Cycle to work bike advice.

[grudas]

I am recovering from a fall last Thursday on a roadie. The bike (Specialized Sirrus Pro) slipped on some goose crap in wet weather down by the Thames and I went over within a second. My wrist is strapped up and possibly fractured.

I've retired the road bike for the winter and am also looking at a Vitus Vee. You must remember that on a cold morning the river areas are normally a little colder than town and are prone to ice.

The Vee is a no nonsense bike and the thicker tyres should help avoid any slipping. Plus it looks like great fun, I can get that BMX feel back which I have really missed.

It is either that or a Voodoo Marasa as do not want to use my weekend MTB for the commute.

slicks have bigger contact path.. thicker tyres will only slow you down what you need is either metal studs or no cycling at all.. I rode with slicks through the winter last year even snow and it was hairy but manageable.. only one kiss to the ground too.

 

[Begbie]

slicks have bigger contact path.. thicker tyres will only slow you down what you need is either metal studs or no cycling at all.. I rode with slicks through the winter last year even snow and it was hairy but manageable.. only one kiss to the ground too.

I'd imagine slicks have less traction too though, so hitting some goose crap on some fatter tyres will less likely to see you slip?

Though I'd reccomened a Road bike over anything for commuting unless you live in a field.

 

[PapaLazaru]

Meh. I rode my CX with slicks throughout all of last winter with the snow and ice everywhere and didn't have any fall. The year before my older CX which has wider and treaded tyres slipped. It's more often than not down to the rider than the bike. If you're worried about ice or whatever then you need to get tyres that can deal with that - but really you just need to be more careful.

I'm not worried, I just want something more relaxing to use over the winter months. You do have to be more alert on a road bike and for me, cycling down dark towpaths in the depths of winter makes me want something easier. The OP has not ridden for 10 years either hence why I recommended something easier to ride.

 

[Gambisk]

That single speed is just going to be slower and more annoying 95% of the time, yes the few days its snows it might be a little griper but most people will just take the car on those days. Any other time you have to pedal like hell to get anywhere quickly and hills will have you cursing and emigrating to holland.

A proper road bike will easier to get going as it has less rolling resistance and no harder to handle. It also has gears which means you can go up hills, if you want simplicity leave it in one gear but when you get to a hill you will be glad you can change down.
A proper Hybrid should have all the advantages of the road bike but with a more upright seating position which results in a slight loss of top speed due to greater wind resistance.

OP you mentioned you have a Evans near you try these for out and out road bike, personally I like the canondale as it has a carbon fork which should make for a bit more comfort
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/norco/valence-a4-2013-road-bike-ec041247
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/allez-compact-2013-road-bike-ec040963
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/cannondale/synapse-2300-triple-2013-road-bike-ec042918

 

[grudas]

That single speed is just going to be slower and more annoying 95% of the time, yes the few days its snows it might be a little griper but most people will just take the car on those days. Any other time you have to pedal like hell to get anywhere quickly and hills will have you cursing and emigrating to holland.

A proper road bike will easier to get going as it has less rolling resistance and no harder to handle. It also has gears which means you can go up hills, if you want simplicity leave it in one gear but when you get to a hill you will be glad you can change down.
A proper Hybrid should have all the advantages of the road bike but with a more upright seating position which results in a slight loss of top speed due to greater wind resistance.

OP you mentioned you have a Evans near you try these for out and out road bike, personally I like the canondale as it has a carbon fork which should make for a bit more comfort
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/norco/valence-a4-2013-road-bike-ec041247
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/allez-compact-2013-road-bike-ec040963
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/cannondale/synapse-2300-triple-2013-road-bike-ec042918

tbh id either get a cx and a pair of good winter tyres or hybrid with winter tyres.. but CX is bette as an all around bike IMO.

 

[Gambisk]

tbh id either get a cx and a pair of good winter tyres or hybrid with winter tyres.. but CX is bette as an all around bike IMO.

yeah I would recommend the same but I don't know anything about CX or Hybrids despite owning a hybrid. Those where some of the bikes I looked at this summer when I was toying with a roadie, for all year commuting a CX is the way to go. But as I only do 5 miles on the hybrid at anyone time, I decided to save my money and buy new toys for the mountain bike instead

 

[jamesblade]

Cheers lads, after a bit of juggling with finances and reading a lot after what you've said I'm going to make use of the full C2W scheme and splash 1k and I'll be going for a CX bike.

Like the look of a few of them linked here as well as some of the Whyte CX ones.. Planet X look good .. but checking their site out they expect you too pay out 10% above the voucher value ? need to look into that really.. Think Leisure lakes have a good selection I'll call in and see a few before deciding..

Cheers again for all the advice and links, much appreciated.