What commuting bike?

[Chris71]

So, I'm going to start cycling to work. I'm currently a (very out of practise) mountain biker with no experience of riding road bikes at all. I'd like something with forgiving handling traits, still capable of hoping on and off kerbs etc, but with considerably better pedalling efficiency than my big and bouncy Orange full susser.

I'm going to be cycling in heavy traffic so good brakes are a must. By deffault I assumed this would mean a hydraulic disc-brake equipped hybrid, but I'm open to suggestion? I don't know what road bike servicing requirements are, but it would be good to have something which requires minimal attention.

The budget is nominally £600 max, but variable. Basically if there's a particular 'must have' feature which becomes available at a certain price point I don't mind paying a little extra, conversely if I can get away with something more affordable as a daily hack that's good too.

Oh, and there are quite a few hills on the intended route if that has a bearing on things...

Looking forward to this. Always relish the chance to acquire a new toy.

[Sarkmeister]

I dont think that hydraulic disc brakes would be necessary, unless you ride through muddy areas on a regular basis.

Id take a look at the Boardman range of hybrids. They are more on the road bike side of hybrid, but seem very goods value for money. Also, I had a Genesis Day 01, and that was a really good bike for commuting, really wish Id not sold it now.

[Sarkmeister]

Id also consider something from the Charge range of bike. The Charge Tap looks really nice, and is spot on price wise....

[mk1fan]

Boardman do a flat bar Commuter bike with 700c wheels; mudguard & pannier rack mounts; and hydraulic brakes. But as these are only available from Halfords who run their own scheme, Boardman may not be available to you.

Cotic Roadrat worth a looky.

Charge and Surly also do some natch bikes.

On One Inbred worth a look to but the front forks don't have mudguard eyelets.

Moving away from mtb orientated bikes, you've got a good choice of road oriented flatbars from Scott, Spesh & Trek.

How longs the commute? Are you only going to use it for commuting? Are you going to have panniers and mudguards (I'd recommend them)?

ETA:

Here's my On One commuter





Now has Avid Ultimate brakes in lieu of the BB-7's and a single speed.

Edited by mk1fan on Tuesday 17th March 15:12

[Chris71]

mk1fan said:

How longs the commute? Are you only going to use it for commuting? Are you going to have panniers and mudguards (I'd recommend them)?

It's about 6.5 miles. Lots of hills and varying levels of traffic.

Realistically I'll probably only do it in good, dry weather, at least to start. That's if I can persuade my flabby carcus to do it at all - a 13 mile round trip is more than I usually do on mountain bike even with cycling is the sole aim!

[edward1]

Have you considered a cyclocross bike? a guy at work here uses one for commuting and it seems a very good compromise, as far as I can see basically a light road bike but with flats, cantelever brakes and a stronger wheel set.

[Mekon]

The dutch know a thing or two about commuting. look at the typical dutch bike

full length mudguards
proper chainguard
roller brakes
internal gear hubs
puncture protection tires or slime.
rack and panniers
hub dynamo and decent lights
frame lock

Had a dutch bike with all that for a year, and other than a wipe down with a cloth, it's required literally zero maintenance. The chain looks absolutely mint. Other than a couple of paint marks from inconsiderate parking, you wouldn't be able to tell it from a showroom example. Sure, if you live in a hilly area, not so great, but in the right circumstances, it'll shrug off abuse with aplomb.

If I had a longer, hilly commute, I'd be looking a Thorn with a Rohloff.

[a11y_m]

edward1 said:

Have you considered a cyclocross bike?

That was about to be my suggestion too

I started off riding a road bike to work, but got fed up with the crap roads and inability to fit full-length mudguards. So I sold it in favour of a Genesis Vapour CX bike, kitted out with full-length mudguards. As already said, stronger wheels and much better brakes (mini-canti's rather than caliper brakes like road bikes), plus the slightly wider tyres (700 x 35c) and more-relaxed geometry, make a CX bike a much more comfortable option for commuting.

Disc brakes might be a bit overkill, but they would be useful as hydraulic ones require far less maintenance IME. It's the one thing I'd like on my CX bike but don't have the option to get (no mounts).

Have a look at the Focus CX bikes on wiggle: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/c/Cycle/7/Cyclocross_Bikes... - there's a disc-equipped model but it's £900...

Anyway, here's my 'crosser for inspiration (before I fitted the guards):

[Chris71]

Can people give me an idea of what you get for a given price? As mentioned the budget is a little flexible, but I'd need a very good reason to spend more than about £600. Would consider second hand, but I've just set up the office cycle to work scheme!

Also, driving back last night I noticed two things:

1) Bloody hell there are a lot of hills - after safety my main priority is being able to get up those without giving up and going back to the car
2) There are actually quite a few cycle paths (cycle lanes?) that I'd never noticed before. However most of them are the pavement type which start and stop every couple of hundred yards for junctions and such like. Maybe something with slightly more urban/MTB geometry would be better for taking those?

Back to the bikes, how about something like these as a starting point:

http://www.bikeandrun.co.uk/product/6689/Ridgeback...

http://www.bikeandrun.co.uk/product/3575/CANNONDAL...

http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-GB/bikes/road/243...

Edited by Chris71 on Wednesday 18th March 10:33

[matt-ITR]

I've got a Cotic Roadrat which I must have done over 30,000 miles on when I was a cycle courier.

