hack bike - suggestions

jds_1981

Investigating a new road bike as a hack bike (yes, eBay is an option but in reality there aren't really road bikes going for the ~£200 range). Would be for use when raining or leaving locked up in random places when I go out in London.
I've seen the vikings and raleigh. Was interested by the Raleigh pursuit but at 5ft 7 don't think either of the frames would fit me.
Any suggestions - would like mudguards + pannier mounting points.

Thanks.

willy b

I'd get a Second Hand Ribble Audax. I picked mine up, bar the wheels for £200.

Full bikes on Ebay seem to go for around the £300 range, and there are often loads about!

jds_1981

Thanks for the suggestion. Think you got a good deal - just did a search on ebay & there are currently a few about but over £300 with reserve not met..
Will keep my eye out for a bit longer.

roger_merriman

Well tesco's does some cheap roadies

http://www.tesco.com/direct/sports-leisure/racing-bikes/cat3373989.cat?catId=4294960260

I personally for a hack bike would look around 2nd hand shops for hybrids/mtb/shoppers they get sold sub £50 and should survive being locked outside stations etc.

raymondo60

I bought a new Vitus V1 29er from Chain Reaction for £299.99. The 26" version was £279.99. Single speed Mountain Bike/Urban Assault Vehicle. ally frame, steel fork, not a Quick Release in sight and very 'low-key' looks. Its the only bike I ever leave chained up anywhere and so far (fingers crossed here!) so good!

jds_1981

Thanks for the suggestions.

I'm keen on a road bike as will be used for my extended, potentially hilly commute when it's raining.
I'll have a good look over all of the links this weekend.

gabriel959

you can get a decent frame and forks from wiggle for £85 and do a decent cheap build around that.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/evil-bikes-resi ... fork-2010/

Twostage

roger merriman wrote:

Well tesco's does some cheap roadies

http://www.tesco.com/direct/sports-leisure/racing-bikes/cat3373989.cat?catId=4294960260

I personally for a hack bike would look around 2nd hand shops for hybrids/mtb/shoppers they get sold sub £50 and should survive being locked outside stations etc.

I like the product details of the vertigo picadilly. Particularly the bit about the brakes : -
"...includes front and rear caliper brakes with Promax levers to bring you to a rapid stop if a car pulls out in front of you without spotting you." Seems a good reason to have them :roll:

jds_1981

gabriel959 wrote:

you can get a decent frame and forks from wiggle for £85 and do a decent cheap build around that.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/evil-bikes-resi ... fork-2010/

That's only single speed, but has led me to the ribble site.

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/road-t ... IBBFRAW220
+ forks = ~150 + headset = ~180, already have wheels, then could grab a few things off ebay & wouldn't increase the price too much I guess.

jds_1981

Stops being quite so hacky then though

shouldbeinbed

jds_1981 wrote:

Investigating a new road bike as a hack bike (yes, eBay is an option but in reality there aren't really road bikes going for the ~£200 range). Would be for use when raining or leaving locked up in random places when I go out in London.
I've seen the vikings and raleigh. Was interested by the Raleigh pursuit but at 5ft 7 don't think either of the frames would fit me.
Any suggestions - would like mudguards + pannier mounting points.

Thanks.

do you work in somewhere big enough to have a company intranet - ours has a sales/wanted section and bikes come up all the time. I put a wanted ad on a couple of years ago for a road bike project and was amazed at the offers of decent bits of kit that people simply wanted out of their sheds and garages. no CAAD's or Pinarellos but plenty of instantly rideable bikes.

otherwise why not get a new bottom of the range decathlon model. cheap as chips, guaranteed and better than the price tag might suggest.

Drfabulous0

Freecycle, local tip, gumtree or wanted ad in the corner shop.

woodnut

shouldbeinbed wrote:

otherwise why not get a new bottom of the range decathlon model. cheap as chips, guaranteed and better than the price tag might suggest.

This

jds_1981

woodnut wrote:

shouldbeinbed wrote:

otherwise why not get a new bottom of the range decathlon model. cheap as chips, guaranteed and better than the price tag might suggest.

This

I had been considering the triban 3. It's £300 though and from the info above I could probably put together a ribble framed bike for similar to less but a lot more faff.
Lots of choices

iPete

Must be plenty of cheap single speeds in that price bracket. If you look second hand a charge plug should be very easy to come by or Specialized Langster. Then there are less bits to go wrong! A cheap road bike is asking for trouble.

Highly recommend this for a lock + cable for city riding as well..

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... _langId_-1