Bike options: flat bar commuter, discs, mudguard clearance?

Finally had notification this morning that my employer's bringing in both the cycleplus (independant shops) AND cycle2work (Halfords) schemes within the next week. Time to go shopping 🙂

I'm looking for suggestions to replace my current Genesis Vapour CX bike I've been using as a commuter.

Requirements as follows:
– flat bars or drops
– must NOT have any toe overlap
– disc brakes essential
– gears essential due to route used
– full-length mudguard compatible
– under £1,000

So far the best suggestion I'm looking at is a Cotic Roadrat flatbar with gears and hydraulic discs. I've already enquired with a local Cotic dealer about them being able to supply one and awaiting a response. But I'm struggling to find anything else fulfilling my fussy requirements…

If you have any suggestions, please post up as I'm a bit stumped at this…

Cheers
Ally

Boardman hybrid range, £500-£1K, GF has cheapest one and it seems good.

EDIT I looked around a lot and found no alternatives at £500.

I've been using a Merida Speeder T2 (£570) for my daily commute and it hasn't missed a beat. I don't know if they do disc brakes though. Maybe their s-presso range does though.

I've got a roadrat which I've just retrofitted with SLX discs. Really like it for the commute and ticks all of your boxes.

out of interest, why disks on a commuter? its not like the mud fowling is going to affect Vs a lot?

but the salt kills pistons on hydraulics ….

I'm another Roadrat user – mine is an Alfine with disks.

The reason for disks on a commuter is that they've got lots more power, require less maintenance and are far less annoying in wet conditions IMHO. Also in my case all my other bikes have disks and I'm so used to that level of stopping ability now that V's or cantis feel terrible in comparison.

First time I've seen this Roadrat. Looks awesome! Now I want one. Discs for commuting seems a little excessive to me, although I can sympathise with the horrible feeling of rim brakes!

The reason for disks on a commuter is that they've got lots more power, require less maintenance and are far less annoying in wet conditions IMHO.

+1 – and been said a million times on here!

On One Pompetamine? £799 at the mo including Shimano Alfine hub gears and hydraulic discs. Be quick tho as this is probably an 'intro offer'!

Charge Mixer 2010? got all the things you want part from toe overlap – but not an issue on the road…

where are you going to use it? flat part of the world?

road rats look cool (black) but not the brown ones, I wanted one, but they are too small..

but the salt kills pistons on hydraulics ….

This is exactly what i found on my commuter too!

They were avid juicy 3's which are known for corrosion, so maybe others are better? i guess maintenance would stop it, but the whole point as that they'd be less maintenace. i've stuck with rim brakes since.

My roadrat (although it now has a front rack as well):

You might want to think about a Kona Dr Dew. Bit short on the top tube so you'd probably have to buy a bigger than normal size but v.fast and they have Shimano hydraulic brakes as standard.

Oops, just saw the requirement about no toe overlap. That's going to be difficult for any commuter with 700c wheels.

Oops, just saw the requirement about no toe overlap. That's going to be difficult for any commuter with 700c wheels.

That doesn't seem to be an issue on my Roadrat.

The reason for disks on a commuter is fashion, 100%. Be honest. It's not a bad reason – your money, get what you want. But power? Please. Personally I think it is daft, but each to their own. I wouldn't be seen dead on a flat barred road bike either – again, each to their own.

Toe overlap becomes very hard to avoid if you're on the shorter side. Also quite easy to get used to though…

A recommendation for a great road bike – I am very happy with my Kinesis Racelight tK, which is fast and comfortable. Or another Audax style bike – basically a well-fitted drop barred "racer" but with a wee bit more tyre/mudguard clearance, a smidge more "give" for comfort, and a little bit more relaxed in the angles for slightly more stable handling.

Is there a reason for not running disks on a commuter bike?

Is there a reason for not running disks on a commuter bike?

1) Cost a little bit more
2) Don't look as good
3) A bit heavier
4) Fashion

I'll take that over constant faffing around with filthy rim brakes in the winter though. I can see why those who think that road bikes should reflect the sport of road bike racing would hate them, but for day in day out winter slogs they're useful. Also useful if you want to take the occasional shortcut off road when it's wet out.

Is there a reason for not running disks on a commuter bike?

Apart from looking like a fashion victim, carrying more weight, spending more money, being way over-braked, limiting your choice of wheels… no.

people using discs look like fashion victims but you 'wouldn't be seen dead on a flat barred road bike'!?

all the anti disc brake arguements were used in exactly the same form against disc brakes for MTB's when they first came out.

aren't most road bike calipers more than disc brakes anyway?

I've run discs for 5 years on my commuting road bike.

Plenty benefits as above, and funnily enough glenp is not persuading me back yet, he's prob a low mileage fair weather rider with vanity-project bikes.

"overbraked" FFS!

I've already said "each to their own", was only responding to the question.

Flat barred road bike is just wrong, for me. Unless its a Sturmey Archer'd ancient sturdy shopper.

i have a Pearson Touche – light, choice of bars (bullhorn, drops or straight) single speed or 3 speed hub.. or fixed

room for proper guards with space for 622-28 tyres and also rack mounts – very comfy and quick, but with some practicality. Toe overlap is not an issue on the road and dual pivot calipers work well.

The reason for disks on a commuter is fashion, 100%. Be honest.

Don't patronise me please.

these people who think discs are overkill for town/commuting use must ride a lot slower than i do or are talking from a position of ignorance.

the amount of adjustment it takes to keep vs working even 10% as well as discs is ridiculous, and even then in wet weather or with any sort of load on the rack the stopping power is absolutely shit. not much good when you ride around a busy city full of unexpected traffic/pedestrian manoeuvres!

