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HI all,
I'm looking at getting an easy to maintain, quick/light, but tough bike for commuting into work. Its 6 miles but Glasgow's city roads are making life uncomfortable to use my Specialized Roubaix (I fear buckles/punctures etc trying to negotiate some of the crap surfaces we have).
My dilemma is, can I get a tough wheel/tyre combo on an otherwise decent bike? Or do I sell it and buy a commuting hack? (as I really don't do any distance road cycling anymore).
Any thoughts?
I use a ss mountain bike with a higher gear ratio and slick tyres. Fine for 6 miles, nippy enough.
If I were you I'd be looking at a cyclocross bike. Tough enough yet still has most of the fast/light appeal of a road bike over 6 miles.
That was one of the ideas I'd been looking at (CX). I used am SS 29er singlespeed for a bit, but that's my goto offroad bike now and is a 1x9 now. With the heavy suss fork on it, its too heavy to make the ride enjoyable!
I do have a set of SS 29er wheels, so could look at getting a decent lightish 29er frame for the commute.
I commute into Glasgow from Kilmarnock on a cx bike with road tyres fitted. I've been doing it for the last 4 years and not had any issues with standard wheels and tyres. The bike you have will be just fine.
Which part of Glasgow are you cycling through?
I use a (very) old Marin mtb. It's ideal for a short commute - takes mudguards and panniers, very little to go wrong (7 speed drivetrains are bulletproof), and it's cheap & tatty so I don't worry too much about theft or scratches in the racks.
6 miles, you could do that on pretty much anything, see if your local second hand shop has any old road bike going?
I think I have a case of - "want new shiny thing"-itis.
I reckoned I could sell the spesh as I really don't do any serious road riding anymore (it seems overkill for the duty) and build/buy myself a quick city bike with some beer token left over.
to Gary_M - just coming into town via southside to SAC 😉
Fair enough that you want a new bike.
The roads really aren't that bad in the south side, I go down Kilmarnock road or Cathcart road and they're both fine.
You're bike isn't blue/white is it? Saw someone this morning on one going through Newton Mearns and I've not seen him before.
something like a surly cross check?
funnily enough the pot holes had me thinking, new bike this morning
that and the rattly clangy falling to bits noises
lucky enough ive been busy at work so no time for frame/forks shopping.
Genesis Day One, mines superb on a mix of gravel/rooty tracks and road for my short cumute
How tall are you ?
[url= http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/large-tyre-clearout-maxxis-continental-etc-and-cheap-commuter-bike ]This[/url] looked worth a go earlier today.
If you go for a new bike I find 28 mm tyres make a big difference in comfort over 23 mm but are still not too heavy and still feel quickish. If you want some strong wheel 36 spoke openpros on 28 mm tyres are pretty tough although the 28 mm tyres will probably not fit your Roubaix
Haha,
decided to punt the road bike. Just waiting on final sale going through. Will be replaced with rigid singlespeed 29er. (Love my 1x9 29er so going for a self build option).
Frame = on one scandal 29er with horiz dropouts 🙂 sniped a bargain on eBay! Waiting to get funds for rest.
An Orange 5
(well someone had to)
For me hybridised MTB
I want disc brakes and widish tyres. Alfine is good
I commute on a genesis IOID with rigid forks and 1.6 road tyres and mary bars works for me. I like to be able to stop as quickly as anything