Cycling UK Forum

I’m thinking of replacing my commuter bike but have no clue what I should go for so I was looking for some advice and buying help.

Budget of between £350-£450.

Thanks.

How long is your commute?
Is it hilly and do you like really easy gears to get you up?
Drop bars or straight?
Would you like mudguards and a rack to carry stuff?
How fast do you aspire to be -- does that matter to you?

How long? Flat, hilly? Drop bar, flat? Are you carrying luggage? Some more information will help people to give more relevant recommendations.

I see pwa has got there first

Sorry should have given you guys more info

I do 4x 1.5miles per day mostly flat with one steep climb up and over a railway footbridge and one other smaller hill to climb,the rest is road traveling

I’d like drop bars (I have a mtb just now) and something a bit faster for me.

I do quite a bit of shifting gears so something with a nice smooth shift is important.

I don’t need storage space and mud guards are something I’d like but not to important as I can always retrofit after

Some bikes have plenty of room between frame and wheel for guards, but many don't. So that's one thing to watch out for if you may want guards in the future. The space between the brake and tyre can be very tight on many road bikes.

If you're about 5-10 or so:

https://www.edinburghbicycle.com/roux-etape-250.html

Or?

https://www.bricklanebikes.co.uk/6ku-de ... o_s=gplauk

https://www.evanscycles.com/pinnacle-la ... e-EV299413

Just to start the discussion, this Evans own brand bike sort of fits the bill. At a glance, with mudguard fixing points and 57mm brake drop (gives more room than most between tyre and brake) it should take mudguards. Tyres are a bit narrow but over your short ride it should be fast.

You should go and try it though, and make sure it fits.

Bonefishblues wrote:If you're about 5-10 or so:

https://www.edinburghbicycle.com/roux-etape-250.html

Or?

https://www.bricklanebikes.co.uk/6ku-de ... o_s=gplauk

Don’t like these style bikes and don’t need the storage spaces

pwa wrote:https://www.evanscycles.com/pinnacle-laterite-1-2018-road-bike-EV299413

Just to start the discussion, this Evans own brand bike sort of fits the bill. At a glance, with mudguard fixing points and 57mm brake drop (gives more room than most between tyre and brake) it should take mudguards. Tyres are a bit narrow but over your short ride it should be fast.

You should go and try it though, and make sure it fits.

Looks decent,what is that shimano gear set like for functionality and reliability

Fraz101 wrote:

pwa wrote:https://www.evanscycles.com/pinnacle-laterite-1-2018-road-bike-EV299413

Just to start the discussion, this Evans own brand bike sort of fits the bill. At a glance, with mudguard fixing points and 57mm brake drop (gives more room than most between tyre and brake) it should take mudguards. Tyres are a bit narrow but over your short ride it should be fast.

You should go and try it though, and make sure it fits.

Looks decent,what is that shimano gear set like for functionality and reliability

Claris is "entry level" but Shimano do "entry level" well. So if you look after it you will get a lot of use out of it. For the price it is good stuff. Members of my family have similar kit on their bikes and it works reliably and smoothly. Ideal for your short commute, and pretty good for longer rides.

If you could get it on Ride to Work this would be within your price range.
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/verenti-substan ... ad-bike-1/

or £50 above your budget.
https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBPXRT58V ... -road-bike

Managed to send that before I was finished.
Decathlon do a range of Triban bikes this one is £350 and has a Microshift branded gearshift. The next one up in the range with Shimano Claris is £499.

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-500- ... 79069.html

There's always second hand where you can get a lot more bike for your money but it can throw up more issues than buying from a shop.