Yet another 'what should I get'

armpitofillomen

Looking for commute bike recommendations.

Budget: £1500
Style: Usual crappy London roads / might occasionally go thru light trails
Rider: 5' 7", 170lbs, lapsed FR'er (riding FR before the days when people started using the term FR for bikes, eee when I were a lad I used to go tearing along them trails on my trusty Cracknfail Super Penny Farthing...)
Fitness level: Peter Kay on a good day, buns of jelly
Bike Skills: Used to be Peat-like, now probably Pee Wee Herman-like
Max 1-way commute distance: 13 miles, but usually <5.

Prerequisites: Discs, and ones that actually work. I hate callipers with a vengeance. Needs to look cool, to reflect my own personal ultracoolness.
Would be nice: Suspension even FS for aforesaid crappy roads.

Thanks

prj45

£1500 too much, £800 max I reckon, anything more is a waste (IMO).

Full sus? Whilst it's funny watching somebody on a full sus put more effort into bouncing up and down than going forward I wouldn't wish it on anybody.

Rich158

If it was my money I'd for the Trek Fuel EX7. It might not be an out and out commuter bike, but if the call of the trails proves too much it's more than capable of serious off road action. The forks have a lockout for road use, the rear shock has pro-pedal which cancels out any pedal induced bob, and both shocks have air springs meaning you can tune them to your weight.

I've ridden a mates and it's a seriously good bike and bang on your budget

armpitofillomen

The Fuel looks like a good deal.

I am still undecided on a full susser - a reasonable frame and a front fork might be a better compromise of course.

Bearing in mind the abovementioned, would there be any 700C possibilities?