Noob! Need some help, please!

Jaybey

Hi,

My name is Jason and I have become a bike-a-holic!

I have decided that I am going to start commuting to work! I'm super excited about it BUT it is very daunting. I will be using the Cycle Scheme so can have up to £1000 to spend on a bike and extras. (would like a bike at around £600ish)

My commute is 12 miles each way, on normal roads. I have started to ride in half way on my old scrappy MTB and although it is great riding instead of getting public transport, the bike itself isn't doing me any favours! The gears, wheels, seat and suspension do not help at all.

So, I have looked into getting a hybrid bike that I can ride to work on and occasionally ride around the neighborhood. The bike that has caught my eye is the Specialized Sirrus Elite 2012.

http://www.cyclesurgery.com/specialized ... duct/30009

This bike looks great to me, but being a noob I don't really know what I should be looking for. Is this more than what I will need or will I fall in love with it? Are there any other bike which I should take a look at before making any final decisions? Is it best to go for a hybrid?

I am VERY keen to get out there and start commuting so all your help and suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Oh and what other bits and bobs will I need for this kind of journey? ( Clothing and the likes )

Thanks Guy's and Gal's.

Kieran_Burns

You are at a crossroads.... one road leads to educating yourself and buying the bike that you choose

Another path leads to you picking the bike recommended on here even though you will doubt what we say.

Another leads to n+1

The last goes back home and sadness....

8)

Most on here will ask the following:

What commute do you do (roads / surface / distance / hills / options / location (urban / suburban / rural) )
What kit do you have at present?
How much of your own money are you willing / do you have to spend?
What are the facilities like where you work? (showers / bike sheds / security / storage)

Then they'll all recommend their favourite bike and tell you buying a hybrid is a dumb idea.

Personally I would go with a road bike / drop bar. Not a flat bar. Been there, seen it, done it. Moved on. As have MANY others.

As to my favourite. I love the CX bike for commuting as it offers a strong frame with mount points for mudguards (you WILL need these) and a rack, which I also prefer.

Hybrids are okay. Everything about a hybrid is okay. You know: nice.

but as my Mum always says: Nice is not a nice word.

Incidentally you'll be spending as much on the kit as you do on the bike. Just saying

Jaybey

Thanks for the advice. As for the information that I left out. My commute will be from Norwood Green to Paddington, (12.3 miles). Just going to go straight down the Uxbridge Road, which is a busy road but should be pretty clear at the time I would be leaving for work, and cut up by Lancaster Gate into Paddington. I will only be riding on the road and there are a few pot holes on the way, as well as a few hills but nothing to major. At work we do have shower facilities and a bike cage to look up in which you need your swipe card to get into. So hopefully it will be nice and secure.

As for the equipment I do have right now, a crap MTB, a helmet, and a lock! As I said a true NOOB. I am hoping to start fresh and will be adding as I go along so to speak.

Is it a good idea to go straight into a road bike?
Does it make any difference?
What essentials should I be getting? (clothing, rucksacks, etc)

Thanks again.

Kieran_Burns

Yes.
YES
Lights, lycra, locks

Meh. Get the above and buy stuff as you find you need it. Don't get a 23c ultra lightweight road bike but something that can be used as a commuting hack - it needs to have the space to fit mudguards (honestly, trust me on this) 28c is realistically the minimum tyre width you should be looking at.

Don't get hung up on keeping dry - despite the appalling weather recently it's not THAT common to get soaked on a ride, keep warm and comfortable, gloves are a huge help and the pad on the arse of a pair of lycra shorts / bibs are well worth it.

Oh - and I'd say the base tricross is the bike you should look at.

To be honest, the bike and the commute is only half the fun. You should get yourself organised

London_Falcon

Jason

Kieran's advice is well worth listening too. I bought the Sirrus Sport just under a year ago. It was a massive improvement on anything I have ever ridden (not saying much) and since then I have done the 33 miles round trip commute once a week with an occasional second effort chucked in. The Sirrus Elite would be absolutely fine for your commute.

BUT, if there is any risk what-so-ever that you'll progress from commuting to the occasional weekend ride and on towards full-on addiction you'd be better to go for the road/cyclo-cross bike now. Or at least test ride one properly to see how you get on.

Other kit - I'd say start with what you have and then add bit by bit. A decent waterproof jacket should be pretty high on the list though.

cookeeemonster

London_Falcon wrote:

Jason

Kieran's advice is well worth listening too. I bought the Sirrus Sport just under a year ago. It was a massive improvement on anything I have ever ridden (not saying much) and since then I have done the 33 miles round trip commute once a week with an occasional second effort chucked in. The Sirrus Elite would be absolutely fine for your commute.

BUT, if there is any risk what-so-ever that you'll progress from commuting to the occasional weekend ride and on towards full-on addiction you'd be better to go for the road/cyclo-cross bike now. Or at least test ride one properly to see how you get on.

