Choosing a bike?

[CatB]

I would suggest a hybrid for commuting. I have a great road bike (that I love at least as much as my dive kit!) but I don't find that drop handlebars are comfortable with a backpack on (if for example you were taking paperwork or a change of clothes to work) and the very narrow wheels do not like being forced over storm drains etc by inconsiderate drivers. I would imagine that the narrow wheels would also sink into a muddy field like the proverbial knife through butter - I wouldn't even cycle on mine along a gravel track!
A lot of my friends commute on mountain bikes with slick tyres and find that fine.
I guess it partly depends on whether your commute is 10 miles of non-stop cycling or 2 miles of constant stop start city traffic. Oh, and when you get there will there be somewhere safe and out of the weather to store your bike? It's highly unlikely to be covered by your household contents insurance!

[IanD]

Originally Posted by nickb

I had similar problems when I went to clipless pedals

Oh yes been there done that, lying in the road looking like a fool.

[CatB]

Originally Posted by IanD

Oh yes been there done that, lying in the road looking like a fool.

Oh yes, I forget to mention that - it's even more fun if you do it as you are pulling away from a roundabout or lights and you are desperately hoping that the vehicle behind had noticed you were there before they pull away and drive over you!! I wouldn't suggest clipless pedals for a urban commute!

[MarkP]

Originally Posted by WannabeMermaid

I wouldn't suggest clipless pedals for a urban commute!

Au contraire. Having been cycle commuting for a few (33-ish) years now, there are two things that stand out in terms of making bikes easier and more efficient to ride; integrated brake / indexed gear levers and clipless pedals.

They're the dog's danglies and worth every penny. You just need to be comfortable and confident...

PS. Must get back on it...gut too large...

[chrisch]

Originally Posted by WannabeMermaid

...
A lot of my friends commute on mountain bikes with slick tyres and find that fine.
....

That would be my route, but dunno if Si can do that with the rent scheme? You can pick up an old hardtail for not very much these days. Bang on slicks and some mudguards and away...

Chris

[nickb]

Originally Posted by MarkP

Au contraire. Having been cycle commuting for a few (33-ish) years now, there are two things that stand out in terms of making bikes easier and more efficient to ride; integrated brake / indexed gear levers and clipless pedals.

They're the dog's danglies and worth every penny. You just need to be comfortable and confident...

PS. Must get back on it...gut too large...

What he said; except for the gut thing

I couldn't go back to regular pedals now, the clipless pedals make mashing the hills a lot easier. It takes a bit of getting used-to, but I don't even have to think about it now.

[nickb]

Originally Posted by chrisch

That would be my route, but dunno if Si can do that with the rent scheme?

TBH I wouldn't bother with the 'Cycle to Work' scheme. It ties you into crap deals from even crappier dealers like Halfords who ought to be banned from selling and servicing bikes.

Si, you should check out eBay for some fantastic bargains on bikes, especially as you're near to London/M25 with a huge catchment area.

[BJ]

When I last bought a bike I asked my friend Chris Boardman (he's my only friend!) what sort of bike I should get.

Straight to the point, he retorted dryly: One with mudguards. You won't ever ride it otherwise!

[Tunicates]

Originally Posted by chrisch

That would be my route, but dunno if Si can do that with the rent scheme? You can pick up an old hardtail for not very much these days. Bang on slicks and some mudguards and away...

Chris

Hey Si,

I work in THe Bike biz, and would think that as you are a big lad, you will wear things out quicker, and need more servicing on your bikes that a little lad.
For this reason alone, you need to spend more like £400 to £450 on the bike.
Anything cheaper will start to fall apart on you by the end of its first year.
A £250 bike will feel ok to ride as new, but after a year will start to ride like a falling apart thing, and you will not enjoy it. The more you spend now, the more you'll still be enjoying it in a years time. Where have we heard that before.....

You will need mudguards, and some tyres that are a compromise between road and offroad - readily available, and a swap should be possible within the scheme.

I dont think it matters much wether you get a mountain bike or a hybrid.
Remember that suspension adds weight and expense, but its most likely that you dont actually need it. If the bike you want has it, then no harm.

Dont buy a bike purely cos it has nice stickers on it.
A years servicing on a bike is generally in the £100 region.

Have you looked at one of the Urban Mountainbikes? Hub gears and brakes ( less to go wrong, lower servicing, less time in the workshop ) and often come as standard with mudguards and a rack.

frinstance:
Giant Bicycles |  Bikes - lifestyle - Escape N7 City

The old 'strong/light/cheap - pick two' adage is no truer than with pushbikes.

If you are using it to cycle to work....lets say you'll do that 4 days a week, for however many weeks of the year. Work out what your savings are over three years. You are going to have a HUGE saving almost without doubt. Spend some of that saving on your initial purchase and enjoy the ride!

[Olle]

What everyone else said really. If you're out in farmland and commuting I'd think about a suspension fork on a hybrid. You can always use two sets of tyres, a thicker (2"-ish) set for mud use and a set of slicks for commuting. Depends a bit on how often you'd need to change them, obviously not ideal to swap tyres everyday.

Don't overlook the details: A GOOD lock is essential and if you're out in the dark countryside, big bright front lights. (Tend to come in the 'See' - actually illuminate the road or 'Be seen' - small LED lights)

Originally Posted by scribley

I looked at some of the Halfords offerings, and although they seemed to have more features the quality didn't seem to compare to the others.

DO NOT TOUCH. HALFORDS WITH A BARGE POLE.
They're own brand (Apollo) are complete crap.
While the other bikes they sell are ok and sometimes quite nice, my experience with the staff* is that they're crap.

*I worked for them for a while. I quit very quickly after seeing their treatment och customers bikes and getting tired of selling crap bikes.

Originally Posted by IanD

They do when the forget they are riding a fixed and stop pedalling when approaching traffic lights, oh no wait, the don't stop for lights do they

I did(-ish). And still do. So NERR! (but lets not get into that one) On a serious side, if you're looking to go fixed/single speed (shedloads of fun) or using clipless pedals, take the bike to a nice big park with plenty of nice soft grass and practice clipping in and out of your shoes. They will jam/stick. You will fall. Better to do it in public on soft grass and only deal with the bruised ego than to do it on a road and deal with bruised ego + bruised limbs.