Commuter Bike Build ....

cwill

Looking for some advice on commuter bikes.

I have tried a stock HT MTB and a carbon road bike for commuting in the past and have found both not ideal, the problem is I like the geometry of the MTB and the ease of the road bike.

So, I have decided to look at getting or building a specific commuter bike, but am stumped as to what type of frame to base it on, has anyone built a commuter bike successfully on an MTB which didn't weigh a ton etc. My commute is urban and only about 10 miles each way.

Thanks

cwill

kenan

A light 29ER MTB frame would give you the geometry you are after. I'v got a On-One Scandal 29ER which rolls well on the road (with MTB tyres) and I'm sure would fly with slicks on. The weight of my 29ER is 10-11KG with a suspension fork and my road bike (Decathlon Triban 3) is about the same weight.

moarspeed

I don't think you can beat a "flat bar road bike" style of hybrid.....

desweller

CX innit. Or a medium/light touring bike. I've been looking at Kinesis and PX Uncle John (but the latter seems to be discontinued; they're running their stocks down I think).

cwill

Never considered a 29'er frame .... my only issue is at 5' 2", I find I am a little perched on top of some of the bigger bikes, but I might try a few samll 29'er frames

Kinesis and On One look nice ...... hmmmmm

redhanded

You could take a look at a build based upon a Cotic Roadrat as well.

http://www.cotic.co.uk/product/roadrat

I use one for my urban commute and love it.

supersonic

You need to look up the geo of the frame and replicate it. Once you have a list of frames, can take it from there.

MichaelW

At 5'2" you should avoid 700c wheels and go for 26" MTB. This allows the frame to be much more compact and will fit you better. There is little difference in the efficiency, given the same style of tyre.
The On One 456 Evo 2 is a nice, lightweight steel MTB frame available in 14". It has the threaded eyelets you need for all weather riding and luggage hauling and would make a fair Euro-touring bike to boot.
You will need a lightweight rigid fork, pref with disc brakes and mudguard eyelets. Disc brakes are great for all weather riding and allow you to experiment with other rim sizes such as 650c if you dare.
Some people build up MTBs with drop bars but the extra length may be an issue for you. For 10 miles, flats or one of the curvier style flats (On One Mary) will be ideal.

The Rookie

MichaelW wrote:

At 5'2" you should avoid 700c wheels and go for 26" MTB. This allows the frame to be much more compact and will fit you better. There is little difference in the efficiency, given the same style of tyre.
The On One 456 Evo 2 is a nice, lightweight steel MTB frame available in 14". It has the threaded eyelets you need for all weather riding and luggage hauling and would make a fair Euro-touring bike to boot.
You will need a lightweight rigid fork, pref with disc brakes and mudguard eyelets. Disc brakes are great for all weather riding and allow you to experiment with other rim sizes such as 650c if you dare.
Some people build up MTBs with drop bars but the extra length may be an issue for you. For 10 miles, flats or one of the curvier style flats (On One Mary) will be ideal.

Not sure I agree...

A 700c road tyre is no larger diameter than a 26" MTB tyre, many people of 5'2" ride 700c bikes no problems.

A 456 EVO is no way a light frame, it's ruddy heavy!

You need to decide on flat or drop bars and then the effective top tube length you need (shorter for drops as you run a longer stem generally and hold the bars ahead of the stem mounting point).

I run a home built Hybrid, it uses a Carrera Gryphon alloy frame (sub 2lb versus a 456 evo at circa 4lb) and prettly much all MTB finishing kit including 26" wheels (designed for 700c) with disc brakes with rigid forks, it runs no spacers and a flipped stem with flat bars to put hand height at a similar height to riding on the hoodz of a dropped bar roadie.

To summarise, decide on flat or drops, then decide on ETT then a frame that suites, an Audax or CX frame will be more relaxed than a proper roadie and have mudguard bosses if you want drops, otherwise i'd suggest a road biased hybrid frame (Marin Point Reyes was available down to 14") and finishing kit of choice.

MichaelW

A fat tyre 26" is the same diameter as a narrow 700c but with equivalent tyres such as a 700cx28mm and 26"x1.25" there is a useful difference. Whether framebuilders use that difference to tighten up the dimensions is a question.

cwill

CHeers for all the responses, lots to have a look at.

One thing I am sure of is it will definitely be flat bar, from there I need to look at the options, I didn't realise that the OD of a 700C is similar to the OD of a 26 x 1.2 MTB, which puts a converted MTB looking like a good option, but just need to look at weight and gearing ...

Wouldn't mind, I only sold a HT MTB 6 months ago as it wasn't getting any use as a MTB since I got a full suss ....

The Rookie

cwill wrote:

One thing I am sure of is it will definitely be flat bar, from there I need to look at the options, I didn't realise that the OD of a 700C is similar to the OD of a 26 x 1.2 MTB,

It's not, but it's simlar to a 26" MTB running about 2" tyres......

Frame wise there is little to choose between a road going hybrid and an MTB, the hybrid may use smaller diametertubes and be slightly more compact as well as a small amount lighter, but really there is little in it.