Very nice frame and totally dependable. It would make a fantastic commuter bike without a doubt.
Flat bar and compact geometry make it easy to handle and loads of fun around town.
For £600 you can get a full bike, which is good value for money IMO.

It is a single-speed though, which may or may not be of interest to you. You can build up a geared version, but you might struggle for £600.

[Chris71]

matt-ITR said:

It is a single-speed though, which may or may not be of interest to you.

I'm flattered, but the gulf between my fitness and that of the average cycle courier is considerable! I fully anticipate having trouble getting the hills with a range of ratios to choose from.

Road bikes tend to be gear higher than mountain bikes don't they? With that in mind I'd probably be looking for something quite low geared.

[edward1]

unless you have some very serious hills I wouldn't think that you will find the gears on a modern road bike too restrictive. You can get road bikes with triples on the front, but even with a double the smaller front cog will probably be a 39 which with a 9 or 10spd rear cassette which will probably go up to a 28 will allow you to get up most hills. I try to commute on the bike a couple of times a week (14 miles each way) with quite a few hills one of which is a relativly short but very steep climb. With a 39 to 28 is confortable (still out the saddle) but on the old road bike with a 42 to 23 ratio it is hard. Unless it is flat, you are some kind of masochist, really fit or just fancy the challenge I'd avoid the fashion for single speed.

Personally I don't see the need for mtb style bikes for commuting, you are just wasting energy with fatter small diameter wheels. Unless you route makes use of canal tow paths/bridal ways etc.

[a11y_m]

Chris71 said:

Road bikes tend to be gear higher than mountain bikes don't they? With that in mind I'd probably be looking for something quite low geared.

I shouldn't own up to this, but I couldn't cope with the 25-11t cassette and double-ring chainset on my CX bike (pic'd above) so fitted an MTB casette (32-11t) and MTB rear mech soon after buying. But I have the excuse of an absolute b'stard of a hill to climb on the way home...

That Ridgeback (http://www.bikeandrun.co.uk/product/6689/Ridgeback_Flight_03) seems good for the money - bear in mind that Genesis is just a fancy (trendier) offshoot of Ridgeback, there's a high chance that frame could be the same one as mine (and I paid £650 for mine last year, without discs but better components).

[zebedee]

Get a cyclocross. You won't be hopping up and down kerbs (you shouldn't be anyway, it is illegal to ride on the pavement and gives cyclists a bad name), but the strong fork and wheels and fatter tyres (if poor quality road all the way, fit some 32 section slicks, but if it is good tarmac, you could just get a road bike which will be lighter and quicker, or fit some 25s to your hybrid) will take far more abuse than a road bike, but they are way faster than any mtb and much nicer to ride than a hybrid (good at nothing, poor at everything).

I ride a Kona Jake cyclo-cross on my commute, which is 17.5 miles each way, including a 110m climb, which is easy with the triple crankset. I've also fitted panniers to stop me getting so sweaty! Have done about 6000 miles on it and nothing has gone wrong, though I am upgrading bits and pieces anyway.

I paid £500, £150 off list at the time, but you should be able to get one for £600.

[Chris71]

zebedee said:

You won't be hopping up and down kerbs (you shouldn't be anyway, it is illegal to ride on the pavement and gives cyclists a bad name.

The local cycle paths are pavement mounted and start/finish rather abruptly for junctions and so on, that's the main concern. They almost look like a bit of mini North Shore.

Sort of...

As for the gear ratios, well the gradients are moderate and the hills vary in length, but mostly you have to remember I'm hugely unfit by road rider standards! Actually I'm moderately out of practise by anyone's.

[carbonjunkie]

kinesis racelight t, campag centaur, mavic open pro rims, sks 'gaurds, cont GP 4 season 25mm tyres. whatever is cheap for bars, stem, seatpin and a decent saddle.

sorted. if it's over 5 miles i wouldn't go for flat bars the lack of hand positions gets a bit wearing, i only use the mtb if it's snowing.

[snotrag]

Try the Cannondale badboy 700 - i think they also do a disc version.

Ridgeback also do some nice ones.

For urban type riding I think you need to be looking at the tougher end of what comes with 700c wheels - like the badboy. Cyclocross bikes at the minimum.

Most common of which used as a commuter is the Specilized Tricross - very popular and very good.

[936ADL]

I use an On One Pompino which is just about perfect for my commute.

I've also got a Specialized Tricross which would be equally good.

I'd recommend either.

[Chris71]

Cheers gents.

I've got two decent cycle shops nearby and between them they stock:

KONA
GIANT
BH
DAWES
PASHLEY
DAHON
LIGHTSPEED
MERLIN
Cannondale
Genesis
Ridgeback

Maybe try and get test bikes from Cannondale and Ridgeback... Always liked Giant's MTBs so maybe one of those too... Oh, and the Kona Dew Plus looks quite pimp...

Dammit, this could take a while

ETA: Can someone explain the benefits of a Cyclocross bike? I always kind of assumed that was just any road bike fitted with slightly knobbly tyres.

Edited by Chris71 on Friday 20th March 13:29

[HOGEPH]

I spent ages looking for a commuting/training bike. This was one of the contenders. Pricier than your budget, but affordable if bought through the cyclescheme.

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/hybri...

Ticks all the boxes for mudguards, rack etc.

However, I decided on a Cube in the end.