Planning to cycle to work - which Edinburgh Co-op bike to ge

dppowell
dppowell Posts: 2
edited September 2009 in Commuting chat
Revolution Trailfinder for £229
http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/ebwPNLq ... 155c002910

OR a Revolution Courier Classic for £249
http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/ebwPNLq ... 155c002910

OR a Pathfinder or a Streetfinder all at less than £300

Then there's Disc brakes or normal and/or Nexus gears or normal

Too many choices, so hope you guys can help as I know nothing about cycling.

I plan to cucle to and from work which is pretty much downhill/flat in the morning and uphill/flat on the way home. All on tarmac.

I might do the odd bit of weekend trail/canal path/parkland type cycling but not on a regular basis and definitely not full on mountain biking.

Aim is to get fit and specifically lose the bulging stomach!! But also don;t want to arrive at work sweaty, so need tyres that are halfway between high resistance and low resistance - I think???

Finally Edinburgh Co-operative is at the end of the road I live on, so want to get the bike from them so can nip in for advice / upgrades / service etc when I need to.

Finally I'm 32 and not particularly fit, but not overweight.

Comments

  • JonS123
    JonS123 Posts: 171
    Id suggest popping in to the Edinburgh cycles shop and ask them for advice, they will know the state of the roads (pot-holes etc) much better than us over t'internet will! and if their staff are anything like the ones in Leeds will offer good advice ( I couldn't get my bike2work bike through them due to provider my company uses, but they still helped me :)) They should also let you have a test ride, it may be worth considering a road bike with drop handles, personally I like flat bars but everyone likes something different.

    My old bike had V-brakes, new one has discs, while the discs add more weight I prefer them on my commute, and I found they work much better in the wet than the V's did.

    Gearing depends on how hilly your route will be, hub gears will be less maintenance from what I understand

    You will get fit quickly and see that stomach flatten down a bit :)

    Finally in a years time you will have turned into a cycling-addict :p
  • Good advice to go into the shop and explain what you want.

    If you'll be cycling in "normal clothes" then mudguards are a must.

    If you'll be carrying anything (and you are better not to if you can avoid it), then I would suggest a saddlebag or pannier, but others go for a rucksack.

    Don't forget to budget for a lock and some lights.

    I'm sure either would be fine, just get one and start enjoying it!
  • That part of Edinburgh has about three bike-shops all in the same area.

    It might be worthwhile checking out some of the other shops and not just the bike co-op.


    "I like riding in my car, it's not quite a Jaguar."
  • I have to say i was a bit disappointed with EBC - I emailed them twice when I was looking for a bike on the C2W scheme and they didn't reply either time - probably better to go to the shop and check it out
  • daveb
    daveb Posts: 4,137
    Before it was stolen I had the Courier Classic and thought it was great for commuting. After a while I upgraded the wheels, rear mech and shifters but everything else was good.

    Would recommend it over the pathfinder
    Daveb