Starting anew! Looking for a decent road bike for commute, what would you recommend?

[HelenQueen]

Hello!

I'm new to this forum, but I've seen some of the great chats on here!

I need your help!

I'm looking for a decent road bike to help me commute, what would you recommend. I've had a lot of offline whisper telling me about a company called Roux Bikes, who do really nice ones and you can pay monthly which helps!

Any recommendations?

 

[mjr]

Talk to @biggs682 if you're anywhere near and wouldn't mind a vintage classic

Other than that, it may help if you describe the commute and give a rough location of where you are.

I think I've looked at Roux Bikes before and they seemed OK but I think it's an online operation so no test rides, which I think is probably important if it's your first road bike for a while.

 

[jefmcg]

If you are asking that question, don't buy online.

What I did was go into various nearby bike shops and ask for a drop bar commuter. See what they show you, go for a test ride or several. You'll be learning about bikes and finding which shops you like.

 

[vickster]

What's your budget?
I'd look at the London road range from Planet X if you are able to get to their shop in Sheffield. Do you want drop bars or flat, roadbikes can have either

Where are you based? What will the riding terrain be like? How hilly?

Otherwise, if you have an Evans closeby, take photo ID and a bank card on a dry day and have some testrides. Pretty sure they do finance tooo

If buying on the never never especially as well as leaving locked up for any length of time, budget up to £100 for locks and lockable skewers and get the bike fully insured

I have an inkling Spa in Harrogate sell Roux as do other retailers? British company

 

[biggs682]

thanks @mjr

@HelenQueen i mostly have retro steel bikes but also from time to time i get a few nice low useage newer machines feel free to let me know how tall you are etc etc so i can let you know what i have that might be suitable and of course your budget

 

[Drago]

Budget?
The nature and surface of your commute?
Length of the commute?
How do you plan on carrying any luggage?
Do you have any inherent preference for flat or drop bars?

 

[cosmicbike]

I'll don my helmet first...

Boardman CX Team. The new one looks nice, and it can be fitted with rack & mudguards. My 2014 one is just approaching 5000 miles, largely commuting and I love it.

 

[Bonefish Blues]

Budget?
The nature and surface of your commute?
Length of the commute?
How do you plan on carrying any luggage?
Do you have any inherent preference for flat or drop bars?

Indeed

 

[uclown2002]

Maybe she works for Roux bikes................

 

[dim]

2nd hand off ebay .... that's the way to go ... much higher spec bike for the same price

 

[vickster]

2nd hand off ebay .... that's the way to go ... much higher spec bike for the same price

Hard to get (interest free) credit though

 

[dim]

Hard to get (interest free) credit though

yea, but how much do you really save? ... do the maths and let me know

if you are patient, £600-£700 on ebay or gumtree gets you a good 2nd hand bike that would cost close to £1.5k+ new

if you don't have the £700 cash, get an old good vintage cheapie for £70 for the meantime and save up

many of my clients are on the cycle to work thingy, all riding Halfords bikes and they are not happy (especially when they compare their carrera's and boardmans to my 2nd hand bikes that were cheaper)

 

[HelenQueen]

Wow everyone thank you for getting back to me!

I'm 5 foot 4 so average height for a lady, and I'm looking for a commuter bike that I could take to riding on grassland at the park on weekends.

I've got about £500 saved from Christmas, birthday and extra pay, so something in that price range would be great, whether I have to pay monthly or not.

I would rather buy new, just because I know then what the bike is like, and anything that is wrong can be fixed before I pay for it

I totally agree that heading into a store to test out would be the best option - thanks everyone!

 

[biggs682]

@HelenQueen that is a fair budget for a first bike, go and try as many as you can and ask questions about them. Please ask to physically ride them rather than just sit on one.

 

[vickster]

If riding on grass, you might want a mountain bike or hybrid with front suspension, not a roadbike with narrow wheels and slick tyres or you'll likely go flying due to lack of grip/traction
...however, the ones with suspension are compromised on the road, the suspension and fatter tyres add comfort but sap speed

A 'CX' or gravel/adventure bike might be another option, but there are very few women's specific models and even an XS men's one could be on the big size for you depending on the geometry. Best bet would be to get to a number of local shops and see what's available

This is about it in a WSD option but way over budget https://www.edinburghbicycle.com/liv-invite-2-womens-2017.html

This last year's model, still over budget but is the higher spec. You need to check if a Small is the right size (no XS in stock)

https://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m7b0s195p6940/GIANT-INVITE-1-2016