Is it wrong?

holybinch

So, I've started commuting to work a couple of weeks ago.

Due to my lack of fitness, and my smoking, ramping up the effort by increasing the number of commuted days by a day a week, so this week the target is 3.

Using the gf's spesh sirrus that I customized a bit last summer, and last weekend, treated myself to a new, fancy, road bike. Fine, but I can't really use it to commute, too fancy, too expensive, and not really suited for the job.

My gf will want her bike back, at some stage, to do her bit of commuting.

So, despite just splashing 2k on a roadie, I've started looking at buying a commuter on the old cycle to work scheme.
Please, tell me it's not wrong and it's just the N=N+1 rule!

(and on a side note, any advice on what I should be looking for would be useful, considering I want drops, and paniers, or at least guards...)

iain_j

Yes, it's the N=N+1 rule.

No, it's not wrong.

kelsen

2 bikes and you're feeling guilty already? Pah, at one point I had 5 in a 1 bedroom apartment!

Stuey01

holybinch wrote:

new, fancy, road bike. Fine, but I can't really use it to commute, too fancy, too expensive, and not really suited for the job.

Err, why not? loads on here commuting on fancy pants roadies, if you've got somewhere to lock it up securely why not enjoy your best bike everyday?

holybinch

Well you hit the nail on the head on this one... at the moment i have to lock it outside.
No chance I leave my beloved perfecta out in the cold and the rain, at the mercy of any t**t to nick it!

Aguila

Everyone needs a commute bike and a posh/summer/dry bike.

The commuter you are describing is the condor fratello, google it.

Condor do cyclescheme, it'll do panniers and has guards.

the_hundredth_idiot

I think you want an N+1 bike for two reasons:
1) Use it in really vile weather so not a problem (from the PoV of trashing the bike) if you fall off and for when the components need replacing. Replacing, basic Shimano chain and cassette will be a lot less than replacing, say, Ultegra bits.
2) There are times when you want to ride somewhere (say the pub after work) with no secure parking. That's the day when you take the "commuter" rather than the Sunday best bike.
3) N bikes is not enough (just like N reasons appear not to have been enough).

I think we'd need a bit more information about your commute before we can start giving our overly opinionated, "I chose best" advice. Oh, and your budget - are you going to spend* £250 or £1,000?

* Already too late to turn back, we can tell your mind is set on another bike.

holybinch

Aguila and The Hundredth Idiot:

Yup, ideally, my roadie is for that: dry road, sportive, training, anything, but not getting around town in crappy weather, with crappy drivers and crappy roads.
Plus the fact that it (heaven forbid) could get stolen.
I'm not saying I will never commute on it.
But only in very good conditions (ie: dry)

My commute: Ealing Broadway to St Paul's. Any weather, crap roads (especially around Acton), just over 10 miles.
Budget: from 500 to 1k on c2w. I think that we are limited to halford's vouchers though...
If not C2W, I think it will have to be the Ribble Audax for 500 squids...

Problem is to convince the gf that having 3 bikes in the living room is normal...

gaz545

I use my 2k road bike to commute to work, but then we have a secured basement with 150 other bikes in the winter and near 400/500 bikes in the summer. Doubt anyone would go for mine, as it doesn't look 2k.

holybinch

Gaz, summer and winter?

Maybe I'm just being a wuss, or maybe it's just because I've only got it for a few days, but I'm not sure it fits the purpose...

n.battison

Nothing wrong with N=N+1 rule!

Kieran_Burns

...must.... not.... comment.... :? Do not mention CX......



So you come onto the commuting forum, known for its frothing mouth bike porn perves and ask about justifying another bike????

That's like asking a woman if it's okay to buy another pair of shoes.... 8)

Bikequin

Aguila wrote:

Everyone needs a commute bike and a posh/summer/dry bike.

The commuter you are describing is the condor fratello, google it.

Condor do cyclescheme, it'll do panniers and has guards.

+1 for the condor fratello - IMHO the ultimate commuter.

gaz545

holybinch wrote:

Gaz, summer and winter?

