Just musing at the moment, this is all dependant on me getting a job I’ve just interviewed for…

I’ll be riding to work pretty much every day. 6-7 miles of either busy town and easy singletrack. I live in Hull so it’s flat – it’ll also be used for easy local off road rides and such too.

So I figure I want:

Full length mudguards
Fairly relaxed geometry
Possibly singlespeed for easy maintenance
Rack mounts
Steel frame (I just like steel)

I’m torn between a nice hardtail (but that will struggle with the racks and guards) or a gravel / cross style bike, which I know nothing about.

Suggestions? Ideas? Tell me to buy a full carbon road bike or Octavia VRS?

Mud guards – check
Single speed – check
Luggage carrying – check
steel – Bits of it will be check
relaxed geo – catatonic – check

I dunno, that looks pretty steep to me 😉

What bikes have you already got? What sort of money do you have to spend?

Tell me to buy a full carbon road bike or Octavia VRS?

This. And make sure it’s the estate. Octavia that is, not the road bike.

Lad at work just tried to swap his tuned VRS for my MX-5. I was almost tempted.

Currently have a Rocket for fun riding and a very battered old Carrera roadie for, well, roading. The Rocket will be no use for the commute and the Carrera is on its last legs – I suspect I’ll have to start spending money on it soon and I’d sooner replace it tbh. It owes me nothing.

I’d also really like a hardtail because I miss having one and hardtails are awesome.

Let’s say around 1k, as it’ll get a lot of abuse, but cheaper is better. Second hand is fine.

Cotic Escapade?

Yes. That looks perfect.

Send be £1500 (paypal gift) with all your details,and I will go out and get you a lovely bike ,then post it to you.Xx