential. As are discs, drops and single speed. Hence:
http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/adventure/urba...

I get that a single speed can be used for short commutes on the flat. I use my old mountain bike at the moment and never change as it completely flat and about a mile. What if you have a longer ride with any slight hills?

Been to another few shops but looked closely at their road bikes too. If I'm honest it will be used 95% on the road. The times I do head on trails with my boy I could brobably use my old bike.

Opens up a whole new amount of bikes, and headache!!!

[Barchettaman]

dai1983 said:

Morning.



-ideally disk brakes
-mudguard fitment but not fussed on panniers
-light as possible within budget
-best spec as possible within budget
-head says max £600, heart says max £1000!

Edited by dai1983 on Monday 30th December 08:22

You 100% need mudguards. Make that 1000%.

I strongly recommend some way of mounting panniers, be it a seatpost rack or a decent rear rack. Rucksacks are hateful things. Panniers are freacking great for commuting. Trust me on this one.

Don´t worry about weight. AT ALL. No matter what anyone says. At this level, it ain´t important.

Start thinking carefully about your lighting system. I have a cheap hub dynamo laced to a road rim with cheap LED lights, it´s absolutely awesome, I will never ever return to a battery operated system.

Don´t worry about spec, all the modern groupsets are excellent. I have found 8- and 9-speed chains and cassettes wear out slower than 10-speed ones. Cyclocross gearing (48/36? 46/36?) is commuter friendly.

Did I mention, you need mudguards?

Double wrap the handlebar cork tape for massive comfort improvement - dunno why everyone doesn´t do this.

[magpie215]

To echo the above in winter mudguards are essential kit.
I use a rucksack for my commute but it is only 3 miles each way any further I would be going to panniers for sure.

[anonymous-user]

The Boardman CXs at Halfords would fit the bill

[Gizmoish]

Jimboka said:

The Boardman CXs at Halfords would fit the bill

This.

Or the Canyon Inflite.

[fausTVR]

I use my old Karrimore bar bag instead of panniers or rucksack. It has room for my lunchbox + other stuff and I keep a rain cape in the map pocket just in case. There's no debate, mudguards are a must.

[TheLemming]

Gizmoish said:

This.

Or the Canyon Inflite.

There are lots of nice cx bikes out there, but nothing that touches the boardmans or the canyon for price and spec....

Gizmo we both seem to be cheerleading the boardman cxers on a lot of threads right now lol but they seem to be the answer to a lot of questions....
About to hit a thousand miles on mine since mid November, loving it on and off road... If it wasn't for a big crash on ice the other day I'd be putting over the thousand line today.... As it is its going to be a couple of weeks before I get it back...

[dai1983]

Barchettaman said:

You 100% need mudguards. Make that 1000%.

I strongly recommend some way of mounting panniers, be it a seatpost rack or a decent rear rack. Rucksacks are hateful things. Panniers are freacking great for commuting. Trust me on this one.

Don´t worry about weight. AT ALL. No matter what anyone says. At this level, it ain´t important.

Start thinking carefully about your lighting system. I have a cheap hub dynamo laced to a road rim with cheap LED lights, it´s absolutely awesome, I will never ever return to a battery operated system.

Don´t worry about spec, all the modern groupsets are excellent. I have found 8- and 9-speed chains and cassettes wear out slower than 10-speed ones. Cyclocross gearing (48/36? 46/36?) is commuter friendly.

Did I mention, you need mudguards?

Double wrap the handlebar cork tape for massive comfort improvement - dunno why everyone doesn´t do this.

Thanks everyone for the advice. I know what you mean about rucksacks as they are evil on motorbikes too. The most I would carry though is a set of uniform once in a blue moon but my lunch and spares every day. I'd like to see your light set up if that's possible?

I've pretty much discounted the cyclocross bikes as I'm unsure I would use it much off road as I explained. I've done some shopping about and found these two:

http://www.merlincycles.com/merlin-malt-r-road-bik...

http://m.rutlandcycling.com/101193/products/moda-i...

The merlin is slightly lighter but the moda comes with mounting points, free pedals and free delivery. I can't really find any opinions of these bikes online but prefer the looks of the moda if that matters. I'm rightly or wrongly assuming the intro is the same or similar to the moda bolero but lower spec kit, wheels and paint job. In that case it has a lot going for it but I may be wrong (probably certainly wrong).

Think that I'm on the look out for a bargin too as if it's under £500 I can pay cash instead of a couple of hundred on the never never. It also means I won't loose much if I find I actually hate it!

[Jimbo.]

dai1983 said:

Just went to a bike shop and they had a limited range but saw a few Giants and an orange rx9. If I'm honest the orange looked like a better quality item compared to the Giants and some Specialised bikes I've seen. The only problem is that it was slightly heavier and had Ali forks.

The salesman has sort of persuaded me that mudguards are not really essential. I'll get showered and changed at work. I'm not afraid of dirt and skins waterproof anyway. Think I still want a cyclocross for the disk brakes though.

Off to a few more shops and also Halfords now.

The salesman is clearly a knob who probably has a whole pile of bikes (without eyelets) to sell, makes bugger all on mudguard sales, or CBA to fit them. For a commuter they make all the difference.

Singlespeed is worth a punt too: no cassettes/mechs to clean, no cables to maintain, no indexing. Chain maintenance is reduced to all of 5 minutes per week, tops.

I'd suggest something like a Genesis Day One if you want discs/cyclocross, or Flyer if you're happy with normal road bikes.

[dai1983]

Jimbo. said:

The salesman is clearly a knob who probably has a whole pile of bikes (without eyelets) to sell, makes bugger all on mudguard sales, or CBA to fit them. For a commuter they make all the difference.

Singlespeed is worth a punt too: no cassettes/mechs to clean, no cables to maintain, no indexing. Chain maintenance is reduced to all of 5 minutes per week, tops.

I'd suggest something like a Genesis Day One if you want discs/cyclocross, or Flyer if you're happy with normal road bikes.

To be honest he seemed more helpful and enthusiastic than the shop next door who barely acknowledged me. Another shop said disks were unnecessary, dangerous even, on the road!

A fixed bike would interest me but there's a few short hills on route so I'm concerned on how I'd manage.

[Rolls]

The main benefit of discs will be the lack of maintenance you'll have to perform on them, which will be worth it's weight in gold IMO!

[ClaphamGT3]

dai1983 said:

Just went to a bike shop and they had a limited range but saw a few Giants and an orange rx9. If I'm honest the orange looked like a better quality item compared to the Giants and some Specialised bikes I've seen. The only problem is that it was slightly heavier and had Ali forks.

The salesman has sort of persuaded me that mudguards are not really essential. I'll get showered and changed at work. I'm not afraid of dirt and skins waterproof anyway. Think I still want a cyclocross for the disk brakes though.

Off to a few more shops and also Halfords now.

Trust me, if you're commuting 9 miles each way, mudguards are a must - you will get sick of a frozen, wet bottom for 45 minutes very quickly!

[CaptainSlow]

Rolls said:

The main benefit of discs will be the lack of maintenance you'll have to perform on them, which will be worth it's weight in gold IMO!

tbh I see it the other way round, discs are more cost, more hassle and limit wheel choices.

I also disagree with what was said earlier in regards to weight, many cx bikes weight a ton so make sure you get one under 10kgs as may want to use it as a winter trainer at a later date.

[Rolls]

Initially, yeah, it'll cost more, but I'd prefer that rather than having cross brakes that need constant adjustment, and pad replacements
Expect in a year they'll be a load more wheel choices too!