What would be the ideal commuter - for me?

[Sara_H]

Right chaps, I've just applied for a new job that will increase my commute from five miles to nearly twelve.

At the minute I use a mountain bike that I've commuterised to suit me. Looking at route planning options it is estimating my new commute at anyting between 1 hr 10 and 1 hr 56! I dont want it to take that long to get to work!!!!

I need to go faster! What would be an ideal bike? I'd still want to use panniers/mudguards etc. Its very hilly (which is why I use mountain bike - I need the gears) and I don't think I'd get on with drop bars.

Any thoughts?

 

[jarlrmai]

Are you using internet planners like google maps? Those planners are often wildly wrong, my commute is mainly limited by traffic lights / junctions not my speed.

A 15 mph average will see you doing that commute in 48 mins, I do my 10 mile commute in 30-35 mins.

The cheapest option to make your current bike a little faster is to get some narrower, slicker tyres for your MTB if you are still using the knobblys then rolling resistance on the road will be reduced, perhaps some Panasonic touring tyres in a wide size.

Also if you have any suspension you might consider locking it off or replacing the fork.

If you want a new bike then there are sportier hybrids with more road like positions and narrow slick road bike tyres but without drops and with pannier attachments etc, but at that stage I'd get a racer style touring bike drops are not too bad and you can use the hoods if you prefer.

You are not going to half your commute time by buying a new bike, though.

Doubling your commute is going to be take you longer at first but you'll get fitter and the times should come down as you do.

 

[Moodyman]

MTBs with slicks are quite zippy. I would'nt think you'd save much time with a 'faster' bike.

Ps the google maps times are unreliable.

 

[Sara_H]

I used cycle streets and google maps. Going to go for a test run tomorrow - weather permitting.

Part of the problem is that theres a nasty A road I need to avoid and there aren't any fast streight alternatives (to my knowledge).

I did think about tyres - I currently have marathons on - they're quite fat though, so could swop them. I have a suspension fork but its locked most of the time.

Just also been looking at the alternatives - theres a train four miles from home that drops me 1.5 miles from the workplace, (8 minutes on the train), so may do that as an alternative if I'm lucky enough to get the job.

 

[Norm]

A couple of jobs had me doing a 10 mile commute, which would take 35-40 for the flattish one, up to about 45 mins when there was a 300ft of climbing also involved. The time didn't change hugely when I took the rigid MTB, only about 5 minutes longer.

 

[Sara_H]

I thought the timings on the route planners seemed a bit steep.

A while back I looked at the Boardman Fi Hybrid, but I'm a bit dubious about the gears. I really am crap at hills - hence the mountain bike.

 

[potsy]

You could always take all that reflective tape off, should save you a few minutes

 

[Sara_H]

You could always take all that reflective tape off, should save you a few minutes

Awww....... I love the reflective tape - last night I had a dream that I was at my job interview and I just kept talking about my bike being covered in reflective tape!!!!

 

[Sara_H]

Just planned the route on my TOM TOM bike route planner and its saying 53 minutes.

 

[helston90]

Give it a few tries on your current bike first of all- my commute is 12 miles and my best times are coming in at sub 40mins on my tourer style hybrid so you may not need to start worrying about the road bike with go faster stripes yet.
Define hilly?- my 12 miles is 800ft climb to work and 740ft on way home. If it is super hilly the road tweaked MTB will put you in a better position for gearing etc. depending on your ability.
I personally am opting for a Giant Rapid 4 in Jan when our work does the cycle to work scheme as my go fast road bike but with flat bars and all the eyelets you need.

 

[Sheffield_Tiger]

What gets me around anything that Sheffield can throw at me currently is a flat bar bike but with a negative rise stem, bar ends for climbing/choice of positions, and 700x32 touring tyres - 27 speed with a touring range (forget the exact number of teeth) chainset - not as low a granny gear as an MTB but low enough for anything on road

It's less effort than an MTB even with slicks, and for commuting I'm happy with the flat bars - didn't think i would be after moving from drops but the bar ends help and I don't care if people think they look odd on it.

 

[Drago]

I can't see 12 miles being a problem on a sympathetically commuterised MTB. At the sort of pace I manage I'd be looking at under an hour for that - traffic depending, natch - and I'm no Roger Ramjet.

 

[Sara_H]

What gets me around anything that Sheffield can throw at me currently is a flat bar bike but with a negative rise stem, bar ends for climbing/choice of positions, and 700x32 touring tyres - 27 speed with a touring range (forget the exact number of teeth) chainset - not as low a granny gear as an MTB but low enough for anything on road

It's less effort than an MTB even with slicks, and for commuting I'm happy with the flat bars - didn't think i would be after moving from drops but the bar ends help and I don't care if people think they look odd on it.

I still have my old Dawes Sonoran too, but the gears don't seem to help me up the hills as well as my mountan bike.

 

[Sara_H]

What gets me around anything that Sheffield can throw at me currently is a flat bar bike but with a negative rise stem, bar ends for climbing/choice of positions, and 700x32 touring tyres - 27 speed with a touring range (forget the exact number of teeth) chainset - not as low a granny gear as an MTB but low enough for anything on road

It's less effort than an MTB even with slicks, and for commuting I'm happy with the flat bars - didn't think i would be after moving from drops but the bar ends help and I don't care if people think they look odd on it.

PS - do you know any good routes from meadowhead to chesterfield?

 

[Sheffield_Tiger]

PS - do you know any good routes from meadowhead to chesterfield?

Hmmm...

I'd be thinking Dronfield, Unstone then Old Whittington Lane and between the industrial estates in Old Wittington on Newbridge Lane, to pick up the canal towpath to the train station

Misses out the A61 and the numerous fast roundabouts

(For those not familiar with the area, the A61 from Chesterfield to Sheffield is a long grinding relentless uphill NSL dual carriageway with regular speeds of 80mph+ and regular fresh flowers at the roadside - horrible road for commuting by bike)