Is a road bike suitable for commuting?

[Cyclist33]

I find road cycling more comfortable on a road bike than on an mtb. Rather have a smooth tyre than one knobbling about the whole journey.

Saying that, I don't commute any more coz I live next door to work.

Stu

 

[Matthew_T]

There arent great facilities at the venue and it doesnt have safe parking. The building is situated in a dodgey part of a local town and I am not happy taking my road bike which is more valuable to me than a hybrid/mtb. (All my bikes are valuable to me but my race bike more).

I am willing to purchase a bike after I have been working for a bit and commuting by bus (that is my plan with a full time job). This one is for a sessional worker at a local kids fun club. So it wont be for many hours plus it will be in peak times like summer when I could get very hot and sweaty.

 

[vickster]

Matthew, why not get one of your other less valuable bikes fixed, rather than buying yet another? Or have I missed something? What else do you have - ok, if a penny farthing, a tandem and a unicycle this may not be a practical option

 

[BrumJim]

Unicycles are fine for commuting. Why else would our Cylce-to-Work scheme provider include one on their list?

 

[BrumJim]

But is it a road unicycle?

More of a fixie, IIRC.

 

[Sittingduck]

Take the road bike - it will be less attractive to thieves than a flat bar bike, IMHO. Spend peanuts to get your wheel trued and save your £300 towards your next bike!

 

[Matthew_T]

Matthew, why not get one of your other less valuable bikes fixed, rather than buying yet another? Or have I missed something? What else do you have - ok, if a penny farthing, a tandem and a unicycle this may not be a practical option

Believe me, it is beyond repair. I have an old MTB and this is what is wrong with it.

Checklist:

1. New chain
2. Front/rear brake cables
3. front/rear tires/innertubes
4. rear wheel/hub
5. frame repaint/derust
6. new suspension forks
7. new handlebars
8. new discs and pads (brakes)
9. new cassette
10. new chain ring
11. new front/rear gear systems
12. new handlebar grips
13. new pedal

For the price of all that, I could get a top of the range bike.

 

[vickster]

Just get the road bike sorted as others have said

 

[HovR]

Spend the money on a top of the range U lock?

 

[DCLane]

OK ... what do I use as a commuter?

This (when/if Madison put a new frame in):

This is my winter hack:

This is for when the weather's really bad:

And this is for when I'm desparate since the rest don't work:

All are suitable! Well, the first 3 are.

I'd suggest a cheap hack off eBay/Gumtree/local press/college noticeboard. Just make sure it's legit.

That way you can save the money on fixing your 'best' bike.

 

[Matthew_T]

Right, I have calculated the exact cost for repairs. £451.51

Whereas if I simply got the extra parts for a whole bike, it would cost £559.49. A simple addition of a hardtail frame and a front wheel.

It would be about a fraction to fix the roadie and half of the repairs to buy a new bike.

When it comes to it I will use the roadie then.

 

[MissTillyFlop]

I commute on a road bike and a small (I can see others who have seen it will disagree!) backpack.

I can fit a change of clothes, make up, lunch,phone, purse,oyster, waterproofs and a towel in it (everything is folded up very small!)