Bike purchase Advice - 8 mile Commute

[JTT]

Hi, new to these forums, pls excuse if this is posted in wrong area.

& no not a commute through Detroit, but i will start commuting to work on a bike to ensure i stay in good health.

I'm 43, reasonably fit..

The commute is around 8 miles, along normal roads - some A roads, some back roads - with a half mile stretch up a reasonable hill - which normally i have to take in quite low gear on my mountain bike.

I would like something as an all in one purchase, including mudguards, lights, disc brakes and something to carry a rucksack/bag on + anything else I've probably missed - with heavy duty tyres. I won't be doing the Tour de France at weekends - so just needed for my commute.

I don't want to spend loads of time on maintenance, so not something that will break too easily.

I'm used to a mountain bike so have been looking at hybrids? Would this be best or road bike?

To spend between £500-£1000 absolute max.

Its an ocean of choice, pls help..

Thank you in advance.

[Bonefishblues]

Straight in at the top of the range:

http://www.chargebikes.com/grater-3/

Simple, low-maintenance, rather stylish from a maker witha good reputation.

[Brucey]

the bike that perhaps meets your brief best is more money than you want to spend



http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/urban/urban-and-cross-utility/day-one/day-one-ltd

but apart from buying a lock and perhaps changing the tyres for something more suited to your specific needs there isn't much I would change.

Maybe you could buy last year's model and add the rack and dynamo lighting yourself? Still available here (for example)

https://www.evanscycles.com/genesis-day-one-20-2017-adventure-road-bike-EV289570

in sizes XS and S for £719, which is pretty good value for what it is.

cheers

[Tangled Metal]

Straight in at the top of the range:

http://www.chargebikes.com/grater-3/

Simple, low-maintenance, rather stylish from a maker witha good reputation.

Am I right in thinking this hub gear gives 26 to 81 gear inches?

My geared bike has 28 to 112 gear inches.

I reckon even on small downhills I'd spin out, possibly even on the flat too at times. I reckon a beginner will not have an issue with this hub gearing but it might not be the case 6 months down the line. Not future proofed much IMHO.

IMHO a derailleur geared bike is best unless you can afford a Rohloff geared belt drive bike. Such derailleur geared bikes can be bought at the cheaper end of the OP's budget which could allow a course in bike maintenance if needed.

[Bonefishblues]

the bike that perhaps meets your brief best is more money than you want to spend



http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/urban/urban-and-cross-utility/day-one/day-one-ltd

but apart from buying a lock and perhaps changing the tyres for something more suited to your specific needs there isn't much I would change.

Maybe you could buy last year's model and add the rack and dynamo lighting yourself? Still available here (for example)

https://www.evanscycles.com/genesis-day-one-20-2017-adventure-road-bike-EV289570

in sizes XS and S for £719, which is pretty good value for what it is.

cheers

I too looked at that and rejected as over budget Brucey, but it's a lovely thing isn't it.

[Bonefishblues]

Straight in at the top of the range:

http://www.chargebikes.com/grater-3/

Simple, low-maintenance, rather stylish from a maker witha good reputation.

Am I right in thinking this hub gear gives 26 to 81 gear inches?

My geared bike has 28 to 112 gear inches.

I reckon even on small downhills I'd spin out, possibly even on the flat too at times. I reckon a beginner will not have an issue with this hub gearing but it might not be the case 6 months down the line. Not future proofed much IMHO.

IMHO a derailleur geared bike is best unless you can afford a Rohloff geared belt drive bike. Such derailleur geared bikes can be bought at the cheaper end of the OP's budget which could allow a course in bike maintenance if needed.

I reckon I seldom use a bigger gear than top on this tbh.

[JTT]

Straight in at the top of the range:

http://www.chargebikes.com/grater-3/

Simple, low-maintenance, rather stylish from a maker witha good reputation.

Thx looks nice, would need lights and a cargo rack.

I assume these are easy to fit?

Looks like the tyres on this one are already re-enforced road tyres?

thx

[JTT]

the bike that perhaps meets your brief best is more money than you want to spend



http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/urban/urban-and-cross-utility/day-one/day-one-ltd

but apart from buying a lock and perhaps changing the tyres for something more suited to your specific needs there isn't much I would change.

Maybe you could buy last year's model and add the rack and dynamo lighting yourself? Still available here (for example)

https://www.evanscycles.com/genesis-day-one-20-2017-adventure-road-bike-EV289570

in sizes XS and S for £719, which is pretty good value for what it is.

cheers

I too looked at that and rejected as over budget Brucey, but it's a lovely thing isn't it.

