2nd hand bike for commuting?

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IC3

IC3

IC3

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Road bike for £400-450?

Hello, I'm on really low budget, I need something to travel from point A to point B roughly 10 miles per day. I was thinking of buying a 2nd hand bike, as my budget is between 200-300 pounds. Is it possible to buy something reasonable for this price? Last bike I had was 7-8 years ago, built it myself as well :)

I was thinking of a road bike, as the're cycling tracks everywhere. My height is just a bit above 6ft (184cm), the reason for small budget is also the fact that it might get stolen, as it will be outside during the day (e.g. collage).

Edit

Sorry, if I've posted this in wrong section.
 
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I'm not OP, but I'm curious about the measurements, they're just in mm right?
SO 650mm wheels is 26", 700mm is "28, and the frames are available as 450mm, 480mm, etc.

Hwo do I know which size frame to get - thes site's sizing guide suggests 28" wheels from someon 173-185 ,I'm about 178cm iirc.

edit: 57 so 570mm loooks to be about my size , as suggested by decathlon and by btwin, albeit wrrt the triban 5.
 
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benwoodcock said:
I'm not OP, but I'm curious about the measurements, they're just in mm right?
SO 650mm wheels is 26", 700mm is "28, and the frames are available as 450mm, 480mm, etc.

Hwo do I know which size frame to get - thes site's sizing guide suggests 28" wheels from someon 173-185 ,I'm about 178cm iirc.

edit: 57 so 570mm loooks to be about my size.
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I'm 176-177cm and 57" triban is perfect for me - mind you it does sound on the big side but maybe my body is odd and I find it comfy
 
grudas said:
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-3-uk-id_8274036.html


soooo much bang for buck there.. :) best bike for 300 or under
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Go for this - it's really the best choice. Make sure you get the red Triban 3 and not the newer (but worse) white one.

If you buy second-hand you can get something better for £300 but it will require a lot more research and sifting between the good and bad options.

edit: The link is to the red version anyhow I see but still... worth mentioning the red/white differences I think :)
 
I really want to give you a bit of advice that I didn't get in 3 pro cycling shops or on here.
I bought a road bike for an all year round daily commute and ended up having a bad accident on black ice.
I realise that no bike is safe on black ice but I feel 1000% much safer in this weather on my Carrera than I do on my Forme.
After I had my accident and went back to the shops and on here, the advice I got was 'Don't ride in winter' which is not an option, I want to ride every day (at least 5 to get to work & back).
So all I'll say is think about what you really want to do with your bike and if it's an all year round commute or just fair weather.
 
Dimple said:
I really want to give you a bit of advice that I didn't get in 3 pro cycling shops or on here.
I bought a road bike for an all year round daily commute and ended up having a bad accident on black ice.
I realise that no bike is safe on black ice but I feel 1000% much safer in this weather on my Carrera than I do on my Forme.
After I had my accident and went back to the shops and on here, the advice I got was 'Don't ride in winter' which is not an option, I want to ride every day (at least 5 to get to work & back).
So all I'll say is think about what you really want to do with your bike and if it's an all year round commute or just fair weather.
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It's a fair point.

I remember commuting in the snow on my Klein Pulse mountain bike.

(It was pretty damned fast in summer with slicks too)

Something I wouldn't have attempted on a road bike.
 
sterling house used to do decent catalog return bikes for a good price, not sure how they are now but may be worth a look. Normally there is either a slight scratch or a flat tyre which is why the bikes were sent back.
 
SkodaMart said:
It's a fair point.

I remember commuting in the snow on my Klein Pulse mountain bike.

(It was pretty damned fast in summer with slicks too)

Something I wouldn't have attempted on a road bike.
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It is a mega fair point and I feel really let down that I spent nearly £1000 on a bike that is useless in the winter and the replies I got were 'Don't ride it in winter.
I spent months researching and nobody asked (and I didn't give it a thought) what a road bike with slicks would be like in winter.
I ended up buying a Carrera Subway for £279 and the ice & snow we had never troubled me, I just felt a lot safer.
I did get back on my road bike for summer though.
 
Dimple said:
It is a mega fair point and I feel really let down that I spent nearly £1000 on a bike that is useless in the winter and the replies I got were 'Don't ride it in winter.
I spent months researching and nobody asked (and I didn't give it a thought) what a road bike with slicks would be like in winter.
I ended up buying a Carrera Subway for £279 and the ice & snow we had never troubled me, I just felt a lot safer.
I did get back on my road bike for summer though.
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2nd winter on a road bike here with slicks? I think you just had bad luck and that's it.. blaming it on the bike is a bit erm.. mad? :confused:

black ice + bad position(be it while turning/breaking) will equal a sketchy moment/accident no matter what bike you ride..

and slicks have bigger contact patch than mtb tyres, unless you go out riding on dirt, snow or buy metal studded tyres there's no reason to keep your roadie inside during the winter.
 
Sorry, for not making myself clear, I'm looking for a bike with thicker tyres than road bike and straight handle bars. I think it's hybrid, anyway an MTB is also an option. I've a ped as well, but I'm starting get fater so a bike will be good excersise. :D
 
IC3 said:
Sorry, for not making myself clear, I'm looking for a bike with thicker tyres than road bike and straight handle bars. I think it's hybrid, anyway an MTB is also an option. I've a ped as well, but I'm starting get fater so a bike will be good excersise. :D
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why? what are you going to be riding on?
 
Dimple said:
I really want to give you a bit of advice that I didn't get in 3 pro cycling shops or on here.
I bought a road bike for an all year round daily commute and ended up having a bad accident on black ice.
I realise that no bike is safe on black ice but I feel 1000% much safer in this weather on my Carrera than I do on my Forme.
After I had my accident and went back to the shops and on here, the advice I got was 'Don't ride in winter' which is not an option, I want to ride every day (at least 5 to get to work & back).
So all I'll say is think about what you really want to do with your bike and if it's an all year round commute or just fair weather.
Click to expand...

I commute almost all year round on 25mm slicks. I think I've used CX tyres or ice-spikes less than 10 days in the last three years. If you ride on ice then no rubber tyre will provide grip, only ice spikes will.
 
grudas said:
2nd winter on a road bike here with slicks? I think you just had bad luck and that's it.. blaming it on the bike is a bit erm.. mad? :confused:

black ice + bad position(be it while turning/breaking) will equal a sketchy moment/accident no matter what bike you ride..

and slicks have bigger contact patch than mtb tyres, unless you go out riding on dirt, snow or buy metal studded tyres there's no reason to keep your roadie inside during the winter.
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This. I've ridden two winters on slicks without issue.

If you come off on ice it's likely you would have come off even on your incredibly-pointless-for-road-use MTB tyres.

grudas said:
why? what are you going to be riding on?
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And this.

Making the mistake that you need flat handlebars I can understand (I made the same mistake when I first resumed riding). It *is* a mistake though.

Unless you're doing some serious off-roading you will have an easier ride getting a proper road bike.
 
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