10 mile commuter?

[dondan]

Evening fellow pedaller's .

I've currently got a single speed dawes which served me well last summer as my commuter bike as I only had 2 mile a day to cover it was great, I ran it as a fixed wheel with a heavy gear ratio and it was a good workout and as I was commuting around York gears and drop bars weren't required. It was simple, nimble and cheap!


Now I need a bike I can do 20 mile a day on, my requirements are.

I'd prefer flat bar, but will listen to the argument for drop bars
26" or larger wheels
A large frame size
Gears
A comfy seat
Budget of less than a grand

[magpie215]

Giant rapid or defy depending on bar choice

[dondan]

My local shop supplies giant and trek and I'd prefer to buy from there but this has caught my eye... I'll check that model out now thanks.

http://m.evanscycles.com/products/hoy/shizuoka-003...

[Jimshorts]

If you can go to £1050 then I'd recommend a Genesis Croix de Fer.

Can get them at that price from Epic Cycles.

Also do a reduced spec CDF for £799 iirc

[dondan]

A few quid more is possible, I saw that brand when browsing but as it wasn't familiar to me I dismissed it. I'll have another look thanks :-)

EDIT: Wow what a good looking good bike, and it comes in black to which is a bonus- not keen on bikes in bright colours with fancy graphics, that looks nicely understated and simple.

Edited by dondan on Thursday 10th April 19:15

[Jimshorts]

Had mine about 2 months. Fitted SKS mudguards and currently using it for 36mile round trip commute

Really pleased with it.

[47p2]

For 10 miles I would keep the single speed. Less to go wrong with it and when it does it costs next to nothing to repair. I've been out on my geared bikes a few times the last week or two, but I keep going back to the single speed, something compelling about riding it that I don't get from gears

[dondan]

My fitness levels and the hills between Leeds and Bradford say I need gears to be honest.

My single speed is a small frame to and a little cramped for that length of ride I reckon.

[47p2]

Hills are great on the S/S, just need to MTFU and grind on the pedals

[dondan]

47p2 said:

Hills are great on the S/S, just need to MTFU and grind on the pedals

Lol maybe you're right, but in this case I think I'll look for a geared bike!

[Mr Gear]

Pinnacle Neon: http://www.evanscycles.com/products/pinnacle/neon-...
Available in several different specs, I've linked to cheapest. This is basically a flat-bar road bike.

Or Pinnacle Lithium: http://www.evanscycles.com/products/pinnacle/lithi...
This is more of a skinny-tyred mountain bike, so might suit heavier riders or rougher roads.

Or this Hoy which is somewhere between the two: http://www.evanscycles.com/products/hoy/shizuoka-0...

I've never seen one of these in the metal, but it looks fab here: http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBPXKAFF2FBTIA/planet...
Steel-framed sweetness.

EDIT TO ADD: The Neon and Hoy can be had with single front chainring, which I consider to be a bonus if you don't need millions of gears.

[TwistingMyMelon]

Some good choices in the post above

The only thing I would add is that flat bars are great for tracks and urban environments , but as soon as the road opens up drop bars are much better, as you have a variety of positions to choose from and can get more comfortable and aerodynamic

My flat bar hybrid is great round town, as soon as I get out on the open lanes I find it frustrating after a couple of miles.

[Mr Will]

I'm a big fan of drop bars. They don't necessarily put you any lower than a flat bar but give you far more options to shift around according to comfort and conditions. The normal riding position is on the hoods, which is pretty much the same as the bar ends on a flat bar bike (except you have access to the gears and brakes) but then you have the drops for tucking in and getting out of the wind or the tops to sit up and stretch or get a better view and a couple of intermediate positions between these three as well.

I'd definitely say give them a proper try before making your mind up completely - it opens up a much wider range of bikes if you like them.

[dondan]

Great advice fellas thanks.

I need to get out on a decent drop bar to be honest, I've ridden them in the past but they were quite sheddy bikes.

I prefer flats at the minute as I've always ridden them I imagine, I'm gonna speak to my local shop and see if they have a bike I can borrow for the weekend before making my mind up.

[TwistingMyMelon]

dondan said:

Great advice fellas thanks.

I need to get out on a decent drop bar to be honest, I've ridden them in the past but they were quite sheddy bikes.

I prefer flats at the minute as I've always ridden them I imagine, I'm gonna speak to my local shop and see if they have a bike I can borrow for the weekend before making my mind up.

I was like that, coming from mountain biking, but soon changed all my roadie mates who came from mountain bikes ay the same, drops give you more possibilities.

[Barchettaman]

Seat: Brooks B-17
Definitely get drop bars.
You'll need something with clearance for min. 28 tyres AND mudguards.
A lightweight rear rack and panniers work for me (Tubus Fly)
I use a front wheel dynamo and LED lights, no pissing about with batteries etc.

A cyclocross bike of some description would be a great start.

[S10GTA]

Clearly you will need several bikes for a 10 mile each way commute. Mine is the same and I have 4

[1878]

S10GTA said:

Clearly you will need several bikes for a 10 mile each way commute. Mine is the same and I have 4

My commute is only 5 miles each way which is why I just have 3 bikes.

[dondan]

Barchettaman said:

Seat: Brooks B-17
Definitely get drop bars.
You'll need something with clearance for min. 28 tyres AND mudguards.
A lightweight rear rack and panniers work for me (Tubus Fly)
I use a front wheel dynamo and LED lights, no pissing about with batteries etc.

A cyclocross bike of some description would be a great start.

A pannier rack is a must, can't be wearing a back pack. Thankfully I won't be carrying much weight, what's the argument for front vs rear panniers like? I prefer the idea of a front one as my emergency exit point when riding has always been hop off the back and roll, don't like the thought of catching myself!

[Barchettaman]

I´d always go for rear panniers - on a commuter you want that weight off the front steering axis and on the back where it belongs.

I use front panniers on my rear rack, they´re plenty big enough, and wouldn´t impede a rearwards bail-out (not that I could ever see myself trying that)