Yes, bit over budget, but looks like ticks most boxes, except tyres. assume some better "commute" tyres would be relatively cheap?

[PH]

[
Am I right in thinking this hub gear gives 26 to 81 gear inches?

My geared bike has 28 to 112 gear inches.

I reckon even on small downhills I'd spin out, possibly even on the flat too at times. I reckon a beginner will not have an issue with this hub gearing but it might not be the case 6 months down the line. Not future proofed much IMHO.

With a similar top gear I spin out at around 25mph.
Whether that's an issue will depend on a number of factors, it doesn't bother me and I doubt much of an eight mile commute is going to be spent above that whatever the gearing or rider. If a rider was fit enough to regularly ride the flat at above that speed, I'd suggest they didn't need the 26" gear and could easily raise the entire range with a simple change of chainring or sprocket.
As one of the criteria is low maintenance, hub gear would be top of my list, though I don't have a specific model to recommend. As for the criteria that it needs to have everything fitted, I wouldn't get too hung up about it, as long as it had the fittings. If you don't want to do it yourself, any bike shop can fit you rack, lights and mudguards as long as the bike is designed to take them, sure it would be nice to have them already, but a shame to reject an otherwise good bike because it didn't.

[Brucey]

hub dynamo lighting setups (wheel plus lights) go from ~£80 all in to £200 all in. The one fitted to the day-one LTD is quite an expensive setup, with a USB charger and so forth. If you don't need that you could have an effective setup at a lower price.

The CST tyres fitted to the LTD are pretty good but you might want something different; all tyres are compromises and everyone's compromises are different.

I'd buy last years day-one model and make it the bike you really want. BTW size S will fit folk that would take an M in some other bikes, so worth double checking if size S is or isn't going to fit before making your mind up, if S is the only size still available.

The hub gear beats derailleurs hands down in terms of regular maintenance, obviously.

cheers

[Vorpal]

I recommend going out and riding some bikes.

Try some of the ones that you think might suit, or are recommended on here. Only you can tell what you like best.

If you don't find one that suits, you can develop criteria or likes / dislikes and come back again for suggestions.

Take some decent test rides, not just round the car park, or something.

Good luck

[JTT]

hub dynamo lighting setups (wheel plus lights) go from ~£80 all in to £200 all in. The one fitted to the day-one LTD is quite an expensive setup, with a USB charger and so forth. If you don't need that you could have an effective setup at a lower price.

The CST tyres fitted to the LTD are pretty good but you might want something different; all tyres are compromises and everyone's compromises are different.

I'd buy last years day-one model and make it the bike you really want. BTW size S will fit folk that would take an M in some other bikes, so worth double checking if size S is or isn't going to fit before making your mind up, if S is the only size still available.

The hub gear beats derailleurs hands down in terms of regular maintenance, obviously.

cheers

I'm around 5'8" with relatively short legs for size. Not sure if the S would be good?

Also what's this spinning out discussion pls? I plan to get some speed up on the flat also. Would the day-one be suitable?

thx again, really helping

[Bonefishblues]

Straight in at the top of the range:

http://www.chargebikes.com/grater-3/

Simple, low-maintenance, rather stylish from a maker with a good reputation.

Thx looks nice, would need lights and a cargo rack.

I assume these are easy to fit?

Looks like the tyres on this one are already re-enforced road tyres?

thx

Yes, yes, and yes, respectively to your questions

2016 model is available in your size here:

https://www.leisurelakesbikes.com/6330/ ... brown.aspx

[JTT]

Straight in at the top of the range:

http://www.chargebikes.com/grater-3/

Simple, low-maintenance, rather stylish from a maker with a good reputation.

Thx looks nice, would need lights and a cargo rack.

I assume these are easy to fit?

Looks like the tyres on this one are already re-enforced road tyres?

thx

Yes, yes, and yes, respectively to your questions

2016 model is available in your size here:

https://www.leisurelakesbikes.com/6330/ ... brown.aspx

thx, whats this spinning out on gearing? i plan on getting some speed up where possible, no slouch..

that looks a good price!..

[Bonefishblues]

Spinning out is when your top gear isn't big enough for your legs, IYSWIM - that is, you can no longer push the pedals around quickly enough. As said earlier, you're good for 20 mph+ on that gearing. If you wanted to blitz down a hill pedalling at 40mph, then you'd need a much bigger gear, but this range of gears is absolutley in the meat of what most cyclists need. If you needed bigger, than again as said, fit a larger chainring (but you'd have a higher bottom gear too, of course)

The recommendations for a hub gear are based on your usage and specific requirement for low maintenance.