[Closed] 12 mile commute to work....what to buy?

12 miles? Any bike will do, but some road tyres will make it a bit more pleasurable.

Get a road bike that'll take 28c tyres and guards. Probably more of a tourer/audax geometry may be more comfortable and provide better clearance.

well my ransom won't 😉 i like the look of the scott and trek cx bikes, nice oppotunity to use the co cycle to work scheme too

I got myself a Specialized Sirrus for commuting a little bit further.

Just the job.

Of course "any bike will do" but you'd get there a lot faster and with less effort on a road bike than an mtb.
I use a 23c shod roadbike for a similar distance. If I was going to replace it, I'd consider a crosser with mudguard capabilities, but I still go for skinny tyres.

fixed wheel.

will make you grow into a big strong man. the girls will swoon over you and the boys will admire you.

🙄

A winter road bike would work. The biggest things I'd want to consider are gears, do you need them? Mudguards, you need them! Rack or Back? Strong wheels are important if you're riding in traffic and the dark as it's not always easy to avoid things.

You could do it on a slicked up mountain bike but I personally would be going cyclocross, touring, audax, winter road bike for fast reliable options.

I like on-ones and there's on in the planet x clearance so I'd consider and uncle John or kaffenback.

12 miles isn't that far, I'd have thought 45 minutes would be easily achievable on a mountain bike so you don't need a proper race bike.

Something you can bolt proper mudguards and a rack to, if you need them, but which can run skinny tyres. 700c or 26" (or 650b, 29" for that matter) dosn't matter in the least. But you'll want it to be quick.

I use a cx bike with 25mm road tyres and full guards for my commute which is slightly longer.

cheers guys, think i'll stick with the cx idea

Assuming it's a completely on road commute then get a Road bike and lycra up, I've had mine a couple of years and compared to the MTB it makes my 20mile commute a relative joy, so much more efficient...

Having said that if it was feasable for me to commute more offroad and simply take longer I would...

if you do have an offroad or partially offroad commute then I reckon a nice robust fully rigid, skinny tyres XC bike is the way to go, it's all about saving some energy for the journey home later...

well my ransom won't

Fair point. Even I wouldn't ride one through choice. On the road, I mean. 😉

Road bike - good, but not usually enough clearnace for 'guards or a pannier rack, which you'll appreciate in the grotty weather. Fast.

Winter/audax road bike - clearance for 'guards and rack, but maybe less sprightly than straight race bike. Unlikely to be any slower on a commute.

CX bike - versatile, but choose carefully. True cross frames have no 'guard or rack mounts (or even bottle bosses). Get one that does all of these things. Watch that the gearing may be a bit lower than normal road.

Much as I love cx bikes, I kind of roll my eyes a bit at their current popularity as commuters. In a tarmac-only role they are inferior in most ways to a true roadbike or tourer- heavier, , slack steering, frequent toe overlap and just less agile overall.
Now, if you intend to use them offroad , then, thats different,the're great! but otherwise I'd get a road bike and feel the speed difference.

Cotic Roadrat here. Fast, handles like an MTB, 23c tyres for efficiency. Singlespeed cos London's flat and less maintenance

winter road bike

What is that exactly?

Just get a road bike: Tools for the job etc etc

I would recommend a road bike as well as it makes the journey much easier and therefore you will be able to keep it up all week. A MTB or heavy bike will do your fitness the world of good but I have done it and it is much harder graft and wears you down over time 🙂 I got a ribble carbon frame, lovely and soft ride but with 23c tyres wips along amongst the traffic etc 🙂 I use the Crud Road racer guards (full). I carry a saddle pack with a few spare coins, spare tube, tyre levers and mini-tool. In my rucksac I have a pump and a puncture repair kit with my spare clothes.

I do a similar commute and i got a CannondaleBadboy 700disc on the biketowork scheme,it's alot better than doing it on my old Kona and i like the stopping power of discs in traffic.

On One Pompino get a 135mm if you fancy gears. I run a fixie one and commute 15miles each way. I use a carradice saddlebag for carrying all my rhubarb and sks full guards.

I guess it also depends on how hilly it is - a flat ride would suit a fixie I guess. Discs would suit city/busy town riding i.e. frequent stopping for lights and cars etc. Mine is town out into countryside and had no major hills.

I use a custom frame 853 road bike designed to take 23mm tyres and Salmon guards with standard drop brakes. But then that's probably all a bit over specialised for you. I bought as a second CX a bmc CX02 earlier this year which I could put guards on, and which I used for a week's cycling in the Alps 6 weeks ago (as I don't like flying with my nice road bikes) and was able to hang quite easily with a big group of Dutch club cyclists from Eindhoven on their way up the Col du Joux-Plane. It does the job just fine and is actually quite agile for a CXer. Of course I threw the 105 away and put Centaur on instead, and for mere mortals you'll not really require bigger than a 48 or 50 chainring.
It'll be flogged round Deal on Sunday.

mikey74 - Member

winter road bike

What is that exactly?

