Cycling UK Forum

Hi,

The office where I work is moving from being 1 mile from my house to 2.5 miles which means going from an easy walk to potentially a two hour walk.
I don't want to use the car so I'm looking into getting a bike. The last time I had a bike I was probably 14 which is a good 30+ years ago and now I'm finding that aside from say Raleigh and Falcon, I don't recognise any of the brands!

My initial thoughts are a mountain bike as I like the style and want to avoid going on roads where possible (where I live there are lots of bike paths, gravel and woodland routes).
I was drawn by the appeal of an E-MTB as, despite my area being fairly flat, I like the idea of no being as sweaty when get to work (office job). I'm a bit miffed by the prices as I'd like to spend a maximum of £1000 and if I get something 'decent' for less, I'll do that.

When I was a kid I spent most of my time fixing up bikes, upgrading parts, tinkering, servicing and taking bikes apart literally just to put them back together again so what I'm really looking for is a decent enough frame that will last a good number of years - everything else can be upgraded in time so as long as it's gets me going I'm not too bothered about the longevity of everything else.

One thing that's been pointed out to me is that I could get a non-electric MTB and add the electrics after, this would get me a slightly better bike for the money - I'd like to know if that's a good way to go?

Any suggestions for specific bikes would be great!

Two and a half miles each way is not far at all, so unless the off-road routes are really very bumpy and steep, and I mean very, you’d probably be best to keep things simple by getting a hybrid (flat bars, no suspension). They are lighter, cheaper to buy, and have fewer bits to go wrong, and unless you spend a fair bit of money on suspension, it’s usually fairly rubbish anyway.

Personally, I’d look for a decent, but not hugely expensive, hybrid from Halfords (Carrera) or Evan’s (Pinnacle). The Carrera Subway Allweather looks to me like the sort of thing, or a for a bit more money to get slightly better components the Pinnacle Lithium 3.

One thing you might need to do with these sorts of bikes is fit better tyres, because they often come with very basic ones to keep the price down, and spending maybe £60 to get a set of tough, puncture resistant ones is well worth it in the depths of winter.

Rack, mudguards (that Carrera comes with them), lights, and a good lock.

Thanks - those bikes look good actually.

My 'direct' route to work is 2.5 miles but there are also routes that go through woodland and gravelled country parks that I can either do as an alternate route or for some lunch time exercise.

I'm guessing from your message that an E bike is worth it?

Also, is it possible to build from scratch for a similar price?

I have to agree with the first reply you received. I'd get a cheap hybrid. . . . . and I did, a Decathlon Btwin. At 64 y.o. I'm 2 years in and I hadn't been on a bike for 56 years!
I live in a very hilly city, was at least 12 Kg overweight but within a few months I could manage 30 miles relatively easily. Now I'm going up some pretty serious hills. A 2.5 mile walk is a decent commute. On a bike it's just over the other side of the road.

EDIT - Cross posted with the replies you've already had, I'm broadly in agreement with them, sorry for any duplication.

I like E-bikes, but for 2.5 miles I wouldn't bother unless there was something that meant you were unable to ride that distance without assistance. The effort required to ride a bike that far is less than that required to walk the mile you are at present! Getting sweaty on a flat route means the wrong clothing or gearing or you chose to push harder than required.
My choice would be to go to Halfords and buy a Carrera Subway, there's several to chose from. The all weather version comes with mudguards fitted, if choosing another version I'd budget for those. Riding in the rain without full cover mudguards will cause more issues than getting sweaty ever has.
There's plenty of alternatives to the Subway, but buying this sort of popular bike from one of the big chains (Halfords, Decathlon, Go Outdoors, Evans) is going to get you more bike for your money.
If you do decide you really want to go electric, I'd suggest upping the budget, there are £1,000 E-bikes but you can't expect too much from them.

I'm guessing from your message that an E bike is worth it?

Also, is it possible to build from scratch for a similar price?

