Advice for a brand-newbie please!

TTDoc

Evening all. I'm going to take the plunge and start cycling to work. I do a litlte bit of cycling, but like many it's just a old, cheap mountain bike for the local roads with the kids.

So, my plan is to drive some way to work, park at a mates house and cycle the reminaing 12 miles. I know I'll have to build up for awhile but I think I can do it. The roads are all fast B-roads with a few hills. I popped into a couple of local independent bike shops today and came home more confused than ever.

Which would people recommend: A Raleigh Pioneer (the sportier one at £440) or a Specialize Tricross (£750). I don't mind spending the extra if it is worth it. I want to go relatively fast but need a rack and panniers, mud guards etc... Is it just a waste of time putting those on bike like the Tricross?

Help!

Thanks.

I appreciate any advice.

EKE_38BPM

TTDoc wrote:

Evening all. I'm going to take the plunge and start cycling to work. I do a litlte bit of cycling, but like many it's just a old, cheap mountain bike for the local roads with the kids.

So, my plan is to drive some way to work, park at a mates house and cycle the reminaing 12 miles. I know I'll have to build up for awhile but I think I can do it. The roads are all fast B-roads with a few hills. I popped into a couple of local independent bike shops today and came home more confused than ever.

Which would people recommend: A Raleigh Pioneer (the sportier one at £440) or a Specialize Tricross (£750). I don't mind spending the extra if it is worth it. I want to go relatively fast but need a rack and panniers, mud guards etc... Is it just a waste of time putting those on bike like the Tricross?

Help!

Thanks.

I appreciate any advice.

Welcome.

The most common advice is to ride on whatever bike you have for a while before buying a bike. The reason is that after commuting for a while the short comings on the bike will become evident and you will have more of an idea what you really want when it comes to buying a bike.
The Tricross gets very good reviews from some of the people over on Chat, especially Kieran_Burns, but the downside is that it is heavy (well, heavier than the average roadbike). The upside is that it has offroad capability and mounting points for mudguards and panniers.
I've heard nothing, good or bad, about the Raleigh so I can't say anything about it. Have a look at the reviews.

Kieran has a video of him doing some light offroading here and if you have a look at his youtube channel you'll be able to find videos of him scalping roadies.
You'll be spending a fair amount of time in the saddle, so I would go for the most comfortable bike and I would go for drop handlebars to hide from the wind.

Don't forget to have fun. It may be utility cycling, but that doesn't mean it can't be fun too!

MichaelW

Mudguards/rack/panniers will fit on the tricross and a lot of other CX style bikes. Its a sensible style for 2x12mile commute.
The Boardman CX bikes use disc brakes which have better foul weather performance at the expense of a little extra weight.
CX tyres are soft and knobbly for use on mud. You are better off replacing them with a fast commuter tyre, maybe 28mm wide.

nigglenoo

Or get a touring bike with appropriate tyres, mudguards and rack already fitted The cross bikes are a bit of a fashion thing at the moment IMO, the touring bikes are really slightly better for your purpose and not affected by hype pushing the price up. For your commute one of the reasonably priced (£500-£600) alloy framed ones like the Revolution Country Traveller, Dawes Vantage or Claud Butler Regent would be fine, but feel free to spend more on something with a steel frame if you envisage getting out on the bike at other times for longer rides.

http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/ebwPNLq ... 155c018343

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/daw ... e-ec027652

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/cla ... e-ec027603

whitestar1

Why not go to your closest Decathlon store? They will help you with a decision on what to buy, you get to ride the bike and everything you need is right there. They will fit the stuff for you and fit the bike to you - which is most important! Check this link out - http://www.decathlon.co.uk/EN/triban-5-172072740/

They have been a great help to me.