New to commuting, now in need of advice.

d.n.f

‘ello,

It was all so easy 6 months ago, I’d got back into cycling and needed a new mtb as all of my leisure rides were off road. I’d completed a 68km offroad sportive and knew that when my work cycle scheme started I would be getting a new cube acid, and every one was happy.
Then came the bike to work day, which I’d never considered as it’s 24 miles each way, but id agreed as a bit of a challenge, and a laugh. It took 1hr 45, which is exactly the same as public transport, and more importantly is was enjoyable.
I’ve now commuted on the 10 year old hard tail 7 times, and after spending a few weeks reading his forum have decided to get a road bike for the commute and I think/ thought I’d narrowed it down to 2.

Specialized Allez sport 18
Giant Defy 2.5

(Are these suitable choices for a London commuter?)

I went to the Specialized shop to give it a look over and although it looked good (not sure on the all white though) I kind of knew I’d go for the Giant as the colours were better, it had triple chain ring and tiagra shifters over sora on the Spec. I must admit I don’t have a clue what the difference is between the shifters but read some not so great comments on the sora around here…?

Went to the Giant shop today and was told the 2.5 is discontinued! Only the 4 and 3 are available from the 2010 range and the 3 has sora and is yellow! 2 will not be available until October which is after the deadline for my scheme. Asked the guy in the shop what is the difference between sora and tiagra and he said “nothing really, just a bit of weight.”…!?

So any advice would be good as I now feel I’m back to square 1 and don’t really feel I know what I’m looking at… or should I just get the Cube and use the Dawes hard tail for commuting….?

prawny

Sora and Tiagra shifters are very different, the rest of the groupset is probably similar but I really don't like sora shifters, They work a bit like campag ones but worse and look a bit poo. It looks to me like the thumb button is broken.

Both bikes are fine commuters, might be worthwhile having a brighter coloured one, mine is black and sometimes wish it was a bit more high viz from the sides.

If you're going to be doing 24 miles each way regularly I'd recommend I road bike or even better would be an audax/tourer/CX on slicks. It's really good to get the weight off your back for that distance, so fittings for a rack would be great so you can use a rack pack and/or panniers. Are you going to be doing this every day? If you are make sure you get a bike that you can easily fit mudguards to, I didn't and I wish I had.

How much are you looking at spending? There's some nice dawes touring bikes for £7-800 or the ribble winter trainers are good. Theres also the Tifosi CX7, Specialized Tricross and the Trek 1.2 , 1.5 or 1.7 (1.7 has tiagra shifters)

-spider-

Get out and try the bikes from your LBS. Mudguards for winter are a good idea but, IIRC, the Defy can take mudguards and a rack if you need them. Not sure about the Allez Sport.

downfader

I personally like the tiagra gearsets myself. Cheap but reliable, and if you get a bike with a tiagra sprocket on the back it will last ages.

Have your LBS's got anything like Kona, Boardman or Scot in stock. Also good makes imo. Try as many makes as you can, what may suit one person may not suit yourself.

Factor in good lights (two front two rear is the often used combination here) to the cost also. If you want helmet and hiviz add those in too.

snig

make sure you give each bike a good test ride!!! coming from the MTB world you will find that road bikes are a lot differant to ride and each one will feel differant,choosing a bike for its colour is not the best way to do it because on your 24 mile rides it will not be the colour you will be thinking about but you ill be thinking about the bike if you pick the wrong shape .

amnezia

I commute on a Giant road bike with a similar spec, its been very reliable for commuting in london.

I would echo whats previously been mentioned about tiagra vs sora. I really don't like the sora shifters.

Sea_Green_Incorruptible

On the tourer front, my Dad's just got a 2008 Claude Butler Dalesman for £600. 631 frame, Tiagra shifters, Deore drivetrain and very nicely finished in the detail too (tyres, wheels, stem, saddle, paintjob etc). Total bargain and makes the Dawes Galaxy's all look a bit overpriced. Would be a practical and comfortable choice for a very long commute like your'e planning.

d.n.f

I know the tourer option would be the sensible one but...

