Commuting 18 miles,...
 

[Closed] Commuting 18 miles, Hybrid or roadie ?

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spot on then. get that bike i posted. bargain.


 
Posted : 21/12/2011 5:51 pm
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it's about £600 over budget


 
Posted : 21/12/2011 5:54 pm
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oh right. 😆

borrow the money then, you'll recoup it in no time and that's a lovely bike!


 
Posted : 21/12/2011 5:55 pm
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LOL i HAVE the money, just dont want to spend that much.


 
Posted : 21/12/2011 5:58 pm
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oh right. 😆

spend the money then, you'll recoup it in no time and that's a lovely bike!


 
Posted : 21/12/2011 5:58 pm
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pads are cheap, rims are expensive.

Not really, disc pads add up! I do more braking than many on my commute (loooooooooooots of lights) but don't really do through rims that fast. I'd still choose rim brakes.

I'd not choose an Kaffenback either - weighty, I'd rather have sommat a bit 'flightier'.


 
Posted : 21/12/2011 6:00 pm
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I personally don't see the point in hybrids. As inefficient position as a mountain bike without the strength and ability

Depends on the hybrid, but you could equally well say they're much like a road bike but with better brakes and flat bars- and most people don't spend that much time in the drops anyway.

For 18 miles on the open road I'd say road bike, but for 18 urban miles a sporty hybrid would be a great choice. Only downside is if you then want to go road riding at the weekends it's not so great, but for fast urban transport hybrids are spot on I reckon.


 
Posted : 21/12/2011 6:07 pm
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50 minutes on a mountain bike... 18 miles...

You have no hills or traffic then?


 
Posted : 21/12/2011 6:08 pm
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weeksy - Member

6'0"

medium kaff is too small. large or mabe xl would be closer.

moot point maybe


 
Posted : 21/12/2011 6:10 pm
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I've tried riding to work on a road bike (Kinesis Tripster) and a rigid MTB with the wheels from the Tripster in it and a 48t chainset + road cassette.

Theres a negligible difference in speed over 10 miles. More time is lost if the one traffic light on the journey happens to be red.

The handlebars on the MTB are roughly the same position as the hoods on the road bike and I hardly used the drops anyway.

Just use whats most comfortable.

The ebay bike looks a bit dodgy, he has no idea what size it is. But Medium/51 in Halfords sizing is roughly a 56cm road bike for around 5'11" type height.


 
Posted : 21/12/2011 6:12 pm
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Thanks all.


 
Posted : 21/12/2011 8:09 pm
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Well, one on bikeradar has come up. Used 3 times

http://m.hotukdeals.com/deals/muddyfox-veloce-road-bike-reduced-from-768043?page=3

£75 posted.


 
Posted : 21/12/2011 8:20 pm
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I'm also a regular commuter and I would recommend a road bike - ribble do the audax/winter trainer for about 600 quid with tiagra which would be great. don't worry about potholes etc, take a look at the Paris-Roubaix for roadbike abuse

drops are great because you have more than one hand position, and although it may take a while to get used to the different geometry you will find it more efficient.

depends on your torso/leg ratio but I would suggest a top tube length of about 56 to 57 or similar if you are 6ft, having a test ride is the best option though


 
Posted : 21/12/2011 9:55 pm
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I've been experimenting on a 20 mile each way commute between hybrid/cross straight bar bike, and drop bar road/race bike. I'm consistantly quicker on the hybrid, feel way safer on the hybrid, and the gears seem to suite me better on the hybrid (48/36/26 vs 50/39/30.
The route does have two big climbs and most is on side roads.

Thinking of selling the road bike.......


 
Posted : 21/12/2011 10:33 pm
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Seriously impressive times if you're doing some offroad. I thought I was very fit. Clearly not. I can't even get close to that on my flat offroad commute.

Cross bike is your way forwards. This will allow you to go fast on the road and fast off if it's not that technical. As above Large Kaffenback would be perfect.


 
Posted : 22/12/2011 2:09 am
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£75? Bargain! 😉


 
Posted : 22/12/2011 2:33 am
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Seriously impressive times if you're doing some offroad. I thought I was very fit. Clearly not. I can't even get close to that on my flat offroad commute.

