Titanium frame on a commuting bike?

[HOGEPH]

Hello All,

I regularly commute to work on my bike, at the moment a Claud Butler Cape Wrath. I'm looking for something lighter for next year. Anybody got any ideas for a commuting bike, that by the time I have added mudguards, lights, panniers etc etc, will be still be fairly light, thus allowing me to remove all the commuting add-ons and use it for evening training?

Or do I go and get a titanium frame, eg, Enigma, and build one from scratch?

Edited by HOGEPH on Thursday 2nd October 13:52

[mk1fan]

If space allows why not keep the CR and by a dedicated road/training bike.

[HOGEPH]

Space doesn't allow, and I'd like to replace my 5 year old bike.

[mk1fan]

Well it all depends what you consider to be 'fairly light'.

I run an On-One Inbred as a commuter but with all the kit fitted it's well over 30lbs. It's still a fast and responsive bike though.

Is it a mountain bike you're after to use on the road or will a road bike suffice?

[HOGEPH]

Don't need a mountain bike, ideally it would be a road bike with flat bars, and the ability to fit "proper" mudguards. What I'm after is an "efficient" bike, with no dead weight before I have to add the commuting gear.

[mk1fan]

Well I had a Scott Roadster (flat bar road bike) before I built up my Chavbred (mtb frame) and I much prefer my Chavbred.

Although I've fitted 700c wheels to the Chavbred it has full mudguards and pannier rack. Taken it Touring this year too.

What do you mean by 'training' too? I used to ride to work on my Road bike (with a rucksack) and then dump the work stuff before heading out for some road training. Also when I removed all the commuting gear from the Scott it was a really good and fast road bike but taking off mudguards, rack etc... regularily would soon become a ball ache.

I built the Chavbred up from the frame. But you might want to look at the Cotic Roadrat or a Surly for a nice fast urban bike that feels mtb'ish.

[sjg]

I agree, the "one bike for everything" thing just doesn't work for me either. I can't even be bothered swapping tyres, let along taking guards/rack off. Not to mention that commuting bikes get filthy, scratched to hell and generally abused.

I can't say I've ever seen a titanium bike with rack/guard mounts either.

[leggly]

Buy a Ti frame by all means but don't use it for everyday use. IT WILL BE NICKED. Use an old shed of bike for that sort of thing and fill a rucksack full of weight. Get on the good bike without it and you'll be passing everything. Better still, get covered in mud and don't worry about the weight.

[zagato]

I used a Lynskey Ti everyday.

However it is very minimal - no rear brake, no guards, no front gears, no bags, in fact no nonsense of any kind - it's totally spartan, like a racer should be. You simply do not need all that kit just to ride daily. Plus it looks a bit girly ;. I ride across london in all weathers. Just get some water proof black trousers that pack down really small in a mini back pack.

ps I never leave the bike anwhere of course. It gets cleaned at the office and sits under my desk!

Edited by zagato on Friday 17th October 20:23