Hi Everyone

[Sig SilverPrinter]

Hi all am new to all this forum stuff could I have some advice please.
After rescuing my mtb from dads garage where they had been stored for 10 yrs while I lived in a flat. Went to Lbs to get new tyres and saw a specialised sirrus .I now keep going back just to look at it.I am toying with the idea of cycling to work (about 16 miles).For the past 9 yrs I have commuted by train and brompton would the sirrus be a good bike for the 16 miles?I know nothing about hybrids would this bike be ok for cycling round the park with the kids?

 

[Danny]

Welcome.

Yes the Sirrus would be a good choice if you want a flat bar bike. Personally if I was commuting 16 miles (each way?) I would want a bike with drop bars as you can change you position more easily during the ride.

If you are commuting you are likely to want to add a rack so you can have panniers, and mudguards which together will add about £50 to the price of the bike. So you might want to look at alternatives which already have these fitted.

The key thing is to explain to your LBS what kind of riding you plan to do, and try out some different bikes and see what feels comfortable for you. Don't just go by looks!

Any hybrid would be fine for cycling round the park with the kids.

 

[Maz]

I've got a Specialized Sirrus, too. Very nice bike for commuting. It's the only bike I have, and has served me well year round, day in day out.

 

[Sig SilverPrinter]

Thanks for the replies.I know I shouldn't go on looks alone but I now covet this bike!! I was looking at flat bar as i have a lower disc problem and was worried with drops I might aggravate it even more.

 

[swee'pea99]

I've heard only good things about the Sirrus, but like DannyG, if it were me, for that distance I'd be looking at a racer. (I wouldn't clutter it up with racks or mudguards tho'...you can carry most things in your jersey pockets, or take a little rucksack when you need to, and mudguards are for jessies.)

Whatever you choose, I reckon you'll enjoy it a lot. Do!

 

[Sig SilverPrinter]

I may have to go for panniers where would i put my packed lunch !!
I also sometimes have to take work home which includes heavyish boxes of paper which is not too bad at the mo as on the brompton i'm only cycling for 15-20 min in one go.

 

[John the Monkey]

Sirrus is a good bet - I see a few around town, and they're surprisingly quick in the right hands. My personal choice is an SCR2 (drop bar bike) but then I knew I wanted drops...

 

[gbb]

Thanks for the replies.I know I shouldn't go on looks alone but I now covet this bike!! I was looking at flat bar as i have a lower disc problem and was worried with drops I might aggravate it even more.

Hi Sig....
Dont discount a dropbar bike because of your back...there are advantages.

A flat bar bike ony really gives you one position to ride in. A lot of weight is being passed through your hands and onto the bars. This could cause discomfort on longer rides...
Drop bars offer you more riding positions, hands either side of the stem, hands a bit further forward where the bars curve forward or hands wrapped round or resting on the hoods....also, when ridng against the wind (back permitting) you can get lower down (even if you're not on the drops) and it makes a big difference in your speed.

 

[Soltydog]

I have a Spesh Globe which i use mainly for my commuting approx 17 miles each way. Fit bar ends & you'll have more than one riding position. The sirrus will be a bit quicker thna my globe tho

 

[Sig SilverPrinter]

Now I don't know what to do! I worry i will spend money and get the wrong bike. I have a very old racer about 25yrs old thats sitting in my dads shed maybe i should have a look at it see how comfotable i would feel going back to drops.
Out of interest how long does a 17 mile commute take on average?

 

[Soltydog]

Out of interest how long does a 17 mile commute take on average?

Depends on fitness, hills, traffic, surface you are travelling on

probably looking at over an hour to start with, but as your fitness levels improve your time will come down

 

[pinkkaz]

Out of interest how long does a 17 mile commute take on average?

It takes me 50mins to do 11.5 miles, but that's from one side of London to the other with traffic, traffic lights, lots of other cyclists, lots of pedestrians, potholes etc. etc. If I could get rid of everyone else it would be sooooo quick!

 

[swee'pea99]

I have a very old racer about 25yrs old thats sitting in my dads shed maybe i should have a look at it see how comfotable i would feel going back to drops.

What is it? There's a very big difference between a very good very old racer and a very average very old racer (not to mention a very crap very old racer). If by any chance it was a good 'un, I would have thought it would certainly be worth changing the tyres (they'd be past their sell-by after 25 years for sure, even if they don't visibly appear perished); squirting a bit of wd-40 around in the obvious places (down cable housings, at fulcrums of moving bits) and taking it for a spin.

 

[Sig SilverPrinter]

I'm not sure could be a raleigh.I bought it 2nd hand when I was 16[am 42 now]now i'm wondering if it was one of my bikes that dad accidently set fire to by placing a CARDBOARD box full of hot ashes in the garage i know one of my bikes melted dad recked he could rebuild but never did. I will look in his shed this weekend.

 

[gkilner]

After much research and umming and arring about which bike to buy, a MTB with slicks or a hybrid, I eventually decided on a Ridgeback Voyage.

I wanted something comfortable, with a rack, mudguards and good quality puncture resistant tyres, this seemed to fit the bill and I've been very happy with it so far.

For an every day commuter bike, mudguards and panniers are nice to have, even if they don't look very cool.