Other kit - I'd say start with what you have and then add bit by bit. A decent waterproof jacket should be pretty high on the list though.

my story is near identical except my commute is very slightly longer and I do it 3 or 4 times a week now (though I've only been doing it for 3 1/2 months)...but I've come to the conclusion I need a road bike (with mudguards - you really, really need these!). The sirrus is an excellent bike though - never let me down, but I'd like something a bit faster really.

if you can pick up a cheap hybrid second hand and use that every day for a few months you'd get a real good idea of what you want, then you could use the cycle to work scheme to get something good.

But if you're impatient like me you'll just dive in

Test ride a few before you make a decision. Also for summer rain I just ride in my normal cycling gear - unless you buy high end waterproofs you'll be sweating like a bar steward and they'll be pointless. For colder weather you'll need the proper gear - you can buy these with the cycle to work scheme I think so it'll spread the cost for you (get the good stuff!)

Gizmo_

My commute is a very similar length, and I've got a road bike to do it on. Did I need one: no, strictly speaking. Did I want one? Yes. Do I utterly love it? Yes.

Get some padded shorts, they make the world of difference - either baggy or roadie-Lycra. I've got some tights that I wear over the top of the Lycra pants. If you're on-road all the way then I'd strongly disagree with the recommendation that you need fat tyres, but the CX bikes (Tricross, Boardman CX, CAADX) are very popular. Drop bars are great just for the variety of positions. Do buy gloves, they stop your hands getting numb.

Soon you'll be wondering why you didn't do it years ago.

Kieran_Burns

Gizmo_ wrote:

My commute is a very similar length, and I've got a road bike to do it on. Did I need one: no, strictly speaking. Did I want one? Yes. Do I utterly love it? Yes.

Get some padded shorts, they make the world of difference - either baggy or roadie-Lycra. I've got some tights that I wear over the top of the Lycra pants. If you're on-road all the way then I'd strongly disagree with the recommendation that you need fat tyres, but the CX bikes (Tricross, Boardman CX, CAADX) are very popular. Drop bars are great just for the variety of positions. Do buy gloves, they stop your hands getting numb.

Soon you'll be wondering why you didn't do it years ago.

I didn't say fat - just not skinny.... :P

Jaybey

Thanks for all the replies guys! All the advise is really helping me to get my self a little more organized and ready for the road.

I have had a look at Cycle Surgery, (hopefully they are a good retailer) and put a few things that I think will be just what I need to get started. They are:

Specialized Tactic Helmet
Altura Progel Mitt
Cateye EL135/LD150 Lightset
Osprey Escapist 20 Bag
Specialized Sonoma Shoe 2010
Endura Zyme Men's Baggy Shorts
Altura Airstream Stretch Men's Lycra Shorts ( CAN I WEAR THESE UNDER NORMAL SHORTS? )

Are there any other bits that I should be looking for?
Does this cover the basics?
What do you guys think?

MichaelW

The Sirrus Elite is fine for 2x12 miles. It has room for fatter tyres but can take thin ones if you prefer. The stock 28mm are a good size. Fit some full-length, bolt-on mudguards (SKS chromoplastic). Consider fitting a rear luggage rack and using a (single) pannier. You should load the bike, not the rider. If you want to use the bike for shopping trips you will need 2 big panniers.
Get a decent lock, a spare inner tube, puncture repair kit.
Gloves may help prevent numb hands but their real purpose is to save your skin when you slide across the road. Hand injuries are horrible and not worth risking.
Carry a spare rear blinky and keep an extra spare inner tube at work (next to your spare undies).

Jaybey

I wont really be using it for anything other than commuting to work. The bag will only have the tool kit, a change of clothes and other small bits really. Is it still not a good idea to get a rucksack. I think i would prefer one but if it helps not to have on then I could be persuaded. I do have a lock on my bike at the moment, Its gold secure level 10. It was the best I could see in halfords at the time.

I was also looking at the Specialized Sirrus Sport 2012. This is cheaper but is it worth it?

Jcrossland

Just from my perspective i only thought i would be commuting via bike...8 months later i bought a proper road bike after getting the bug. Never looked back since but wish i had spent the Ride to Work money the first time on a proper road bike instead of a Steel Specialized Langster single speed (although i still love riding it). Have a long hard think about whether you think you will want to do charity rides or sportives in the future as it is a very addictive (and expensive) hobby!

London_Falcon

I have the Sirrus Sport 2011. They're great. But you may very well end up wishing you had bought a road bike.

I couldn't be bothered with panniers so have kept with the backpack option and have never found it an issue.

Jaybey

Thanks for all the replies and advice guys. I think I have deceided which bike I am going to go for, The Spesh Sirrus Sport 2012. Looks and sounds good to me. I hope I dont regret it.

Jaybey

http://www.cyclesurgery.com/trek-1.1-c- ... duct/43795

Can anybody give me some opinions on this road bike?

After being told it may be worth getting a road bike instead of a hybrid, I have been looking about.

Thanks Guys.