Need lightweight commuter - Anything recommended?

[bert11]

I have a 10 mile each way commute to work which i'd like to cycle at least once a week.

So far i've been browsing ebay and gumtree for road bikes for about £150 second hand.

a. Should I be able to get anything good with that?

b. Womens bikes are so much cheaper second hand - is it worth looking like a tool?

c. Are peugeot bikes any good? i'd never touch one of their cars !

d. Single gear road bikes, can they go up hills ?!?

e. Anything wrong with something 20 years old? i.e are there any obsolete gear/brake systems to avoid?

[Dunk76]

a. Should I be able to get anything good with that?

- yep, but you've gotta be lucky. Suggest the local free-ads? But watch for stolen bikes.

b. Womens bikes are so much cheaper second hand - is it worth looking like a tool?

- unless you're built like a woman, it won't fit you. And it'll bend. And you'll get wolf whistles. And possibly catch gay.

c. Are peugeot bikes any good? i'd never touch one of their cars !

- A mate of mine has an ancient Peugeot road frame and it's not too heavy, stable/lazy geometry, and copes with his 18st and frequent spills without issue

d. Single gear road bikes, can they go up hills ?!?

- The single/fixie could, in theory, do a loop in a big tunnel or tube. Question is, can you pedal fast enough?

e. Anything wrong with something 20 years old? i.e are there any obsolete gear/brake systems to avoid?

- upgrading to newer stuff is no problem. Remember that the current bottom of the range Shimano (for example) is streets ahead of the top flight stuff from 20 yrs ago. The only bit to watch is some of the weird sizes on old Italian and French frames.

[curlie467]

A have a Carrera gryphon road bike, the one with straight bars, that is only worth around the price you state. It is from 2001 and is a lovely smooth bike to ride and comes in at 10.4 kgs which is not too bad for a cheap road bike.

[bert11]

thanks for your reply Dunk, I think i'll give the lady-bikes a miss

Looking around the bristol / weston super mare area