Best commuting bike for £1000 (20 miles)
Spudpig
Posts: 12
I have started commuting to work 6 weeks ago, it is 95% flat, 20 miles, tarmac into London and I absolutely love it! 
At the moment I use a Specialized Expedition (proper granny bike), so it will probably not be hard to find something faster and funkier...
My needs....
Very strong/sturdy bike (I am morbidly obese: 5’8 and almost 18 stone and I am accident prone)
Comfortable (my best time so far was 1:30 in and 1:55 home-slight uphill)
Large relatively skinny wheels
Durable/puncture resistant tyres (so far I have not had any problems with the armadillo’s I have at the moment)
Disk Brakes
Mountings to fit pannier racks and mudguards
Apart from the above, I am very flexible!!!
Please make some suggestions as to what would be the best bike for me!
(I looked at a Kona Sutra, but according to Halfords there are none available till 2010, so that is a no go)
Thank you very much for your help!
At the moment I use a Specialized Expedition (proper granny bike), so it will probably not be hard to find something faster and funkier...
My needs....
Very strong/sturdy bike (I am morbidly obese: 5’8 and almost 18 stone and I am accident prone)
Comfortable (my best time so far was 1:30 in and 1:55 home-slight uphill)
Large relatively skinny wheels
Durable/puncture resistant tyres (so far I have not had any problems with the armadillo’s I have at the moment)
Disk Brakes
Mountings to fit pannier racks and mudguards
Apart from the above, I am very flexible!!!
Please make some suggestions as to what would be the best bike for me!
(I looked at a Kona Sutra, but according to Halfords there are none available till 2010, so that is a no go)
Thank you very much for your help!
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Comments
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Giant Escape R1
Spend the rest of the money on accessories:
Helmet
Lights
Bike Lock
mini pump and track pump
Inner tubes
Better tyres
Multi tool
Bag or Panniers
cycle specific clothing
pedals and clipless shoes
More than decent bike, will do more than your commute and you'll have money to get fully kitted out.Food Chain number = 4
A true scalp is not only overtaking someone but leaving them stopped at a set of lights. As you, who have clearly beaten the lights, pummels nothing but the open air ahead. ~ 'DondaddyD'. Player of the Unspoken Game0 -
Or if you want that much more and can live without hydraulic brakes (which you may not need, I don't know your commute, maybe off road or going down a 25/30%+ hill)
You could go for this:
Giant CRS alliance
I'm told they're the nuts....Food Chain number = 4
A true scalp is not only overtaking someone but leaving them stopped at a set of lights. As you, who have clearly beaten the lights, pummels nothing but the open air ahead. ~ 'DondaddyD'. Player of the Unspoken Game0 -
Thanks for the quick reply!
The good news is that went a bit mad at the Evans warehouse sale in Crawley-so I am pretty much kitted out with all the safety stuff as well as shoes/gloves/clothes/helmet/pump/pannier rack/Carradice Super C...etc. I have also ordered Busch and Muller bottle dynamo lights from a German website, but I have not received them yet...but I have cat eye battery lights in the mean while that I can recyle.
So I would prefer to use the whole £1000 on a bike (I do think you get change)
...also I am not very impressed with the quality of the kit in Halfords.
Would that change your opinion of would you still go with the Giant Escape R1?0 -
Giant CRS alliance looks great!!!! Definately my first choice at the moment!0
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Of the two I would go for the CRS. But I would try before I bought, which is true of any bike you choose to buy.
The CRS is very much a comfort bike though, in the flesh, despite the carbon and sportish profile its comfort and commuting first.
The Escape is aggressive but I always felt that frame, which is incredibly agile, is better served on 26'' wheels and offroad - not great for distance IMO.
If you want more speed, perhaps consider the Trek Soho (which is like the CRS) or a flat bar road bike like the Specialized Sirrus, Giant FCR.
I'm not going to suggest a drop handle bar road bike but the its worth mentioning that the Giant Defy and Specialized Allez will give you an upright riding position, eat the miles away and carry panniers.
I wouldn't worry about your weight too much, a strong set of wheels should be able to withstand the weight - I weigh 16st and have no trouble with any bike I own.Food Chain number = 4
A true scalp is not only overtaking someone but leaving them stopped at a set of lights. As you, who have clearly beaten the lights, pummels nothing but the open air ahead. ~ 'DondaddyD'. Player of the Unspoken Game0 -
Um, are you sure (and I'm not being funny here) you don't want a road bike, albeit a tourer rather than a racer? Most can deal with 18 stone easily, and as Gaz demonstrates there's no need to remain 18 stone.
For a fast but solid hybrid, how about this beauty?
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