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Need to start cycle-commuting – help!

  • This topic has 20 replies, 18 voices, and was last updated 13 years ago by giff77.
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  • June 6, 2013 at 1:12 pm #19021
    notfastenough

    Ok, so I’ve got a new contract that reduces my daily commute to just 8 miles each way. Helpfully, parking is £8 per day(!), so using the bike is definitely on the cards.

    However:
    I currently only have one bike.
    I have never ridden to work before.

    First thing’s first – the bike. I’ve got a carbon bike (think it was actually a Ribble originally, but stickered up differently by the shop) with SRAM Apex/Rival mix, Mavics and Speedplay pedals. If I ride this to work every day, then I figure that the Mavics will be taking quite a bit of abuse, and the speedplay cleats will wear out more quickly walking from the bike rack to the office etc. Plus, I like riding quickly and without mudguards/rack etc, so overall it doesn’t seem very suitable.

    So, I’m feeling a second bike coming on. However, budget is limited to about £1k at the moment, so either:

    Keep the current bike as it is, and buy something like a Genesis or Kinesis. I note the Croix de Fer is a couple of hundred over my budget. Also need to buy SPDs, shoes, rack and a smallish pannier.

    Or:

    Take off the Mavics, Speedplay, Fizik saddle, seatpost, Garmin mount etc. Replace with all the stock bits that came with the bike, put the lightweight plastic guards on (close clearances, no room for proper ones), buy SPDs, shoes, lightweight rack (the bike has no mounts – is this doable?) and use this as the commuter. I would then need to source a frame, groupset, bars and stem for under £1k including the bits added to the first bike. Plus, this would then be my ‘good’ bike, so I don’t know how achieveable this is.

    Oh, and if anyone is thinking of suggesting that I buy something of theirs, I’m 5″11 and usually ride a 56cm (give or take for odd frame dimensions)!

    Then as an aside, 8 miles doesn’t feel far enough to go to the trouble of putting lycra on (except maybe for taking a longer route home after work). Think I’d get away with just wearing work clothes with a hardshell jacket on?

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  • June 10, 2013 at 8:49 pm #740741
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    giff77

    Find yourself a steel frame
    Find yourself a steel frame that is single speed preferably fixed. Chuck on some guards ( full, not these crappy clip to seat post efforts) and a set of spd’s. You will then have a non shiney bike in the racks not looking for unsolicited attention. Keep the lycra and if it looks too posey a pair of baggy mountain bike shorts. Also means you don’t roll into work with wet trousers. The fixed will really help your training as well. I now use the fixed all year round and it is soo much more fun.

    June 10, 2013 at 3:23 pm #740739
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    notfastenough

    Loads of info to ponder over,
    Loads of info to ponder over, thanks for all the replies. I’ve just picked up a brochure for Genesis, but am having difficulty dragging myself aware from the awesome paint jobs on the volant/volare!

    Equilibrium looks ace for £899, but suspect it won’t take knobbly tyres.

    Wearing less seems like a winner as well.

    June 9, 2013 at 11:08 pm #740737
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    bashthebox

    Obviously as an LTD you
    Obviously as an LTD you couldn’t do the ride to work scheme, as Dave said.. unless you’re paying yourself a large wage and taking smaller dividends. I do wonder, though, if you can’t claim a bike as a legitimate expense? I know that as a sole trader I was allowed 20p per mile on a bike as a legitimate expense – 16 miles a day for 48 weeks a year makes….. hang on a sec… £768. Yep, you need to claim that. Not bad! I presume you can do this as an LTD too? I need to find out, I just went LTD myself.

    I’ve given up Lycra for the commute. As someone often working in new clients’ offices, I like to not show them my package on the first day. You really don’t need it for urban cycling either. I’m happy to wear cycle-specific jeans in cooler weather, and a pair of rapha commuter shorts when it’s warmer. I picked mine up in the sample sale, but brands like chapeau and vulpine do similar for less.

    June 9, 2013 at 9:11 pm #740735
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    putmebackonmybike

    There are plenty of racks
    There are plenty of racks available for bikes with no rack mount. I have a Blackburn EX1 on my 12 mile each way commute. Rock solid one year on (titanium frame).

    Definitely Lycra up although just 8 miles. Changing in and out is good mental prep for the roads. You don’t want to jump from desk to bike still thinking about an email or distracted.

    If you have a nearby laundrette option, you can rotate a selection of work clothes easily enough without having to faff about taking clothes to/from home.

    I put my bike maintenance and parts thru my business (one man limited co.).

    June 9, 2013 at 5:09 pm #740733
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    Cycle_Jim

    Just as a note, I think but
    Just as a note, I think but not sure – if your a contractor you could do it on expenses, at least this way you wouldn’t pay VAT? Not too sure though!

    June 7, 2013 at 11:25 am #740731
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    700c

    Have to say, I probably go
    Have to say, I probably go against the grain in commuting on my only (fast) bike, simply changing wheels and tyres for winter.