The off-road is all downhill for the last 2.4 miles to my house,plus being Ridgeway, not exactly hard going.

We'll see soon how bad my averages are and you can mock me 🙂


 
Posted : 22/12/2011 7:06 am
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Get a crosser with 32mm tyres; that way you can enjoy the speed and efficiency of a roadie but still nip down tracks, BWs, towpaths or whatever if you fancy it.

Just done my regular Saturday café training ride on the Tricross and over 2 hours it was only 8 minutes slower than the roadie, which may just be down to the fact that it's winter and I'm less fit.


 
Posted : 22/12/2011 8:55 am
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Not read the whole thing but I would want flat bars for comfort and disc brakes so for me hybrid. I don't care that it might be a little slower - I want the comfort and the safety


 
Posted : 22/12/2011 9:06 am
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Get a crosser with 32mm tyres; that way you can enjoy the speed and efficiency of a roadie but still nip down tracks, BWs, towpaths or whatever if you fancy it.

Depends on you, but I never ever did that in 3 years of riding a CX bike. I'd use it off road, and I'd use it on the road, but I never just disappeared offroad on a road bike, eventually decided that a cross bike was heavier and slower than a road bike, and not as versatile as an MTB. YMMV of course.

I want the comfort and the safety

I find drops significantly more comfortable on the road than flats, and as I can lock the wheels with rim brakes discs just seem a bit of a waste! Personal though innit.


 
Posted : 22/12/2011 10:04 am
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So, you lads love my £75 bargain? shifters on the downtubes LOL


 
Posted : 22/12/2011 10:22 am
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Just get a road bike. Kinesis T2 or something like that. It'll be fast, comfortable & you'll enjoy riding it. I picked frame & fork up for £120 on eBay. No point getting something that you don't look forward to riding.


 
Posted : 22/12/2011 10:40 am
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i do 18miles myself with lots of uphill in about 45mins but use a ss road bike converted to flat bars so esentualy a sports hybrid the bordmans might be worth a look very comfy and fast,giant also do one and the roadrat as posted on p2 is a good bet


 
Posted : 22/12/2011 11:49 pm
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i do 18miles myself with lots of uphill in about 45mins but use a ss road bike converted to flat bars

24 mph average on a flat bar SS with lots of climbing? Really? Do you run a 53-11 gear?


 
Posted : 23/12/2011 10:10 am
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When I was very fit in my late thirties I used to average 12 miles per hour on my 20 mile mountain bike commutes, using knobbly tyres.

I did have a mate who has spooky big lungs and massive thighs who could give roadies a run for their money when he was riding an mtb, but the speeds quoted here are still fast!!!!!!


 
Posted : 23/12/2011 11:01 am
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That was on road


 
Posted : 23/12/2011 11:02 am
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My commute is 20miles I have done this for over 10 years on various bikes, MTB, Hybrid and road, the road bike suffered in winter, but you may not want to ride in winter. The worse was when I rode into a 'puddle' roadside only to find it was a 2ft pothole, snapped my front wheel, broke my forks and set me into the road, nice!
MTB too heavy, hybrid lasted the longest until my wife ran over it in car! I now have a Genesis Croix de fer and its perfect, steel frame nice and compliant, disk brakes and large wheels cut my commute time by at least 5 minutes, only problem is its white and this time of year the roads make a mess of the bike quickly! Pays yer money and takes yer choice!


 
Posted : 23/12/2011 11:36 am
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Nothing to add other than I meant bar tape. I don't wear out rim tape. 😳

Oh, and I still say a new set of wheels... 😉


 
Posted : 23/12/2011 11:48 am
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[i]i do 18miles myself with lots of uphill in about 45mins[/i]

Whats that smell?


 
Posted : 23/12/2011 12:09 pm
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nope one far side side of bristol to the other have gps's the route and comes up as 18miles when riden on my scooter,i leave at 7 usualy get there at about 7.45/50 but im usualy jellied by the time im finished,unless the milage that the gps has shown is out then by all means im in the wrong,i have 3 routs 2 of take about the same time to work but the longer trip home takes about 1.15
gearing is 42-15 dont no what that works out in inches i just ride it 😕


 
Posted : 23/12/2011 7:51 pm
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That's 24mph. With lots of uphills?