A road bike with thick lube and mud - sorry spray - guards on according to 224 Triathlon this (maybe last now) month.

I liked the article in this month's mag about 'winter bikes'. Too bloody right.

I do a similar distance and use a variety of my bikes. All the bikes have main uses, and commuting is their secondary use. The cross bike is one of my favourites to use, but that's because I can use it to go off road. If I wasn't going offroad, then the road bike is the best as it's fastest and less tiring.
If the weather is bad, then it's my cx bike or hardtail mtb because I want to keep the road bike gleaming. The mountain bike gets a bit tiring riding everyday.

If I was to get a bike which was to be used purely for commuting, then I'd get a tourer or 'winter' road bike. As must as I love my cross bike, the geometry of a road bike is better on the road, it's not easy getting guards on the crosser, the brakes can be a bit temperamental, the ride is stiff for racing and it doesn't take panniers.

OK neil, the general view is that you should get 'a 100mm travel, carbon monocoque unicycle with tri-bars, panniers and at least two full length mudguards.

Carrera do a nice flat bar commute bike. Nice and cheap, fast, comfortable. Job's a gudgeoun.

Is a road bike much faster on a commute than an XC bike with slicks?

ive just got a flat bar 700cc single speed with discs for my new commute 🙂

Is a road bike much faster on a commute than an XC bike with slicks?

You wouldn't think so but it really is. I made the jump and wouldn't go back.

"Is a road bike much faster on a commute than an XC bike with slicks? "

Oh yes.

Genesis Aether would be perfect

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This would be the perfect ride for your commute:
http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/fs-trek-1500-slr-road-bike-56cm-winter-trainer

Bit of a hijack here, but for grinding up BIG road hills (I live on the road to the Col de l'Iseran) is a road bike noticeably quicker (for the same effort!) than a slicked-up rigid MTB? Just curious, I should really get around to pedalling up some of that weird smooth black stuff some time, but neither the up nor the smooth really appeal...

I switched from a MTB with slicks to road bike with 700c 23mm tyres and really like the change. Faster and much less effort. Recently fitted crud race guards which work well. Commute is 12 miles each way country lanes in crappy condition but my wheels seem fine so far. Got talked out of CX bikes by this forum as none of my ride is off road

"Is a road bike much faster on a commute than an XC bike with slicks? "

not in my experience, but i'm much more of an MTB'er really, so maybe i'm no good at getting the most from a road bike. Running 1" slicks and a 48t chainring helps the MTB too.

The boardman hybrid comp is the ideal commuting tool in my mind.

Nice geometry, strong wheels, 28mm tyres, mounts for racks & guards, disc brakes, SRAM gears, flat bars and 23lbs.

Certinaly does the trick for me

How about a singlespeed crosser,like the Breed I'm selling...........

Another Road Rat here. Added full mudguards, clipless pedals and an Avid BB7 front disc brake. Running it single speed and do 12.5 miles each way in about 45 minutes with rucksack.

Road bikes go on the road.

Cross bikes go on the rough.

Trek cross bikes don't have racks. A trek 1.2 has 25c tyres and room for guards and a rack. A trek 1.5 does too but isn't good value and a bit rough compared to the competition.

Giant Defys also have this space and a lovely frame and are great value. Incredibly dependable bikes, although they look a little boring.

I used to commute on a Planet X cross bike and it was slow and too low geared. It wasn't the right tool for the job. It was also much heavier than a road bike.

[IMG] [/IMG]
Does me fine

I just had this choice as I bought a road bike for commuting and was surprised how quick they are. However I have just sold the road bike and am using my ht with rigid forks and slicks. Much more comfortable with risers and can go up and down kerbs when required, no need to worry about potholes and disc brakes are great in the wet. Whilst it is not quite as quick, it is much more suited to the city and my commute.

Agree with loddrik. I've gone back to a rigid Mtb with 1.5 slicks, flat bar and bar ends. Not as quick in a straight line as my road bike but easier to weave in and out of traffic, plus accelerates quicker from the lights and up short climbs. I did put road gears on it - 38/50 chainrings and 12-25 cassette

i want an Arc-X.

My solution, Giant SCR2, 26mm tyres, guards and rack. Equivalent Defy would do the same job. Crosstop levers handy in traffic, but otherwise standard. That Trek in the classifieds would be bang on.

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I'd buy a map so I could work out a longer route than the 12 miles. I'd also get a cross bike. Commutes are meant to be as much offroad as possible. Your new map will help you here.

[i]However I have just sold the road bike and am using my ht with rigid forks and slicks. Much more comfortable with risers and can go up and down kerbs when required, no need to worry about potholes and disc brakes are great in the wet. Whilst it is not quite as quick, it is much more suited to the city and my commute. [/i]

And right there is where a cross bike comes in. As fast as a road bike on the road, can be ridden offroad and up and down kerbs. Comfy too.

