best bike for 12m commute

[td1982]

Anyone that can help me out with info would be much appreciated.
I'm looking to purchase a new bike for commuting to work 24mile round trip, i'm looking for a fast but strrong reliable bike as i'm a big big guy (23st) looking to spend around 250-300 Hybrid with 700's or hardtail mtb with 26x1.5 slicks what do you think will be better?

Thanks in advance Tim

 

[BentMikey]

With that sort of distance I'd want a road bike with drops, assuming your trip is on-road.

 

[levad]

I have a similar length commute (13 miles each way) and ride a hybrid. Mine is a Giant Cypress. It has done me fine for 3,000 miles commuting in the last 16 months. I have front suspension which makes the bike heavy and I guess a bit slow. I did change the tyres from 700x38 to 700x28 which made some difference (for the better).

 

[levad]

... I have, however, just ordered a road bike with drops.

 

[peanut]

, i'm looking for a fast but strrong reliable bike as i'm a big big guy (23st)

Tim

erm did you miss this bit Mikey ? that would be about 16 stone leaning on the drop handlebars I should imagine

 

[BentMikey]

What's the 23st got to do with drop handlebars? The nice part about drops is that you get to choose from lots of different hand positions for comfort. I would think it'd be much worse being locked into flats and not being able to move around. You know you don't have to have an extreme head down arse up position on a road bike, right?

 

[peanut]

Hiya Tim welcome to the forums.
that is a pretty high commute mileage for commuting especially if you are a bit unfit like me.
That distance could take you over an hour even on the flat and longer still if there is a headwind.
It might be an idea to try the distance on a weekend and see how realistic it is for a busy weekday during rush hour.
You could drive your car half way to start with and just commute 5-8 miles each way to start with .

Anyway back to bikes .
I am a mere 17.5 stone and both my lightweight steel and aluminium racing bike will stand up to my weight but there are some components that are at their limits like the wheels and chain pedals and cranks.

I think your safest bet is to go along to Halfords or your local bike shop and ask their advice and try some bikes out. Hopefully there will be others along shortly who will be able to give you the benefit of their experience.
Good luck and do keep us informed of your progress .

Maybe we should start a heavyweight section just for us bigger guys !

 

[BADGER.BRAD]

Hello Tim,

I'd go for the MTB plus slicks I've rode a number of Hybrids and racer converted fixed wheel bikes with flat bars but the one thing I always notice when I go back to my rigid MTB is the ride comfort that slightly bigger tyres give you and they do out handle hybrids on our crappy potholed roads. Braking is better due to more grip from the larger tyres and if you do decide on a short cut across a field or down a few steps the wheels will take it ( I've always gone shortest route ! ) I have never tried slicks but have always opted for tyres with a center line giving me grip off road and easy on road riding.

The advantage with the Hybrids is if you do have to carry them for any reason (up steps) they are lighter.
Having said all that my riding tends to be shortest route possible and I do chop in and out of traffic, I still use my converted fixed wheel racer/hybrid but if I was to go for one bike only I'd go for the rigid MTB.

Hope this Helps.

Brad in Dudley West Midlands

 

[peanut]

What's the 23st got to do with drop handlebars? The nice part about drops is that you get to choose from lots of different hand positions for comfort. I would think it'd be much worse being locked into flats and not being able to move around. You know you don't have to have an extreme head down arse up position on a road bike, right?

well I wasn't intending to be critical so no need to be defensive

I don't know how heavy you are but I am 17.5 stones and that means I probably carry about your bodyweight above my waist.
Thats a lot of weight to be leaning over with on a bike.
For the unfit like myself I have to be very careful with back ache and strained muscles and also my hands go numb frequently.

You have to actually be this heavy before you can fully appreciate the problems.
If you imagine wrapping a medium sized Alsation dog around your shoulders and trying to get on a bike and ride it you'll have some idea what it is like for me .
Now imagine putting 2x Alsations on your shoulders

 

[td1982]

Hi Peanut,

Thanks for the reply, fitness wise i'm fine for the distance i do regular cycling but i've always had second hand old bikes which have done the job but not lasted to long, i know the route as currently using my brothers cheap cheap mtb, but wanted different peoples views on different bikes before forking out for one. As don't drive so want a realiable bike to last.

 

[BentMikey]

Yes, but what's the weight got to do with drop handlebars vs flat bars?

 

[fossyant]

Hybrid of the 26" type - i.e. rough and tough like a Scott Sub...hmmm !!! I really want a Scott Sub 10, but they come in 3 versions - all very nice !

That will be fine - I'm a roadie, but use a rigid MTB with 1.2" slicks for commuting - pretty nippy, but not road bike use, but I'd be happy doing 20 miles on it - 12 should be fine.

10 -15 plus miles each way is usually road bike choice, but it depends upon if you are in/out of town..

Here is a quick pic of what I'm using - I am a 12 stone roadie -it's overkill on strength, but does it all for me and this said bike had done Snowdon and stuff...so I am attached

 

[Origamist]

You could consider a cyclo-cross bike.

 

[Trillian]

You could consider a cyclo-cross bike.

why?

he could, and is considering many types of bike and wants reasons as to which is better for his commute and why.

personally, while i can do great distance on an mtb, and if i ever get round to cycle touring i'll proberbly use that for one reason and one reason only, so i can play on the trails in the lakes.

otherwise, for long distance (above 4 miles) i'm using my road bike, the wheels on it are nearly a year old, have gone up and down many curbs and cobbled streets and the odd set of shallow steps and were my first attempt at building wheels. they don't, at a quick glance spinning between the blocks, need straightening yet
my commute to uni and also to my gf's house involves a bumpy field where i often find the front wheel coming airborn on some of the bumps
i also have a bad habit of jumping off speed humps

normal road bikes, or touring bikes are really quite strong, the only thing i'd advise [check's bonj isn't about] is get one with mudguard clearance!

grip and things like that are down to tyre choice, i've had tyres on my mtb that have less grip than the michelin world tour's on my roadie.

 

[Origamist]

why?

he could, and is considering many types of bike and wants reasons as to which is better for his commute and why.

He can decide himself he if wants to research my suggestion. What I will say is that CX bikes are great "jack of all trades" cycles.