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First time commuter cyclist after advice

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TheSmiler
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Joined: 14 Apr 2011
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PostPosted: 16:07 - 05 Jul 2013    Post subject: First time commuter cyclist after advice Reply with quote
Hey all haven't cycled in over 15 years apart from the motorbike so not really up to date on all the laws and regulations etc.

However tomorrow I have no choice unless I want to wait around for 2 hours twiddling thumbs on Sunday morning. Right so I'm going to be borrowing my brothers bike so (no helmet) just getting it ready now it's this one.

https://i.imgur.com/AiKObkZ.jpg

My main question is do you have to ride on the road Question

I'm only wondering as it would be faster on pavements and safer being in rush hour and roughly 10miles commute each way I don't live in london so none of them wacky laws for that district fit me.
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UnknownStuntm...
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Joined: 13 Sep 2007
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PostPosted: 16:52 - 05 Jul 2013    Post subject: Reply with quote
You're not allowed to ride on the pavements by law.

You'd be silly to ride without a helmet in London (but I'm not the safety police, I'm sure you've worked out the risks)

10 miles on roads, on that fat heavy knacker is going to make you hate cycling afterwards.

Let's see how you feel after you've done it once Laughing
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TheSmiler
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Joined: 14 Apr 2011
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PostPosted: 17:05 - 05 Jul 2013    Post subject: Reply with quote
UnknownStuntman wrote:
You're not allowed to ride on the pavements by law.

You'd be silly to ride without a helmet in London (but I'm not the safety police, I'm sure you've worked out the risks)

10 miles on roads, on that fat heavy knacker is going to make you hate cycling afterwards.

Let's see how you feel after you've done it once Laughing


Damn maybe I can grab a few spots where there are no police around Laughing

I've only got to last 4/5 days on it till the throttle cable comes, I'd like to do more commuting by push bike but looking at the cost I really don't see the point on spending £250 for something to pedal around on.

Ah well I'll go out tonight for a few hours get used to it hopefully it won't take too much getting used to.
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UnknownStuntm...
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Joined: 13 Sep 2007
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PostPosted: 20:06 - 05 Jul 2013    Post subject: Reply with quote
Good luck, make sure the suspension is preloaded as much as possible and put a lot of air in the tyres, will make it a little more bearable.
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dodsi
Dirty Carny



Joined: 06 Aug 2004
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PostPosted: 21:41 - 07 Jul 2013    Post subject: Reply with quote
Well for commuting in reality you want to spend upwards of £500 to get something that will last and be bearable over that sort of distance.
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Mondeo Man
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Joined: 21 May 2011
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PostPosted: 16:01 - 10 Jul 2013    Post subject: Reply with quote
dodsi wrote:
Well for commuting in reality you want to spend upwards of £500 to get something that will last and be bearable over that sort of distance.


Absolute rubbish.

100+ is fine.

My bike was £160 and I routinely do 60 mile bike rides.

All these numpties spending 500 quid plus are like the numpties who think that they need a £80 pair of trainers (Nike, Addidas etc) to walk out the house.

My 8.50 pair of trainers have lasted years, including jogging,cycling, climbing mountains, etc.

What a nation of branded pussies we are.
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D O G
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Joined: 18 Dec 2006
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PostPosted: 22:48 - 10 Jul 2013    Post subject: Reply with quote
Mondeo Man wrote:
dodsi wrote:
Well for commuting in reality you want to spend upwards of £500 to get something that will last and be bearable over that sort of distance.


Absolute rubbish.

100+ is fine.

My bike was £160 and I routinely do 60 mile bike rides.


Yeah, I saw you today, winning the Time Trial at Mont St. Michel.
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Cyclingbiker
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Joined: 05 Aug 2012
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PostPosted: 20:03 - 11 Jul 2013    Post subject: Reply with quote
Mondeo Man wrote:
dodsi wrote:
Well for commuting in reality you want to spend upwards of £500 to get something that will last and be bearable over that sort of distance.


Absolute rubbish.

100+ is fine.

My bike was £160 and I routinely do 60 mile bike rides.

All these numpties spending 500 quid plus are like the numpties who think that they need a £80 pair of trainers (Nike, Addidas etc) to walk out the house.

