Minimum spend for a decent commuting bike?

[hackbike 666]

I spent 950 squid on the first audax (coming up to 5000 miles now) (from Evans) and 750 on the second (from tinternet).The plus point is that it is one of the most reliable bikes I have ever had.

 

[noadapter]

Bought a Ridgeback Supernova for £550 from evans ,quality bike well worth the money, better to spend a little bit extra to get decent components.

 

[J4CKO]

I pay for my Cannondale Bad Boy monthly via CTW, £679 new was too much in one hit as I wasnt sure whether the commuting thing would be for me, I am getting my use out of it, especially since you pay 40% less, its 20 odd quid a month, barely noticeable really if you consider the commensurate reduction in car costs.

I wouldnt mind seeing that thing about the Tesco bike, I was in there a couple of weeks ago and warned someone off one, the body of the brake lever flexes when you pull the brakes, not everyone needs high end but just because the Tesco thing looks like a bike doesnt mean its any good.

 

[boydj]

I got a £300+ bike in a sale for £200 over 3 years ago, so it's probably getting close to 10,000 miles now. In that time it's had new pedals, wheels, front & rear mechs, bottom bracket, headset, cables, several chains and cogs (normally new cogs every second chain), tyres and tubes. I'm pleasantly surprised, though, that the Shimano Sora STI shifters are still working as well as they ever did, considering they are just about bottom of the range.

New bike will be coming soon - and the plan will be to go for as good a frame as possible, with reasonable components. Probably spending in excess of £600 to get the right quality of frame. Commuting in all weathers means that components will be replaced regularly - no matter how good the quality of the parts, even with regular cleaning and maintenance - so there's no point in top of the range components.

 

[Downward]

£450 for mine although I think you can get it now (last years model) for £379.99

 

[levad]

boydj, Is that like triggers broom, same one for 20 years, only had 5 new handles and 8 new heads

 

[MacB]

Maybe you should spend more, and get hub gears. If I ever get another commuting hack, I think it will have hub gears.

That's what I'm doing but it isn't working out cheap, spend so far is £808.33 and I still need to add inner frame protection, front wheel, BB, chainset, chain, seatpost, saddle and pedals. Estimated it at another £300 but that does include allowance for a Brooks saddle. The two main spends so far were the Surly Crosscheck frame - £285, and the rear wheel built around the SRAM I9 hub gear - £367.

So my steel, bombproof, hub gear, commuter, is look at coming in at £1200 with labour. That's after I cut the budget to exclude the Rohloff hub and the front Schmidt dynamo hub

Then there's the old Dawes frame I'm building up - that budget hasn't so much been cut as frozen, pending e-bay sales of golf kit etc

 

[Bman]

As I seem to be the only one whos voted £100-150, I feel that I have to explain.

First of all, it really depends on how long your commute is, and more importantly, how you treat the bike. Keep it well maintained and it will last.

I really am surprised most people have voted for >£300! Dont forget, the poll says minimum spend for a new bike, suitable for commuting, that will last 3 years.

I know for a fact, you can make even a <£100 bike last 3 years and commute on it. As much as we all would like (and prefer) to spend £300+, it’s not a necessity. You can make a cheap bike last, if you treat it well and keep it maintained.

Now can any of you really say that you *have* to spend £300+ on a bike, to make it last 3 years and to use it to commute!?

 

[Keith Oates]

I suppose it also depends on the type of route your commute covers. Mine is over some very rough and muddy sections due to heavy building work taking place, so the dirt and muck really makes parts wear much faster. In general I work on the theory that you get what you pay, so for me the #300 plus would be the choice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[downfader]

As I seem to be the only one whos voted £100-150, I feel that I have to explain.

First of all, it really depends on how long your commute is, and more importantly, how you treat the bike. Keep it well maintained and it will last.

I really am surprised most people have voted for >£300! Dont forget, the poll says minimum spend for a new bike, suitable for commuting, that will last 3 years.

I know for a fact, you can make even a <£100 bike last 3 years and commute on it. As much as we all would like (and prefer) to spend £300+, it’s not a necessity. You can make a cheap bike last, if you treat it well and keep it maintained.

Now can any of you really say that you *have* to spend £300+ on a bike, to make it last 3 years and to use it to commute!?

I can still say spend over £300

With a £100 you will get a cheap £2 chain, this will stretch and rust. That in turn will wear out the rear sprocket, and possibly even the chainset. The frame usually made of a heavier but weaker aluminium so if you hit a bump it wont take the stress as well as say a 7005 alu frame.

Then theres the wheels. Usually unsiealed bearing/hub will let in all that weather, the ball bearings will be cheaper and will grind down quicker. If you really cannot afford anything else then you must buy new BBs just to make the wheels last longer.

I agree, good maintenance will make it last longer but a £100 price bracket bike is still made of old leaves and twigs.

 

[Steve Austin]

I would recommend anyone spend at least £300 new.

If it was for me, i would cobble one together from the small ads, and my large parts bin. But i really don't need a new bike, as i have 7 already

 

[Bman]

Although I agree with you all: You get what you pay for etc. But thats not my point (or I believe, the question in the poll). Although, I have not read the C+ article, so correct me if im wrong OP.

My point is, yes, <£100 and dont expect it to last. But a £100-£150 bike *will* last more that 2 years, if you treat it well.

 

[TimO]

Now can any of you really say that you *have* to spend £300+ on a bike, to make it last 3 years and to use it to commute!?

If I want it to last 16000 miles, and still use it to commutte, yes, I'd want to spend at least that much. If I was using public transport, I'd have to spend well over ten times that much, so it would be a bargain as far as I'm concerned.

 

[col]

As I seem to be the only one whos voted £100-150, I feel that I have to explain.

First of all, it really depends on how long your commute is, and more importantly, how you treat the bike. Keep it well maintained and it will last.

I really am surprised most people have voted for >£300! Dont forget, the poll says minimum spend for a new bike, suitable for commuting, that will last 3 years.

I know for a fact, you can make even a <£100 bike last 3 years and commute on it. As much as we all would like (and prefer) to spend £300+, it’s not a necessity. You can make a cheap bike last, if you treat it well and keep it maintained.

Now can any of you really say that you *have* to spend £300+ on a bike, to make it last 3 years and to use it to commute!?

I see your point, if it was just road use and commuting then it would probably do, lets face it, these sort of bikes were the norm 25 to 30 years ago, and I dont remember any major problems.
Im guessing people here mean with comfort, relative lightness and a good degree of reliability as well as looking nice.
With todays cycling enthusiasts and sporty types the makers are trying to supply with what is wanted. Back then it wasnt such an issue to have a light frame , and components were not scrutinised as they are today, so a heavy framed cheap geared bike that was also cheap to buy was the norm mostly, and we seemed to manage ok back then.

 

[E-Bygum]

Think there are lots of things to consider, myself I hit every bit of scaffold on the way down still have a dodgy nee so went for an electric assisted bicycle never looked back same may apply to infirm or older people needing some help on the inclines so for a regular 10 mile commute I coffed up just under £500 http://futurecycling.webs.com/