You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
Eldest son of Ready lives in London, and needs a new commuter type bike. He would like something reasonably decent and not too expensive (budget of around £500) as he's also very aware that it could get pinched so doesn't want to spend a fortune. He can get one on the CtW scheme, but I have no idea what to suggest for him!
I've kind of steered him in the direction of Trek/Specialized (as I know their MTBs are pretty sound) but are Pinnacle any good?
Any help would be much appreciated!
If he is going to be living in London, this is the form/ classifieds for you..
Personally i'd just get a battered looking road singlspeed, little maintenance and less likely to be nicked.
Came here to say what Scud did.
If he's a cyclist (and owns SPD shoes) get a fixie (with brakes).
If he just wants to ride a bike, get a singlespeed.
Don't be tempted by track bikes with no brakes.
Pick something with at least 28mm tyres + guards and long-drop brakes. Or 30mm+ tyres, guards, and V brakes or disks. Don't be tempted by anything with <25mm tyres and standard road brakes, they're lethal turning over kerbs in the wet (which you do a lot of in London taking short cuts through the parks) and won't fit full length guards.
I'd get something like an old 26" On-One Inbred singlespeed or Dialed Love-Hate, and tough wheels, 1.75" schwalbe marathons, flat pedals. The more battered it looks the less it'll appeal to thieves. Doesn't mean it can't be immaculately maintained and be lovely to ride though. The trouble with living in a city is you need the bike to get from A to B, and if you're not happy to leave the bike locked up outside B (work, pub, gym, restaurant, friends) then it's useless.
Avoid Specialized and Trek, for exactly the same reasons you recommend them (everyone's heard of them, they're thousands of peoples saved searches o ebay/facebook/gumtree) they're like magnets to thieves.
Pinnacle were always ok for exactly what you were looking for - maybe a flat bar hybrid with decent width tyres on it.
Boardman also good for that sort of thing and not as flash as the big brands.
I would not buy a fixie for commuting in traffic - sounds like a recipe for disaster not being able to freewheel.
If it’s a flat route then singlespeed could work and is very low maintenance I guess - but I can’t say my road bikes with gears have ever needed a lot of maintenance and I commuted in awful weather for years.
+another one on a cheap bike.
Eldest commutes and Deliveroo's on an Edinburgh Cycles hybrid with rack and silver mudguards. It is as unfashionable as possible. It has survived being locked up in all sorts of dodgy places - and housemates have lost just as cheap but nicer looking road bikes to theft.
(edit: it has nice Schwalbe tyres, just blacked out, it has a nice Selle saddle, just blacked out, it has nice comfy grips just in black etc.)
I would not buy a fixie for commuting in traffic – sounds like a recipe for disaster not being able to freewheel.
If it’s a flat route then singlespeed could work and is very low maintenance I guess – but I can’t say my road bikes with gears have ever needed a lot of maintenance and I commuted in awful weather for years.
Fixed is fine in traffic. The learning curve is no worse than thinking of it in reverse "I would not buy a freehub bike for commuting in traffic – sounds like a recipe for disaster not being able to control your speed". The steepest bit of the learning curve for me was figuring out how to release a fart whilst pedaling 😂. I only say it's for "cyclists" rather than normal people as it's reasonably necessary to wear SPD's, clips ae fine but will trash your shoes/trainers over time. So if he's not happy walking around in a pair of Velosambas then SS is easier to live with.
Maintenance, depends on where it's left. I've commuted on my nice road bike before, but it goes back in the garage and get's TLC at least once a fortnight. My commuter on the other hand lives out in the street, the drivechain is caked in filth, and maintenance is something that happens when something goes wrong enough to make it unreadable. Same way you'd treat a car, it lives in the street, gets an annual service and only fixed if it goes wrong. Living in London and not being a baby boomer it's a fair assumption he probably doesn't have a garage or shed, and probably has housemates so a gritty wet commuter bike in the hallway is probably a no too.
Sad to say it, but a cheap bike - maybe a basic Carrera or something from Go Outdoors/Decathlon. Do Halfords still do the Carrera Subway?
Looks like they do, although a bit more than the £199 it used to be! Shame it doesn't have v-brakes. Discs always look more flashy.
Then an expensive lock to go with it.
I had a flatbar ridgeback commuter in London.