Strange that you've formed such a detailed opinion based on one tiny piece of information.

If you could read, you would have seen that I was not attempting to persuade anyone back – I've said several times "each to their own". It's you money, your bike and you are perfectly entitled to express your "taste" however you please.

I don't think any of my bikes are vanity projects, whatever that is.

If you are frequently needing to stop in an emergency fashion your road observation must be absolutely dire, in which case perhaps disks are a good idea, for you. Looking ahead is a good idea, and doesn't cost anything.

constant faff with filthy rim brakes

its a commuter ffs. the centre-pull brakes i have, got new blocks about 2yrs/4000miles ago, since then ive not adjusted them at all and not cleaned the bike.

ok so i gotta put new blocks in soon, the levers nearly touch the bars

who said anything about emergency stopping? 😕

Why stop so suddenly then? You mentioned unexpected things that you are reacting to – so, to answer your question

who said anything about emergency stopping?

You did.

at the end of the day on the road brakes are only as good as the road / tyre grip level an din places this is an issue, grid irons, diesel, sick, whitelines.

and for the rear disc can get in the way of panniers, racks etc but they are racks etc that are designed to clear etc and frames that have inboard calipers to help

some of the new little road specific disc systems look neat.

as for which bike, just take a few out for a spin and see which you like the feel of most.

as for other options these Marins look nice:

vee brakes – happy compromise? plus alfine

Ooooft, that's a lot to get through…

Firstly, cheers for the suggestions – I've yet to look but will do 🙂

My commute's about 50/50 road/offroad mix inc proper, occasionally muddy trails. Goes from 180m altitude (home) to sea level in 5-6 miles, so gears are essential as I refuse to MTFU. Through all weathers regardless, including a few days this winter where my freehub froze…

Alfines: unfortunately the gear range isn't sufficient for my commute. I run a 29er MTB with an Alfine and tried it on my commute, but I need a wider range. Shame really as I love the low-maintenance aspect of it.

Disc brakes: essential for me. Part of my commute is proper (occasionally deep) muddy forest tracks – canti/V-brakes eat pads and are manky as a result. Plus IMO discs require far less maintenance: my wife's commuter has Shimano discs (and an Alfine) and I barely need to touch it. I also had water freeze onto my rims a few times this winter, so discs are a no-brainer for me.

Toe overlap: really gets my goat! Not an issue on tarmac, but a bloody liability offroad with tight turns like I have. Not helped by size 11 feet, bulky winter boots and full-length guards! The flat-bar Roadrat doesn't have overlap issues (I heard from Cotic that this was one of Cy's pet hates) hence it's appeal.

TBH I think I'm swinging more and more towards the Roadrat. I've yet to hear that I can definately get one via my work's particular scheme, hence still wanting to hear about more "mainstream" possibiities should I have to resort to Halfords.

(folks – please lets leave the whole disc vs rim brakes on commuters, otherwise this could rumble on forever LOL).

[ glenp – Member

Why stop so suddenly then? You mentioned unexpected things that you are reacting to – so, to answer your question

who said anything about emergency stopping?

You did.

i see where you got confused. i said stopping power, meaning the ability to decelerate. you read the word stop and thought i was talking about emergency stopping. not your first error in this thread.

Disc brakes on commuter bikes is anti-fashion, as are mudguards: no-one fits either to look cool, they only do so for practical reasons, no?

Functional : http://cotic.co.uk/product/bikes/roadrat/geared

I read what you wrote.

And since I've only expressed my opinion, how can I have made any mistakes at all?

Actually, I have made an error – I'll stop responding to your posts and that's that one sorted.

the biggest problem I've experienced with rim brakes on a daily commuter is the black gunk that is flicked all over the bike and your legs. Shimano pads are easily the best by a long chalk for stopping in the wet, but also possibly the worst for this. Full length mudguards do little as the pads cause the gunk to spray out. Actually, drum brakes would be my first choice, but discs are probably more practical & at a guess probably better if you carry loads in panniers/trailer. Why doesn't anyone make a drum brake that:
a) uses 6-bolt/centrelock to mount the drum to the hub
b) uses IS/post mount to mount the brake arm to the frame.
There's a gap in the market if ever I saw one. Would be ace for winter mtbing too. Hobby engineers get to your sheds!

choice is going to be pretty limited then.

all the disc X bikes are going to have tow overlap….
Charge Mixer will have toe overlap

alfine (supprised not enough range) hybrids not enough range + tend to have vee/caliper

or perhaps a proper tourer – Galaxy or Ridgeback – bigger sizes tend not to have toe overlap.. but then they have caliper or canti brakes…

so that leaves

roadrat or lightweight rigid 26er or 29er with slimmer tyres etc.

The off-road element changes the question completely. Regular mudguard are a non-no, surely? Cloggage all the way. I'd ride a mountain bike, with disks.

1) Cost a little bit more
Not a lot if we're comparing cheap disks (Julies in my case) with decent V's or cantis – plus I can afford it anyway!

2) Don't look as good
Not IMHO

3) A bit heavier
I've got a Brooks B17 and an Alfine on my bike so obviously don't care!

4) Fashion
Not an issue for me – I can't go out of fashion as I was never in fashion…

kelvin – Member
'Is there a reason for not running disks on a commuter bike?'

1) Cost a little bit more
2) Don't look as good
3) A bit heavier
4) Fashion

On a commuter a drum brake would do the job.

Pros – No pistons to seize, braking surface out of the weather. Incredible reliability – you won't be needing to spend money on consumable parts for years. S-A hub brakes run beautifully.

Cons – can't think of any unless you are fashion conscious.