Being able to ride up and down kerbs seems to be a major worry for people looking at on road bikes. Where are all these kerbs (I assume we're not riding on the pavement then) that are too high for a wee bunnyhop? Most road bikes will put up with a surprising amount if you use a touch of finesse.

I've got the use of my brother's Revolution Courier Race, it's a brilliant thing, basically a hybrid but erring more on the road bike side. Lovely once I stuck less skinny bars on it, 8 speed which is enough for my hilly commute, 700c rims, reasonably weight... Nice familiar feel to it when coming off a mountain bike.

Money goes a long way on road bikes and hybrids, something like this or a Carrera Subway is really more than enough for noncompetitive road riding. Most commuters are doing it on supermarket BSOs and ancient rigid mtbs they found in their garages one day after all. Or a Carrera Gryphon or Boardman Howevermuchyouwanttospend.

Being able to ride up and down kerbs seems to be a major worry for people looking at on road bikes. Where are all these kerbs (I assume we're not riding on the pavement then) that are too high for a wee bunnyhop?

And why is everyone riding up and down kerbs anyway? Ride on the road, like a car, it's faster 99% of the time than taking all the dodgy shortcuts.

The other thing that confuses me is people saying they prefer flat bars for weaving in and out of traffic. Flat bars are a nightmare in traffic, a nice narrow set of drop bars is what you want - so you're no wider than your shoulders - you can squeeze through on the overtaking much better, and I really don't understand not being able to turn tight enough - I can't remember any situation where I've wanted to do a turn I couldn't do on a road bike, if anything they are a bit more nimble at turning surely? I reckon most of it is just not being used to drop bars.

I've commuted for years, in Surrey, Central London, Nottingham, and now across Derbyshire, none of those times have I thought, aha, what I want now is a wider set of bars without the comfy drops for going fast on?

Joe

It all comes down to the route you take. My commute is either a horrible grind along dual carriageways with lorries rattling past me or a much more pleasent route along bumpy country lanes and rough, wet leaf strewn cycle paths.

I tried a boardman hybrid on the roads which was pretty quick, but opted for GT ZUM hybrid and my usual 710mm sunline bars for a much more enjoyable and confident journey. This also means I can use my ipod when I get to the cycle paths.

Bagstard

I had a CX Crosslight and it was ok for a commute but as I only have two bikes Crosslight had to double up as my road bike. No mounts for bottle cages or mounts for full mudguards so had to use some p-clips. Also sometimes when the going got fast the 48t chainring was not enough with the wider spread cassette (28 biggest). Bike was very good but had it's flaws and I wasn't using it's CX potential. Now however I got a Trek 1200, mudguard fittings on frame and fork, longer TT than Crosslight for the same 56cm frame, Tiagra setup and with new wheels and some finishing kit it weights just over 19lb for road mode. Commuter option is heavier but I've got full sks guards, 25mm tyres no problem, saddlebag for tubes and tools and is still only around 21-22lb with solid punctureproof tyres. I could fit a rear rack as well but it would cost to much for how often I use it so just use a backpack. The bike just works and is good for commuting duties as well as some longer rides.

Get a road bike with guards fittings on frame and fork as it's a must if You ride in all weather. My commute is only around 6 miles one way but as much as I love my mountain bike it's easier to ride the road bike plus You'll get loads more life out of a road bike drivetrain than an mtb one. SS setup would probably be even cheaper to run, easier to maintain. I did 2x much miles on my road bike than on the mtb this year and the chain isn't even stretched to 0.5 and my mtb one had to be recently changed as it was on 0.75.
I would like to have an almost maintainance free SS road bike for winter but that would have to be my 3rd bike as I do like to have gears on my road bike.

May I once again mention a Boardman Hybrid 😆

for the commute and C2W i bought a specialized tricross comp in the sales @ £899.
it's bloody brilliant actually !
carbon stay and fork with zertz and it handles offroad relatively well.
only problem is the V brakes fited don't permit guard fitment but specialized me some canti brakes FOC !
incredible CS.

"I reckon most of it is just not being used to drop bars."

Thing is, you see a lot of commuters on bikes with drops, but I very very rarely see anyone actually using them, most people seem to wobble along using the flats which is just the worst of all worlds. I'd sooner have narrow-ish flats, 580mm or so is barely wider than even my puny shoulders.

Having said that, I think the only really convincing reason not to use drops is if you don't like them.

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That's my commuter and I love it!

Clips and a big gear, perfect for a 12 mile commute 🙂

alwyn - no guards ? how do you cope with getting saturated ?

I have a mud guard on the back, I just hang my lycra up in the office to dry. If I just wear shorts so I have to cycle really fast to keep warm, ending up a faster cyclist.

lol @ alwyn 😀

i'm using a SS pompino atm, but after the success of the alfine on my MTB, I'm getting one for the pomp too.