    I’m in full lycra, I get sweaty, no ‘guards, and when I’m feeling good I time trial it!

    Can’t afford n+1, get no pleasure in going slowly.

    This only works because I have showers at work and lockers where I can store clothes.

    8 miles is definitely worth getting into your gear for, and you have the option of extending your route on the way back. Mine’s only 10.5 miles each way if I go the most direct route.

    June 7, 2013 at 10:39 am #740729
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    Bedfordshire Clanger

    Mudguards are a good call. I
    Mudguards are a good call. I wouldn’t do without them on my commute. Regarding the C2W, have a word with your accountant. You may be able to get your company to buy the bike which would give you the same benefit as C2W without the effective HP agreement but without having to pay to transfer it either.

    June 7, 2013 at 9:48 am #740727
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    pashda

    I had similar situation last
    I had similar situation last year.
    bought a used cx bike, got some mudguards and some road tyres and good lights. Job done. Get used to riding a lot slower so you arent sweaty in the morning and no need to shower. Then cane it on the way home for a work out. I reckon a pair of mtb baggy shorts is best for summer and take trousers in a rucksack or panniers if you prefer.

    June 7, 2013 at 8:20 am #740725
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    farrell

    And never, ever,
    And never, ever, underestimate the kudos you can pick up by making it in when the really shit weather kicks in and all other transport inevitably grinds to a halt.

    If you have a desk at work, always maintain a supply of clean and dry boxers and socks in it.

    I personally have a full back up set of clothes – Jeans, trainers, t-shirt and jumper in my desk along with a towel.

    Oh, and when it does start hooping it down with rain sometimes the best thing to wear is as little as possible, you’ll be riding for under an hour so you can get away with short sleeve jersey and shorts. Bare skin dries quicker than any fabric.

    June 7, 2013 at 8:19 am #740723
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    dave atkinson

    there’s any number of
    there’s any number of disc-equipped crossers out there that would be an ideal second bike for you, i reckon. whyte, trek, boardman, pinnacle, marin, genesis, charge, merida, kinesis and more.

    C2W – if you’re a true freelancer (not paying PAYE) you can’t do it. If you have a limited company you’d need to pay yourself enough as wages that you’d be liable for the tax you’re attempting to recover through the scheme.

    June 7, 2013 at 8:13 am #740721
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    SideBurn

    If you are after light off
    If you are after light off road use then a cyclo-cross would make sense. I bought a Graham Weigh off E-bay, it has mounts for mudguards and panniers (having these makes sense after a while!). If you cannot bring it inside then do not have anything too Gucci ‘cos it could disappear. It took me a while to ride every day, initially I drove one way and cycled the other. I now ride every day, I do not think I could do this without mudguards. If you get picky about when and if you ride then you can get out of the habit. You can save a pile of money, get fitter and feel better whilst at work. But having a shower at work is the best part; not all employers are so enlightened.

    June 6, 2013 at 9:55 pm #740719
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    RuthF28

    I can’t recommend my Dawes
    I can’t recommend my Dawes tourer highly enough which I commute on – a triple (giving a good turn of speed downhill), drop handlebars, panniers and mudguards and room for lamps which you’ll need (USB rechargeable, nice and bright). Schwalbe tyres are nearly completely puncture-proof (did LeJog and the St David’s = Lowestoft East West on mine, not a single puncture on either trip). Also it’s heavy, so you’ll really appreciate the road bike when you swap back 🙂

    June 6, 2013 at 9:31 pm #740717
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    Stratman

    I’d also go for the second
    I’d also go for the second bike and the bike clothes. My ride is c19 miles, and I do it regularly but not frequently.

    Definitely feel the difference

    Good luck

    June 6, 2013 at 9:31 pm #740715
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    notfastenough

    Ha, can see I should have
    Ha, can see I should have explained myself a little more!

    Ok. I’ve only physically got room for 2 bikes. Ultimately, I would like to have a ‘good’/summer bike and a ‘do-everything-else’ bike. Something that will also do light off-road use will keep me going right through winter when my club mates switch to mountain bikes in icy conditions. Would the Tifosi cope with knobbly tires etc?

    Hence, while a cheap single-speed did occur to me, it’s not moving in the right direction. I’m a freelancer rather than an employee, so no c2w for me (unless anyone knows how to do this as a contractor with your own ltd co.?)

    It would be useful to extend the evening commute a couple of times a week, to maybe 30-40 miles.

    June 6, 2013 at 5:42 pm #740713
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    Anonymous

    I have carbon Tarmac for dry
    I have carbon Tarmac for dry days and Genesis Croix de fer for wet.
    The Genesis is superb in cruddy weather with full length guards and 28mm armadillo’s.
    Stops on a dime with disc brakes and is kinda tank like so no problem riding through unseen potholes in dark/wet conditions.

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