Hello I’m looking at getting a road bike to cycle to work on, it’s only 5 miles each way but I would like to use the bike in the evening and at weekends for long road rides so I don’t want a hybrid.

I have £1000 to spend from either Halfords or cycle solutions http://www.cyclesolutions.co.uk . I can stretch a little higher I have always fancied a Bianchi in green but don’t know if they are good value as I am a mountain biker and not up to date with road bikes. I would like something light rather than steel. I would also like to sit on a few first but at 5’7″ 30 inside leg I think I would need a small so any help on sizing apprichiated. I’ve noticed some are ‘compact’ etc I think I would prefer comfort over speed.

Thanks.

If it’s cycle to work then the Boardman Road Team Carbon is hard to beat for the £1000 limit. Ribble has some good offerings, £920 will get you a stealth with sora and is one good looking bike.
I believe the “compact” you refer to is the chainset rather than the geometry of the bike. A compact chainset is usually 50/34 where as a standard chainset is 53/39. That said last years Ultegra could be changed to a 53/34 as Shimano started making a one size fits all crank.

Also…

If its mainly for the commute then its worth thinking about the ability to attach mudguards and a rack. Everyone’s commute is different and I can get away with using my race bike in the summer but when the weather turns then the winter bike with its guards and luggage carrying capabilities will be making an appearance.
If its your one and only road bike you might be ok with some strap on guards to see you through the winter months and at 5 miles you could get away with a back pack without it getting too sweaty and painful.

Look for something that will take mudguards, I mean proper full ones, not temporary/clip on ones. And rack mounts if you think you’ll want a rack (makes the commute so much nicer in my opinion).

An extra 800grms in rack and mudguards is well worth it, and frames without mounts just make it more complicated/limit your options.

Edit: as above (must type faster!)

Ive gone for a Speshi Sirrus Hybrid, flat bar, will take mud guards etc.. still not convinced order went in yesterday. Off to the speshi shop today just to double triple check ive not mad an error.

Thanks! I think I will nip to halfords and the specialised shop today. I wasn’t aware of the £1000 limit? My colleague just bought a £1500 bike.

I intend to drive in on Mondays and leave clothes for the week at work, so luggage isn’t too much of an issue, mud guards a great tip though 🙂

Its salary based now, mine went up to £5k I nearly fell over, quickly reduced my limit down to £900. Far too tempting at £5k!

Spesh sirrus perfect for commutes of less than 5-6 miles IMO. My wife has one and it does her fine, I’ve used it a couple of times when my bike’s been off the road. Comfortable, reliable, upright position for observing the traffic. But it’s not really the sort of bike you want to be covering longer distances on.

Boardman CX?

LMT – Member
Its salary based now, mine went up to £5k I nearly fell over, quickly reduced my limit down to £900. Far too tempting at £5k!
POSTED 1 HOUR AGO # REPORT-POST

Not too sure on the rules but my company offers c2w schemes to other companies from what I can gather it’s run slightly different for us. Anyhow £1000 limit is fine for me as I’m more of a mountain biker.

I will look a sirrus today. I don’t mind it being a bit overkill on the commute (I’ve been using my 150mm BFe – which I love for what it was intended) so it’s going to feel a lot more purposeful and comfy than that, but Ideally I’d like something I can use to join my mates on longer rides.

I’ve gone for the elite disc, fairly light and will do the job, my commute is 11 miles, possibly train one way depending on shift pattern. Only concern is time frame if none in stock it’s a wait until December.

I just got back from the shops, I quite like the specialized tri-cross range. The helpful guy recommended the Allez Sport at £750

In true STW style I’m bias and reckon the Alllez is one of the best bikes of the last 10 years I would say that because mine bought for £275 in 2006 has been my fave commuter/sportive/weekend/going to the shops bike since then despite having a garage full of carbon/niche stuff.

I’m not sure if the latest ones take guards and whatever but if you do go for an Allez you won’t go far wrong and it’ll do a reasonable job at whatever route your cycling goes.

The sirrus I wanted has fallen through, literally tredz now saying the bike isn’t available until December. Fairly annoyed wish they had said that from day 1, ive gone for the planetx carbon flatbar bike, I know they have had there problems, but its a great bike with some great reviews for the dropbar version, it should do the job for those commutes to work and should do training duties well as well.