Commuting Bike Advice

[Keen but clumsy]

Hi all, apologies if this is a repeat of a regular post. I am looking into buying a new bike primarliy for my commute to work (6 miles each way) but would like it to be fun enough to do longer cycles on too. My route is officially all on road but there are a lot of pot holes. My current bike is a very old British Eagle hybrid with 700/35C wheels. It is currently shaking itself to pieces as I cycle it fairly hard. My daily ride home has a decent hill in it but I still only use 4 or 5 of the gears available. I have been thinking about my requirements a prioritised list is:

A) Reliability
Not drop bars
C) Mudguards and panniers
D) Decent wheels to balance rubbish road condition but still offer speed
E) Be fun to cycle
F) Not too flash so I don't have to worry when I lock it in town

Given my limited use of gears I reckon that an 8 eight gear would be fine. The only option I can find is the Edinburgh Bike Co-Op Courier (Std or Race). Other options with more gears are the Giant CRS City or Scott SUB (with urban pack). Any thoughts?

I can get the bike through a cycle-to-work scheme so budget is upto £600 but I would prefer to pay less than that.

 

[downfader]

Try out a Specialized Sirrus, or Marin Muirwoods/Fairfax. Gnerally you'll have to add on the mudguards and pannier after but they're cheap enough, some shops will even throw in freebies or a deal. Kona do some good flat bar bikes for the budget, in line with the Sirrus to a degree

 

[TheBoyBilly]

All Downfaders' suggestions are fine commuting bikes with the ability to stretch to longer fun rides when required. That said IMHO they are marques that attract thieves more than most so I would be inclined to opt for a fully equipped bike from the likes of Claud Butler (Odyssey, Legend, or at a push the Levante) or even Raleigh (often underrated) £400 should get you a belter of a bike even without the dubious 'street cred' of some bikes. Do try to test ride at least three bikes for size though.
Good luck and happy hunting.

 

[downfader]

I think theivery depends on where you leave it, how you lock it just as much as brands. My workmate had her old raleigh nicked from inside work last year, and with a reasonable D lock on it.

If they want it, they'll take it regardless. Perhaps we should start boobytrapping bikes?

 

[HLaB]

If they want it, they'll take it regardless. Perhaps we should start boobytrapping bikes?

A fixie with clipless pedals!

 

[cyberknight]

Pannier rack/ front basket for the ultimate deterrent.

Fixies may put them off oop here with hills but in cities they are the in thing

 

[Tynan]

fast and fun but not drops?

 

[HLaB]

fast and fun but not drops?

The suggested Sirrus and Marin fit that bill, but they're not as fast and as fun IMO as drops.

 

[Keen but clumsy]

Cheers all. Fun to cycle was only 5th on my list. Reliability is really the biggest issue for me. I want to be able to sell the car and commit to cycling everyday. This includes lugging a decent amount of kit around in rucksacks or panniers.

I already have a Giant OCR road bike that I use mainly on a turbo during the winter and for the occasional triathlon. I don't enjoy commuting on it - mainly due to the state of the roads but also due to the riding position.

I'll look into the suggestions and definitely take up the advice to ride at least 3 bikes before making a decision.

Ta

 

[Tynan]

worked my up from MTBs, through hybrids and the most fun I've had so far is on a road bike, granted a slightly relaxed one, they do take an initial period of getting used to granted

steel frame and carbon forks really smooths the ride, don't like it even on the hoods?

 

[downfader]

worked my up from MTBs, through hybrids and the most fun I've had so far is on a road bike, granted a slightly relaxed one, they do take an initial period of getting used to granted

steel frame and carbon forks really smooths the ride, don't like it even on the hoods?

I think you should feel comfortable on the bike you chose. Some people, we have to accept, just do not feel comfortable on drops. It took me years before I tried them.

Riding a bike is a personal thing, like car choice, or trouser fit.

 

[Lozatron]

I bought a second hand Dawes Audax off ebay for about £200 - couldn't get on with the drop bars whilst commuting in London so got a flat bar put on it which cost about £100 - and I think I was more comfortably playing about with it to get it right for me because I'd spent (comparitively) little on it.

I really think that if you're not sure of the *type* of bike you want, then a second hand one is a great way to try it - you'll probably get back what you paid for it and you'll feel less bad if you change bits.

 

[Tynan]

I think you should feel comfortable on the bike you chose. Some people, we have to accept, just do not feel comfortable on drops. It took me years before I tried them.

Riding a bike is a personal thing, like car choice, or trouser fit.

for sure, I wasn;t trying to railroad anyone, so many people told me that drops were bad for commuting, road bikes weren't comfortable, too fragile for commuting that Iwas over 40 before trying it and the reverse of all those things has turned out to be true

I wouldn't want anyone else to do that, I always enjoyed myself whatever I was riding but I do slightly rue the years i spent puffing away on cheap mtbs and hybrids

 

[BentMikey]

Yes, there's a lot of myth about road bikes and drop bars not being good for commuting. They are probably the best and most suitable, although I accept that not everyone gets on with them.

 

[HJ]

Lets face it, if it gets you from A to B, you can use it for commuting, it is really down to personal choice.