Which tough, fastish commuting bikes?

[Spoke-broke]

Hi,

My Raleigh Ghost so-called 'mountain bike' has served me well for the past year for commuting. However, the equipment on it is not the best, it strikes me. I've had spokes break and had to true the rear wheel twice, and it's buckled again. Am now getting fed up.

I contacted a major online bike specialist who recommended a tough British-made rear wheel, which would need a cassette and therefore chain (my current wheel only has a free-hub). I'd also replace the tyre with one of those Schwalbe slickish on top, knobbly on the outside, puncture resistant numbers, for speed on roads and some grip on trails. I would add a new tube to boot.

The trouble is this lot is going to set me back £140. The bike was only about £200, and the rest of its equipment already seems to be going down-hill (but not in a good way). The left twist grip's gone incredibly stiff, so I have to graunch it to the big chain wheel and leave it there, and the right grip shifter keeps slipping down the handlebar.

Can anybody recommend a tough bike or bikes that will offer fastish commuting, and the odd bit of easy trail riding but with no more buckled wheels. Potholes and the odd bit of kerbing need to be taken into account.

I've not got fortunes to spend, but maybe £300? Max. £400 for one that's really going to last and not give problems. I've got the grease gun, GT85, cassette whip, etc., but to be honest I'm not really into spending hours maintaining my machines.

I'm just under 5'11" and range from about 12.5-13.5 stone, riding briskly - hence probably the stress when I hit a pothole and subsequent high-pitched twang with bog-standard budget equipment wheels.

Very grateful for any advice.

- G

 

[rowan 46]

what style bike you looking at mountain or hybrid

 

[Cheule]

but to be honest I'm not really into spending hours maintaining my machines.

Very grateful for any advice.

- G[/size][/font]

Well that mostly explains the problems with the bike. All bikes need regular maintenance.

 

[Zoiders]

Slicked up MTB with rigid forks.

As much as some of us may dislike Halfords I saw a Subway urban MTB with a nexus hub gear and shimano hub brakes for £240 in the sale.

It's fool proof, weather proof, needs little in the way of servicing and you can't build it from parts for less than twice that amount.

 

[PpPete]

I would have suggested a second-hand steel tourer... but you'd have to spend time on it, which you say you don't want to do, so Zoiders' suggestion is spot on the money.

 

[g00se]

Try the Kona Dew range. I have one as a commuter and it's lasted me well for years. Evans has them on sale at the mo. Starting around £220.

If the budgets about £400, this looks a bargain for something bombproof and low maintenance:

My link

 

[sabian92]

No matter what you buy that is mechanical in some way (not just bikes, cars and the like) you will have to do at least basic maintaining on it.

That said, if you keep it in reasonable condition in the first place, you'll save yourself hours fixing it when it gets worse. Kinda like going to the dentist when you have a small tooth ache, and not waiting till you need a root canal doing.

 

[upsidedown]

Carrera Subway 2's got to be an option, seen a few on the commute and they look great.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Slicked up MTB with rigid forks.

As much as some of us may dislike Halfords I saw a Subway urban MTB with a nexus hub gear and shimano hub brakes for £240 in the sale.

It's fool proof, weather proof, needs little in the way of servicing and you can't build it from parts for less than twice that amount.

I was just going to go and google that bike in order to suggest it.

 

[Spoke-broke]

Hearty thanks for all the replies.

Embarrassed to say that I don't actually know the difference between a mountain and hybrid, so I'm guessing hybrid!

I'm not a total loss when it comes to repairs - I try and keep the chain and cables oiled/greased at regular intervals, brakes adjusted. I can remove and refit blocks for truing rear wheels to within approx. +/-1mm without special tools and know how to use a torque wrench. The finer points of gear mech adjustment and I'm out of my depth though - I could do with a decent repair manual to look up this sort of thing. Would be grateful for any suggestions in this regard.

I don't really have the time for washing, drying & relubing everytime it rains, constant strip-downs, rebuilds and tinkering like a proper committed cyclist might. I also expect bikes designed for ruggedness and billed as 'mountain' worthy machines to be able to take average street and light trail conditions without spokes twanging every fifty to one hundred miles. I do expect consumables to need replacing. Cables after some time, the odd chain and sprocket after a few thousand miles. Maybe pedals and a bottom bracket bearings after 5-7 years averaging four or five miles per day. It's not like I'm 'giving it air' or riding at 40mph.

Will check out the Halford's Subway Urban MTB and Kona Dew - thanks guys

 

[cyberknight]

+1 on the subway, fairly bombproof and they are clearing last years stock so they are discounted .

 

[Spoke-broke]

Hi, and thanks again.

Just so I'm sure, would you recommend the Subway 1 with V-Brakes or the 2 with discs (as I've never experienced disc braking)?

Also, both models and the Kona Dew, from Evans, seem to feature conventional derailleur rear gear mechanisms, albeit with trigger shifters on the bars. Are hub gears - mentioned by Zoiders - more reliable?

Thanks

 

[cyberknight]

Go for the discs if you can , better braking especially in the wet.

V brakes are very good but when the rims get wet they offer less braking power, ok if you know what to expect and are used to them .

Hub gears are more reliable as they enclosed so they have less wear, you can get the subway 8 but looks they are all sold out till the new model comes out.
The kona looks good for the price.

Personally i have only ever used derailleurs and i have not had a problem with them , sure they do not last forever but at the price point that will be fitted to a subway etc they are not going to be expensive to replace.

The one i had to replace cots about £30 .

 

[Tynan]

Hand built wheel(s) if that's the only problem

 

[Cubist]

Go look at the Voodoo hybrids in Halfords.