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Communting bike recommendations?

chrisjsmithchrisjsmith Posts: 280
edited October 2007 in Commuting chat
Is there anything out there which is suitable for 250 quid?

Only requirements are fairly light, pannier rack, chain guard, flip down stand, censored guards, enough room for an air horn, enough space in the frame for a lock/bottle, stops when you ask it and gears that don't pop the chain off every couple of miles.

Gears unimportant - 3 <-> 21 are ok as long as I can ride it fast AND up hills.

I've looked at a Dawes Colorado - seems to fit the requirements. Any opinions?

I'm after an old git bike so nothing too fancy please!

Currently riding my first bike (an Apollo - spit spit - FS 26) so *anything* would do better. I've destroyed it completely in a month.

Posts

  • AidocpAidocp Posts: 868
    edited October 2007
    For my commuting bike I opted for a Ridgeback, they have some competitively priced models and they seem to have a good reputation. I started looking at a speed (£229, with guards and rack) but opted for the slightly more expensive Velocity (£300).
    Road Bike
    Sirrus
    Commuter
  • GambatteGambatte Posts: 1,453
    Checkout Decathlon, don't bother with the website, go have a look.

    Well specced bikes at low cost and 5 year frame guarantee. My roady/racer £170, their £200 MTB got voted best and was such a good review they laminated it and stuck it to the bikes instore.
    Different review, but found this
    http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/mountain/product/rockrider-52-8964
  • chrisjsmithchrisjsmith Posts: 280
    Don't really want a MTB - want something road only if poss. About as hard as it gets for me is a bit of gravel on Nat Route 4 next to the Thames :(
  • GambatteGambatte Posts: 1,453
    http://www.decathlon.co.uk/EN/sport-2-16s-25268165/

    I've been commuting on this for the last few months, its shimano sora, with STi shifter/brake levers. So long as they've not changed the spec

    Couple of home piccies
    http://picasaweb.google.com/garryneedham/2007_1004
    http://picasaweb.google.com/garryneedham/Bike/photo#5081476756140984834
    A few things got added/changed, mainly the pedals.

    Their road selections a bit wider

    http://www.decathlon.co.uk/EN/road-racing-bikes-3963881/

    should be something takes your fancy?
  • PlaxPlax Posts: 33
    Currently riding my first bike (an Apollo - spit spit - FS 26) so *anything* would do better. I've destroyed it completely in a month.

    I am sooooo glad I'm not the only one that has wrecked an Apollo within a few months! I got an Apollo CX10 which is basically a hybrid. Nice bike for leisure riding but not up to the job for a daily commute, especially a hilly one.

    Along with the Colorado you could also look at the
    Dawes Discovery 201 EQ;
    http://www.evanscycles.com/product.jsp?style=71257
    Has mud guards, a stand and a rear carrier.

    Claud Butler Classic 2007 model going cheap here;
    http://www.evanscycles.com/product.jsp?style=71287
    the Odessey and Legend are next models up, Odessey is usually £250 and the Legend £300, but you can probably find the 2007 going cheap.

    The only thing I can say is that if you have a lot of steep hills, then you need to go with the bike which has the most gears. A fixed speed or 3 speed bike just wouldn't cut the mustard where I live.

    I have just impulse bought a GT Nomad Sport 2007.
    http://www.evanscycles.com/product.jsp?style=70236
    It hasn't arrived yet (I bought the last one from another site for £169.99), but it is bound to be better then the Apollo. I already have a pannier rack, mudguards, bottle holder etc that I bought for the Apollo (has same size tyres 700x38cc) which I'll transfer onto this one in due course. I'm really looking forward to it, hopefully by the time it arrives and next week comes I'll have got rid of this blasted chest infection!
  • GambatteGambatte Posts: 1,453
    Plax wrote:
    hopefully by the time it arrives and next week comes I'll have got rid of this blasted chest infection!

    Must be the time of year. Same thing here.
  • chrisjsmithchrisjsmith Posts: 280
    Plax wrote:
    I am sooooo glad I'm not the only one that has wrecked an Apollo within a few months! I got an Apollo CX10 which is basically a hybrid. Nice bike for leisure riding but not up to the job for a daily commute, especially a hilly one.

    Mine's not up to anything. It weighs a ton and the chain keeps coming off. Not only that, the front brakes fell apart the other day. That might just be the muppets at Halfords though. It's for the bin I think.
    Plax wrote:
    Along with the Colorado you could also look at the
    Dawes Discovery 201 EQ;
    http://www.evanscycles.com/product.jsp?style=71257
    Has mud guards, a stand and a rear carrier.

    Claud Butler Classic 2007 model going cheap here;
    http://www.evanscycles.com/product.jsp?style=71287
    the Odessey and Legend are next models up, Odessey is usually £250 and the Legend £300, but you can probably find the 2007 going cheap.

    The only thing I can say is that if you have a lot of steep hills, then you need to go with the bike which has the most gears. A fixed speed or 3 speed bike just wouldn't cut the mustard where I live.

