- This topic has 58 replies, 44 voices, and was last updated 14 years ago by Saccades.
-
12 mile commute to work….what to buy?
-
neil853Free MemberPosted 14 years ago
i was thinking about a cyclocross bike with mudguards on and perhaps some road tyres? but is it worth just buying a road bike? or are there any 26" bikes that are worth considereing?
ourmaninthenorthFull MemberPosted 14 years ago12 miles? Any bike will do, but some road tyres will make it a bit more pleasurable.
geoffjFull MemberPosted 14 years agoGet a road bike that'll take 28c tyres and guards. Probably more of a tourer/audax geometry may be more comfortable and provide better clearance.
neil853Free MemberPosted 14 years agowell my ransom won't 😉 i like the look of the scott and trek cx bikes, nice oppotunity to use the co cycle to work scheme too
MadPierreFull MemberPosted 14 years agoI got myself a Specialized Sirrus for commuting a little bit further.
Just the job.
DezBFree MemberPosted 14 years agoOf course "any bike will do" but you'd get there a lot faster and with less effort on a road bike than an mtb.
I use a 23c shod roadbike for a similar distance. If I was going to replace it, I'd consider a crosser with mudguard capabilities, but I still go for skinny tyres.thomthumbFree MemberPosted 14 years agofixed wheel.
will make you grow into a big strong man. the girls will swoon over you and the boys will admire you.
jonbFree MemberPosted 14 years agoA winter road bike would work. The biggest things I'd want to consider are gears, do you need them? Mudguards, you need them! Rack or Back? Strong wheels are important if you're riding in traffic and the dark as it's not always easy to avoid things.
You could do it on a slicked up mountain bike but I personally would be going cyclocross, touring, audax, winter road bike for fast reliable options.
I like on-ones and there's on in the planet x clearance so I'd consider and uncle John or kaffenback.
12 miles isn't that far, I'd have thought 45 minutes would be easily achievable on a mountain bike so you don't need a proper race bike.
anotherdeadheroFree MemberPosted 14 years agoSomething you can bolt proper mudguards and a rack to, if you need them, but which can run skinny tyres. 700c or 26" (or 650b, 29" for that matter) dosn't matter in the least. But you'll want it to be quick.
Gary_MFree MemberPosted 14 years agoI use a cx bike with 25mm road tyres and full guards for my commute which is slightly longer.
cookeaaFull MemberPosted 14 years agoAssuming it's a completely on road commute then get a Road bike and lycra up, I've had mine a couple of years and compared to the MTB it makes my 20mile commute a relative joy, so much more efficient…
Having said that if it was feasable for me to commute more offroad and simply take longer I would…
if you do have an offroad or partially offroad commute then I reckon a nice robust fully rigid, skinny tyres XC bike is the way to go, it's all about saving some energy for the journey home later…
ourmaninthenorthFull MemberPosted 14 years agowell my ransom won't
Fair point. Even I wouldn't ride one through choice. On the road, I mean. 😉
Road bike – good, but not usually enough clearnace for 'guards or a pannier rack, which you'll appreciate in the grotty weather. Fast.
Winter/audax road bike – clearance for 'guards and rack, but maybe less sprightly than straight race bike. Unlikely to be any slower on a commute.
CX bike – versatile, but choose carefully. True cross frames have no 'guard or rack mounts (or even bottle bosses). Get one that does all of these things. Watch that the gearing may be a bit lower than normal road.
westkipperFree MemberPosted 14 years agoMuch as I love cx bikes, I kind of roll my eyes a bit at their current popularity as commuters. In a tarmac-only role they are inferior in most ways to a true roadbike or tourer- heavier, , slack steering, frequent toe overlap and just less agile overall.
Now, if you intend to use them offroad , then, thats different,the're great! but otherwise I'd get a road bike and feel the speed difference.brooessFree MemberPosted 14 years agoCotic Roadrat here. Fast, handles like an MTB, 23c tyres for efficiency. Singlespeed cos London's flat and less maintenance
mikey74Free MemberPosted 14 years agowinter road bike
What is that exactly?
Just get a road bike: Tools for the job etc etc
foxyriderFree MemberPosted 14 years agoI would recommend a road bike as well as it makes the journey much easier and therefore you will be able to keep it up all week. A MTB or heavy bike will do your fitness the world of good but I have done it and it is much harder graft and wears you down over time 🙂 I got a ribble carbon frame, lovely and soft ride but with 23c tyres wips along amongst the traffic etc 🙂 I use the Crud Road racer guards (full). I carry a saddle pack with a few spare coins, spare tube, tyre levers and mini-tool. In my rucksac I have a pump and a puncture repair kit with my spare clothes.
chilliFree MemberPosted 14 years agoI do a similar commute and i got a CannondaleBadboy 700disc on the biketowork scheme,it's alot better than doing it on my old Kona and i like the stopping power of discs in traffic.
monkeychildFree MemberPosted 14 years agoOn One Pompino get a 135mm if you fancy gears. I run a fixie one and commute 15miles each way. I use a carradice saddlebag for carrying all my rhubarb and sks full guards.
