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commuting road bike

by jamesdrum
Thu, Oct 09, 2014 12:57
14

Hi all, I have been commuting to work for the past month doing around 100 miles a week on a pass me down hybrid Claud butler. I have been looking into getting a road bike for commuting to make my life a little easier plus the fact that the bike I've got needs some money spending on it.

What I want from the bike is something that will take a rack and full mudguards, lighter and faster than my current bike. I am self employed so can't go down the cycle to work scheme and have been thinking of going second hand to get more bike for my money. I'm looking to spend a maximum of 400.

I've been into Evans and they suggested their own brand Pinnacle, I understand that they would try and sell them to you first but looking at the spec and component's, I believe that they offer good value for money. Their dolomite range have lugs to take a rack, fittings for mudguards and can take 28 tyres. So to me they seem like a good option. Others I have looked at are the Specialised secteur, Ribble and Pearson.
From looking at many bikes I seem to be quite limited as to what I can get. I almost need what most have as their winter training bike.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

If you're new please join in and if you have questions pop them below and the forum regulars will answer as best we can.

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14 comments

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daffyavfc | 10 years ago
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Hi

I've been searching for the same but around the £500 mark and came up with the following bikes on sale.

Vitus Zenum for £499 at chain reaction cycles
Felt F85 for £499 at wiggle
I do however like the planet x RT58 for £599.

Anymore folks?

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Shanefutcher | 10 years ago
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Merlin pr7 at £299 nothing comes close.i have a single speed/fixie edinburgh track bike I picked up for £260 in last year sale.fairly flat 10mile commute takes me 27mins and thats not at full gas

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jamesdrum | 10 years ago
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Thanks robert. I've already got all the accessories. Does anyone know the main differences between the 7005 and the 7005 CX. I know the CX can take wider tyres which I like but what about geometry wise?

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Simon E | 10 years ago
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I'm surprised you found Tiagra much better than Sora, I suspect that's the setup in the shop. There's nothing wrong with the 9 speed groupset or even the £460 Dolomite 2's 8 speed Claris gearing. The Pinnacle bikes have pedals so you only need to add SKS or Tortec mudguards (£30). For SPDs get M520s from absolutecycles on ebay.

Compact chainset is ideal. There's no disadvantage to a 12-28 cassette, the higher the second number the lower the bottom gear.

Standard spokes are ideal. Bladed spokes are chosen by people who have been fooled into thinking it makes them faster. Clincher just means normal tyres as opposed to tubulars that are glued on the rim.

I've never heard of "Yaw Nitro" tyres, I would definitely replace with Lithion 2.

Have you factored in a good lock, decent lights, jacket, trousers/leggings, winter gloves, overshoes?

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robertoegg | 10 years ago
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I got a btwin triban 3 for £299 and then put a year's worth of commuting on it at 30 miles a day. Highly recommended. I'm now using my old fuji classic fixed again now the old legs are in a good enough condition again :o) The fuji was £300 also.

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jamesdrum | 10 years ago
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Hi again. I've had a serious think and may buy new. I had a play around on ribbles bike builder and can get a good spec bike for 650. I have also taken a pinnacle dolomite 4 and a trek 1.2 (I think) for a ride. Tiagra is so much smoother than sora so I definately want a tiagra groupset or better.

The dolomite and Ribble cost pretty much the same by the time I add the pedals and mudguards. I much prefer the Ribble though and have a few questions.

Are there any upgrades that I should look at getting? I added a Tiagra double groupset. Do I go double or triple and compact or standard? Also the cassette, the standard is 11-25. I don't have a clue what it means so any advice on this would be great. I've also added r501 wheelset. They do a standard spoke a bladed spoke and a bladed clincher. What's the difference?

Thanks!

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Bedfordshire Clanger replied to jamesdrum | 10 years ago
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Hi James,

A double chainset will have two rings (the big cogs by the pedals) the biggest will have 52 or 53 teeth an the small one will have 39 teeth. A compact chainset has 50 teeth on the big ring and 34 on the small ring. If you go for a triple it will have three rings likely to be something like 50-40-30 teeth. The 11-25 cassette means the biggest sprocket has 25 teeth and the smallest has 11 teeth. Your choice will depend on where you live and how fast you go. You're unlikely to need a standard double unless you're racing and unlikely to need a triple unless you live in Wales, the Lakes or Highlands. The chances are that a compact double with a 12-27 cassette will cover just about any eventuality. The rule is that if you need easy gears for going up hill pick a small gear for the front and a big one at the back. If you are aiming for the hour record, go for a big ring at the front and a tiny cog at the back.

