2nd Bike, What type?

Matty1235

Hi,

I have the option of joining the bike to work scheme. Currently I have a Look Road bike, Due to the expanding family and new job, i'm looking for a new bike.

The dilema is what type, my current bike is suitable for the summer solo riding, but I need something that can commute all winter, 30 miles dark country lanes, something that would be suitable with a child seat on the back for weekend family rides, but also it needs to be fun?

Any ideas or suggestions around the £300 mark?

Thanks

cjw

Try the commuting forum. We'll all tell you to get a full sus carbon beast and that you need to multiply your budget by 10

Just kidding.... but commuting wil probably give more responses as it doesn't sound as though you will be going anywhere that suspension is needed.

jason31

go full sus m8 and just lock it all out as u r going to work at least then u have the option of fun. haha
carerra banshee rider

cjw

See what I mean :shock:

stumpyjon

Really depends if you're planning to go off road or not. If you're not then you need to look at a fully rigid hybrid, it'll be cheaper, lighter and have better quality components than an equivilant price mountain bike but still have similar geometry and be fine for attaching a child seat of tag along. If you are genuinely going off road then something like a Scott Aspect 45 would be good vlaue for the money.

Just think very hard about what is more important, commuting or off road riding, for the sort of miles you're talking about a mountain bike is going to be very slow compared to a road bike.

I'm in the opposite position, I already have 2 £ 2k mountain bikes, a full suss and a hardtail and have recently started commuting 30 miles to work over some very big hills. Although my very expensive hardtail is very light it's still not great for commuting as the even locked out the forks do bob slightly when pedalling hard and the off road tyres do drag.

I'm not allowed a road bike (yet) so have just converted my really old hardtail into a commuting bike by removing the suspension forks and seatpost and putting 1.5" semi slick tyres on. It's reduced the weight by 2Kg and seems to have reduced the effort required considerably, Haven't ridden to work on it yet but I'm guessing it'll be a lot faster. If it is I may even consider putting a road crankset on it and possibly replacing the wheels with something lighter that could take a 1.0" or 1.25" tyre.

Whatever you do don't buy a full suspension bike, for £ 300 it'll be very heavy, poor parts and pedal very badly, a hardtail or hybrid for the same money will be massively better quality and ride much better on road. I'd have to think very hard about even using my expensive FS for any on road distance.

Hope that helps.

Matty1235

Thanks,

Very helpfull, with it being bike to work commuting would be the main useage, but it would need to withstand country roads during the winter. Off roading would be nice, is there anything that is ok for both but non specific? I don't mean serious downhilling, just cross country trails.

Thanks

KitsuneAndy

Matty1235 wrote:

Thanks,

Very helpfull, with it being bike to work commuting would be the main useage, but it would need to withstand country roads during the winter. Off roading would be nice, is there anything that is ok for both but non specific? I don't mean serious downhilling, just cross country trails.

Thanks

I got a Trek 4300 a year ago for the same purpose. £300 or £370 for the version with mechanical disc brakes.

Been very happy with it as both a commuter and for the local XC trails.

Currently in the process of getting a new bike at the moment.

The Spiderman

If I hadn`t looked at your budget,I would have said get a Specialized Tri Cross,which is a bit like a Cyclo X bike,but a bit more relaxed.

Something else to look at would be a rigid 29er mtb.9MTB with big wheels).My mate has an On One Scandal 29er with rigid carbon forks,and its not much slower than a road bike,,particularly if you ran itwith slicks,but works as a fast xc mtb.A very versatile machine.

Both of these are a bit over budget mind!
The GT Peace comes as a 29er and would be nearer budget but is a single speed.

Otherwise,as suggested I`d be looking at a fully rigid mtb with slicks.