shall i buy a road bike
Comments
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alfablue wrote:So 1 hour per week, maybe 48 hours per year, so over a working lifetime maybe 80 days of your life saved, surely no other justification to buy a road bike is necessary
That's 80 days cycling time you've lost! Sounds almost as though you don't like pedallingFaster than a tent.......0 -
I'd definitely get a flat bar commuter bike if simply to keep your MTB nice for the trails.
I have to admit to being a complete bike whore and so have a cube curve for my 12 ish mile commute, a trek road bike for sunny days and a giant anthem for muddy fun.
I love riding bikes on and off road and even more so when I have the right tool for the jobWhether you're a king or a little street sweeper, sooner or later you'll dance with the reaper.
Cube Curve 2009
Giant Anthem X4
FCN=60 -
kona_matt wrote:thanks everyone, as I suspected, road bike it is. will have to get down to halfords and have a proper look at the boardman (the £800 one).
If I were you, I'd either stretch to the £1000 team carbon or save some cash and get the comp, I cant really see the point of the Team Alu. The drivertrain parts are more expensive to replace that the 9sp on the comp and the Alu frame is quite harsh, belive me.
The Team carbon got a really good review in C+ and on here I'd like one.Saracen Tenet 3 - 2015 - Dead - Replaced with a Hack Frame
Voodoo Bizango - 2014 - Dead - Hit by a car
Vitus Sentier VRS - 20170 -
A road bike won't save much time but it saves massively on fatigue allowing you to ride longer.
My yearly mileage practically doubled going from a 26" wheel hybrid to a road bike.
If its primarily for a commute you need to think about how you are going to carry luggage(ruck sack / rack) + do you want/need mud guards.0 -
Underscore wrote:kona_matt wrote:I would reckon on doing 12.5 miles in 40 minutes or less (hopefully) on my road bike - though it does depend on how rolling those rolling hills are. Add 5 minutes or a bit under on my 700c hybrid.
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Depends upon traffic lights as well; I do my 13.5miles in 42 - 45 mins on the CX and 45 - 50 on the hybrid but I could easily shave 5 - 10mins off these times if there were no traffic lights0 -
Rolf F wrote:alfablue wrote:So 1 hour per week, maybe 48 hours per year, so over a working lifetime maybe 80 days of your life saved, surely no other justification to buy a road bike is necessary
That's 80 days cycling time you've lost! Sounds almost as though you don't like pedalling
oh, maybe that doesn't work . . .0 -
prawny wrote:If I were you, I'd either stretch to the £1000 team carbon or save some cash and get the comp, I cant really see the point of the Team Alu. The drivertrain parts are more expensive to replace that the 9sp on the comp and the Alu frame is quite harsh, belive me.
The Team carbon got a really good review in C+ and on here I'd like one.
Hmmmm, that throws a spanner in the works, I thought I had already decided on which bike! I was going to go for the full carbon but I've got a £1000 limit on the CTW scheme and wanted to spend at least £100 of that on some accessories (pedals, maybe some new shoes). the team alu has a carbon fork.
another decision to make! thanks thoughFCN 9 - 2008 Kona Cinder Cone
FCN 9 - Custom Build On-One 456
FCN 5 - 2010 Boardman Team Carbon0 -
gbsahne wrote:Depends upon traffic lights as well; I do my 13.5miles in 42 - 45 mins on the CX and 45 - 50 on the hybrid but I could easily shave 5 - 10mins off these times if there were no traffic lights
zero traffic lights on my route, mostly country roads with a couple of large roundabouts to contend with.FCN 9 - 2008 Kona Cinder Cone
FCN 9 - Custom Build On-One 456
FCN 5 - 2010 Boardman Team Carbon0 -
Don't Halfords give you a 10% accessories voucher?0
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Another yes from someone who considers themselves to be a MTB'er first. For all the reasons above.
I was going to open a small can of worms and suggest you get a hybrid, but looking at your description of your route to & from work, go for the roadie But wearing lycra is not compulsory...."I spent most of my money on birds, booze and fast cars: the rest of it I just squandered." [George Best]0 -
kona_matt wrote:prawny wrote:If I were you, I'd either stretch to the £1000 team carbon or save some cash and get the comp, I cant really see the point of the Team Alu. The drivertrain parts are more expensive to replace that the 9sp on the comp and the Alu frame is quite harsh, belive me.
