New bicyle for commuting

Ironic Namesake

Ironic Namesake

Ironic Namesake

Soldato
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
7,084
Location
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
I'm currently cycling to the office and back daily - the bike I'm using is a custom build I bought second hand maybe 2 years ago now.

It's a Identiti Dr Jekyll , fairly small frame meant for jumping I believe - and big knobbly off road tyres. The brakes are Shimano cable discs which don't work too great and it only has one gear as something broke a while ago :p - I use this to do around 60 miles / week for commuting and sometimes additional 40 miles on a weekend to keep active.

I've got used to it, but obviously not suited to the sort of riding I do at all , so whilst picking up a brake cable at the shop today (snapped again!) I picked up a Trek catalog to see whats available out there

I'm not really sure what to be going for - I know anything I get will be a better ride than what I've got now - I don't do much off road riding if any , just on roads around London.

I don't want to spend more than £500, and want something well built and reliable.

From what I've seen in the catalog these seem to fit the bill , around the price range I'm looking

http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/road/fx/73fx/
http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/road/fx/75fx/
http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/road/1_series/12/
http://www.sbrsports.com/1012/21-230997?source=aw

Would any of these be a good option - does anyone have any of these models and any feedback?

Any recommendations would be great - I used to quite well informed about mountain bikes but that was quite a while ago now and when it comes to road I'm completely lost :o

Edit : DAMN , Please move to Sports Arena ... I was sure I was in there :o
 
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Is it going to be used purely for commuting? If so a decent ride bike will probably be your best bet.
As mentioned above talk to your work, they might offer a bike to work scheme which will heavily discount bike prices!
The Trek 1.2 looks pretty tasty!
 
We don't have a bike to work scheme, we are a small company of only a few people- just had a look at their website and the scheme seems easy and free to sign up to, so I may just do that tomorrow :D

Yup, I'll be using it purely for commuting - I do like the look of that 1.2 too :)

Also mods , please move this to Sports Arena , thanks :)
 
I'd look for a bike which can take a pannier rack and full mudguards. Much better to arrive at work with out a stripe up your back from road dirt sprayed up from the rear wheel.
 
Does anybody have any recommendations for something around £150-£250 range for roughly the same uses as the OP?

edit: Needs to be XXL, at min XL, thanks.
 
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greengiant said:
I'd look for a bike which can take a pannier rack and full mudguards. Much better to arrive at work with out a stripe up your back from road dirt sprayed up from the rear wheel.
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Not much of a concern for me, I get in now with dirt sprayed up my back and on my face when it rains :p

On that note - what are these road bikes like in the rain?
 
One of these - Specialized Sirrus. This is last years model I had it for £350 quid. Fantastic bike had mine for 6 weeks and it rides like a dream.

bike.jpg
 
I wonder what makes bikes so expensive?

I remember a visit to Copenhagen and I was very impressed by the number of people cycling at all points in the day. However, one thing I noticed was that 99% of the bikes looked basic. I presume this was to make them less appealing to steal?
 
mostly the front suspension adds to the cost. My front fork cost £550.

http://www.dalescycles.com/2009_Rockshox_Reba_Team_100mm_p/rsrebateam.htm

look at the prices of individual components and you will see why the bike is so expensive.

Also the type of metal used for the frame has a big effect on cost. You can get a normal heavy Steel bike for £80 or less. Or you can get a Titanium, Aluminium alloy frame bike for £500 upwards.
 
Thanks Reality, will have a look at those :)

I can still use the Identiti if I feel in the mood for some off road riding - took it apart today to give it a clean and its not in great shape - realised there is 8 teeth missing from the front sprocket :p
 
Agreed on Sirrus bikes - I have a Vita Sport (like the Sirrus but girly frame geometry).

For mostly road commuting, I'd be looking to get a bike with 700C wheels, and fairly slick road tyres - this gives you a lower rolling resistance, nicer momentum and a less twitchy ride. You can get some very well protected tyres if you're worried about punctures on slicks - like Schwalbe Marathon+ tyres.

If you want to be able to switch tyres to wider and knobblier ones to take it onto smoothish trails (canal paths etc.), have a look at the clearance between wheel and frame/forks.

Road bikes are fine in the rain - a slick tyre is better than a knobbly one as more of it is in contact with the ground and you don't get 'squirm' where the knobbles kindof slip and destabilise you. Just as usual avoid slippery manhole covers, and oil/diesel puddles!
 
Well they'll blatantly recommend something expensive ;)

Cannondales are indeed really nice..! But those Treks you highlighted are pretty nice too, and I'm starting to really like Specialized.

Another thing to consider is drop-bars - I don't have them myself but my complaining wrists often wish there was another position for them to take. Sometimes they come with just the drop-brakes but also brakes on the flat of the bar, which is handy!
 
sara said:
Well they'll blatantly recommend something expensive ;)

Cannondales are indeed really nice..! But those Treks you highlighted are pretty nice too, and I'm starting to really like Specialized.

Another thing to consider is drop-bars - I don't have them myself but my complaining wrists often wish there was another position for them to take. Sometimes they come with just the drop-brakes but also brakes on the flat of the bar, which is handy!
Click to expand...

Yeah, these guys don't actually sell any Trek bikes - that was my local Action Bikes. This is an independent shop with staff that know what they're doing and good service - they even fixed my bike for free last time and I didn't even buy it from there :D

I may pop in during the week and see what else they have and try out a few things - it might even come in at a really good price once the cyclescheme thingy is used :D
 
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