The commuting bike for Steve thread
Posted by: Steve Bull on 16 April 2007
We've not had cycling thread for ages, so here we go.
Last summer I resurrected an early 90s Kona Lavadome and pootled round on it a bit but to be honest I never really found the time to use it much. Now I know I need to get some exercise in so I've taken a different tack started riding it to work - 3 days last week and aiming for the same this week. Enjoying it so far. If I keep it up I intend to treat myself to a new bike or some renovations to this one as a birthday present (6 weeks away). I'm after suggestions on which would be the best move.
The route: cross-town, just over 5 miles, all on road/cycle lane at side of road. Mostly flat, one small hill near the start. Currently I'm doing the journey in around 25 mins, all on the 36T front cog as the selector is knackered and beyond adjustment. On the flat I can get it up to about 25kmh without bursting myself. I've got semi-slick tyres fitted.
The rider: 37, 5'10, 85kg (down from 90 so far this year, aiming for 75-80 eventually). Fit enough for a 10+ mile hillwalk and able to do the ride into work without wearing myself out. Unlikely to find time to do much/any cycling beyond the trip to work and back so this doen't need to be a multi-purpose bike. I don't have much luggage to carry so racks and panniers not essential.
The choices:
(1) Renovations to Lava Dome: presumably new cogs all round and a chain, possibly thinner more road-oriented tyres if the rims will take it. Maybe even go single-speed as I'm 2/3 of the way there already. Advantage: relatively cheap, disadvantage: it's still a 15 year-old bike.
(2) Hybrid type bike, eg Kona Dew
(3) Road bike, eg Specialized Allez
(4) Single-speed road bike, eg Specialized Langster/Kona Paddy wagon (worth the money for the name alone)
As you can guess from the examples above, £4-600 is the budget I had in mind, I won't complain if I can spend less and am happy to spend more if the benefits make it worthwhile (hey, this is the Naim forum after all).
So... thoughts, anyone?
Posted on: 16 April 2007 by Martin M
If you have the spare cash, I suggest you take a look at a custom bike e.g a Roberts.
www.robertscycles.com The extra cost is compensated by the comfort and engineering excellence. Budget for a damn good lock too.
Posted on: 16 April 2007 by RoyleBlue
Posted on: 16 April 2007 by PJT
Steve,
What do you want in a commuter? I reckon a nicely serviced 'junker' is ideal for commuting, especially if it has to be left outside, or in relatively unsecure places.
Yes a road bike would be a bit faster/easier to ride, but don't forget the PUNCTURES you will get from their small tyres.
A full MTB will only slow you down or at best waste effort with any suspension bouncing or knobbly tyres - semi-slicks included.
Sort out your gears, get proper slicks and maybe think about disc brakes.
Maybe invest in a suspended seat post if you want/need more comfort.
Pete
Posted on: 16 April 2007 by Bruce Woodhouse
Is your bike safe at work from theft? If not then the best value may be to spruce up the Kona. The frame may be 15 years old but if it is sound then why not?
My alternative would be something like a Cannondale Bad Boy Rigid, around the £600 mark, or a nice steel MTB frame like an Orange P7. That would give you an option of some riding on trails/towpaths etc if you wanted. Don't bother with suspension forks-even a semi-slick MTB tyre has enough squidge for the roads.
Road bikes are great for going fast and light, but for a straighforward short commute you'll get more comfort from a hybrid/MTB.
Are you going to ride in the wet? A hybrid bike/custom frame may come with proper mudguards, worth thinking about if you intend riding all year. MTB 'crudguards' are fairly rubbish, and a many pure road bikes can only take a thin 'raceguard' if at all.
I suspect your best bet is to find a good local bike shop who will get you a bike that suits and fits as well as sorting servicing etc.
Bruce
Posted on: 17 April 2007 by Chris Kelly
Steve
I had a Marin San Rafael until it was stolen from a locked bike room in which it was locked to the wall and to the adjacent bike. It was really comfortable, easy to ride and reasonably light. Once the Hiscox money has reached my bank I shall probably replace it with a similar machine, but keep it elsewhere!
Posted on: 17 April 2007 by Diode100
I've been considering much the same thing, I need a bike that can be locked up to a bike rail in Central London,of no interest to bike thieves, but still be a bit of fun to ride. The idea of a well serviced ''junker'' seems to fit the bill, but to add a twist a few weeks ago I saw a mixte framed sports bike, probably from the 1970's. I know these were marketed in most countries as ladies bikes, but being a mere 5'-7'' the frame configuration should be a plus. Surely no Brick Lane yob would waste his bolt cutters heisting of these, would he ?
Posted on: 18 April 2007 by JAB
Just a couple thoughts to add to those above:
First, fit is everything. It's truly worth the money invested in getting a proper fitting done. Once you know what really fits you shopping becomes much more focussed.
Second, consider what you want out of your daily rides. Is it a simple commute or are you aiming at fitness and weight loss as well? I know your post indicates the latter but how much of a priority is it? With your distance a short high intensity interval programme would give excellent results (probably on the way home unless you can shower at work!)
If that's the case I'd be looking at a road bike.
At your budget and considering security issues, I'd look second hand or consider the cycle to work scheme if your employer is co-operative.