😯


 
Posted : 23/12/2011 8:16 pm
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spose depends what ppl class as up hill 😆 can i find out gradient climbed on google maps?
sorry for the thread hijack....


 
Posted : 23/12/2011 8:21 pm
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Erm, I think your GPS might be a tad inaccurate mate.

24mph is decent (relatively flattish course) Time Trialling speed. If you can genuinely achieve that sort of speed on an undulating course in traffic with junctions/lights etc, then you should be racing professionally....


 
Posted : 23/12/2011 8:25 pm
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just checked it on google came up at just over 16 miles so dont no whats up with that will have another look on next trip (wont be till new year now :D) still recomend the ones i sugested iv herd nothing but good things about the boardmans tbh


 
Posted : 23/12/2011 8:40 pm
 mrmo
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I am reasonably fast and have a fairly flat rural 16mile commute, there is a bit of urban at the ends as i have to negotiate two towns which does bring the speed down.

I assume it will take an hour. usually does, I have managed average of door to door of 20mph, Whilst doing that sort of speed day in and day out would for me not be possible, and i truly suspect very few riders could and in an urban environment i would be surprised if anyone could. The difference between riding everyday at 16-17mph and 20mph is huge.


 
Posted : 23/12/2011 8:46 pm
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not to worry mrmo, there's a profound odour all over this thread.


 
Posted : 23/12/2011 9:34 pm
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god every day hell no lmao i get 2 riding commutes a week if im lucky indeed klunk the thread has none to the pits abit so back on topic for the op as weve already taken up a page of his thread.


 
Posted : 23/12/2011 9:50 pm
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Its fine lads.. i bought a cheap roadie. Crack on with the debates.


 
Posted : 23/12/2011 9:54 pm
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Just no. We're still talking well over 20 on a SS with flat bars, through town. No chance.


 
Posted : 23/12/2011 10:14 pm
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Call me a sceptic, but I'm with Njee on this, what with him knowing about riding proper fast and that. 😀


 
Posted : 23/12/2011 10:22 pm
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ok tis not a problem ither way i no my times ect dont really no what it works out to in mph as long as i get to work on time then happy days :mrgreen:


 
Posted : 23/12/2011 10:37 pm
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But you don't, you've said you leave about 7, and there about 7:45.

If you are actually doing that twice a week you need to start racing immediately, as I've ridden with pro road riders slower than that.

What gear do you run?


 
Posted : 23/12/2011 10:56 pm
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I think you need to show all us doubters a gps file of your ride.


 
Posted : 23/12/2011 11:03 pm
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42-15 tis nice and spinny on that flats/downs and not to bad on the ups i prob couldent hold it for more than a hour tho as im almost legless by the time i get to work 😆

edit- will get one sorted when i get back to work as mentioned before google and my gps seems to be out between eachother but will see what the outcome is distance wise when i record but i no im on 45-50mins max point to point


 
Posted : 23/12/2011 11:04 pm
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GPS set to kilometres perhaps?

Bristol is hilly!


 
Posted : 24/12/2011 1:03 am
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Bloody hell. Is there going to be a lynching?!


 
Posted : 24/12/2011 9:08 am
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Hopefully 😀


 
Posted : 24/12/2011 9:42 am
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[i]I think you need to show all us doubters a gps file of your ride. [/i]

yeah, like they can't be faked 😯


 
Posted : 24/12/2011 9:58 am
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Especially with a mondeo 🙂


 
Posted : 24/12/2011 10:12 am
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commute times are like bike weights innit?


 
Posted : 24/12/2011 10:58 am
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just spoke to the person whos gps it is and yes is set in kil not miles good call wallop wouldent have thought about it otherwise works about at 11ish miles 😳 was wondering why it was such a big deal :lol:.


 
Posted : 24/12/2011 4:33 pm
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and you didn't notice ? 7 miles is the next town 😯 😕


 
Posted : 24/12/2011 4:42 pm
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was in my bag but switched on just to record distance i really dident take much notice its not like im in full on training or anything

sorry njee20 no lynching for u today


 
Posted : 24/12/2011 5:12 pm
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Just did a 1 hour road ride on the 29er.

16.05 miles. Hilly and windy today but happy with that.


 
Posted : 12/01/2012 1:19 pm
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