Advice for a road/commuting beginner!?

I'm commuting on a Giant Defy 2 at the moment - I believe these can be had for around £500 now (RRP was £720). It has carbon forks and you can fit mudguards if required. Its plenty quick enough too.

or you could probably find the Defy 1 for near £700 and that has the Tiagra groupset which is a step up.


Or there's plenty of other stuff around - I'd recommend arranging a few test rides at your LBS to see what suits you best.

Another person who has seen the light!! Welcome.

As mentioned above £700 will get you a very decent commuting/general use bike with a good enough spec to make sure it spends more time on the road than in a workshop. In terms of a bike to speed up your journey it's up to you. Road bikes are very good as they're fast and light, however, I wouldn't discount getting a flat barred road bike (hybrid in essence) as there are a number of good ones out there. I've never really got on with the shifting on drop handlebars so got a much maligned boardman (hybrid team) which is much faster than the basic hybrid I had (7 mph more on the top end). Even with disc brakes and probably 2kgs + on some road bikes I find they're drafting me, and not the other way around - but then I am a speed demon

In terms of improving your fitness and general times the more you get used to the course of your 12 mile route and commute the more you'll get used to effecient gearing, and more importantly your limits. This will help you as the next time you can push yourself that bit more, and hopefully before you know it your times will be tumbling. I personally find a bike computer is good to give basic readouts so you can compare rides.

Tbh, just enjoy yourself and go at a pace that suits you, but one that also feels like you're getting a good workout.

You could get a decent second hand bike for £4-500 and then spend the rest on cycling kit (lights, new pump, repair kit, clothes). The type of bike you should get really depends on your commute.

When I was in London my rockhopper with slicks was fine (26 mile round trip commute) becuase it was very light, agile, well built so able to handle jumping off kerbs, riding through potholes etc and the sit up postion was great for riding in traffic. But I'm now commuting in the cotswolds (45 miles round trip commute and its awesome) and after maybe 500 miles I've switched to a 2010 Trek 1.5 (£400 second hand). Best thing I ever did - my normal commute time now matches my PB on the rockhopper and it's just more fun.

I've spent £8 on a new top from Lidl (to replace the flappy jacket I used to wear), £16 on a trip computer, £10 on drink bottle and stash bottle, £16 on a mini pump that will fit the road bikes schneider valves, £70 on new front lights, batteries and charger (see the bike light discussions - I've got some monster Xm-l hand torches adapted for use on bike handle bars), £5 on some reflective tape. I will get a new rear light, some road shoes and spds of some sort, spoke reflectors and a track pump soon but saving the money at the moment.

If I wehere you I'd just do the commute with your MTB and slicks, see how it goes and go for the road bike if your route will allow, otherwise splash out on second hand boardman hybrid .. and get some kit.

I'd have to second the advice on saving a bit for extras. For example I've found proper cycling shoes with SPD pedals be be a massive improvement. Obviously lights are going to be important too. A CO2 tyre inflator is handy also.