I always used two different locks, a U-lock and a chain, never got nicked despite me leaving it in some dodgy places for a few hours.
https://www.halfords.com/bikes/hybrid-bikes/carrera-subway-2-mens-hybrid-bike-2020---black---s-m-l-xl-frames-346198.html?stockInventory=undefined (hydraulic brakes)
https://www.halfords.com/bikes/folding-bikes/carrera-intercity-disc-9-speed-folding-bike-536878.html?stockInventory=undefined (hydraulic folder he could stash indoors)
https://www.halfords.com/bikes/hybrid-bikes/carrera-subway-all-weather-edition-mens-hybrid-bike---s-m-l-frames-229822.html?stockInventory=undefined (hydraulic brakes, mudguards and hand warming grips for winter)
Even old crap is a target for thieves. When my son was at uni in London I gave him a succession of old bikes which got nicked including a 30yr old flat bar tourer which was cheap and nasty when new. When he started working somebody in his office had a bike nicked from next to his desk while out at lunch!
So, just buy the cheapest thing that actually works and be prepared to do it again soon
SS is OK, but there are some punchy hills here and there, and when you're knackered, it's raining, windy and you're lugging some shopping home, it's not always what you want.
And even if you're totally on the flat, and it's not windy, having a "swiftly away from the lights" gear as well as a "cruising at traffic speed" gear is some thing I'm always happy to have when I have it.
I should add - eldests Hybrid was £75 from reycabikey place
Fixed is fine in traffic. The learning curve is no worse than thinking of it in reverse “I would not buy a freehub bike for commuting in traffic – sounds like a recipe for disaster not being able to control your speed”
I disagree - almost no-one learns to ride a bike that doesn’t have a freewheel so to decide to stop pedalling and not be able to (especially downhill) would cause panic for quite a while.
With a freehub you just use your brakes to slow down. So that point you make is a bit daft.
Btwin at Decathlon is worth a look. I have been using one to the station for about 5 years and its been very reliable although it is a little heavy, but that doesnt matter.
Will probably fall apart on the way home tonight after I have said that.
Muddy Fox Tempo 200 from House of Fraser, Evans or SD depending on who has the best discounts. ~£180 for a decent bike that hopefully wont draw too much attention from the scrotes.
Dolan FXE. Or used kona paddywagon. .
I disagree – almost no-one learns to ride a bike that doesn’t have a freewheel so to decide to stop pedalling and not be able to (especially downhill) would cause panic for quite a while.
I disagree, almost everyone learns to pedal on a fixed gear (brakeless to boot).
My 2p as a London commuter..
What are the C2W payments compared to a monthly travelcard?
Something folding would be sensible for just city work which can be taken into work, shared flat, pub and trains during peak times.
Does he cycle for fun? There is a lot of nice cycling just out of London which wouldn't be much fun on a ratty BSO.
I'd look 2nd hand, I have an unbranded late 90s Cannondale hybrid set up as a tourer/winter commuter with a 3x8, rack and full mudguards. I doubt that would last the night locked to a sheffield stand in the street.. I'd be happy to lock it up for the day/evening and have in the past (pre Brooks B17).. it has rim brakes and all consumables are cheap so running costs are low. From memory it cost me £100 in 2003.
A decent insurance approved lock will be a significant chunk of his budget if not already owned.
Finally how many Santander/Lime/ Human Forest bikes can he hire for the price of ownership? They are everywhere in zones 1 2 & 3.
Folding bike would be high on my list.
Failing that, the £500 would go roughly £200 main lock, £100 secondary lock for front wheel, £200 tops bike.
Actually, thinking about it, a folder and the £200 lock would be best.
A Brompton sized folder theoretically wouldn't need a proper lock as it comes with you inside. Familiar sight on public transport and in all the work places I visit.
Finally how many Santander/Lime/ Human Forest bikes can he hire for the price of ownership?
Not that many! Lime is about £10-15 a throw for my commute (if you don't buy a 1-2 hour pass).
If you have Santander racks near the beginning and end of your ride and they're still doing a subscription, it might be a different story.
Uncool suggestion: a Buzzbike or a Swapfiets.
As a London commuter of many years;,decathlon b’twin road bike and a steel 68” fixie for most days. Vintage steel Colnago for when it’s sunny should cover all bases.