    I have just impulse bought a GT Nomad Sport 2007.
    http://www.evanscycles.com/product.jsp?style=70236
    It hasn't arrived yet (I bought the last one from another site for £169.99), but it is bound to be better then the Apollo. I already have a pannier rack, mudguards, bottle holder etc that I bought for the Apollo (has same size tyres 700x38cc) which I'll transfer onto this one in due course. I'm really looking forward to it, hopefully by the time it arrives and next week comes I'll have got rid of this blasted chest infection!

    I've got laryngitis at the moment. Feels bacterial judging by the phlegm. That's what happens when you hit the busses for a couple of days (after busting my ankle landing on someone's front garden after a dog took a fancy to me).

    Thanks for the suggestions - will check them out in detail today.

    Any ideas how much EASIER riding one of those will be compared to the Apollo? The Apollo is a monster and weighs an absolute ton (~20.5kg) and I'm not exactly a fit person :P

    Please bear in mind I've only been riding a bike for about 2 months now!
  • DavidTQDavidTQ Posts: 943
    With your budget Id recommend looking at the second hand market, £250 would probably grab you a barely used Giant SCR, which is an ideal winter commute bike, its got the comfort frame, with carbon forks, its got the mounts for racks and guards, and its heck of good ride, you wouldnt believe how much lighter work it is cycling a bike like that than even a hybrid bike.

    I have a dawes 201 hybrid which is relatively light weight at 12.5kg, but the Giant is FAR easier to cycle at speed and up hills, and its more comfortable as well. I went for the Dawes as a cheap way to "try out" cycling but withing a few months found myself wanting to upgrade, Since getting the Giant scr 1 I havent found myself wanting to upgrade the bike in any major way, I was however amazed at the difference its made to both my commute times and ease of cycling. Until I got my road bike I was having to stretch after every ride so as to not be in agony the next day, that stopped the day after I got my road bike :D I no longer come home and collapse on the sofa again it was literally the first ride on the road bike that made the difference.

    Not all second hand bikes are bad news, Im trying to sell my dawes 201 (which I wouldnt recommend for someone who is already looking to upgrade a first bike - its a brilliant starter bike but if you are committed to cycling you want better) new price is £220 its seen maybe 500 miles its in first rate scratch free condition I couldnt move it for £100 so Im going to be lucky to get £75 for it, and it really is in no worse condition than one straight out of the showroom :(.
  • thesmellyonethesmellyone Posts: 44
    http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/ebwPNLq ... 910m005710

    http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/ebwPNLq ... 910m005728

    http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/ebwPNLq ... 910m002931

    all 3 bikes are fit for your purpose but be aware lights, mud guards, etc can top £100

    actually:
    http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/ebwPNLq ... 910m002949

    has a rack and mud guards already fitted. Hope that helps
  • jon208jon208 Posts: 335
    The bike I chose for my commuter was the Edinburgh Bike Co-ops own brand Revolution Courier Race. Does the job perfectly.

    Very simple bike, 8 gears - which is fine for the commute.

    I went for the Race version (roadie wheels) as my commute is mostly on smooth roads. Very fast bike and I'm very happy with it.

    It cost me £280, but I think the Race is more expensive than the 26" wheeled version (by about £30 or so)

    Get one, put some locking skewers on it and away you go. Fantastic fast bike.
  • John the MonkeyJohn the Monkey Posts: 37
    Gambatte wrote:
    http://www.decathlon.co.uk/EN/sport-2-16s-25268165/

    I've been commuting on this for the last few months, its shimano sora, with STi shifter/brake levers. So long as they've not changed the spec
    Prices are unbelievable for the spec really. Looking at them, I'm guessing there's no clearance for mudguards though?
  • daniel_bdaniel_b Posts: 9,059
    John the Monkey wrote:
    Gambatte wrote:
    http://www.decathlon.co.uk/EN/sport-2-16s-25268165/

    I've been commuting on this for the last few months, its shimano sora, with STi shifter/brake levers. So long as they've not changed the spec
    Prices are unbelievable for the spec really. Looking at them, I'm guessing there's no clearance for mudguards though?

    Check this site out for better specification details:

    http://www.btwincycle.com/EN/road-racing-bikes-9659050/
    Felt F70 05 (Turbo)
    Marin Palisades Trail 91 and 06
    Scott CR1 SL 12
    Cannondale Synapse Adventure 15 & 16 Di2
    Scott Foil 18
  • FixedweaselFixedweasel Posts: 47
    Could I suggest the Cotic Roadrat

    OK not that cheap, but build is good
  • GambatteGambatte Posts: 1,453
    John the Monkey wrote:
    Gambatte wrote:
    http://www.decathlon.co.uk/EN/sport-2-16s-25268165/

    I've been commuting on this for the last few months, its shimano sora, with STi shifter/brake levers. So long as they've not changed the spec
    Prices are unbelievable for the spec really. Looking at them, I'm guessing there's no clearance for mudguards though?

    I've got the Zefal version of the raceblades (Protektor) £17 the pair.........from decathlon
  • secretsamsecretsam Posts: 4,842
    My 2 penneth: Sirrus 2005 in VG nick, £200 off Fleabay with extras, lovely machine
    It's just a hill. Get over it.
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