Cycling to work?

Question

I need to buy a bike to cycle to work on. I want to spend around £300 - 400. I will probably use it most days so I want decent parts that wont wear out quickly and something relatively light weight.

Can anyone recommend a brand or model that I can use for the commute as well as general fitness?

Thanks

Answer 1

I can second the recommendation for Claud Butler. I bought an Urban 300 a year ago, after riding around on a cheapo old mountain bike for ten years. Wow - what a difference!

The bike is excellent quality and nothing's worn out or dropped off. It's light (unlike a Dutch bike!) and takes a rack and mudguards easily - you'll want them for commuting. I've fitted puncture resistant road tyres (Vittoria Randonneurs) which are fine as I don't go through forests on it, and the bike rolls much more easily and quietly - a very worthwhile upgrade. You get far more bike for your money (better components) with a Claud Butler than you do a more popular brand such as Trek, Specialized etc.

One other bike that ticks a lot of boxes for a lot of commuters is the Carrera Subway 8. Despite the fact that it's sold by Halfords, it's a great bike (actually all of the Carrera bikes in Halfords are good - don't confuse them with the "Apollo" junk they also sell). It's got most things a commuter would need already on it and has low maintenance drum brakes and an eight speed hub gear - both these things are good news for a commuting bike.

The Carrera will set you back £280, a Claud Butler Urban 200 will set you back £225, plus you'll need mudguards (£25) and £25 for a set of puncture proof town tyres.

Answer 2

Depends upon the style of riding you plan on doing. If you are thinking of doing any off road, I would advise differently. However, assuming road:

Dawes, Giant (Worlds largest, so economies of scale come into force) Claude Butler, Specialized.

If you are going to be using this for commute, I would look at carrying space. A comfort bike might be more in line with your requirements. However, race can be adapted. You might also consider hybrid, as it has front suspension.

The most important advancement in bikes (Other than lighter alluminium and carbon fibre) would be the gears. 20 years ago you might have still drueled over a Raleigh 10 speed. You may have fond memories of reaching down to the frame to change gear. Trigger shifters are a lot easier. The names to watch out for a Shimano (The Microsoft of the bike world) and SRAM.

As a general word of warning. Do not buy from supermarkets. Also, you really, really, really, don't want to buy anything that promises to be full suspension for anything less that your maximum (Ideally, £700).

Hope this helps. When you have narrowed your choices, post a link and we will give you our oppinion.

Luck

Answer 3

I use to pop stackers when they still made them with ephedrine. I use to take anywhere from 3 to 5 a day. I was 18 at the time. I did this for about a year. I eventually quit taking the crap, not because it did anything to me, but i was bored with it. After i quit taking it, i gained some weight. I was a very active person anyways though. It took my body a while to adjust. If you don't have the time to devote to exercise like crazy when you plan on not taking those anymore, then the chance of you getting fat is very probable. Taking them for the rest of your life isn't a very good idea. They have a very negative impact on the human heart. They might not cause a heart attack in a young fairly healthy person. But that doesn't mean that the chemical doesn't stay present in the human body years later where it effects you later on down the road. I am not sure why you would want to take them in the first place. If it is for energy then i would suggest a descent night's sleep and a pot of coffee instead. If it is to lose weight i would suggest a healthy diet that doesn't involve using chemicals as a crutch... and a good exersice routiene. The key to losing weight IS NOT taking all these pills the media is trying to shove down our throats. The key to losing weight comes from self controll. I do hope that for your own health and safety sake and the longevity of your life you don't keep taking that crap. Good luck.

Answer 4

I did se in GB , D , H , CZ , S , NL , PL , SK for commuting really decent nice equipt Raleigh , Gazelle , Bianchi and Hercules bicycle in this price range . All bikes from USA in EU is overtaxed by state - 20% or more depend which country , so buy bicycle made in EU and avoid bike made in China . There is plenty of quality bikes for reasonable price made in EU even in eastern block , example 4ever , Amulet and so on ........

Answer 5

You can get a killer bike for that amount of $.

As far as parts wearing out. Provided you don't buy a department store bike, you will have to ride thousands of miles before you start seeing parts wear out.

good luck!

Answer 6

i love Saracen's because they prove that they are good by building them properly. I had a Saracen once and i loved it 24 gears and lush thick tyres. i went down the bmx track nearly everyday and never had any problems with the bike until i got a puncture and that was like 6 years after i bought it. i would highly recommend a Saracen.

Answer 7

Theres 100's to choose from in that price range just go to a shop and try one out its the only way.

Answer 8

a hybrid bike would be the best bet there fast and easy to rid and most work fine

Answer 9

Edoardo says buy a Bianchi.

Answer 10

Dawes, Giant, something Dutch as they have been using bikes most/longest