Ambitious or unrealistic?

[Mike5537]

No, I didn't know that. So does that mean the boardman is better value than the merida as it tends to be cheaper?

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[Tompy]

I can't comment on their relative values, just saying their ultimately from th esame factory. The Boardman is arguably a more desirable brand. Merida own Specialized too and they're also built in the same factories.

 

[Strick]

As others have said. Give it a go one weekend (or day off to see what trafic is like at the time of day you will be riding too!) and see how you get on.
I'm sure after a couple of weeks you'll be fine.
I started commuting from Stilton to Fengate last year. Twice a week to start with, and built it up. Before too long, I was cycling in most days, leaving earlier and extending my route in. Then bagging a few extra miles on the way home too. 10-15 miles each way was not unusual so yeah, I think you should be alright.
One of our customers had a relative in the next village and worked local to me, so some nights we would meet here and leave together then he woulmeet his wife at her parents house and chuck his bike on the car to get home.
On occassion we would leave here on a Friday or Saturday and do anywhere up to 30 miles on our way home.
Sadly I got out of it over winter, and after a long lazy spell, am just getting in to it again.

 

[Moodyman]

I have a 24 mile (hilly) round trip which I do 5 times a week.

Took me bout 5 months to go from once a week to 5 days. Just build up your days slowly and make sure you get plenty of sleep.

 

[Svendo]

Merida own Specialized too and they're also built in the same factories.

According to Wikipedia, only 19%, rest still owned by Mike Sinyard.

 

[Mike5537]

Buying a bike nowadays is a minefield, so considering I'm after a comfortable road bike that can eat up the miles hoping to spend up to 600 or £700 at the most (including pedals and shoes) what would be every ones top 3 bikes to look at?

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[defy-one]

giant Defy 3 or 4

 

[jefmcg]

Alternative to going on the weekend, is just leave really early. Like, guess how long it will take you and add two hours to that. So you can cope with whatever will go wrong, walk part of the way if necessary. The traffic will be much quieter then, so you can deal with your own issues, and learn how to deal with traffic later on.

And when I went from ~3 miles each way (+ train) to 12 miles each way, I found the first day fine, 2nd day fine, but on the 3rd day, about 6km from home, I just ran out of energy. That will probably hit you sooner, because I'd been doing some cycling + my journey is totally flat.