Choices & Decisions on a new commuter bike

Ychael

After many years, I'm getting a new commuter. Might even build my own, though more £. Budget is complicated but prepared to spend up to £400 on frame alone. Maybe more if transfer some old components over from current commuter to start with.

Important:
Must not look theft-worthy - so no disc brakes.
No suspension
Frame quality - everything else wears out - I want the money to go on the thing that will last.
Pannier and mudguard braze-ons
Preference for UK design/built - but realise this ambitious!

Not important:
Weight / extreme speed. Currently MTB with "city slickers" Judging by overtaken/overtake ratio, I seem to do OK on a slowish bike.

Undecided - your advice much appreciated(!): 5 questions:

1) Brakes:
V-brakes seem to offer best combo re; easy maintenance, strong/effective and non-nickability compared to discs.
Calipers and Cantis seem less good for commuting/maintenence. Am I right?

2) Wheel size:
Manouverability and agility of my MTB conversion compared to my Dawes Super Galaxy is astounding! I can't believe any bike with 700s could compete on these qualities.

But can someone prove me wrong? Compact frames...? Smaller frame with longer seat post and stem...?

(NB LOVE the DSG for longer journeys - by which I mean anything from over an hour to 6 weeks)

3) Bars:
I am ASTOUnded to read all the pro drops comments! Maybe you all ride on nice roads! I love drops for long tours (see above) but for dashing around town and dealing with dodgy drivers, hopping accross obstacles etc, wide flats seem to win hands down. But is it something about the drops on my Galaxy that have put me off? NB I have never ever found my wide bar-ended flats too wide for traffic gaps, so that not an issue.

Maybe I'm just a slow-reacting clumsy rider, but some of the holes etc I hit round town have nearly had me off on the occasions I have had to ride the Galaxy as commuter.

4) Material:
Steel seems the obvious choice. But on this I have heard the most debate.
Some say modern Alu frames can soak up as much vibration as steel.
Steel will last and repairable. I think my commuters get treated pretty hard.

Even within steel - difference between Galaxy vs Kylami - Galaxy ride is incredibly smooth! I'd like that on commuter, but with agility of MTB frame.

5) Gears:
If I stay derraileur, will just keep ratios & type currently on Kylami, which seem perfect. But am toying with a Shimano Nexus 8 speed or similar?
(Rohloff out of the question (unfortunately)).

I don't think I'd need all the range I have now. And so many people now on fixies! Anyone tried commuting with nexus or similar? I'd like to fit an old skool chain guard and figure easier with hub.

So far I have considered:
Cotic Roadrat
Planet X Kaffenback (but heard about paint issues)
and
Surly Cross Check (but 700 wheels)
like the ideas of: compact geometry of some of the steel Orange MTB frames (but no braze-ons).

Thanks!

mrchrispy

Cotic RoadRat. case closed!

8)

jonba

I have two on-one bikes, a 456 and a original inbred. The paint on both is OK It takes a fair amount of abuse as one is an abused hack and the other an abused mountain bike. So I wouldn't worry about the paint on the Kaffenback.

I think I'd go with the Cross check purely on the versitility (Cross, Road, Commute, Audax, Tourer, Singlespeed, Hub Gear, Geared etc.)

Handling is as much a function of geometry, stem length, handle bar type and width as of wheel size. Over the distances you mention I'd want 700cc wheels. My road bike is perfectly comfortable on 25mm tyres upto 70 odd miles (haven't got any further) but the speed benefits are immense over 1.75" tyres on 26" wheels on my commuter

Totalnewbie

I have a Nexus 8 speed on my Globe and have commuted on it since September. It does really well in the city including the short sharp hills we have in SE London, but it is not supposed to be great for 'serious' hills, so it depends on your commute. It's also quite fast on the flat.

sonnyb

I have a Boardman Urban Pro which was £700, but I believe the 'Team' version is only £300 and has been well reviewed by the biking press.

TheBoyBilly

The Cinelli Hoy Hoy Rats (what a great name?) got a decent revue in this months C+ (at a smidgeon over £600). They reckon all the right ingredients are there, and it was the cheapest bike in test and up against a Boardman, Trek FX and a Cube (so stiff competition then) and came out top for the city. One to consider.

redvee

Rode the Hoy Hoy Rat from the mag last week and found it stretched out compared to my custom built GT. When I got back on my GT it felt like my arse was hanging over the back of the saddle.

william79

I would consider:

The Kaffenback; you can build your own or go for a complete bike (flat bar builds too). I think the Kaffenbacks are 135mm spaced, so you may have good hub gear options for this. Plus it's designed by a UK company.

I commute on a Pompino, which is the fixed geared relative. It's really well made & I bought it as a complete bike; all 'basic build' components are impressive.

The Cross Check seems to get get reviews, if you hunt around online. I have no personal experience, but would seriously look into it.

I have 700x32's on my commuter and find them to be a good compromise for ride comfort & performance. I've also got cantilever brakes which stop really well & are easy to adjust & maintain.

Hope this helps.

Belv

1. Mini V-brakes
2. 700c wheels
3. Drop bars
4. Steel
5. Derailleurs

6. Cross check

star_rover

I've got a cross check and I'd recommend it for what you need. I've run it flat-barred and with drops. Works perfect with either. But mind if you do want to have drops you can't use calipers - would have to be cantis or mini-vees.

Ychael

Thanks to one and all who responded - v helpful

Belv I thought your brevity after my long waffly precise quesion was brilliant!

In case any of you are interested I'm now thinking:

1. Mini V-brakes
2. Still not decided but coming round to 700c wheels
3. FLAT bars with bar ends
4. Steel
5. Hub

Ychael

Ychael

Though the Cinelli Hoy Hoy Rat looks amazing!

bear_bearson

Charge Tap?