Maybe I'm just being a wuss, or maybe it's just because I've only got it for a few days, but I'm not sure it fits the purpose...

Only done half a winter on it, none of the icey stuff with salt on the ground.. just as long as you clean the frame down (so it looks great) and keep the chain clean and well lubed there is nothing wrong with using it in the winter.

Parts will wear down 'quicker' but your still getting good miles out of it.

gaz545

holybinch wrote:

Gaz, summer and winter?

Maybe I'm just being a wuss, or maybe it's just because I've only got it for a few days, but I'm not sure it fits the purpose...

Only done half a winter on it, none of the icey stuff with salt on the ground.. just as long as you clean the frame down (so it looks great) and keep the chain clean and well lubed there is nothing wrong with using it in the winter.

Parts will wear down 'quicker' but your still getting good miles out of it.

holybinch

Oooh the fratello really looks the doggy's danglies!
GF yesterday: "anyway, I KNOW you're going to get it, so why do you even debate it?"
What can I say?

spen666

kelsen wrote:

2 bikes and you're feeling guilty already? Pah, at one point I had 5 in a 1 bedroom apartment!

I'm presuming the others were stored at your girlfriends / parents homes

holybinch

Right, had an update on the C2W.
It will have to be through Halfords, so it rules out Ribble or Planet X.
And the limit is the 1k mark.

I guess my main choices are now:
Condor Fratello
Kona Jake the Snake
Boardman Pro CX

The boardman being pretty new, it's quite hard to get any kind of feedback on it, but the other 2 are proven performers.

I guess it boils down to personal choice (and a quote from Condor for the Fratello)

Anything that could help me make a choice?

hells

I have the jake the snake, it is my main commuting steed and does the job fine, I also go offroad into the woods on it and the performance has been good there too. After loads of punctures on the road (none yet off road) possibly due to the ridiculous amounts of road works going on atm, I have changed the stock cx tyres to marathon pluses for commuting use. It has rack mounts which is a ++ for me for commuting. The only bad thing is the brakes, they are poo but you will get this on all non disc brake CX bikes cantis are just rubbish particularily in the wet. It has been used all winter including all the ice and snow bits and it hasnt worn out too bad atall, it also performed great with the stock knobblies in the snow and ice.

Aguila

holybinch wrote:

Right, had an update on the C2W.
It will have to be through Halfords, so it rules out Ribble or Planet X.
And the limit is the 1k mark.

I guess my main choices are now:
Condor Fratello
Kona Jake the Snake
Boardman Pro CX

The boardman being pretty new, it's quite hard to get any kind of feedback on it, but the other 2 are proven performers.

I guess it boils down to personal choice (and a quote from Condor for the Fratello)

Anything that could help me make a choice?

Unless you are planning to use it off road I cant see the point of a CX bike. The fratello has guards and has mounts for a rack so is plenty tough/versatile enough. Also likely to be quicker than the others.

MrBlond

I've had no problems (apart from the occasional 2 wheel drift) stopping with cantis on my commute bike (viner CX with Conti Touring tyres) all through the winter.

Think the same ones (Tektro CR720) are on the boardman, which looks great to me...

holybinch

Well, that was the possibility of going on tow path and forrest roads with the gf which appealed to me.
And the cape, I have to say.

Kieran_Burns

the_hundredth_idiot

Get the Fratello if you'll only use it on roads. Halfords sell them (or, at least, some of the fancier BikeHut's do). You might not get such a wide range of options as with buying direct from Condor (e.g. groupset, wheels, ...) but you'll save the extra Condor charge to take the Halfords' vouchers.

holybinch

Another factor to take into account as well, what FCN difference would it make?!

holybinch

Seems I'll be joining the caped perverts.
After some discussion, the possibility of going offroad with the bike appeals too.
So Jake the Snake it will be

FeynmanC

holybinch wrote:

GF yesterday: "anyway, I KNOW you're going to get it, so why do you even debate it?"

Oooh, she sounds like a keeper!

holybinch

For those interested, the new Condor range for 2010:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/condorcycl ... 768252168/