Good for the commute (and maybe more)?

swelsbyuk
swelsbyuk Posts: 421
edited June 2012 in Road buying advice
Moving jobs in a couple of months and new firm will be only 7 miles away but with no free parking. Figure now's the time to start cycling to and from work. Was going to just buy a cheap and cheerful road bike, rather than using my beloved MTB. However, I saw this in the CRC newsletter and I'm a sucker for a bargain. Is it a bargain?

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=70370

Comments

  • thistle_
    thistle_ Posts: 7,218
    Personally I think it might be a bit nice for commuting. Would you mind if it gets filthy and/or scratched?
  • swelsbyuk
    swelsbyuk Posts: 421
    OK, I take your point. Maybe a £350 Halfords special for a 14 mile round-trip-commute may be a more sensible way of spening my money?
  • chris_bass
    chris_bass Posts: 4,913
    isnt it quite a bit of a jump from that link to £350 halfords ones?

    if you can afford it why not spend a bit more and have a more pleasant ride into work?!
    www.conjunctivitis.com - a site for sore eyes
  • swelsbyuk
    swelsbyuk Posts: 421
    Any suggestions in the 'spending a little bit more' category?
  • sungod
    sungod Posts: 17,414
    if you know your size, get a secondhand one
    my bike - faster than god's and twice as shiny
  • gabriel959
    gabriel959 Posts: 4,227
    It is indeed a nice bike but I wouldn't use it for commuting. That is more like a sunday best bike with possibilities for upgrading.

    For commuting I would get a sensible bike.
    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 Ultegra
  • swelsbyuk
    swelsbyuk Posts: 421
    Problem with secondhand is I wouldn't know what I am looking for. At least with buying new I can get some advice on here (hopefully) and get something suitable at a reasonable price.
  • chris_bass
    chris_bass Posts: 4,913
    i'd think whats important for you to make your commute enjoyable otherwise you'll find it a chore and soon it will quickly lose its appeal and you'll be driving to work again before you know it!

    personally i'd go for something with decent gears that can take some abuse (rain, snow, grit etc), something a bit more relaxed riding position unless you are going to be racing to work?! wouldnt worry too much about wheels as commuting in the wet or winter will quickly ruin good wheels. again would be overly concerned with weight.

    i'd look for something around the £600 mark with at least tiagra (although be very lucky to get 105 at that price!) and a more sportive geometry, thats just me though!
    www.conjunctivitis.com - a site for sore eyes
  • swelsbyuk
    swelsbyuk Posts: 421
    How does this look?

    http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.p ... 7b0s6p3332
  • eyebee
    eyebee Posts: 257
    You can get some good deals both new and second hand on a Giant defy. Choose whichever model suits your requirements/how much you want to spend and you'll have a comfortable commuter and weekend bike should you wish. Also the option of mudguards/rack if you use it year round.
  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    What kind of terrain is it ? If it's not hilly - fixed or singlespeed makes maintenance a doddle.
    Do you have secure parking ? If not then Don't get anything flash.
    Will you be riding all year round ? If so get one with full mudguards.

    How much are the blue ribble winter bikes ?
  • alidaf
    alidaf Posts: 147
    Get thee to a local bike shop and see what they have. You'll be able to sit on one and maybe even take it for a spin around the block to see how it feels. I second the Giant Defy. It is a good bike but try and get a 2010 rather than 2011 if you can. The gear is a little better but the frame is identical. The 2012 models are different and can't vouch for them but I can't imagine them being any worse - look a bit sexier actually. I got mine as an ex demo. It's a 2011 and I use it for commuting and sportives but over the last year I've come to really dislike the Sora gears.
  • snoopsmydogg
    snoopsmydogg Posts: 1,110
    cougie wrote:
    What kind of terrain is it ? If it's not hilly - fixed or singlespeed makes maintenance a doddle.
    Do you have secure parking ? If not then Don't get anything flash.
    Will you be riding all year round ? If so get one with full mudguards.

    How much are the blue ribble winter bikes ?

    start at around £580 in the summer specials
  • MichaelW
    MichaelW Posts: 2,164
    If you are going to buy a bike for commuting, you may as well make it useful for the commute you will be doing. Get a roadbike with adequate tyre clearance, mudguard and rack eyelets and gears suitable for the terrain.
    If you buy a racebike, you will have to spoil its fine lines with fugly clip-on plasticky bits that never work as well as proper, full length bolt-on mudguards.

    You may be happy getting a dirt stripe and carrying everything in a backpack. Eyelets don't prevent you from doing this, they just give you other option.

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