New Bike For Commuting

[BigChris]

I’m going to be getting a new bike for commuting using the bike to work scheme and was hoping for some advice and opinions as the choice is bewildering!
My commute will be about 8 or so miles a day on roads and canal towpaths. I also travel about a bit during the day and need to carry my laptop, paperwork, other stuff and wet weather gear and it adds up to two reasonably heavy panniers. I weigh about 16 stone and with either the panniers or a child and seat at weekends the rear wheel is going to be taking quite a bit of weight through it.

Essentials are: mudguards and pannier rack or clearance/mounts to be able to fit these. I also have a nice front basket on my current (destroyed by the salt!) bike which needs lugs on the fork for its rack and it would be nice to be able to move this over to the new bike.

Bikes I’m considering include:
Giant Escape 4, Mongoose Crossway 200, Ridgeback Rapide either Comet or Motion, Trek T10.

I would be very grateful for any thoughts on these. Particularly recommendations or anything to avoid. Thanks.

Chris.

[gentlegreen]

I do about the same daily mileage over rough lanes and roads and carry heavy loads, and I swear by my mountain bike - I even do Sunday 50-mile group rides on it ..though I've come to realise I was spoiled by having a suspension fork that actually barely moved - so would go for a rigid fork.
I'm so hard on back wheels I fit upgraded rims.

[random37]

Just a few thoughts. I'm heavier than you, but I also ride a lot; these are the things I think are important:

At least 32mm tyres, preferrably 35mm or 37mm. In fact, for towpaths, at least 35mm.

36 spoke wheels with eyeletted rims

A bike with clearances for full-length mudguards.

Things that aren't important:

Equipment level (Don't think because it has Acera/Alivio it is a bad bike!)
Brakes (Nothing you're looking at should have discs)
Number of gears (3 is plenty for almost everyone, 21 is a lot, 27 is more than almost anyone needs)

For years, I owned numerous cheap road bikes with skinny little tyres. I just assumed cycling hurt, and that bikes needed to be constantly fiddled with. It's not so.

[BigChris]

Thanks for the replies. I think at the momment I'm tending towards either the Giant or the Ridgeback.
My road bike is a Giant OCR from 2005 and I'm pretty pleased with it, so think I'd be OK with another Giant (although it's obviously a different kind of bike).
I'd be interested in people's views of Ridgebacks in general and the rapide range in particular. I have seen a lot of ridgebacks about but don't know what sort of reputation they have.
As for which Ridgeback - I think the thning that would make me consider the comet rather than the motion is the potentially stronger wheels although I don't know how much of an issue this is. Specs from web:
comet: Shimano RM30 Rear Hub, Alloy Front on Alex ACE-18 Rims
motion: Aluminium Hubs on Aluminium Rims
Also, just noticed the comet has an adjustable position stem, is this good or a gimmick?

Chris - you mention eyeletted rims, excuse my ignorance but what are these and what is the advantage.

I'm getting excited about the prospect of a new bike.....

[quiksilver]

What sort of terrain will you be riding on? I agree with chris667 that we all tend to have too many gears really. Who really needs 27? I manage with one but three or five would be ok too.

[[XAP]Bob]

eyletted rims have eyelets to properly distribute the load the rim where the spokes enter (which is at an angle)

As you have discovered the salt effect can you rescue your old steed as a second bike, so you can do maintenance on your main bike that takes more than a 30 minute slot one evening?

[BigChris]

Quicjsilver - I will mostly be riding roads and river/canal towpath, pretty flat commute but ma hit a few minor hills at the weekend with child on the back...

[Ant]

Big Chris

If you need a strong back wheel (which from your description of your planned usage, you surely do) the get a single speed if you are a. hard or b. a masochist or, perhaps more sensibly, get a hub geared bike.

Budget is a major consideration.

Giant Seek O Alfine, 650 in sales 850 otherwise.

Charge Mixer, 540 at wiggle

EBC courier nexus - 252 (until monday) stupidly cheap, but nexus apparently not as robust as alfine

There are lots of others, these just pop into mind....

The dishless back wheel will prove a boon and sealed hub means minimal maintenance. Also when it does die fairly cheap to replace...

cheers, Ant

[Elizabethsdad]

I have been commuting since May 2010 on a Trek Soho and it is a lovely ride. My journey is 9miles on roads some of which are in pretty poor condition (any Southampton riders familiar with Redbridge Hill?) and I have a few hills to deal with. The 8 speed Nexus hub gear has a good range and easy spacing and I have had no problems with the Gates carbon belt drive. I have also had no problems with the drum brakes though I know others rate them as a bit soft, I'll just say that I have always managed to stop in time.

[ersakus]

For me low cost and maintenance freeness were the deciding factors. Also depends where you will be locking your bike safety levels etc. Personally I have a single speed with all the commuting facilities on it (rack mudguard, etc) but nothing too fancy so that it is not attractive. I found from experience if you don't have hills, gears really don't matter. The bike looks retro as well, with a bit of mud on it, the thing looks like a battered bike from last century. Just an idea..

[gilesjuk]

Brakes (Nothing you're looking at should have discs).

Why not? just because you don't like them doesn't mean they're no good.

You should go mountain biking in the rain with V brakes and see how terrible they are in poor conditions. Needless to say everyone I ride with is on disc brakes.

http://mountainbike.about.com/od/buyers ... im_faq.htm

The only downsides are weight and price according to that. I do a lot of mountain biking and nobody has ever damaged their rotor.

[random37]

Why not? just because you don't like them doesn't mean they're no good.

You should go mountain biking in the rain with V brakes and see how terrible they are in poor conditions. Needless to say everyone I ride with is on disc brakes.

http://mountainbike.about.com/od/buyers ... im_faq.htm

The only downsides are weight and price according to that. I do a lot of mountain biking and nobody has ever damaged their rotor.

What made you think I don't like them?

I think they're great, on the right machine. Just not this one.