foxyriderFree MemberPosted 14 years agoI guess it also depends on how hilly it is – a flat ride would suit a fixie I guess. Discs would suit city/busy town riding i.e. frequent stopping for lights and cars etc. Mine is town out into countryside and had no major hills.
aPFree MemberPosted 14 years agoI use a custom frame 853 road bike designed to take 23mm tyres and Salmon guards with standard drop brakes. But then that's probably all a bit over specialised for you. I bought as a second CX a bmc CX02 earlier this year which I could put guards on, and which I used for a week's cycling in the Alps 6 weeks ago (as I don't like flying with my nice road bikes) and was able to hang quite easily with a big group of Dutch club cyclists from Eindhoven on their way up the Col du Joux-Plane. It does the job just fine and is actually quite agile for a CXer. Of course I threw the 105 away and put Centaur on instead, and for mere mortals you'll not really require bigger than a 48 or 50 chainring.
It'll be flogged round Deal on Sunday.jimmyFull MemberPosted 14 years agomikey74 – Member
winter road bike
What is that exactly?
A road bike with thick lube and mud – sorry spray – guards on according to 224 Triathlon this (maybe last now) month.
I liked the article in this month's mag about 'winter bikes'. Too bloody right.
traildogFree MemberPosted 14 years agoI do a similar distance and use a variety of my bikes. All the bikes have main uses, and commuting is their secondary use. The cross bike is one of my favourites to use, but that's because I can use it to go off road. If I wasn't going offroad, then the road bike is the best as it's fastest and less tiring.
If the weather is bad, then it's my cx bike or hardtail mtb because I want to keep the road bike gleaming. The mountain bike gets a bit tiring riding everyday.If I was to get a bike which was to be used purely for commuting, then I'd get a tourer or 'winter' road bike. As must as I love my cross bike, the geometry of a road bike is better on the road, it's not easy getting guards on the crosser, the brakes can be a bit temperamental, the ride is stiff for racing and it doesn't take panniers.
westkipperFree MemberPosted 14 years agoOK neil, the general view is that you should get 'a 100mm travel, carbon monocoque unicycle with tri-bars, panniers and at least two full length mudguards.
jackthedogFree MemberPosted 14 years agoCarrera do a nice flat bar commute bike. Nice and cheap, fast, comfortable. Job's a gudgeoun.
KramerFree MemberPosted 14 years agoIs a road bike much faster on a commute than an XC bike with slicks?
firestarterFree MemberPosted 14 years agoive just got a flat bar 700cc single speed with discs for my new commute 🙂
jackthedogFree MemberPosted 14 years agoIs a road bike much faster on a commute than an XC bike with slicks?
You wouldn't think so but it really is. I made the jump and wouldn't go back.
ColemanFree MemberPosted 14 years ago"Is a road bike much faster on a commute than an XC bike with slicks? "
Oh yes.
ma-maracasFree MemberPosted 14 years agoThis would be the perfect ride for your commute:
http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/fs-trek-1500-slr-road-bike-56cm-winter-trainerstevomcdFree MemberPosted 14 years agoBit of a hijack here, but for grinding up BIG road hills (I live on the road to the Col de l'Iseran) is a road bike noticeably quicker (for the same effort!) than a slicked-up rigid MTB? Just curious, I should really get around to pedalling up some of that weird smooth black stuff some time, but neither the up nor the smooth really appeal…
claudieFull MemberPosted 14 years agoI switched from a MTB with slicks to road bike with 700c 23mm tyres and really like the change. Faster and much less effort. Recently fitted crud race guards which work well. Commute is 12 miles each way country lanes in crappy condition but my wheels seem fine so far. Got talked out of CX bikes by this forum as none of my ride is off road
HoratioHufnagelFree MemberPosted 14 years ago"Is a road bike much faster on a commute than an XC bike with slicks? "
not in my experience, but i'm much more of an MTB'er really, so maybe i'm no good at getting the most from a road bike. Running 1" slicks and a 48t chainring helps the MTB too.
steve_b77Free MemberPosted 14 years agoThe boardman hybrid comp is the ideal commuting tool in my mind.
Nice geometry, strong wheels, 28mm tyres, mounts for racks & guards, disc brakes, SRAM gears, flat bars and 23lbs.
Certinaly does the trick for me
richccFree MemberPosted 14 years agoAnother Road Rat here. Added full mudguards, clipless pedals and an Avid BB7 front disc brake. Running it single speed and do 12.5 miles each way in about 45 minutes with rucksack.
rolfharrisFree MemberPosted 14 years agoRoad bikes go on the road.
Cross bikes go on the rough.
Trek cross bikes don't have racks. A trek 1.2 has 25c tyres and room for guards and a rack. A trek 1.5 does too but isn't good value and a bit rough compared to the competition.
Giant Defys also have this space and a lovely frame and are great value. Incredibly dependable bikes, although they look a little boring.
I used to commute on a Planet X cross bike and it was slow and too low geared. It wasn't the right tool for the job. It was also much heavier than a road bike.
The topic ‘12 mile commute to work….what to buy?’ is closed to new replies.