Don't forget to budget for lights, helmet etc as needed!
Posted on: 18 April 2007 by Chalshus
Check out the complete bikes from
On One.
British company that make nice rides. (Had the Inbred earlier -great! at its price).
Since your route is mostly flat, I would have searched for a singlespeed (high geared) with a rigid fork. And 28" wheels.
The Pompino road bike (£499):
Inbred 29er, also £499:
Switch the crank-ring with something bigger and put on slicks, and you have a nice bike.
Posted on: 18 April 2007 by Steve Bull
Thanks for the input guys, much appreciated.
To answer some of the specific questions:
Security: house, shed or garage at home, secure parking with cctv at work. Mind you, given Chris K's comments this may not be as secure as I think!
What do I want to get out of it? Exercise, fitness and weight loss though for now I'm happy to be able to do the journey without busting. Actually, 6 rides in over two weeks and I'm managing just fine. I've got over the initial saddle-soreness.
All-weather cycling: not in my game-plan at the moment but as I get used to riding it could happen.
Cycle to work scheme: a great idea, but ours has a one-month window that ended last month so I can't do anything on this until March next year. D'oh!
Test-rides: Absolutely - at the moment I'm just trying to narrow down what I want to try, but I have two local LBS where I can test-ride a good selection of the ranges from Kona, Specialized and Cannondale. Not sure if I can get an extended loan but if you don't ask...
Christian - nice bikes, I'm off to look at the On One site next.
At the moment I'm leaning towards Bruce's suggestion to refurb my current Kona - and will call the shop tomorrow to price up replacement gears, chains, shifters and some nice slick tyres. If I can get away with that lot without too much expense then it may be best to carry on with the Kona until next spring and make use of the cycle to work scheme then.
If it's too expensive then I'll reconsider the options.
One extra thought that entered the mix today during some lunchtome web-surfing was a NOS 2006 Kona Lavadome @ £449 (was £600), and just throw some road tyres on it. But we'll see.
Oh dear, is this turning into Nuno's New Amplier thread on two wheels?
Meantime I'm still enjoying myself - it's only 10 miles a day but I've got to start somewhere and can't remember the last time I rode 30 miles in a week... probably somewhere around 1990.
Steve.
Posted on: 19 April 2007 by Nick_S
One issue with the On One fixed gear bike is that the horizontal drop outs will entail repositioning the brake blocks when the wheel is moved to take up slack as the chain elongates over time. The Rivendell Quickbeam handles this better by using sloping track dropouts which are parallel to the brake blocks:
(as will converting an old style racer or touring bike to fixed gear with sloping near-horizontal dropouts).
Nick
Posted on: 19 April 2007 by Rockingdoc
quote:
Originally posted by Martin M:
If you have the spare cash, I suggest you take a look at a custom bike e.g a Roberts.
www.robertscycles.com The extra cost is compensated by the comfort and engineering excellence. Budget for a damn good lock too.
Wow, an endorsement for Chas Roberts from the USA. I regard them as my rather grubby little corner shop, but must confess I do like the comfort of my Roberts commuter bike. I'm much too old and tired for one gear though.
Posted on: 19 April 2007 by Diode100
quote:
Originally posted by Rockingdoc:
quote:
Originally posted by Martin M:
If you have the spare cash, I suggest you take a look at a custom bike e.g a Roberts.
www.robertscycles.com The extra cost is compensated by the comfort and engineering excellence. Budget for a damn good lock too.
Wow, an endorsement for Chas Roberts from the USA. I regard them as my rather grubby little corner shop, but must confess I do like the comfort of my Roberts commuter bike. I'm much too old and tired for one gear though.
Some very nice machinery there, but all well over budget. Shame they don't do an entry level Nait 1 equivalent.
Posted on: 19 April 2007 by Mick P
Posted on: 31 May 2007 by Matthew T
Steve,
I have gone through the same process via a somewhat complex route.
Basically I now have a bike optimised for communiting on my route (involving tow paths, park paths and roads).
The bike started as a road bike (slightly small for me due to being 6'3), all aluminium frame, 27 speed (too lazy to try harder on those climbs) and was around £500. I then stuck in a suspension post because 22mm tires at 120psi with all aluminium frame was just to hard.
I then moved to upgrade the frame and ended up going to ultegra/dura ace with some campag zonda wheels.
So I had all the gear to build up my old bike with some mods. So all aluminium frame, shimano tiagra 27 speed/brakes however I use cut down straight handlebars with shimano shifters/levers. I respoked the wheels with really serious touring rims (28mm mavics) and 28mm slightly treaded, though puncture proof tires.
The result is possibly one of the uglist least desirable bikes know to man yet it is pretty quick, has dealt fine with a wipe out of two (no collosions thankfully) and I suspect that no one is going to want to nick it. The only thing I would change is get rid of the chainset gears, and I still have a 21-12 rear block which is just stupid for commuting. The sawn of handlebars are great, much less chance of a clip from passing vehicles.
No photos to show you but it is really ugly. I doubt you are looking to do the same but reworking the kona might be the best bet, getting narrower rims would lighten the feel of the bike significantly, but respoking is not the most straight forward exercise though satisifing once completed, desipte the slightly wobbly wheels!
Matthew
