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Best Commuter bikes?

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  • January 4, 2015 at 5:42 pm #22958
    fpharry

    Hi Everyone,

    I’m looking to get myself a commuter bike (ie road/hybrid) through the C2W scheme and would really appreciate some advice.

    I’ve done a lot of research but as a relative bike novice, I’ve become a bit lost. Can’t see the spokes for the wheels, you could say.

    I will do a 20-mile round journey approx 3 times a week for most of the year (including winter, ice permitting). The route is generally on-road, but with a couple of dirt tracks that do a good job of covering the underside of the bike in mud during wet weather. Pannier rack and mudguards are essential.

    I could go for something up to the £1000 mark, but I’m primarily looking for something that’s good value. So if I can spend a lot less and still get something that will do the job for many years, is good to ride, is durable, and requires little maintenance, then I’d be delighted.

    If it’s useful to know, I’ve been riding a Raleigh steel frame bike for the past few years, which has served me well. (Bought for about £150 five years ago with little upkeep since required).

    A few bikes I’ve seen that appear to be options (all towards the upper end of the price bracket) include:

    GT Grade Alloy 105

    Whyte Dorset

    Boardman Hybrid Team

    Trek Soho 4.0

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  • January 5, 2015 at 10:28 am #825219
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    arfa

    If your primary use is
    If your primary use is commuting, I would strongly lean in favour of disc brakes for durability and avoiding trashing your rims. The benefits are particularly noticeable during periods of wet weather

    January 5, 2015 at 9:47 am #825217
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    Manchestercyclist

    i’ve ridden to work (10miles
    i’ve ridden to work (10miles each way) using a face high spec bike, a single speed, and a fixie. the fixie was best of those simply because it was cheap to maintain and there’s less to go wrong en route.

    But best of all was my 1985 Raleigh Royale 5 speed, really cheap to fix, reliable, and most importantly comfortable. I’d stick with what you’ve got mate.

    If you want to spend money, get yourself something fancy for sundays.

    January 5, 2015 at 7:23 am #825215
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    Argos74

    Boardman Team Hybrid ticks
    Boardman Team Hybrid ticks all the boxes for a fast urban commuter that can double up for medium length rides at the weekend (I have one). Hoy Shizuoka was alongside it at top of the list for buying considerations along with other bikes around the same price bracket and specification – £700-800, quick, carbon forks, disc brakes.

    For a faster, more suburban or rural commute, I’d shift over to drops – Arkose (had one of those once too) is fun and rock solid, especially with a new pair of tyres. GT Grade and Whyte Dorset would be up there too if I didn’t like the muddy stuff so much.

    January 4, 2015 at 11:01 pm #825213
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    Jack Osbourne snr

    I have a Boardman Team Hybrid
    I have a Boardman Team Hybrid that did my commute through Glasgow for two years. Great bike for commuting. Fast for a hybrid, not bad at climbing (I believe it now comes with a lower bottom gear) very stable and a good load carrier. As another poster said, the stock tyres are worth replacing quickly… I ride 32mm marathon supremes which you can get from bike-discount.de for £45 the pair. Your off road section will dictate what you should use though.

    The spec on the Boardman is, in my opinion, unrivalled at the pricepoint. One criticism though is the Microshift front mech… It might last a few months, maybe many, before it goes out of shape, but I’d be tempted to swap it immediately for an Ultegra or 105 FD which you can get for around 20 quid from the likes of CRC.

    After a crash back in March I put it into semi retirement for icy days, ready to go with marathon winter spiked tyres fitted.

    I now ride a Boardman CX TEAM on my daily commute… Also a great commuter and basically a drop bar version of the hybrid.

    The Hybrid is much better value for money though.

    January 4, 2015 at 10:03 pm #825211
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    fpharry

    Thanks for all these
    Thanks for all these suggestions! More welcome, of course… 🙂

    January 4, 2015 at 7:11 pm #825209
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    runskiprun

    Pinnacle Arkose ticks all the
    Pinnacle Arkose ticks all the boxes, good all round set up. it was my gateway bike!

    January 4, 2015 at 7:04 pm #825207
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    trikeman

    Hi, I have a Boardman Team
    Hi, I have a Boardman Team Hybrid 2014 (had the Pro before this one, not much difference for £300) and as long as you ditch the tyres and fit a set of GP 4 seasons/Gaitors you will have a cracking commuter. Great gearset and a really comfortable ride.
    Beware the Zaffiro’s, unless you enjoy wet weather body boarding. :”(

    Hope it helps.

    Trikeman. 😉

    January 4, 2015 at 6:47 pm #825205
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    Tin Pony

    Having recently researched a
    Having recently researched a few brands for my wife’s bike. I was very impressed with Whyte as a brand. I liked there take on styling and componemtry. However you maybe best sticking with steel as this is clearly what you like (5years) have a look at Ridgeback tour Rrp £600 sale price £400 they also do the same bike in Reynolds 520 about £150 more. Happy bike hunting. http://www.tinpony.co.uk/shop/?category=Sale+items

    January 4, 2015 at 6:32 pm #825203
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    fpharry

    Thanks for the comments. To
    Thanks for the comments. To address a couple of them:

    My commute has a few reasonably big hills (nothing too extreme).

    The only serious cycling I do is the commute, so I’m keen to use the C2W scheme for that – or indeed to just buy a second hand bike without the scheme (unless there’s a clever way to use it for second hand bikes?). In other words, I’m not in the position to need more than one bike – though still time to get addicted!

    January 4, 2015 at 6:17 pm #825201
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    Leodis

    I opted for a cheap 2nd hand
    I opted for a cheap 2nd hand 2010 boardman road comp for £300 for commuting on, I got sick of watching the damage done by salt water and the hassle of washing down the bike post winter drenching. That said n+1 maybe kinesis 4s disc in the autumn for year round riding if they plonk full hydr breaks on.

    January 4, 2015 at 5:48 pm #825199
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    Flying Scot

    How flat is your route?
    As
    How flat is your route?

    As commuting ruins drive trains, if you can get away with a single speed or a hub gear, it’s the way to go.

    Personally, I would modify your Raleigh and use that, buy a nice weekender with your C2W.

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