Tough, durable (but fast!) road bike for London commuting??
El Selb
Posts: 137
When my Trek 1.2 was stolen a few months ago I was going to immediately replace it with a Specialized Allez Sport (if not the new 1.2) until I found out I couldn't get another on the company scheme till December.
Since then I've been using my old mountain bike and once I got used to it, have actually been quite enjoying it. Haven't had to worry about the crappy London roads - manhole covers, endless potholes, speed humps etc, on my 3 mile commute since my suspension takes the hit.
Not it's rapidly coming round to the time I can buy a bike again, i'm now thinking of getting something a bit more durable. Ideally I don't want to get a hybrid though - unless anyone can suggest a very fast, good looking one?!
Keen for something with drop bars that is tough and can take a bit of punishment.
Any suggestions??
Since then I've been using my old mountain bike and once I got used to it, have actually been quite enjoying it. Haven't had to worry about the crappy London roads - manhole covers, endless potholes, speed humps etc, on my 3 mile commute since my suspension takes the hit.
Not it's rapidly coming round to the time I can buy a bike again, i'm now thinking of getting something a bit more durable. Ideally I don't want to get a hybrid though - unless anyone can suggest a very fast, good looking one?!
Keen for something with drop bars that is tough and can take a bit of punishment.
Any suggestions??
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Cross bike with chunky tyres maybe ?0
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Is that something I could do some long-distance touring on now and then?
I know I'm probably asking for about 3 different types of bike in one here...0 -
I have today bought a 2009 Specialized Tricross Sport. IMHO it covers all bases: Touring? Yes; lugs for panniers and mudguards. Commute? Yes; robust cx type stuff, clearance for big tyres etc.
Club rides? Yes; light enough and quick enough to keep up with the lycra lads on a Sunday spin.
Off-road? No problem....
Hills? It's a triple....
Racing? Errr don't be ridiculous, nothing is THAT versatile."I had righteous got my wheel backmost from a fettlin' at the LBS and was hunt transport to equitation it. As it was Refrigerated in the AM......"0 -
Really don't think you need a CX bike for London roads, but if you are going to do some light off roading it might be an idea. If you want a fast, strong, do-it-all, drop-bar bike for ordinary crappy-surfaced roads then I'd suggest you go for a steel-framed road bike. And the best value option out there right now is the Genesis Equilibrium.0
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When I said hills, I was talking about going UP, apparently the brakes on these are absolutely DIRE, I live in Essex so we only have one hill and can ride around it if we so choose. And I do usually.wakou wrote:I have today bought a 2009 Specialized Tricross Sport. IMHO it covers all bases: Touring? Yes; lugs for panniers and mudguards. Commute? Yes; robust cx type stuff, clearance for big tyres etc.
Club rides? Yes; light enough and quick enough to keep up with the lycra lads on a Sunday spin.
Off-road? No problem....
Hills? It's a triple....
Racing? Errr don't be ridiculous, nothing is THAT versatile."I had righteous got my wheel backmost from a fettlin' at the LBS and was hunt transport to equitation it. As it was Refrigerated in the AM......"0 -
Nah you don't really need a CX bike for commuting in London. They are more versatile as others have said but you also said you want a fast bike. Also, unless you have access to a secured bike parking facility, I'd stay away from Specialized, Trek and Giant, those brands are thug magnets!
BTW, I quite like the Condor Italia (alu) and the Fratello (steel), they both take mudguards and racks in case you want to do some light touring.0 -
The Boardman CX is quite popular amongst us commuters. I use one as my winter commuter because:
- I can fit Marathon Winter 35c tyres (smallest studded ice tyre) - maybe not what the OP needs but a 35c or similar absorbs the bumps well. 25c will fit too.
- I can fit proper mudguards (SKS Cronoplastics - light but robust) which stop my shoes getting soaked
- it has drops - helps in the wind
- it has disc brakes that are vastly superior to road bike rim brakes - especially in the wet - and aren't grinding your rims away in the salt and crap on the roads.
