Commuting - Help! New but keen...

Hi,

I'm looking to buy a bike for commuting to work and weekend leisure use. I haven't ridden since I was 15 and not that confident, but keen!

Looking at the routes available most of the cycling will be country lanes with a little city cycle paths, a little road and a couple of short bridleways. I've been looking at hybrids and expedition bikes, favouring the latter for the off-road bits and what to a novice feels a more stable position.

I'm looking at something like the Trek Navigator, Raleigh Ride or Specialized Exhibition series - probably at the bottom of the range due to cashflow considerations.

The routes are 11 - 13 miles, but initially I can get a train at 4 or 7 miles.

Am I looking at the right sort of bike - any other suggestions?

Thanks

Richard

First you need to find a good quality bike shop. You will need to come back to them for servicing and advice, so pick a good one.

A mid-range hybrid bike will do the job. If you give your total budget, I could probably help with some recomendations.
Remember that a good bike will give you at least 10 years of local transport, so cost the alternatives like bus or train. Its a common mistake to under-spend and get a sub-standard bike.

Most mid-range hybrid bikes are of similar quality, The bike shop will probably stock one or 2 manufacturers, so that will ease your decision. Just avoid any bike with suspension (even seatpost suspension) . You dont need it, and it will add weight and maintainance, and reduce reliability.
Get the correct size. Some bike shops sell you the size they have, rather than the size you need.

Once you have decided on a model and size, there are some modifications and accessories which make life much easier. Again, a good bike shop will help out here. These will include:
Full length mudguards
Touring grade tyres
Luggage rack and bags
Lighting system
Lock, helmet, gloves, shorts
Membership of the Cycle Tourists Club (for free 3rd party insurance)

I live in Hastings I know of one really good bike shop for quality 2nd hand touring bikes, south of Ashford (Ham Street). Its worth considering, since you will get a lot more bike for your money.
Mail me if you need more help
Michael Wolf
mwolf@compd.com

Again I agree with Michael. A hybrid is best bet for commuting, and you could always add drop bars later to tour.

Re suspension, don't be persuaded that it's a good thing as, if you've ever seen anyone ride a bike with (particularly) rear suspension, they waste so much energy making the thing go up and down!.

Unless you know much about bikes go with Michael's suggestion and visit a good bike shop.

When I started commuting I originally chose a MTB because:
1. everyone has them, its so easy to get one.
2. I thought it'd be useful for jumping kerbs etc.

But I switched to a road bike because I couldn't take the grind of 13 miles eachway on those heavy tyres.

I've never looked back. A road bike is lighter and faster. Better up hills than an MTB and way, way better down hills. You eat the miles with much less effort.

You go so fast, you soon spend the whole commute in the traffic, the cycle lanes and paths are too slow. So, no more kerb hopping etc. (I always feel if I'm going to ride with the cars I better obey the rules of the road. well, most of them :-) )

If you're in any doubt, get something 2nd hand and cheap - Brand X MTB from the free ads should be less than 50 quid. And see how it goes. After a month or 2 (and a cycle commute thru winter :) you can change and upgrade)

Stew

Thanks for the tips -

I'm still a little concerned about going across bridleways on a hybrid (hey I'm a nervous newbie who hasn't ridden for 15 yearsand don't fancy the dual carriageway option), would a MTB with semi-slicks be a lot harder work?

I'm looking at £250 max for the bike (not including helmet etc.) which seems to cover hi ten steel, cromoly and aluminium - this seems a pretty controversial subject but I'd appreciate any advice on weight and longevity.

Hybrids I was warily considering were the Raleigh Pioneer, Claud Butler Classic or Odyssey or Falcon Explorer.

Mountain bikes Claud Butler Pinelake or Ravana, one of the Giant Boulder series, Raleigh Ride 100, Falcon Adventurer or if I can twist the bank Managers arm the Trek Navigator 200.

Any suggestions - I've tried three LBS's and advice seems to be buy the brands they have in stock...

Many thanks

Richard

The Raleigh Pioneer is an excellent hybrid.

My cycling friend is a real enthusiast (he has among others 3 custom built bikes, and a curly stay Hetchins), and his everyday bike is a Pioneer with front and rear racks. He's just come back from France and raves about the bike.

A hybrid handles o/k off road , I use mine on a couple of Sustran routes in my vicinity (old railway tracs) ,
Also done the c2c with it.
Stick a rack on it and there fine for commuting.
Mine doubles as a shopping trolley on a Sunday . couple of panniers loaded with the weekly goods . exellent no probs!
go for it! and enjoy.

willi`c

I would agree with Stewart that tyres are probably the most important factor in bike efficiency. If you swap the standard tyres on a hybrid for a set of 28mm fast-touring tyres, you will go much faster and your ride will be easier. I manage shorter sections of trail every day on 28mm. Racing bikes take tyres which are even narrower and more efficient, but they can give a rough ride on trails.

Modern road racing bikes are very efficient, but they often lack the clearance between tyres and brakes to fit mudguards, and many lack the threads on the frame for luggage rack and mudguards. If you are planning on regular trail riding, they may not be ideal. A touring bike will give you the advantages of a racing bike, with the flexibility of a hybrid. I think they are the perfect commuting machines.

I dont know of any new racing or touring bikes in your price range. Most of them start at about £500.
A UK company called Orbit make some of the most cost effective general purpose road/touring/commuting bikes around. Check them out at
http://www.orbit-cycles.co.uk/models.htm

Check out the Specialized Crossroads--it's the European version of the Expedition. It's lighter w/ suspension stem and seatpost, and has 700c wheels, and it's about the same price.