Another Spec Me thread!

m4cc45

m4cc45

m4cc45

Soldato
Joined
10 Mar 2003
Posts
6,786
Sorry!

I'm looking to get a bike to commute from the edge of town to work - this is just a gravel path (and also to go and enjoy the local country cycling paths) obviously there will be a few roads now and again.

A few people have recommended hybrids. I know next to nothing about bikes though.

Do you guys have recommendations, deals, etc. and can point me in the right direction? I'm hopefully going to get into it and would like a bike that will last a good while.

Many thanks!



M.
 
How bad is the gravel path? To be honest many on here are going to recommend a road bike unless you are mostly going to ride on real off-road trails rather than what is essentially a slightly bumpy road.
 
Not too bad. Just like a canal tow path. I will be doing more 'off-road' ish stuff at the weekends - though they will be country bike routes.



M.
 
Commuting is about 4 miles each way - so it's not that far.

I'm probably now thinking that I should be more looking into the weekend rather than the weekday as I could, theoretically, park closer and then ride less into work.

Also just thought about it - any recommendations on a car bike carrier (Yaris if that helps).


M.
 
m4cc45 said:
Commuting is about 4 miles each way - so it's not that far.

I'm probably now thinking that I should be more looking into the weekend rather than the weekday as I could, theoretically, park closer and then ride less into work.

Also just thought about it - any recommendations on a car bike carrier (Yaris if that helps).


M.
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We have a rear mounted rack on our Yaris, the exodus rear high mount 3 from Halfords. It's £100, but it fits 3 bikes which was essential for us. If you're only after a rack for one it'll be cheaper.

That being said, there's no reason to worry about driving part way and riding the rest. 4 miles is nothing, and will take you 15-20 minutes once you get the hang of it. You'll lose more time putting the bike on the rack and taking it off again.
 
Aye true - it was more to help with getting the right bike for the weekends. I think getting the bike for the weekend (whereby I'll be wandering around the country side bike routes than anything else) is probably a better idea.

Thanks for the mount recommendations - it'll probably be two bikes so that sounds good to me. Was it easy to fit?

Any bike recommendations for weekend jaunts?


M.
 
The voodoo hoodo is around that price I think. Always seems to come up well in reviews, especially if your wanting to go trail riding etc at the weekends.
 
Thanks - voodoo hoodo? I don't suppose you have a link? Sounds epic! I'll have a look at the other bikes as well - many thanks for the links!



M.
 
For £425 you could have a Pinnacle lithium, hydraulic disc, rigid.. A fancy subway basically. And an awesome bright colour, which i love :D
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/pinnacle/lithium-two-2015-hybrid-bike-ec071280

Or a GT. Personally not usually a fan on GT but their new 2015 bikes aren't too bad. I had to test ride a few the other day. Hardtail hybrid, hydraulic disc.
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/gt/transeo-3-2015-hybrid-bike-ec070849

Slightly over your budget but a great bike.
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/pinnacle/cobalt-three-2015-hybrid-bike-ec071290

And if you trade in an old bike with us you get a discount off the new one :D
 
Yeah that is the subway, if you think you will want to do proper offroad stuff then for such a short distance it wouldn't be the worst to have front suspension forks like the Voodoo Hoodoo (£400 also at Halfords). Probably the biggest downside of the Voodoo Hoodoo will be the draggy tyres that are stock fitted to it.

I also suggest you sign up to British Cycling membership, its about £33 a year and gives you insurance to use. Best part is it gives you 10% off at Halfords so it makes it just about free! I used the insurance myself (caused £1100 of damage to a van, down as my fault) and it was so effortless to sort out.
 
saitrix said:
Yeah that is the subway, if you think you will want to do proper offroad stuff then for such a short distance it wouldn't be the worst to have front suspension forks like the Voodoo Hoodoo (£400 also at Halfords). Probably the biggest downside of the Voodoo Hoodoo will be the draggy tyres that are stock fitted to it.

I also suggest you sign up to British Cycling membership, its about £33 a year and gives you insurance to use. Best part is it gives you 10% off at Halfords so it makes it just about free! I used the insurance myself (caused £1100 of damage to a van, down as my fault) and it was so effortless to sort out.
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+1 to British Cycling.. Definitely worth it, not that i have it but still :p

It has gone up £50 since i worked at Halfords :eek: The only thing is the cable discs. Personally I wouldn't touch them with a stick. I'd rather a decent set of V brakes or Hydraulic.

If you decide you like it a little more? Get a cyclocross bike? They are awesome! And the decentish ones are starting to come with 105 groupsets which are surprisingly good! And don't forget the Ride2Work scheme!

And the tyres that come on the Hoodoo are Maxxis Ardent, which have little rolling resistance and are a very quick off road tyre. You could always change them!
 
Thanks guys. I'll have a look now and keep an eye out for deals! :)

Been about 15 years since I bought a bike - the choices have gone up slightly!



M.
 
Aye true - it was more to help with getting the right bike for the weekends. I think getting the bike for the weekend (whereby I'll be wandering around the country side bike routes than anything else) is probably a better idea.
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Go to your local bike shops, get a test ride on a mtb , cyclocross and road bike.

buy a hybrid bike if you want to buy a new bike next summer.
Buy some padded cycling shorts or padded under-shorts unless you want a sore butt.

My bike after 36miles
Ia6tcAc.jpg
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Majority of the terrain was clearly gravel or dusty dirt tracks.

You don't need a MTB for them. but if you are planning on doing some purposely designed MTB trails you obviously would want one..

but in your case it sounds like just the regular tracks you see all types of bikes riding on without difficulty.

If you end up with the wrong bike for you then you won't enjoy it test rides are a must imo
 
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