What bike?

[JimmyXP]

I have been cycling to work for approximately 6 months on my old townsend job, which is slowly breaking away, so i'm looking at getting a new bike, i'm not sure what yet..

I have a budget of around £500-£600

I am not sure which type of bike I would want, but I would prefer a bike with gears, i am not too keen on the idea of singlespeed, I have been looking at a few bikes such as:

Focus Variado Compact 2009

Saracen Londres

Those are two that I have been looking at and that interest me so far, I am quite a big guy, 6'3 around 17.5st so I want a bike with solid enough wheels, i'm not sure how wheels with less spokes cope with a bigger guy.

My trip to work is only 4 miles each way, but every friday my trip to college is 10 miles each way, I also like to ride on the weekend, so I think a road bike is my best bet, i'm just not sure which or what type, I have also been interested in cyclocross bikes but not sure whether my budget is high enough for one of those or not.

Thanks alot for all your suggestions/etc

 

[JimmyXP]

I would like to add, that I wouldn't mind buying used, I guess ebay is pretty much the only place to check out? or is there anywhere else?

 

[addictfreak]

I have a Variado expert as my training/winter bike. Great bike for the money no complaints at all.

 

[ComedyPilot]

If the old bike has served you well, doesn't it desreve a few quid thrown at it at the LBS to get it back in shape?

 

[JimmyXP]

No, the old bike is really not worth spending any amount of money on.. It's a Townsend Glacier bay and current problems are:

Bent Rear Derailleur
Front Wheel Bearing worn
Rear Wheel Bearing worn
Bottom Bracket bearing worn
Worn shifter cables
both tyres split and wearing thin
Frame has slight dings and spots of rust on the headset.

By the time everything is fixed, something else will break knowing me, and then I might aswell have bought a much newer less poop Bike.

 

[blazed]

Since you would buy a used here is the boardman team on ebay for only £600. Much much better bike than the ones you are looking at.

 

[JimmyXP]

I feel that that bike will be too small, I am 6'3.

 

[blazed]

I feel that that bike will be too small, I am 6'3.

Can you not lose a few inches surely the bike is more important. Cut below your ankles off and attach a cleat to each stump, that is what i would do.

 

[JimmyXP]

Yea, I really need my feet, If I had no feet I wouldn't have a job to commute to.