An e-bike, to go 5 miles a day? No, not unless the five miles is really steeply uphill, to the degree where you doubt your ability to pedal up it. More money; more stuff to go wrong; less beneficial exercise.

My guess is that you are underestimating what you can do on a really basic hybrid pedal bike, but if you post some photos it might be possible to spot whether the routes you have in mind pose particular challenges.

Build from scratch? Do you mean any bike, or specifically an e-bike conversion onto a pure pedal bike? The answer is “yes” to either, but you need a fair bit of knowledge and skill, and some specialist tools, or the desire to put in a bit of time to learn. And, for an ordinary pedal bike, you’re unlikely to save money, because the big suppliers buy components by the lorry-load at prices ordinary consumers can’t get them at - we’re in the daft situation these days where sometimes it’s cheaper to buy a new bike than to heavily overhaul an old one.

I agree with the above posters: a mid-price hybrid would be ideal. I think spending around £500 would yield a considerably more comfortable and reliable ride.

A couple of other things I'd add: try to choose a model with pannier rack and mudguards (many hybrids are lighter and sportier) - something like this https://www.evanscycles.com/brand/trek/ ... e=93224403 or this https://www.evanscycles.com/brand/ralei ... e=40682715 (BTW, I'm not an advocate of Evans cycles. I'm just using them for illustration)

And definitely agree with the above poster about replacing the tyres with something better. A decent bike shop would do this for you for the cost of the difference.

First thing to ask yourself is, do you have somewhere safe to lock it up? If not, you'll be wanting insurance and don't skimp on the lock.
I'd echo what others have said, leave the ebiking for as long as you can. I am an ebiker and whilst I love the effortless cycling, the lack of exercise has drained every ounce of muscle from my legs to the point that for a brief period when the motor was being repaired I literally couldn't ride up the most easy of hills. It'll do you no good.

Nearholmer wrote: ↑17 Jun 2024, 11:38am Two and a half miles each way is not far at all, so unless the off-road routes are really very bumpy and steep, and I mean very, you’d probably be best to keep things simple by getting a hybrid (flat bars, no suspension). They are lighter, cheaper to buy, and have fewer bits to go wrong, and unless you spend a fair bit of money on suspension, it’s usually fairly rubbish anyway.

Personally, I’d look for a decent, but not hugely expensive, hybrid from Halfords (Carrera) or Evan’s (Pinnacle). The Carrera Subway Allweather looks to me like the sort of thing, or a for a bit more money to get slightly better components the Pinnacle Lithium 3.

One thing you might need to do with these sorts of bikes is fit better tyres, because they often come with very basic ones to keep the price down, and spending maybe £60 to get a set of tough, puncture resistant ones is well worth it in the depths of winter.

Rack, mudguards (that Carrera comes with them), lights, and a good lock.

Excellent advice.

You have previous experience of maintenance and know your way round bikes. And after a look round Halfords I'd also recommend seeing what's available secondhand, possibly at a local bike co-operative.

Jonathan

Vantage wrote: ↑17 Jun 2024, 12:20pm First thing to ask yourself is, do you have somewhere safe to lock it up? If not, you'll be wanting insurance and don't skimp on the lock.
...

Yes.

There's a collection of things to sort out as you start commuting by bike, but most of them get easier once you've got into the swing.

Tool kit.
What you'll do if something breaks.
Clothes and shoes: carry or preposition at work.
Showers (often controversial in this forum... )

Are there other cyclists or potential cyclists... this can help a lot.

Jonathan

And is there and would you be interested in an employer-based scheme for purchase?

Jonathan

I suggest you start by asking yourself the following questions:

1. How much stuff (weight and bulk) will you need/want to transport with you? If you work in an office I presume you would take things like waterproofs, lunch, a laptop etc., but not heavy bulky items like work tools. If so, one or two panniers on a rear rack is probably going to be what you need.

2. How rough are the tracks/off-road sections? Also, how muddy/grotty do they get after rain/in winter, and will you want to ride them when they are like that?

The rougher the off-road sections, the more you are likely to want/need wider tyres.