Hope this helps,

Clanger

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jamesdrum | 10 years ago
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Other than ebay and gumtree where else can I look for used bikes?

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IngloriousLou replied to jamesdrum | 10 years ago
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jamesdrum wrote:

Other than ebay and gumtree where else can I look for used bikes?

Cycling club facebook groups? My club FB page has regular adverts for kit that is being moved on.

There are also a few 'Facebay Cycling' groups where ads are posted.

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OldRidgeback replied to IngloriousLou | 10 years ago
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IngloriousLou wrote:
jamesdrum wrote:

Other than ebay and gumtree where else can I look for used bikes?

Cycling club facebook groups? My club FB page has regular adverts for kit that is being moved on.

There are also a few 'Facebay Cycling' groups where ads are posted.

+1 - a lot of people in the BMX Facebook clubs post bikes for sale. It's generally a good way to get a decent secondhand bike from a source you'll have a reasonable amount of trust in. Even if the person isn't someone you know yourself, someone you know will be able to vouch for them. This means you can be sure from the start that the bike isn't stolen and you can also get a personal reference to the seller.

Kids in particular grow out of bikes or often sponsored riders will be trading in kit that's still perfectly good. There's often a flurry of activity at the end of a season as people trade up to a new ride and I expect the same is true for just about every type of cycling. Several people in my club have bought bikes from adverts on Facebook posted by people from other clubs (some distance away in some instances) this way. No one has ended up with a bike that turned out to be an overpriced wreck.

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alotronic | 10 years ago
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I have bought every bike second hand in the last 15 years second hand (about 10 at last count). Can work but you really need to be happy doing your own fixes and knowing when things really need to be replaced. If you are not a confident basic mechanic then it will be a false economy. Having said that you can get some nice deals BUT you have to patient and wait, which might not suit you. I would only buy off yacf.co.uk, bikeradar or CTC myself.

Bikes have come a looooong way in the last few years - £400 is def at the low end but if you choose carefully and are prepared to be a generation behind the cutting edge then there is no reason why not. To my eye the Merlins look good. Merlin are a good wee brand (tiwan sourced of course but they have a good eye).

They are selling off the 'maven' with Shimanos lowest 'proper' groupset (Sora) Al frameset and a carbon fork, down from 650 to 400 (but no guard or rack mounts) : http://www.merlincycles.com/merlin-maven-road-bike-55803.html

Note that the cheaper £299 one has rear guards and rack mounts but the forks don't *seem* to have mudguard eyes.

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jamesdrum | 10 years ago
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Thanks, what about going second hand. Getting something that is basically new? I'd be able to get much more bike for my money. What would you reccomend. Also any tips on buying second hand?

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JinjaNinja | 10 years ago
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The B'Twin triban range from Decathlon consistantly get good reviews from users, not just advertising selling websites and publications! The 500SE is currently £349.99 (http://road.cc/content/review/116333-btwin-triban-500-se-road-bike) and the 300 £279.99. Both would fit your needs. Also just released is the Merlin PR7 http://road.cc/content/news/131472-just-new-merlin-cycles-pr7-costing-ju... for under £300.

As previous post says you don't need to spend loads to get a decent bike....

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Simon E | 10 years ago
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Pinnacle seem good value. The Dolomite Four was reviewed in CTC's mag a couple of years ago:
http://www.ctc.org.uk/publication/cycle-magazine/cycle-magazine-december...

A mate has a Specialized Secteur and IMO it is not good value (new, at least) and it wouldn't be my first choice for a rack'n'guards commuter. I'd discount the Giant Defy too, despite it being a great bike otherwise.

Carrera Virtuoso at Halfords is £400, a decent bikes for the money, though the Vanquish is £30 with carbon fork. Not sure about clearance for mudguards. Boardman Sport is probably a better bike for £450, see the review at http://road.cc/87462

Have you looked at Edinburgh Bicycle Co-Op? They also sell good value own brand bikes and gear.

You don't need to spend loads to get a good bike, leave that to the Mamils.

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