commuting on a bike.

Oakesy2001uk

Oakesy2001uk

Oakesy2001uk

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7 Sep 2005
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10ish mile each bike commute (I'll measure it on the way home) - Am I mad and how long will it take at a decent pace. Its country lanes mainly and a mile of town, no hills worth mentioning.

I'm quite fit but not sure I like the idea of turning up for work all sweaty. I would just use the car if it rained. Save money on petrol and get fit, then I could buy a fast car for playing and not worry about petrol. Think it might be too far though. I have a specialised rockhopper I could probably put back on the road quite cheap..... I think it might be too far.

EDIT - its 9 miles apparently, should I buy a road bike to do this or would the rockhopper be fine? probly have to spend a bit on it, its set up for trials from when I was a Kid with hard front.
 
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if you can get a sufficient ride height on the sadle/seatpost then just put a set of road tyres on the mtb, i would recommend specialised fat-boys

having said all that i'm about to buy a road bike for my commute and keep the mtb for just off road.
 
I have not rode it for about 2-3 years and seem to remember it needs a bit doing to it. I cut down the seatpost so have to buy a new one. It has rigid forks to, will i be better with some suspension. I reckon I will be ok!
I seem to remember it used to snap chains for fun for some reason dont fancy that as walking 9 miles dont sound fun.
And tyres were really hard to get on/off the rims no idea why, richley rims! might be easyer to buy a new bike, but need to know I would be willing to do it day to day before I do that.

Just dont know if I fancy getting sweaty by riding 10 miles in the morning, the evening is not really a problem.
 
Cool, cant remember how big my frame is, think its an 18" so should be ok is I can get a bigger seat. Might have to fit a drivetrain though as I seem to remember the LX stuff being knackered plus it snapped chains every 5 minutes so something is up. Where is good for bikes and bits, might be tempted to buy one any reccomendations for >350 (preferably a lot less) hard front or should I build one using some of the bits I have.
 
Yer, if you can adjust your mountain bike to get a decent position, then stick some road tyres on it and go with that, maybe change your gear mech aswell though to have some closer gear ratios, easy to do and you will be glad of it.

If you cant then I would say a road bike is definatley worth the investment.

Do the commute one weekend, when your not actually in work, this gives you an idea of how hard it will be and how long it will take you.

Its great to do though, you would be suprised how fit it can get you, and it can be really nice in the summer, you will be able to look forward to a nice ride home in the sun, especially if its along some good country lanes.

You wil, find you get a hell of a lot faster as you go on aswell.

I hope you do decide to do it though. You will enjoy it.
 
I really think I will, I can just use the car in bad whether. I think I will adjust seatpost etc... and have a go with what Ive got, never set up a full gear set before, can be that hard surely? I need a chain, front/rear mech and casette and a long seatpost any reccomendations or good shops?

Or anywhere that sell good 2nd hand stuff. Or just a good cheap road bike.

How much easier do you think I would find it on a road bike?
 
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It will be tough at first if you are not used to it but soon you will be (used to it!).

Good road bikes are really made by the big companies such is Giant, Trek et al. However, have a look at Decathlon and Orbea. I love the look of Orbeas as they are quite colourful and are handmade in Spain.

A Roadbike kicks MTB backside on the roads (Duh!). I use a Trek 1200 for a 40 mile commute but if feeling daring will use my Giant XTC MTB with slicks (Schwalbe CityJet). The weight tells after a while and the front shocks do not help.

You can always get a second hand roadbike. Believe me, there is a massive difference!

Decathlon review
 
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Oakesy2001uk said:
I need a chain, front/rear mech and casette and a long seatpost any reccomendations or good shops?
Click to expand...

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/

Oakesy2001uk said:
How much easier do you think I would find it on a road bike?
Click to expand...

Well you could buy a cheap road bike, which would give you a better position for fast riding, the frame would be a little lighter etc, the gears would be better setup for fast flat (with little inclines and declines) riding.

