Back on the Bike
samivel
Posts: 81
I've been off the bike for a while, mainly due to a new baby, house move and the fact that I ragged my old bike into the ground. My old bike was a mountian bike with front suspension and the journey is 11 miles each way from Eltham (SE London) to Charring Cross.
My question to you is, what type of bike do I go for, I'm thinking of a road bike, by would anything else be better?
Money is a bit of an option, so I was thinking off looking under £500, is there anything around that price range and if so what is it?
My question to you is, what type of bike do I go for, I'm thinking of a road bike, by would anything else be better?
Money is a bit of an option, so I was thinking off looking under £500, is there anything around that price range and if so what is it?
Samivel
Black Allez, FCN 5, will always try to say hello.
Normal commute - Eltham, Greenwich, London Bridge
Black Allez, FCN 5, will always try to say hello.
Normal commute - Eltham, Greenwich, London Bridge
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Comments
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Depends on whether the bike will be purely used for commuting or whether you plan on doing other riding with it. 11 miles would be best done on a roadie or commuter type hybrid like a Spesh Sirrus. Otherwise an MTB with slicks if you want to do some mtbing as well.0
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I'm happy to get the old bike going for MTBing, so I don't need anything that needs to go off road.Samivel
Black Allez, FCN 5, will always try to say hello.
Normal commute - Eltham, Greenwich, London Bridge0 -
samivel wrote:I've been off the bike for a while, mainly due to a new baby, house move and the fact that I ragged my old bike into the ground. My old bike was a mountian bike with front suspension and the journey is 11 miles each way from Eltham (SE London) to Charring Cross.
My question to you is, what type of bike do I go for, I'm thinking of a road bike, by would anything else be better?
Money is a bit of an option, so I was thinking off looking under £500, is there anything around that price range and if so what is it?
If the road surfaces are generally good on your ride a Road bike or even Flat bar road bike could suffice - one option could be the Giant FCR 3 :
http://www.rutlandcycling.com/ProductDe ... goryID/276
It's a flat-bar Roadie/Fast Sports Hybrid - you get a nice light bike, with a Triple chainset and 26's tyres - there are other similar options, but if you don't want to go with a full on Drop Road bike, a flat-bar one will give you a nice fast, light-ish bike with a good riding position and a secure tyre width.0 -
For an 11 mile ride on a road, you're best off with a road bike with drop bars – the main benefit being the variety of hand positions you get over flat bars, not just for speed but to allow your body to move more and avoid getting a stiff back. Plus you can squeeze through tighter gaps and you look more cool!
This question comes up again and again and the answer for £500 is always Giant SCR or Specialized Allez. You get more for your money with the Giants and the SCR2 is probably the cheapest road bike with a tiagra groupset. SCRs and Allezs can take mudguards and racks and have a relaxed geometry perfect for commuting and for a first road bike. I have the SCR2 and am well pleased with it.0 -
I'd get a single speed drop-barred road bike, simple and easy to ride and you'll get nicer parts due to not having to buy any gears!0
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samivel wrote:I've been off the bike for a while, mainly due to a new baby, house move and the fact that I ragged my old bike into the ground. My old bike was a mountian bike with front suspension and the journey is 11 miles each way from Eltham (SE London) to Charring Cross.
My question to you is, what type of bike do I go for, I'm thinking of a road bike, by would anything else be better?
Money is a bit of an option, so I was thinking off looking under £500, is there anything around that price range and if so what is it?
I live in Pumstead - used to live in Eltham - and have a Spesh Sirrus for sale if you're interested. All receipts etc to hand.Old hippies don't die, they just lie low until the laughter stops and their time comes round again.
Joseph Gallivan0 -
Thanks for the offer, but I'm thinking of getting one through the work scheme.
I was thinking of the Specailzed of Giant when I looked in the past. Is it a waste of time looking below this price range?Samivel
Black Allez, FCN 5, will always try to say hello.
Normal commute - Eltham, Greenwich, London Bridge0 -
If you're getting it through cycletowork, bear in mind that for every £50-£60 you are spending, you can get a £100-better bike! If you can stretch to say £400 of your own money you're in a range where genuinely decent quality components are becoming standard.
Oh, and for the poll - road bike, every time.0 -
What bikes would I be looking at for £400?Samivel
Black Allez, FCN 5, will always try to say hello.
Normal commute - Eltham, Greenwich, London Bridge0
