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A new job means that I can potentially cycle to work. I’ll be working shifts and plan to drive to work then cycle home, then cycle in for a late shift and drive home in the evening.
The cycle journey will be about 30 miles, 25 of which will be country lanes and the remainder will be bridleway. This calls for a new bike!
Ideally the frame would be metal and have a threaded bottom bracket, and also have disc brakes. Budget is <2k. Suggestions please..
30 miles each way? Wow, that is keen.
Reccommend what you have! Pinnacle Arkose D1 has been very good to me so far (probably 4 years old, so jameso of this forum was still taking in feedback and updating it as he went at the time). I have no idea how much sports direct have done to ruin the brand since though, so probably find a Ribble or similar is a better option. At 30 miles you'll want to be a lot fitteer/lighter than me and to commute with the bare minimum luggage too!
I’d get an ali bike from PX, it’s gonna take a beating so simple spec including drop bar cable discs is fine. Get a rack, so you don’t need a rucksack and mud guards obvs.
Id stick fat semi slicks on it.
do it in comfort and style with a bike that will last.
and buy the bags to suit from them also.
https://spacycles.co.uk/m1b0s225p4913/SPA-CYCLES-DTour-725-Disc-Tourer-11spd-2022-New-Model
Croix de fer
Do you have bits you can hang off a new frame?
If it's a long term plan,I would go for a Ti grovel frame,maybe something from PX or Sonder.
Vespa GTS 300 would be top of my list.
For a 30 mile commute, I’d want mudguards, decent lights (consider a dynamo) and a rack/panniers.
I’d also want something resembling an endurance road bike, or gravel bike.
Stick with aluminium, it’s usually better value than carbon steel or ti.
I’d expect the fork to be carbon, which would be a positive imo.
Alternatively, a racy hardtail might be an option?
With nice comfy schwalbe big apples fitted . .
I'm doing woefully this year but have a 20 mile each way commute split into thirds of country lane, main road and Riverside cycle route. The latter gets filthy for a good chunk of the year. I couldn't do it without:
Mudguards, but with plenty of space so crud doesn't jam things up.
Hub dynamo. Totally dependable and always there.
Puncture proof tyres if there is a chance of glass or thorns.
With that much road cx or MTB tyres will be a massive drag. Get the smoothest tyres the bridleway will allow.
I run my own home made frame Alfine frankenbike thing (Alfine is a heavy drag but reliable). If I had to buy something then I'd echo Ton and get something from Spa with exactly the bits I wanted (ti if the budget stretched that far).
How about the subject of that recent PSA, Ragley Trig, £1750 down to £1100 on CRC.
Great value, no obvious weaknesses in the spec and quite adaptable.
I appreciate the advice and suggestions, thank you.
The Spa Cycles 725 tourer looks ideal, but unfortunately they don’t accept C2W vouchers.
I hadn’t realised that Sonder also did a steel tourer so that might be an option..
But that Ragley at CRC is a bit of a bargain!
The other issue with the spa bike linked to is that it's mechanical disc brakes. I wouldn't for that usage but some people don't mind the faff and reduced performance compared to hydraulic brakes.
The ragley trig does appear to be a bit unbeatable at its current price, I imagine beating most (any?) effective cycle to work prices. Crc do 2 years 0% too.
The planet X tempest gets you titanium for under budget with very decent tyre clearance and guard/pannier mounts.
https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBPXTEMV3FOR1700/planet-x-tempest-sram-force-1-titanium-gravel-bike
Brick Lane bikes accept cycle to work vouchers and will do you a custom build, so you could get their hitchhiker bike and ask them to put hydraulic brakes and a hub dynamo on there. (I can't recommend the hub dynamo enough, especially for commuting).
I would look for something with relaxed road geometry, perhaps 71-72 head angle and 72ish seat angle - and up to the classic road 73/72 if accompanied by fatter tyres. Often called "all road" bikes these days. Ragley's Trig or Sonder's Camino are slacker than this and more aimed at stability while off-roading, but would be ok so long as you trade-off on-road sharpness.
Wheel & tyre choice depends on several preferences, but as a guide I'd look towards 35c on 700c rims rather than wider "road plus" on smaller 650b wheels for the riding you describe. Something like a Schwalbe G One Allround 35c would again be ideal because of its tiny knobbles.
Wiggle were offering the Rondo MUTT ST for £1.5k in the last week, which is the style of bike I'd be looking at. It has mudguards and the combination of angles / wheels described above. Otherwise something like the Kona Sutra (weight being the main issue with this one) or Kona Rove (currently several models on offer).
I can only echo the solid advice above. I've got an eight year old Kaffenback with hub dynamo, pannier racks and mudguards. I used to swap out the continenal 4 seasons for something a bit more sporty in the summmer but haven't bothered since before covid. The BB7s are only a faff if you don't keep the adjustment drums lubed and they seize.
And MOAB's comment is also valid - I do 25 km each way twice a week and that's enough.
Have fun and allow enough time that you don't get in a stress on the journey.
@temudgin - How about a Surly Ogre for flat bar options? All the mounting points you could want and with two sets of tyres could easily do you full year round whatever the weather.
Edit: not used them but they do cycle to work etc
30 miles each way or round trip? Wow
Are you really committed? Do you want to rule out an electric bike so soon...?
The thing that stopped me commuting in winter on my old bike was a lack of tread on the tyres. I wouldn't take nobblies and mudgaurds. So if you want to ride all year round think about tyre clearance.
30 miles each way is roughly 2 hours each way depending on terrain and climbing abd fitness etc so make sure you pick something fast and comfortable.
Recommend what you ride, I'm currently riding the ribble cgr in carbon, has discs, threaded bb, full guards and a rack. I've been really impressed with it. Takes upto 40mm tyres with guards. Not many road/gravel bikes that take a wide tyre also have a front mech.
The aluminium version is currently £1399 which leaves budget to upgrade the wheels. They also do it in steel. It's available on the c2w scheme too.
https://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/ribble-cgr-al-blue-shimano-105/
Surly Straggler or Preamble could be nice options too. I love my Cross Check but rim brakes puts it out for this question.