New commuting adventure.

[vickster]

You need to test the journey first. 22 miles is my "long way" commute but that's mostly along country roads where you can crack along. I would imagine that traffic and traffic lights in London may slow you down - even being able to zip past traffic my speed is much slower in the city.

As for bike, personally if you are committed to that distance I would get a road bike for sure, the extra speed along that distance daily will quickly add up. Road bikes seldom come with disc brakes especially at the lower end of the market but they are not really needed if you keep your brakes well maintained - caliper brakes will still skid your front wheel which is beyond the maximum you can brake anyway. In wet conditions you just need to lightly press them before coming up to a hazard to clear the rims.

It can be done, I would and do quite happily add to my long way. But you need to do it in a measured way, catch the train half the way at least to start unless you can build up miles at the weekend. Otherwise you'll just be knackered, hate cycling and give it up solely because you dived in a very, very , very deep end.

There are plenty of drop bar bikes with discs, usually marketed as gravel, adventure or CX. London roads are pretty hideous and given the density of traffic, motorised and pedal powered, it can be hard to avoid postholes and rough surface, thus a 28mm+ tyre is definitely a bonus which may well preclude a fair few true road bikes

 

[OneArmedBandit]

Presumably if the OP is wanting to test the water they are going to be going for the lower end of the market though, unless they want to splash some cash and have secure parking.

For me if it is a choice between disc brakes or puncture proof tyres on a limited budget it would be tyres every time. Also depending on the OP's mechanical ability, or whether they are happy to pay an LBS, caliper brakes are much easier to swap and you will go through plenty doing 44 miles.

Potholes are a pain on any road tyre IMO. Otherwise it is preference on how they feel.

 

[Twizit]

Loads of great advice given above.

Unusual for anyone to get their set up perfect from day one, and am sure the OP will go through a variety of options before figuring out what works for them (we're all different and there's never going to be one solution that fits). However, for what it's worth, after 8 odd years of doing 4-5,000 miles a year of London commuting (plus lots of other cycling), on my preference list would be:

- Gravel or CX type drop bar bike - robust, quick but gives lots of options around tyre choice / clearance, racks etc
- Hydraulic disc brakes - far better all round than calipers and don't bother with mechanical discs - just too much faff to look after by comparison
- 28mm tyres - best compromise of speed / comfort
- Full mudguards
- Ensure bike has rack mounting points to give you options - you may never use (rucksac / other) but better to have than not
- Look at 1x set ups - London is fairly flat so you won't need loads of gears, and no front derailleur means once less thing to maintain / go wrong - I've got this set up on mine and it doubles as my winter bike and can handle all the Surrey Hills, so gearing really is no issue
- Leave as much kit / locks etc at work as you can, and just take in clean stuff once or twice a week in bulk - means you get most of your commuting on a "light" bike
- Defo carry CO2, one spare tube plus Park self adhesive patches. Small pump also in case the CO2 fails (it happens) or you have more than one puncture

Am sure there's lots else.

Most importantly, just get on and try it. Best way to learn and you'll figure out for yourself what really works / doesn't for you, and what's really important.

 

[united4ever]

wonder if an ebike might be the answer....especially if you can plug in at work. Lot of traffic lights and stop start in London so would mean you could get back to a good speed from junctions.....just might mean you are not arriving at work exhausted and sweaty as can be with a days work ahead of you. Obviously quite expensive to buy upfront though. I would say try and borrow or rent a push bike and see how you go for a day or two or preferably give it a week or two. if it's too much then look at an ebike....again maybe rent one for a day.

 

[Crankarm]

OP hasn't been back in 3 weeks. This was their first and only post. Not even thanked those who contributed advice. Poor show. Maybe they thought better of it. I wonder how over weight they actually were?

 

[Heltor Chasca]

OP hasn't been back in 3 weeks. This was their first and only post. Not even thanked those who contributed advice. Poor show. Maybe they thought better of it. I wonder how over weight they actually were?

Water off a duck’s back. This happens all the time over on the CTC forum. Not that common here though.

Update: The OP just didn’t pay attention to the route advice and is now in Piccadilly Manchester, rather than Piccadilly London.