The Team carbon got a really good review in C+ and on here I'd like one.
Hmmmm, that throws a spanner in the works, I thought I had already decided on which bike! I was going to go for the full carbon but I've got a £1000 limit on the CTW scheme and wanted to spend at least £100 of that on some accessories (pedals, maybe some new shoes). the team alu has a carbon fork.
another decision to make! thanks though
The comp has got a carbon fork too, albeit with an alloy steerer, not sure that this makes a fat lot of difference though. Pedals wise I use MTB spds on both my bikes saved me buying a new pair of shoes straight away. TBH as well most of your commuting essentials you can save more than you'd save on the scheme by not getting them from halfords. I had trouble spending £500 when I got mine, including the bike.Saracen Tenet 3 - 2015 - Dead - Replaced with a Hack Frame
Voodoo Bizango - 2014 - Dead - Hit by a car
Vitus Sentier VRS - 20170 -
Aidy wrote:UndercoverElephant wrote:Il Principe wrote:kona_matt wrote:prawny wrote:bought loads of lycra and a helmet without a peak, enter here at your peril. :twisted:
that is something i must resist!!! i'll be sticking with the baggies ans trail lid!
That's what everyone says, but you'll see the light eventually, especially if you start undertaking longer rides at weekends etc... lycra gets worn for good reason.
+1. I too have succumbed to Lycra. I held out for the full eight months though before going skin-tight. :oops:
I'm still in baggies. A year on.
I'm half-way there - Rapha baggies for roadies.0 -
Stevo 666 wrote:Another yes from someone who considers themselves to be a MTB'er first. For all the reasons above.
I was going to open a small can of worms and suggest you get a hybrid, but looking at your description of your route to & from work, go for the roadie But wearing lycra is not compulsory....
I like my hybrid as it's burlier than my road bike and so can take potholes better, bigger tyres so a little bit more comfortable and if it gets dinged in the work bike racks I don't get quite as murderous
I also don't have to feel like scum for putting luggage on it.
Also the flat bars mean it's easier to see what's going on in traffic and it cost loads less than my road bike or the MTB
W.r.t Cycle to work I got my anthem X4 on that as my LBS was willing to let me top up the £1000Whether you're a king or a little street sweeper, sooner or later you'll dance with the reaper.
Cube Curve 2009
Giant Anthem X4
FCN=60 -
t0pc4t wrote:Stevo 666 wrote:I like my hybrid as it's burlier than my road bike and so can take potholes better, bigger tyres so a little bit more comfortable and if it gets dinged in the work bike racks I don't get quite as murderous
I also don't have to feel like scum for putting luggage on it.
Also the flat bars mean it's easier to see what's going on in traffic and it cost loads less than my road bike or the MTB"I spent most of my money on birds, booze and fast cars: the rest of it I just squandered." [George Best]0 -
Road bikes are really the only choice. I don't even know why on earth they manufacture other kinds of bikes.x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x
Commuting / Winter rides - Jamis Renegade Expert
Pootling / Offroad - All-City Macho Man Disc
Fast rides Cannondale SuperSix Ultegra0 -
i'm definately going road over hybrid. now just need to decide which boardman road bike.FCN 9 - 2008 Kona Cinder Cone
FCN 9 - Custom Build On-One 456
FCN 5 - 2010 Boardman Team Carbon0 -
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Good, does it have to be a Boardman though?x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x
Commuting / Winter rides - Jamis Renegade Expert
Pootling / Offroad - All-City Macho Man Disc
Fast rides Cannondale SuperSix Ultegra0 -
gabriel959 wrote:Good, does it have to be a Boardman though?
Nowt wrong with boardmans laddie. Esp if you've got a grand to spend and you want something FAST!Saracen Tenet 3 - 2015 - Dead - Replaced with a Hack Frame
Voodoo Bizango - 2014 - Dead - Hit by a car
Vitus Sentier VRS - 20170 -
gabriel959 wrote:Road bikes are really the only choice. I don't even know why on earth they manufacture other kinds of bikes.
