Spec me: A push bike!

solarp

solarp

solarp

Associate
Joined
1 Mar 2011
Posts
120
Hi OCUK

Firstly sorry if there is a sub-forum/thread for these questions.

I have just started a new job that requires commuting into London by train, the station is a 25 minute walk away and I'd rather spend that in bed so I have decided I want to ride to the station which should take about 5 minutes, give or take (all down hill)

Having no idea about bikes, I have set an initial budget of £200, which I want to include a decent bike lock and cover (I'll worry about lights come winter)

Can you recommend a decent, lightweight bike with a smart look, I don't fancy those fold up bikes that look like you need the legs of a body builder to get moving.

Thanks in advance :)
 
Last edited:
thep02 said:
Decent option but what about the Apollo Evade same store similar specs but £179 leaving a bit of room to buy kit pos from Aldi.
Click to expand...

Apollo evade are awful bikes, trust me i build them. I'd rather ride and build the Valour all day long. The brakes are tektro compared to the crap ones on the evade, decent metal levers, rapid fire shifters and much lighter too!
 
I like the look of the Carrera so far, its more slender which suits me better.

Thanks as always, forgot to mention I am 5ft 8" so would a 16" - 18" frame suffice?
 
You're definitely looking at the used market for that budget, especially including a lock and stuff. New, you can get an entry level road bike for about 280 and probably similar for a hybrid (although for commuting on roads you're better off with a relaxed road bike).
 
If you are commuting to the station and leaving it there... I would suggest the cheapest one you can find TBH!

If you want to take it on the train, then, if its anything like here, you will need a fold-up.
 
solarp said:
...I don't fancy those fold up bikes that look like you need the legs of a body builder to get moving....
Click to expand...

I got a cheap 2nd hand folding for the train. Its got 6 gears can get up a decent speed without much effort at all. It cuts my 25 min walk down to about 5 mins. I spend a good amount of time finding a used one that folded neatly. A lot them are terrible at folding. Many of the cheap ones are also heavy.

I stick mine under the desk at work. Which saves me another 10 minutes. As getting in and out of our bike cage in the basement at work take ages. Also it means I don't have to lock and unlock it. More time saved. I unfold mine in the lift on the way out.

That said if I was buying one now I'd look for a dahon speed uno. No gears, but lighter and less to go wrong. For 5~10 min cycle you don't need gears and its just another thing to maintain. Less weight easier to fold stick in the baggage on the train.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom