B-twin Road Bike - suitability for commuting
stevesparrow
Posts: 3
Hello all,
Hoping I'm not asking a stupid question, I've been reading for a couple of days and have just signed up!
I started commuting by bike a couple of weeks ago. I live in Birmingham and work in Brierley HIll, and it's a 8.5-9 miles very hilly route. I'm not particularly fit, and a lot heavier than i used to be, and so I splashed out (using the cycle to work scheme) and bought an Izip Mountain Trailz - electric bike. It's great bike, and gets me to work without leaving me decimated for a day.
It's very heavy though, and I long for my 20 year old racer (now rather worn, and missing a brake). MY intention is to use this for short rides, and replace my mountain bike for family rides, as well as gradually weaving it into my commuting routine. . I've been looking at the bike below in Decathlon from Btwin, and wonder how well it will fare for commuting, and how it fares as a bike. My grandad left us some money, so I I have some to spend.
http://www.btwincykecle.com/EN/fitness- ... -34511825/
I like the lightweightness (about 10.5KG), after the Mountain Trailz, which is about 30kg with the battery, and I like the straight bars, to give me a better view of the traffic. My questions, if I may be so bold, are:
1) How will the thinner (700x25) tyres stand upto commuting, with the occasional bump of pavements, (i.e avoiding jams, or single file roadworks - I generally ride on the road)
2) The wheels don't have much clearance for mudguards, and I intend to commute through winter. I can use a very large clip-on one at the back, but the crud-catchers don't sounds good. Would I be able to jury rig another sort of mudguard for the front? The bike has no lugs for the guards.
3) Is this a reasonable bike for the money. I like the feel of it, and like the idea of buying from a shop, as my Mountain trailz came mail order, and I've had trouble sorting out a few adjustments. Plus I trust Decathlon if something goes wrong.
4) Is there anything obvious I've missed?
As you can see, I'm new to this, and would be pleased with your help if you wouldn't mind. Apols for the long post.
Thanks
Steve
Hoping I'm not asking a stupid question, I've been reading for a couple of days and have just signed up!
I started commuting by bike a couple of weeks ago. I live in Birmingham and work in Brierley HIll, and it's a 8.5-9 miles very hilly route. I'm not particularly fit, and a lot heavier than i used to be, and so I splashed out (using the cycle to work scheme) and bought an Izip Mountain Trailz - electric bike. It's great bike, and gets me to work without leaving me decimated for a day.
It's very heavy though, and I long for my 20 year old racer (now rather worn, and missing a brake). MY intention is to use this for short rides, and replace my mountain bike for family rides, as well as gradually weaving it into my commuting routine. . I've been looking at the bike below in Decathlon from Btwin, and wonder how well it will fare for commuting, and how it fares as a bike. My grandad left us some money, so I I have some to spend.
http://www.btwincykecle.com/EN/fitness- ... -34511825/
I like the lightweightness (about 10.5KG), after the Mountain Trailz, which is about 30kg with the battery, and I like the straight bars, to give me a better view of the traffic. My questions, if I may be so bold, are:
1) How will the thinner (700x25) tyres stand upto commuting, with the occasional bump of pavements, (i.e avoiding jams, or single file roadworks - I generally ride on the road)
2) The wheels don't have much clearance for mudguards, and I intend to commute through winter. I can use a very large clip-on one at the back, but the crud-catchers don't sounds good. Would I be able to jury rig another sort of mudguard for the front? The bike has no lugs for the guards.
3) Is this a reasonable bike for the money. I like the feel of it, and like the idea of buying from a shop, as my Mountain trailz came mail order, and I've had trouble sorting out a few adjustments. Plus I trust Decathlon if something goes wrong.
4) Is there anything obvious I've missed?
As you can see, I'm new to this, and would be pleased with your help if you wouldn't mind. Apols for the long post.
Thanks
Steve
0
Comments
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Hi Steve,
This is my first post as well (so I hope it works).
In answer to your questions
1. Wheels/Tyres, I have a Decathlon road bike with 700x25 tyres which I sometimes use on my commute but I always avoid bumps, kerbs and off roading on this bike narrow road tyres are much less forgiving than those on a mountain bike. I would look for a strong wheel (in general, the more spokes the better) and puncture resistant tyres (most manufacturers have one in their range).
2. My top priority for all my bikes is mudguards, getting a face full of mud and a wet back is no fun. You can get clip on mudguards for bikes which don't have the necessary fittings but it is easier if the bike has been designed to take mudguards, the issue when retro fitting can be the clearance around the brake calipers.
3. I haven't seen the bike you are considering but I have bought two bikes from Decathlon (a racer and a mountain bike) and I'm pleased with both of them. The advantage of buying from a shop is you can test ride the bike to make sure it fits you.
4. Will you be carrying much gear while on your commute, if so it might be worth considering a rack and panniers.
When are you planning on buying the bike, in a month or two a lot of the manufacturers will be bringing out their new (2009) ranges so I would expect the 2008 bikes will be on offer at a discount which might get you more bike for you money.
Hope this helps.
Colin.0 -
stevesparrow wrote:1) How will the thinner (700x25) tyres stand upto commuting, with the occasional bump of pavements, (i.e avoiding jams, or single file roadworks - I generally ride on the road)
700x25 is fat, I jsut did 12months commuting on 700x23 and they were fine.0 -
redddraggon wrote:stevesparrow wrote:1) How will the thinner (700x25) tyres stand upto commuting, with the occasional bump of pavements, (i.e avoiding jams, or single file roadworks - I generally ride on the road)
700x25 is fat, I jsut did 12months commuting on 700x23 and they were fine.
Well, that's nice. But that doesn't mean that someone else will be "fine" - especially if you weigh 140lbs and he weighs 200lb. Plus if you're dedicated club racer you'll have different standards on comfort, probably more back flexibility than most people, plus possibly better bike handling skills for "going light" without realizing it over bumps.
Basic rules: The more you weigh, the wider your tyres should be. The rougher the roads, the wider the tyres. A commuter tyres should probably be 28mm-38mm unless you're a skinny masochist who rides smooth roads.
Big complication: not all manufacturers are honest in their sizing. Some claim a 32 is really a 38 so that they have the worlds lightest 38... Schwalbe and Conti are honest imo.
Tyres are easy to change; I'd advise the OP to find out what tyres the rims and frame clearance will allow. If the bike won't go past 25, be cautious. If it will go to 32, it's ok unless you weight well over 200lb. If it will run 38s, rejoice.
As for the bike, the link didn't work for me I'm afraid. Is it this?
http://www.btwincycle.com/EN/fitness-fl ... ct-details
If so, the info given is so minimal no one could really say, I'm afraid.0 -
Thanks guys,
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Having realised I could fit mudguards, the tyres became the primary concern. Mostly I want a lightweight bike, and the thinner tyres seen fairly pre-reqresite for that.
I'll take a wider look around, thanks for the comments.
Steve0