It's a known fact that the very first bicycle ever invented was a road bike, but the person who invented it was stoned to death for making a contraption that flaunted the horns of the devil. It was destroyed and replaced by a machine which was called an ordinary to describe its non-radical and god-fearing design. It later became known as the Penny Farthing. This machine was modified and refined and is the predecessor to what we know today as the hybrid. True story.0 -
gabriel959 wrote:Good, does it have to be a Boardman though?
it kinda does really, my company only runs the cycle to work scheme through Halfords and i've only got a max of £1000 to spend which limits my options. I know Halfords can source bikes from manufacturers they don't normally stock but you can wait a while for them to sort all that out and i don't really want to wait.FCN 9 - 2008 Kona Cinder Cone
FCN 9 - Custom Build On-One 456
FCN 5 - 2010 Boardman Team Carbon0 -
I'm always quite taken with the boardmans when I am in HalfordsWhether you're a king or a little street sweeper, sooner or later you'll dance with the reaper.
Cube Curve 2009
Giant Anthem X4
FCN=60 -
t0pc4t wrote:I'm always quite taken with the boardmans when I am in Halfords
Good god man, what are you doing in there in the first place?- 2023 Vielo V+1
- 2022 Canyon Aeroad CFR
- 2020 Canyon Ultimate CF SLX
- Strava
- On the Strand
- Crown Stables
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Il Principe wrote:t0pc4t wrote:I'm always quite taken with the boardmans when I am in Halfords
Good god man, what are you doing in there in the first place?
@the OP - if its got to be a Boardman and £1k max, go for the Team Carbon - no brainer IMO."I spent most of my money on birds, booze and fast cars: the rest of it I just squandered." [George Best]0 -
Stevo 666 wrote:Il Principe wrote:t0pc4t wrote:I'm always quite taken with the boardmans when I am in Halfords
Good god man, what are you doing in there in the first place?
@the OP - if its got to be a Boardman and £1k max, go for the Team Carbon - no brainer IMO.
reminding myself how lucky I am to have a local bike shop and not have to rely on Halfords.Whether you're a king or a little street sweeper, sooner or later you'll dance with the reaper.
Cube Curve 2009
Giant Anthem X4
FCN=60 -
Stevo 666 wrote:@the OP - if its got to be a Boardman and £1k max, go for the Team Carbon - no brainer IMO.
yeah, that's my current thinking. i've had a look at the figures, the company will only charge me £870 for £1000 value of bike and I save £270 per year in tax. net monthly cost is going to be about £50 and i'll probably save £35 per month in fuel. I'll also be able to claim £250 per year from the company for cycling to work which pretty much covers the cost! i'm ignoring running costs for the bike and praying that things don't break!FCN 9 - 2008 Kona Cinder Cone
FCN 9 - Custom Build On-One 456
FCN 5 - 2010 Boardman Team Carbon0 -
kona_matt wrote:I'll probably save £35 per month in fuel.
I reckon you'll probably save more than that if you're going both ways (i.e. 25 miles total) 5 days a week.. I make 125 miles to be just shy of 14 quid per week in fuel..Sometimes parts break. Sometimes you crash. Sometimes it’s your fault.0 -
kona_matt wrote:Stevo 666 wrote:@the OP - if its got to be a Boardman and £1k max, go for the Team Carbon - no brainer IMO.
yeah, that's my current thinking. i've had a look at the figures, the company will only charge me £870 for £1000 value of bike and I save £270 per year in tax. net monthly cost is going to be about £50 and i'll probably save £35 per month in fuel. I'll also be able to claim £250 per year from the company for cycling to work which pretty much covers the cost! i'm ignoring running costs for the bike and praying that things don't break!
That's pretty good. There is a 20p per mile claim you can get from the government (most employers can do it for you) but apparently it's for work<>work travel (eg one site to another) you can't claim for home<>work.
I was claiming miles everyday then work and I realised it was wrong, had to pay it back as it was home<>work0