- it's reasonably quick (about 1mph slower on average than my all-carbon roadie)
- broad gearing (32 on the rear) means it can be a relaxed ride especially with "Friday legs" or heavy touring panniers (for which it has lugs)
Personally, I think it's pretty much the ideal year-round commuter and certainly the most versatile bike I've come across. It's also great value with the various discounts that can be found (knocking up to 20% off the price). Downsides (or hurdles to overcome) are the ( in my experience) idiots at Halfords (though order on-line to avoid this) and some issues with BB30 bearings being shipped "dry" - again, it seems that the guys shipping the on-line orders direct from Boardman are aware of this. Once sorted properly, it's not an issue.
Anyhow, there's a growing cadre of commuters on the Commuting Chat forum using these.ROAD < Scott Foil HMX Di2, Volagi Liscio Di2, Jamis Renegade Elite Di2, Cube Reaction Race > ROUGH0 -
Hm, I read a lot about MTBs with slicks scalping a lot of roadies on SCR...0
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saintdracula wrote:Hm, I read a lot about MTBs with slicks scalping a lot of roadies on SCR...
But that's hardly because an MTB on slicks is faster than a road bike. Same rider on the two different bikes is going to be significantly different - believe me, I've done it, and my MTB (Cube Reaction Race) was twice the price of my roadie at the time (Focus Variado). There's some unfit people on road bikes out there...ROAD < Scott Foil HMX Di2, Volagi Liscio Di2, Jamis Renegade Elite Di2, Cube Reaction Race > ROUGH0 -
I modified a hardtail aluminium MTB bike (slicks, steerer tube cut as low as it would go, front suspension as rigid as it would go, bigger chainrings). That was a great bike, probably just as fast as the Trek 1000 (less flex) and a MUCH smoother ride.
Until it got nicked off a train (and I'd like to say thanks to the met/ transport police for not giving a fuk).
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Thanks all, some very interesting stuff to think about here.
Cross bikes – I haven't heard about these before, but from your posts and a little googling it looks like this is something I could change the tyres on and go off-road with if I wanted, correct? Is that the advantage of these bikes? I wouldn't ever actually be going off road with it, but I guess this would allow me to ride off a curb onto the road, for example, right? The Specialized Tricross Sport looks pretty sweet, but maybe not quite what I need.
From what you're saying it does sound as though a steel-framed road bike could be the way to go The Genesis Equilibrium does look good, although maybe a bit out of my price range. If I could find somewhere offering it for 700-800 on the same c2w scheme as my company it could be a winner though. Also, a friend I met a while ago had a Kona Hony Tonk, think that was a similar sort of steel-framed road bike. Looked nice too....probably not as good as the Genesis I imagine. Oh and that Condor Fratello is another one that could come into the equation then!
I think I can write the Boardman off straight away as my company isn't tied in with the Halfords c2w scheme.
Just out of interest – what sort of bike can you happily ride down off a curb with, now and then? I'd never do it when I had my Trek 1.2, for example...could you do that with one of the steel-framed numbers? I guess you wouldn't want to...but if needs be? Riding up a curb would be a big no-no I imagine..0 -
You can do it with decent 'sportive' road bikes (Scott Cr1, Spesh Roubaix, cannondale synapse). I have a Cr1 and have no problem riding it off curbs. So there's another option.El Selb wrote:Just out of interest – what sort of bike can you happily ride down off a curb with, now and then?0 -
Why are you planning on riding up and down kerbs ?
I find my cycling is lots faster if I stay on the road.
Leave the pavement to the pedestrians ?0 -
There are lower specked Equilibriums available for less than a grand, I believe.
Any chance you could deal through Ribble? You could get a Campag equipped winter bike for well below a grand.
I'm kind of in your situation in that I commute into London and want something comfortable, fast and fun. I've used aluminium framed bikes before for the job and will never go back to them having tried steel. I've got a Fratello right now which is a lovely bike, but a little too relaxed for my tastes geometry wise, which is why I'm in the process of moving over to the Equilibrium (which is way cheaper). Actually, if you could deal through De Ver in Norbury I know they could make you a custom build Equilibrium for less than a grand.0 -
I've only done it a few times this year (in the same place). Cars parked all over so you cannot filter and I made sure there were no pedestrians about, so I do not see a problem (I waited at the red light even though I was going left). It's a crap junction for cyclists, so I improvise. 8)cougie wrote:Why are you planning on riding up and down kerbs ?
