Road Cycling

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They'll do it, sure, but they're still less suitable than other types of bike which have the option to do longer distances or different terrain if you decide you want to do that.
 
It depends on how bad the canal path is. There's a decent stretch of towpath near me that I occasionally ride on my TDF with 28mm knobbly tyres. A road bike with mudguard mounts and decent clearance might be the best bet, but you do have to look around to find a frame with decent clearance. Even a lot of winter and cyclocross frames are pretty lolworthy for clearance. Ribble's winter frame is reportedly a shadow of its former self, as it's tricky to get 25mm tyres on there with mudguards, which is a joke.

Anyway.

I got out this evening and cycled to the office and back, as though I hadn't had enough of it while the sun was up... I managed the little offroad stretch on the way out to avoid the dodgy roundabouts that I'm keen to avoid, and then the actual run into Manchester from Monton was OK, though some of the road surface is atrocious. I turned round and headed back, though I didn't use the offroad bit on the return leg. Partly because I was nervy about using it in the dark after passing two guys on the outward leg, and partly because the entrance to it is on the wrong side of the road at a roundabout, so it's borderline impossible to get there from that direction. I'll have to figure that out if I want to use it in both directions.

I can cut a few corners off here and there, but overall the route seems OK. It should be a lot more pleasant in daylight, and hopefully I'll be quicker with slicker tyres, now that I'm happy that I don't need the knobbly ones for the offroad bit.
 
Looks alright surface wise, but it's not very wide. Kind of inconvenient if you have to stop every time someone comes the other way or go onto the grass and risk falling into the river :p Can you find an alternative route?
 
ThaReaperGuy said:
This is the worst of the path I would say:

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place...m2!3m1!1s0x487097f15dff123d:0x97b339cd45d590b

Taken direct from Google Maps, it's the best I can get really.
And yes the train I get in the morning has been empty of bikes for 2 years of me getting it, I'd reserve a space as required.
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You don't need a CX bike for that. As said, your best bet will be a road bike with clearance for decent width tyres. Let me have a look around and I'll see if I can find anything.
 
PermaBanned said:
Looks alright surface wise, but it's not very wide. Kind of inconvenient if you have to stop every time someone comes the other way or go onto the grass and risk falling into the river :p Can you find an alternative route?
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Alternative route is just cycling the main roads into town, but considering I've seen the drivers it's beyond the safest bet, the small heath highway is beyond a joke for "boy racers" any time of the day. I'd be surprised if it's used that much, this side of town, nobody takes or uses the canals from when I used to go fishing down there, the occasional cyclist at mid-day at best, could be wrong though and there's now hundreds of bikes going up and down!

Vonhelmet said:
You don't need a CX bike for that. As said, your best bet will be a road bike with clearance for decent width tyres. Let me have a look around and I'll see if I can find anything.
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Thanks, I'm going to go down there the weekend and scope my route see if it's as good as it looks in those images, has been a couple months since I last cycled it.

When I'm in Derby, it's all road (or a better canal when on another site), just getting into town I need to figure out.
 
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lordrobs said:
Yeah it is the principal of it really. I bought it as new not shop soiled or blemished. TBH that scratch on the fork is there for good. The paint is a matte metallic graphite, there is no way it can be touched up. I know I'm a picky sod but I do installations of equipment for a living, if we had kit like that we wouldn't just let the customer take ownership of it without saying anything.



Is a hybrid really that much of a poor choice for a short commute? To me they seem pretty suitable for that type of use which is why I bought one for exactly that purpose back in 2011.
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yea when I bought my first bike a few years ago I bought a hybrid purely because drop bars scared me, now I have a CX bike with no suspension and it's actually more comfortable to ride than my CX bike was, a lot lighter and a hell of a lot more aerodynamic whilst still having the exact same tires as my hyrbid that hasn't been ridden for a year and doesn't even have pedals fitted because I stole them for my cx bike

They are the biggest waste of money drop bars are godlike and you can still use them in a similar position to straight bars anyway.