Muddy/grotty conditions are hard on the transmission, meaning that you may have to spend more time on cleaning and lubricating the drivetrain and/or replace the chain and possibly cassette more frequently (and if it's an ebike they are typically even harder on the drivetrain).

Many bikes will allow ~40mm tyres, and MTBs will have much wider tyres. However, not all those bikes will necessarily readily accept mudguards, especially not MTBs. For the riding you describe, proper full length mudguards will be essential, so you need to ensure that the bike will accept them. Many gravel and hybrid type bikes with ~40mm tyres will accept mudguards, but if you decide you want an MTB with 2.3" or 60mm or more width tyres AND mudguards then that is a very small niche.

In many major towns there are bike recycling charities which sell reconditioned used bikes at low prices. If there is one near you that would be my first port of call. A cheap used bike with 35mm-40mm tyres, mudguards and a rack would be perfect to get you going, and using that for a few months would help you decide whether you needed something different and/or more expensive, such as an ebike/MTB/eMTB.

As for needing an ebike to avoid getting sweaty, I suggest instead you ride at a lowish pace (and dress a bit warmer in cooler/cold weather to compensate for the fact that you will not be working so hard and generating as much bodyheat).

My personal view is that currently there are no bikes available off the shelf that are ideal for what you have described. In your place I would want
- a 3 speed hub gear (cheaper, more robust and more reliable than the available 5, 7 and 8 speed hub gears).
- a Hebie chainglider to enclose the chain (https://www.bikeradar.com/reviews/hebie ... der-review). Belt drive is an alternative, but requires a special frame that can be split to fit the belt.
- Hub dynamo lights (with an 80 lux or more front light for riding on poor roads/off-road with no street lighting)
- Brakes other than rim brakes, i.e. drum brakes, roller hub brakes or (ideally hydraulic) disc brakes.

Unfortunately, every mainstream bike manufacturer builds to fashion and down to a price, and consequently there are no such bikes available off the shelf, and what is available is often overpriced. A few EU bikes come close, but are often not available/in stock in the UK, e.g.

https://www.cubestores.co.uk/products/c ... ilver-2023

https://www.fahrradmanufaktur.de/en/kat ... -1000-2024

If you are up for putting in a bit of effort, and pick up a suitable used bike from a charity etc. as a starting point, you can build up something much better than what is available off the shelf, and potentially for the same or less cost.

There’s nothing much really to add to what’s already been said.

Vantage converted his bike to an E-bike and there’s quite a bit of knowledge here about doing so, but unless you really do have a physical need for the electric assist then the added complexity isn’t worth the extra hassle - and costs too - that an E-bike brings.

Commuting with a three speed was once common; whether workman, vicar or university lecturer they all got by with a three speed. I use mine on all types of terrain, just fit some 35mm / 1&3/8” tyres and off you go. My old Raleigh (approaching four decades) now has 700c’s and an ordinary (pre mountain bike) frame, I replaced the derailleur gears with hub gears and now run an old SA AW.

Getting sweaty; avoid that by going a little slower and by dressing a little lighter than you’d have on for walking. Maybe change some of your cloths at work, have waterproofs with you and a spare pair of shoes - sometimes I ride in wellies, I don’t care about looks and road conditions have become even less important.

As you have built up bikes their maintenance has no fears for you. There are some ‘lemons’ on eBay - that’s life - but beside your local cycle charity I’d be looking for something cheap, local and likely OK on eBay. A small fraction of your (£1000) current budget should get you mobile and your ride to work might well take less time than your current walk.

Good luck and enjoy.

A one mile easy walk to work now becomes an easy two and a half mile cycle to work. Why talk of electrically assisted bicycles? not sure I understand the problem here. A one mile walk at a leisurely 3 mph takes 20 minutes. A two and a half mile cycle ride at leisurely 10 mph takes 15 minutes. You will save ten minutes a day on your commute!

A lightweight hybrid sort you out. Fortunately they are loads to choose from secondhand as the market has fallen flat a little lately for new bikes.