Sea_Green_Incorruptible wrote:

On the tourer front, my Dad's

says it all really.

i'd pretty much decided on a hybrid until I came here, and now to keep things simple I'm sticking with a road bike. I would be nice to have something I could take out on the weekend that didn't look like I was taking the commuter for a spin too.

Having another look round today, and if I stick with the Spec or the Giant I'll have to settle for Sora, the next Allez up with Tiagra is an extra £200, which is a bit ott for me atm. I think I'll have a look round some other makes then, but i chose those 2 as thats what the nearest shops on the scheme sell... I didn't realise buying a new bike is such a nightmare.

On another note, the shops so far have not been to forward on offering a test, and when you ask they sort of look at you funny :? So what is the sort of thing you should look for aon a 10 minute test ride? As i imagine frame size issues wouldn't show their face until a hour or more into a ride. i think all new bikes would feel different, but are there things that make the bike feel wrong?

Thanks for all the good advice so far,

Oh my budget is £6-700 if anyones got recommendations to look at.

d.n.f

Oh yeah, should have said, the 24 mile commute will only be twice a week, and I have other ways of getting 'stuff' to and from the office.

Cheers,

d.n.f.

Capo

One point worth making - with 2010 stock coming in, a lot of this year's bikes will be on offer - might be worth shopping around a bit to see what you can get (assuming you're not tied to one shop?)

UndercoverElephant

Sadly, this year Europe is nearly out of bikes - there aren't many good deals to be had even with the new bikes coming up. I recently bought this little beauty:

http://www.beone-bikes.nl/EN/products/mistral.html

Which is currently on offer at CRC for £600, it has full Tiagra (Standard Double), and is an absolutely superb ride. On the down side, you can't try before you buy, and you'll have to do a lot of the build yourself. :? I would say though, that is worth the effort, if you get the right size.

Sea_Green_Incorruptible

d.n.f wrote:

I know the tourer option would be the sensible one but...

Sea_Green_Incorruptible wrote:

On the tourer front, my Dad's

says it all really.

Indeed. If you bought one you would HAVE to grow beard too and I can see how that wouldn't be everyone's style.

Stuey01

Have a look at the Focus Variado and Cube Aerial on Wiggle and CRC respectively. Both have a good rep and great spec for the money, but you would be stepping into the unknown a bit as you can't try before buy. (Wiggles returns policy is supposed to be good, though I haven't used it.)

You really want the Tiagra brifters if you can get them in budget. Sora ones have the campag style thumb button but, unlike campag (which I love), it is in completely the wrong place and is totally impossible to operate from the drops.

d.n.f

Yeah, not ready for the beard just yet!

The scheme at work dosen't allow internet 'mail' orders. got to be LBS. There is a place up the road form work that sells cube, so I'll have a look down there.
Pushing the budget then though, don't really want to go over 7.

That BeOne looks nice too! :P

One month today until the scheme closes. M u s t f i n d n e w B i k e...!

I have a vision of the future, and it's one that holds Sora!

Cheers 8)

Avoneer

I had a similar dilemas having ridden MTB's and a Hybrid for commuting over the last 20 years.

I took the plunge two weeks ago and have got a Defy 4 on the scheme - my 1st roady.

Not used it yet for commuting though and it's really weird at first trying to get used to the bars and the shifting, but I'm sure it will come in time.

Get the Giant already!

Pat...

Stuey01

Took me about 2 or 3 commutes to get used to the bars and shifters when I got my first roadie. It'll come natural soon enough.

Be careful the first time you brake from the drops - you can generate much more stopping power from there!

d.n.f

Avoneer wrote:

I it's really weird at first trying to get used to the bars and the shifting, but I'm sure it will come in time.

.

Cheers Pat,

This is kind of the problem I mentioned with having a test ride. How do you know if the bikes the wrong size if everything about it feels alien the first time you ride it anyway... :?

I'mm gonna look at the Cube, and try and find a 2009 2.5 Defy in my size.... but as has been mentioned, there are not a lot of bikes around and I don't hold much hope.

Avoneer

Most I did was sit on a few at my LBS and decided from there from what "felt" ok.

I guess you adapt somewhat to whatever you buy, like when you buy a new car.

I also had to get one that looked good and the Giant frame is asthetically pleasing.

Pat...