My chainring is bout 1-1.5 inches lower than my hybrid but it makes no difference over the types of terrain I can use.

if you look at cyclocross races they actually race in far worse conditions than a hybrid is expected to travel on.
front suspension is overrated

BTW I see road bikes on the same dirt and gravel paths as me, doesn't seem to make much difference, obviously if it were really muddy and slippery than CX are better but don't rule out a road bike either
 
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Vonhelmet said:
Steel frame, rack and mudguard mounts, 25mm tyres as stock but no word on max size, £440.

Over budget at £800, but it has discs, rack and mudguard mounts, and takes up to 32mm tyres.

Only £430 and gets you aluminium frame, carbon fork, up to 28mm tyres, rack and mudguard mounts.

Similar to the above, but £550 gets you more and better gears.

I'm sure there's plenty more that would do.
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http://www.evanscycles.com/products/jamis/quest-comp-2014-road-bike-ec067927

Similar to the first but better quality tubing, Sora rather than Claris and carbon forks. Issue with a lot of these is that there's limited sizing available and it really comes down to where you can use your bike to work scheme, and where's convenient for you if you have the opportunity to try a few out first.
 
PermaBanned said:
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/jamis/quest-comp-2014-road-bike-ec067927

Similar to the first but better quality tubing, Sora rather than Claris and carbon forks. Issue with a lot of these is that there's limited sizing available and it really comes down to where you can use your bike to work scheme, and where's convenient for you if you have the opportunity to try a few out first.
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Thank you both, I wish I knew bike parts as I do PC parts, would make this much more easier! - Evans CycleS is who my company use as their main 'choice' or however they're selected and there is a shop in town so I could pop in without a problem.

Not sure what size I would need so will be checking that first, I like the one you've chosen... but I'm basing that purely on aesthetics as I'm not sure what the specs actually mean to bike.

Might pop in tomorrow and have a look.
Clothing, helmet, rack/bag and mudguard wise, what should I be looking for?
 
ThaReaperGuy said:
Thank you both, I wish I knew bike parts as I do PC parts, would make this much more easier! - Evans CycleS is who my company use as their main 'choice' or however they're selected and there is a shop in town so I could pop in without a problem.

Not sure what size I would need so will be checking that first, I like the one you've chosen... but I'm basing that purely on aesthetics as I'm not sure what the specs actually mean to bike.

Might pop in tomorrow and have a look.
Clothing, helmet, rack/bag and mudguard wise, what should I be looking for?
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A bike that can actually fit mudguards if you want them, you would be amazed at the ammount of bikes that don't fit them especially when it comes to cyclocross bikes, even road bikes are more likely to have mudguard mounts that a cx bike that is designed for the mud :D

you'll probably end up with a road bike and not regret it.

those skinny tyres will amaze you

Clothing, helmet, rack/bag and mudguard wise, what should I be looking for?
clothing meh I cycle in jeans and a tshirt.
if you want a proper cycle bag for under your seat topeak are probably the most popular.
mudguards most people go with chromoplastics but they are a ball ache to attach to a bike so get wherever you buy a bike from a to fit them even if it costs you
 
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ThaReaperGuy said:
Clothing, helmet, rack/bag and mudguard wise, what should I be looking for?
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Clothing is up to you. We all ride in skintight lycra and tight jerseys but that's not for everyone... :p We'll all recommend bib shorts and the like, but if you're starting out then the main thing is to feel comfortable and confident. Some people like baggy mountain bike shorts as a halfway house.

Helmet - the main thing is that it fits well. They're all made to adhere to standards, so they're all "safe" as it were, so you're left with issues of how light it is, or how it looks, or how it fits. Get something that fits, with a decent adjustment mechanism and a decent fastening system, because those are the things that will bug you if you buy a cheap helmet.

I don't know about racks or bags... Something with a waterproof sleeve, given your laptop is going in there.