It would be cheaper to get some closer gear ratios setup on your mountain bike and add some road tyres, they are the two most important things. The only things your loosing out on is the slightly heaver frame and a little less efficient position for high speed riding.

But if I were you id just spend a few hundred reconiguring your mountain bike. Its a lot cheaper and will be almost as good when you have the tyres and gears setup, then you can easily reverse it and go mudlugging in the winter :D

Edit - do you have a suspension or anything on the bike?
 
might buy a roadbike or hybrid then but will have to make the dicision to actually do it first, I think I will. £250ish I want to spend, the less the better, was looking at these hybrids too....

http://www.evanscycles.com/product.jsp?style=5878

http://www.evanscycles.com/product.jsp?style=5221

http://www.evanscycles.com/product.jsp?style=60901

no idea what size I would want, but I presume these hybrids are ok, but a good road bike is a lot lighter.

EDIT - no no suspension, its got planet x rigid trails forks on it at the mo. It is a specialized Rockhopper the last of the steel frames ones, think its 2000 bike. Got full shimano LX everything. but because I used to do trials its got a bit messed in the gearing, I broke it trying to covert it to single speed (young and daft was only about 17)

any reliable places to pick up well looked after 2nd hand?
 
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Take it easy going into work so not to get too sweaty and allow a decent cool down period. I used to love commuting to work on the bike (live too far away now) and was much more alert on getting to work than I am now that I drive.
 
how far was your commute? I think 9 miles shouldnt be too much should it, just not sure, I could spend a few hundred on a bike, it would save me that in a few months, I might see what I can do, its a 2000 rockhopper so aint heavy, its 17" though and Im 6 foot!
 
Although it depends whether its up hill or downhill, or mostly flat, 9 miles really isnt too much. And after the first week or too you wont really have any worries about sweating. I would buy some good decent clothing though. A good wickin shirt really takes away any moisture from you, and a camelback is always good for a wee drink.
 
right ive decided Im going for it! its a pretty bumpy country lane 9 miles, couple of incline/decline, but nothing I would call a hill.
Also It will save me 30-60 quid a month in fuel depending on how much it rains! so I reckon I will get a decent bike on 0% finance, no messing, also had a look at the bike and the frame crank brakes bars shifters etc are good but whole drivetrain are gone and both wheels have seen better days so think a new bike is on the cards. so, what are the reccomendations, I want to be able to jump curbs, and as its only 9 miles I think a road tyred mountain bike will do, either hard front or lockable suspension, deffo hard tail obviously, tell me if I'm wrong, so what bike do we think?

edit - this looks good, anyone had any dealings with the site, also whats this internal gearing malarky sounds really good they only got it is 17" tho, im 6 foot, do you think 17" or 19"?
http://www.awcycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m1b0s4p2834
 
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I bought a Giant XTC SE 3 week ago and I have been riding to work everyday, my trip is 6 miles down hill going to work and 6 miles up hill coming home.

I can do the ride now without stopping and going at a fast pace. I have noticed my lungs are a lot fitter and I can take in more air.

I wish I had done it sooner but the weather has only just become decent.
 
that giant looks fantastic, but is the suspension lockable?
I want to buy online and could spend 300-500 with me wanting about a 10 mont finance, maybe even a little more for the right bike.
So 3 questions left....

what size fram for a 6 footer
bike reccomendations
What shop for online 0%
 
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anyone? I dont think there is much point in wasting money on something with suspension, it will be used mainly for a commute, riding round the girfriends etc...
There seems to be a few good cheap no suspension bikes with road tyres already on on here. The offer 0% finance aswell, any opinions.

http://www.awcycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m1b0s4p0

Edit - I have found the giant xtc SE for £375 which is a great price, it near me aswell about 15 miles away so I have e-mailed them. To the guy who has one, do the forks have a lockout?
 
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I think I'm going to go for this Giant at £375 I dont think I will get a better Bike, but ther is a couple of gary fishers at the not so local bike shop I am going tommorow. The only question left is which road tyre to use. dont want punctures and dont fancy a 9 mile commute on nobblies.
 
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