I find my cycling is lots faster if I stay on the road.
Leave the pavement to the pedestrians ?0 -
Any bike can do kerbs if you can lift the wheels properly.
If you're just riding into the kerb then you'll probably be wanting more of an MTB width tyre.0 -
El Selb wrote:Is that something I could do some long-distance touring on now and then?
I know I'm probably asking for about 3 different types of bike in one here...
If you want to do some long distance touring then why don't you get umm a touring bike? Or a winter trainer/audax bike? They're built more solidly than a race or sportive machine.
How about the Ribble Audax - see their website. It's a fairly popular commute/winter trainer/tourer all round bike with mudguard and pannier eyes...
Out of interest, why do you think you need something "solid"? Unless you're carrying particularly heavy loads or are large yourself, most road bikes will happily cope with a few potholes and speed bumps. You mention that you like the suspension taking the hits, however no "fast looking" hybrid or CX bike will have suspension anyway....Do not write below this line. Office use only.0 -
http://www.condorcycles.com/2011-Range/ ... e.tpl.html
Seriously I would take a pootle over to Condor cycles on Gray's Inn Road, great service and a break form the norm of chain bike outlets that clog the city.
Anyway I too am a commuter in London, and have realised that I am ruining my both my MTB's so require a stronger faster machine hammer around.
After going into Condor cyckles on saturday, I was impressded with their passion, personal service and care on each bike sold, Iwill be looking at a new stead from them very soon. Probably the Fratello, in orange. HMMMmmmmmYou know your a Cyclist when a surgeon tells you you need a heart valve replacement and you ask if you have a choice between Presta and Schrader.0 -
Surely this is what you're looking for
http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/CBP ... ybrid-bike
Not normally a fan of the Planet X styling but I really like this
Any cyclocross is also a good choice0 -
thanks for all the excellent info and pointers again. Been a hectic few days and I don't have the time to read look up all the mentioned bikes as yet - but looking forward to doing a bit more research on these and building up a shortlist.
Other instances where going up/down curbs cans be handy is for when there are roadworks that need to be avoided, or narrow the road. Plus if you lock your bike up a distance away from the road. Not that I should need to justify it really.
Anyway, TBC no doubt!0 -
If I was heading down the CX route I would take a look at the Cotic X too as it comes with steel frame/carbon fork and would upgrade to the disc brake option (but not the Tektros they offer). Should be doable for less than a grand. I think Brixton Cycles deal in Cotic now.
Still no need for a CX bike for curb hopping and roadworks avoiding, though. As others have said, there are virtually no occasions when it is acceptable to ride on the pavement and on the rare times that it is, you can manoeuvre the most fragile of road bikes over a curb no problem at all without causing damage.
Only reason I can think of to go CX when riding London roads only is if you are commuting through the winter on icy roads, and even then, there are plenty of road bikes that will allow for bigger, knobblier tyres.0 -
Ok, December and the cycle to work scheme is finally open again at work and I'll be getting my new bike in the next couple of weeks.
Was in a shop today and the Specialized Secteur Sport at £800 caught my attention. I like this over the Allez Sport as it has the pannier rack holes and I guess the more relaxed riding position would be better for London commuting. But I'd never even heard of the Secteur until today - can anyone recommend them?
A bit reluctant to get a Specialized, but then they're popular for a reason. The guy in the bikeshop certainly spoke well of them.
That Planet X does look damn nice though I must admit!0 -
also starting to think a bit about a trek 1.5! But yeah any thoughts on the Secteur would be appreciated...0
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saintdracula wrote:Hm, I read a lot about MTBs with slicks scalping a lot of roadies on SCR...
I've scalped roadies in London on a small wheel Dahon folding bike but I wouldn't recommend one as a fast commuting bike. As Meanredspider says, that's down to the rider......Faster than a tent.......0 -
Is a Secteur Sport an old man's bike?0
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Think I'm going to buy a Cannondale Synapse (sora) tomoz. Seems to tick most of the boxes - and IMO looks a lot better than the spesh's. Good idea?0