Mudguards... If you're looking at a bike with proper mounts then it's SKS Chromoplastics every time. They're a pain to fit, so get the shop to do it for you. They come in a couple of widths, but the sales people will be able to advise you on which you need.
 
physichull said:
As a local, I know EXACTLY what you mean! The heart attack van? I often walk round the flash on summer evenings from my house, its really quite pleasant.
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The people of Leigh said:
What a lovely day for a walk. The sun, the view, the birds. But you know what would really complete this picture? The grottiest bacon and egg bap you've ever seen from the window of a van that doesn't look like it could pass an MOT, let alone a food hygiene inspection.
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Thanks for all the information, will see if I can pop in tomorrow and browse through the site at work (:p). Will get my Cycle2Work stuff signed off and sorted as well.

Might be back with more questions!
 
I need some advice please.

I've just bought some Shimano SPD-SL which I know from reviews are a perfect entry level pedal for the price, they come with SH-11 cleats too all for £19.32 delivered!

Now, I'm looking for a nice pair of shoes to go with them, I looked at the "SHIMANO R064 COMPETITION ROAD SHOES" at £45 which I'll receive 10% off too on top, I've also looked at Giro Trebles with prices ranging from £40-£50 and these ones have good reviews.

What I'm wondering though, is if there are any better ones for the money? Ideally I don't want to go above £40 as I'm saving up and I'm begrudged spending any money at all haha but these are now a necessity, I will push to £45 tops, I'd prefer to bid on an auction site for a new pair too so if that's an option I'll do that!

Regards,

James.

They'll be fit to my size 10 feet to be used on my Giant Defy 3 (2015) :)
 
Depends on your foot shape.

I have thin feet and so Giros fit me perfectly and I use Trebles for commuting. They are great. I've tried Shimanos before but I think they were too tight across my arch.

You'd hsve to try them and see I'm afraid.
 
ThaReaperGuy said:
Might be back with more questions!
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AWE® AeroLite Men's Bicycle Helmet - Black/Green, Size 56-58

Have a Google for that helmet, the first two I bought were cheap and poor, this one cost a little more but is fantastic, genuinely noticed a huge difference with this. The fit, the weight, the air vents. Can't talk this up enough. It looks very nice too! The light that comes with it comes off easy if you don't want it on but is bright and has done me atleasts 50 hours so far without needing a new battery.

I've been cycling about a year and I had a 30mph crash downhill last year and landed head first on the road the day I got this thing and it scratched it.. Scratched.. no dents cracks or anything!

The fit is beautiful and alters in a couple of directions to get a Snug tight fit. I paid about £45 for it and at the moment it's back up at £50 but started at £80 so good savings to be made too, people on here will have better advice but there's mine :) Worth every penny and after my crash I'm glad I bought it, can't imagine what the poorly fitted ones would have been like!

Also, sports direct for clothing, budget clothing but very good for the money. I see a lot of people using the jacket I use from there! Also, shorts and leggings from there too, I've got a pair of each, look out for muddyfox, I've started upgrading to better quality Bontrager and Endura gear and the difference is just about noticeable especially on the baselayer (£40 each) but you pay for it and realistically I'm only doing it as I'm getting geeky haha.

If you're doing cycle scheme then get a decent bike and lights and worry about clothing and helmets separately. Don't forget gloves! You need them in the cold and rain trust me! Started with cheap fingerless gloves before getting decent Endura full finger gloves by the winter haha.

Hope this helps, ride steady buddy!
 
Asprilla said:
Depends on your foot shape.

I have thin feet and so Giros fit me perfectly and I use Trebles for commuting. They are great. I've tried Shimanos before but I think they were too tight across my arch.

You'd hsve to try them and see I'm afraid.
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Thank you, didn't think about that!

I'll go try some on today before buying any online Haha! My feet aint thin :/ haha
 
I'm going to step up in defence of hybrids.

For normal people who just want to get around town, go to the shops etc, they're great.

Every bicycle is a compromise, it's just a matter of choosing the right compromise for you. Or owning four.
 
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