I now have a 15 mile each way commute, not too hilly but with 1 short steep climb. I've done it a few times on my road bike which has no rack or mudguard mounts so I have SKS raceblades and have to use a backpack for laptop and other gubbins.
I have a Pinnacle Ramin 1 which I used for my previous 5 mile each way commute, but would probably be a bit slow for the new commute, so I'm looking at getting a more suitable bike.
I don't want to spend much and came across [url= http://www.adventureoutdoor.co/mens/flat-white ]this[/url] which looks a bit agricultural but is astonishingly cheap. It has a reasonable review [url= http://www.bikeradar.com/road/gear/category/bikes/urban/product/review-adventure-flat-white-49875/ ]here[/url]. Anyone know anything about these? All recommendations for hugely expensive gravel/adventure bikes are gratefully received, and will be ignored.
cantilever brakes would put me off.
I would want discs these days for commuting on wet rainy roads.
A commuting bike should be solid and reliable, and if you're doing thirty miles a day on it then I'd say that's a good justification to get something decent.
Skinny tyres on the ramin? Or a hybrid from Halfords my boardman is very good for quick Road miles and very comfortable
I'd just put slicks on the ramin. The current trend for adventure bikes with 40-45mm tyres means there's plenty of choice these days.
Despite owning a gravel bike I commute on average 100 miles a week into London on an old Dawes galaxy touring Bike. It is not light or fast but neither am I! Mudguards, rack, panniers, comfortable, cheap parts what’s not too like. Point taken on canti brakes but I don’t go fast enough for there ever to be a problem.
I’d say buy it
I'll do a test commute on the Ramin and see how it goes. The 1x9 transmission is what put me off but it may be OK.
What is your budget?
What is the minimum tyre width you want to be able to fit?
Budget as little as possible, mainly because we already have 8, 5 are mine, bikes and it seems ridiculous to spend loads on another.
As for tyre width I now have 28mm on the road bike and it's reasonably comfortable but i'd like to have 35mm.
I commute on a 1 x bike & it's fine. Just pick a decent compromise front ring and you'll have no problem - 36 x 11 is my biggest gear and I only spin out on prolonged down hill stretches. Didn't think the ramin had rack mounts though?
The way I see it, is that it will be your most used bike, so get something nice but reliable. If you do any off road on that commute, the Ramiin sounds perfect. I've used a 29er for ages to commute (only about 8-9 miles each way) and can take the fun route home when I want. I also liked Specialized Renegade 1.95 tyres tubeless for the commute. Light and fast, plus no punctures when set up tubeless.
Nick
Just had a look and the Ramin doesn't have rack mounts, and I definitely want a rack to put my laptop and other stuff on. I also buy the "You're going to spend hours on it, so spend a bit more money on it" argument.
Now looking at Croix de fer 10 or Specialized Diverge E5.
Any other suggestions?
I've the CdF 10, had it for a couple of years. Sturdy rather than lively but it handles light off-road duties OK. When the drive train wore out I fitted a 1x10 (42 - 11-36) which is fine for the hills round here, southern edge of the Dales. It's also my winter road bike.
Full built bikes like a CDF or a Spesh are usually shite. Best frames I've seen are those Pinnacle Dolomite ones; look ideal for swift commuting. £350 new; build up with second hand bits.
I've got a similar-ish 12 miles (just under 1000 feet of climbing) each way commute (until a year ago did 20 miles each day). I'd seriously recommend one of these:
https://www.evanscycles.com/pinnacle-arkose-alfine-8-2018-adventure-road-bike-EV275630
I've actually got a Genesis Day One with an alfine hub that's set up pretty much identical to the above (the reason I wouldn't recommend the stock day one for sale is that it has cable discs which from my experience all shit tbh - I'd much rather have hydros personally and I've upgraded mine which made a phenomenal difference).
The only thing I would change about the pinnacle linked is have the gear cable routed via the top tube (in winter that can fill with water and freeze causing mishifts etc), but that's a minor tweak.
SandyThePig - That looks jut about perfect. Do you know what the gear change is like with a bar end shifter? I'd probably ride mostly on the hoods as I'm recovering from a back injury and not very flexible.
I have a brand new verenti technique Sora for sale. It takes guards and you could use a carradice sqr slim bag. Looking for £350 for it
I have a brand new verenti technique Sora for sale. It takes guards and you could use a carradice sqr slim bag. Looking for £350 for it
Thanks but no thanks. Decent bike but very much not a rough, tough gravel/tourer/adventure bike.
Looking for a robust touring/gravel bike [url= https://www.planetx.co.uk/c/q/bikes/road-bikes/holdsworth-stelvio ]had a butchers at one of these?[/url]
Potential bargain if you up for putting a bike together yourself, or get someone else to do it for you...
https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/FRPXFM/planet-x-the-full-monty-alloy-gravel-frame £89
https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/FOPXFM/planet-x-the-full-monty-carbon-gravel-fork £89
https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/WPGIROEQ/gipiemme-roccia-equipe-700c-29-inch-disc-wheelset £55
You might find bargain components on the site too, lots of deals there currently if you have money to spend on bike kit... Just check the different sections (Fib Sale, Carnac etc.) as well as component sections, because not everything is listed in all areas you might expect them to be (in typical PX style). 😉