Is a road bike suitable for commuting?

[Matthew_T]

The only bike I have (in working condition) is a roadie. I currently have all my stuff in the saddle bag. If I start working I was wondering if it would be wise to change the set up so it is a commuter (add panniers, etc).

I do have the funds to buy a cheap commuter (£200/£300 limit plus extras (lights, tires, etc)). But would it be simpler to use the one I have or buy a new one? A new bike would be more comfier and cause me to get less hot. I would also feel safer locking it up somewhere.

My race bike has a lot of scratches on it and a wobbly rear wheel (nothing major), but a new bike would be in working condition and I would probably look after it a bit more.

Any advise?

I am not working yet but it is on the provision that I actually get a job.

 

[HovR]

Road bikes are fine for commuting on - I, and many others here, do it every day. Some are better than others, however. (Mudguard clearance, rack braze-ons etc)

 

[vickster]

Why would a new bike cause you to get less hot???

By road bike, do you mean dropped bars and skinny tyres? If so, neither should stop you commuting

 

[smokeysmoo]

Yes, simple as that. I have two and commute on both

 

[ianrauk]

I commute on a road bike and horror of horrors it has a rack and pannier.

 

[Edwards80]

I commute on a road bike and horror of horrors it has a rack and pannier.

Same here No problems at all, enjoying it more than my hybrid/mtb.

 

[Scilly Suffolk]

Depends on what sort of job you get and what sort of facilities they have at the other end.

Will you commute in the clothes you work in? Do you need to take anything else apart from your lunch? Is there secure parking.

I use my Winter hack/trainer for commuting and just swap the pedals over: metal cages for commuting in steelies and SPD for training.

Ultimately, a bike, is a bike, is a bike...

 

[DCLane]

I commute on a road bike too - 23mm tyres and am about to hit my 100th commute since starting in May last year.

Most of the commuters I see are on road bikes.

 

[kishan]

i dont see why not a work mate uses one to come into work.

 

[Hacienda71]

I just did my fastest commute of the winter on my carbon roadbike.8 miles at over 20 mph average in the dark on unlit country roads.
Perfect. Unless it is mega icey or snowing I wouldn't use anything but a roadbike.

 

[Mugshot]

I'm commuting on my Sunday best road bike at the moment, have a mountain bike which needs the headset sorting and a real shed of an Apollo which has a snapped pedal and a bottom bracket which is grinding like a bag of spanners, so, although I didn't really want to be using my road bike I have for the past few weeks, to be honest I LOVE it, it is so superior to my other commuters, however, it has no mud guards, the other two have, I don't really want to shell out for more mudguards and the clearance is tiny. I'm going to get the other two sorted and be a fair weather commuter on the roadie.
But as regards the original question, would I buy another for commuting if I only had a road bike, nope, but I would buy mudguards. I wear a back pack BTW, I have a change of clothes in work and a few emergency supplies in the back pack. Aint nothing wrong with a road bike for commuting, they rock.

 

[biggs682]

road bike for me to , even better if it has gaurds on etc etc .

why buy new get old one sorted got to be cheaper

 

[sean mcgibney]

I commute on a road bike and horror of horrors it has a rack and pannier.

that's just plain wrong

 

[Fab Foodie]

that's just plain wrong

But it'll be very clean ....

 

[derrick]

There does seem to be more road bikes commuting now, a year or so ago never saw to many in the mornings,