Forum menu
As others have said I guess it depends what you mean by expensive. I use a Kona Jake the snake which with upgrades would cost about £1500 to replace but my commute is 20 miles each way so I can kinda justify it.
Thus was taken on the way to work a fortnight ago.
It's only 5 miles each way so no need fir skinny wheels really and it's always nice to have the option to take the longer and dirtier route home!
[IMG] 
[/IMG]
Why the resentment towards anyone getting an expensive bike on BTW ?
Does everyone who gets a company car pick the cheapest model they can find ?
Anyway, I'm commuting mostly by single speed now.
Before that I was using this.
[url= http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4130/5001272931_03794c7fbb.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/8805115@N04/5001272931/ ]Lynskey[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/8805115@N04/ ]Vegan Graham[/url], on Flickr
Lynskey Ridgeline 29er
Rohloff
Fox Talas
Truvativ Noir
Etc.
Over £3500 at new prices.
Luckily, I work in a bus depot with anything up to 50 000 litres of diesel and £5000 in cash on site. I've got a pretty secure bike storage area. 😉
I've driven past a guy on a Colnago mountain bike in Huddersfield a couple of times recently, that must be worth a few bob...I didn't even know Colnago did mountain bikes.
Salsa Casseroll.
Not in any way trick, but I spend more time on this bike than any other, so I've spent money on it so it's as fun to ride as it can be while being reliable, cheap to run and versatile.
[img] 
[/img]
My commuter was £999.99 new on CTW.
It's worth a bit more in this photo, because there's £2.5k of Ragley TD-1 in the box on the back.
Pfft. Sling the frame over your shoulder!
I vary between a Genesis Altitude 10 and a singlesped Rockhopper, which has been ideal in the snow. However, I have been known to take my Enduro along instead, just for the ride home.
I completely agree that you should commute on what you want, I spend more time on my commute than on proper offroad rides, so I might as well be comfortable and fast.
I regularly commute on my Intense 5.5. And why not. You never know when the urge might take you 🙂
[IMG] 
[/IMG]
I think the handlebars alone are well over £100 (Edge/Enve Composites). Total bike would prehaps be £1500.
[url= http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4066/4619165405_aba0230dbe.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/50323605@N03/4619165405/ ]025[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/50323605@N03/ ]donks73[/url], on Flickr
It this Kinesis decade, which has to serve my daly commute plus any other riding duties as its all I have but it seems to be ok despite having no tread left on the back wheel and and the odd bit of creaking (easily fixed with a good clean), I never bother with road gear ratios or slick tyres and leave the suspension alone as i just enjoy messing about on it and dont really go hammer and tongs on the 7 mile ride. I occasionally get passed by some freak with gears but have resigned my self to the knowledge that I will take 5 mins longer to get to work.
I use my either my Heckler for going off road to work which is 13 to however long I feel like each way. Guesstimate cost of £1800-2000.
When going on the road (13-15 miles) I use my Scandal with City Jet tyres, value around £8-900.
My RM Solo (on the 'recent purchases' thread) is far to bling for a commuter. Original RRP was £2500..
Up until now I've only ever used 2nd hand frames & bits from Freeads/Ebay for commuting, but thought it was about time I treated meself.
My pimpino is my current commuter.
Seen here with mudguards on for winter (I hate them but they're really good at their job)
[url= http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4085/5197902034_e81ff9b35f.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/53067724@N00/5197902034/ ]pompino[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/53067724@N00/ ]Jon Wyatt[/url], on Flickr
Not sure how much that cost me because I stopped counting after a while when the numbers got scary but it's more than a grand.
In April I'll be buy a bike on CTW if it's still going, probably a Roadrat, but I recently saw this and want one, a lot.
[url= http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2620/4135246225_719f46f47e.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/singularcycles/4135246225/ ]Antti Finland Per S[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/singularcycles/ ]Singular Cycles[/url], on Flickr
My Summer commuter is a Specialized Tarmac Expert which I did through cycle to work.
[url= http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4134/4799798240_846cba9af1.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/simondbarnes/4799798240/ ]Needs a pink saddle[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/simondbarnes/ ]simondbarnes[/url], on Flickr
[img] 
[/img]
FRAME - On One Il Pompino XL (57cm)
FORK - On One Il Pompino
WHEELS - Mavic Open Pro 36h / Goldtec hubs (fixed) / DT Swiss spokes
TYRES - Vittoria Randonneur 700 x 28C
INNER TUBES - Continental Cross 28 - 25-35c 42mm
SPROCKET - Dura Ace 16t
LOCK RING - Dura Ace
CRANKSET - Sugino 75 - 170mm, 48t
BB - Sugino 75
PEDALS - Burgtec Penthouse Flats MKII
SADDLE - SDG Bel-Air RL Ti
SEATPOST - Thomson Elite 27.2 x 410mm
SEAT CLAMP - Salsa 30.0mm Lip-Lock
STEM - Thomson X2 100mm x 10deg x 31.8
BARS - Answer Pro Taper OS
GRIPS - ODI Ruffian
BRAKES - Avid Single Digit Titanium
BRAKE LEVERS - Avid Speed Dial Ultimate Ti
HEADSET - Chris King NoThreadSet Sotto Voce 1-1/8
CHAIN - KMC Kool
C/TENSIONER - Surly Tuggnut
QR SKEWERS - Shimano XTR M960 / Quando
Now has Deda Newton drop bars and Tektro V levers.
About £1800 new I think. I paid about £800 from mostly second-hand parts.
Our shower room at work. Lynskey Cooper and Pashley Dutch bike with shiny Brooks.
[img][url= http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1293/5185812802_4fdf6ff0fb_s.jp g" target="_blank">
That's better.
[img][url= http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4084/5189071373_23b75ccded.jp g" target="_blank">
Mine's on the left (Chorus carbon 11 speed, so a bit bling i suppose). 🙂
The bell on the Pashley is so big it looks like part of the shower!
£150 rigid gt aggressor - although I only now really commute to the shopping centre etc.Still use loads of locks though.
I commute on either a Maverick ML7 or a Felt singlespeed.