Bike purchase for commute steep terrain

[kev3kev3]

Hi,

I am looking for some advice on a bike which would be a sensible purchase for my mon-fri commute.

The picture shows roughly what the commute would be as can be seen the journey has very steep inclines.

I have not the first clue about bikes so good advice would be very much appreciated.

As for budget the lower the better, but I dont want something which is going to make the journey unbearable and unreliable.

Many Thanks,

Kevin

 

[Cycleops]

Sounds like you will need something with a triple chainring to deal with the hills. Something like this perhaps : http://www.ridgeback.co.uk/bike/advance-4-0#details
If you prefer flat bars: http://www.ridgeback.co.uk/bike/flight-00#details
These are very well thought of on here and are now at a good price: http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/sirrus-sport-2014-hybrid-bike-ec053142 All the flat barred bikes will have be able to take a rack. Hope you are fit!
Could you get this through the cycle to work scheme?

 

[Rooster1]

At least your ride home will start with the descent.

You need to get a road bike that weighs about 8 or 9kg max.

An Aluminum road bike will do the job IMO.

You are going to be looking around the £650-£1000 mark for something decent.
You may want to consider getting a Triple Front setup (Granny Ring), gives you easier gearing.

Plenty of bikes to choose from.

Get down to a store and try some out.

 

[albion]

There is no exact answer. You really need a hybrid for that route, especially so in winter !
And as it is a slow 15 miles, bike weight is less important than simply having granny gearing for the end non flat bit.

And allow a good 90 minutes for that journey(including clothes change), meaning the cycling has to become part of your life, getting priority over time down the pub etc.

 

[Goobs]

Start with a max budget in mind - stick to it and then start looking at bikes.

Its too easy to get carried away once you start looking around. i.e. for a few hundred more I can lose half a kilo of the bike weight or get a slightly better chainset etc.
Save some money in that budget for cycling clothes, weather proofs, mudguards, rack, lighting and possibly buying a better seat/peddles once you find out the factory fits are cheap/uncomfortable/useless.

Oh and get a lock costing roughly 10% of whatever you paid for the bike if there is no secure lockup and insurance if its not covered on your house.

Whether you get a hybrid or road bike look at the gearing to compare bikes and see which provides the lowest ratio for tackling hills.

I use this site and punch in the cog sizes :
http://sheldonbrown.com/gears/

 

[vickster]

Red Btwin triban 3 has a triple. Will take rack and some kind of mudguards. Look on eBay for used ones

 

[Cycleops]

If you don't know what you are looking at don't risk secondhand. Unless the bike has had very little use and you are satisfied that is the case. Most Triban 3s will have been well used with the owner wanting to upgrade, sorry vickster.

 

[vickster]

He also says his budget is very low. There will be shed dweller Tribans too
Eg

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=281411076113

How much is the OPs budget, we don't have the first clue

 

[kev3kev3]

Thanks to everyone for all the advice, it's very much appreciated. I don't have a set budget really but would prefer to stay £500 and under. In case it helps I'm 5ft 11 and my weight fluctuates throughout the year normally between 165 -180, I tend to do significantly more exercise through the summer (running, half marathon distance). I have seen this cheap bike and would like to know peoples opinions on it as a commuting bike £240ish.

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/...productId=1014927&categoryId=165710&langId=-1

 

[vickster]

Decent enough for £250 but heavy and only a double chainset with 14 gears, so hills will be tough. You can certainly do better with a £500 budget