My 8.50 pair of trainers have lasted years, including jogging,cycling, climbing mountains, etc.

What a nation of branded pussies we are.


I paid £500 for my touring bike for commuting, what a numpty I am Rolling Eyes

Before that I was rolling along on a 20yr old Holdsworth "racer" but I wanted something more comfortable and practical for my 9 mile each way commute. Also had the vision of doing some "proper" touring in years to come.

https://www.edinburghbicycle.com/products/revolution-country-traveller-13

It has been reliable and has given 2 years of trouble-free service commuting to and from work over more than 5000 miles without so much as a few punctures on the original tyres. I could've bought a cheaper bike elsewhere but it suited my riding style and has done all I've asked of it. With a set of 40 lite panniers I can bring back a week's worth of shopping from the supermarket and carry enough gear for a week away in the country if I want to.

I still long after a lovely carbon road bike but it will be next year before I spend the £700 or so for the one I want Smile

Also FYI my one and only pair of trainers are £30 Adidas pair from Sports World and I spend the Majority of my time out of the house wearing my Steel toe caps (Riding the 125) or my £50 Shimano SPD M077's (On the pushbike/s) as I hate pedaling in trainers.
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stinkwheel
Bovine Proctologist



Joined: 12 Jul 2004
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PostPosted: 23:47 - 11 Jul 2013    Post subject: Reply with quote
dodsi wrote:
Well for commuting in reality you want to spend upwards of £500 to get something that will last and be bearable over that sort of distance.


Nonsense.

You'll get a perfectly functional second hand bike for under £100 if you keep your eyes open.

I just bought an early 90's Pugeot optimum for a mate (I was going to have it but it's a bit on the small side). Hand-brazed Reynolds 531 frame, Shimano RX100 groupset, mavic rims, look pedals. £30. In need of a respray and new cables. Rides sweet as a nut even as it is.

EDIT: I will say though. I could probably do 10 miles scooting my backside along the pavement using my hands like a dog with an itchy arse and arrive fresher and less tired than by riding the bike in the OP.
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I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.
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stinkwheel
Bovine Proctologist



Joined: 12 Jul 2004
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PostPosted: 23:54 - 11 Jul 2013    Post subject: Reply with quote
Cyclingbiker wrote:

I still long after a lovely carbon road bike but it will be next year before I spend the £700 or so for the one I want Smile


I dread to think what the quality of a £700 carbon fibre road bike would be like. A Chin-orello?

Can I recommend you try riding it as a quickly as you can down a steep, twisty hill before you commit to buy. I've ridden a carbon framed bike once and it was utterly terrifying downhill.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.
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JonB
Afraid of Mileage



Joined: 03 Jun 2004
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PostPosted: 06:20 - 12 Jul 2013    Post subject: Reply with quote
stinkwheel wrote:


Can I recommend you try riding it as a quickly as you can down a steep, twisty hill before you commit to buy. I've ridden a carbon framed bike once and it was utterly terrifying downhill.

You must have rode a pretty twitchy race geometry spec one. The beauty about carbon is that you can basically have any geometry you like without compromising frame strength. I have two carbon bikes. One has a short wheelbase and is very twitchy, but responsive. My new one has a slightly more relaxed geometry which is far more comfortable for all day riding.

To be honest though riding 25mm tyres instead of 23mm makes more difference than frame material IMO.
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Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it?s worth.
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stinkwheel
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Joined: 12 Jul 2004
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PostPosted: 08:18 - 12 Jul 2013    Post subject: Reply with quote
More it did a whole lot of unwelcome bending and flexing wround the seat/chainstay area as you tried to corner. The whole affair seemed so insubstantial as to destroy any confidence.

You couldn't really stomp it uphills either, it was so light the front wheel kept lifting, you HAVE to spin the gears on them.

This was a rental bike on Mallorca during the winter (they have different bikes in the winter to the ones they hire out to drunken mancunians in the summer).

So. Make sure you give it a good road test before you fork out for it and watch out for Chinese "replicas".
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.
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UnknownStuntm...
World Chat Champion



Joined: 13 Sep 2007
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PostPosted: 08:37 - 12 Jul 2013    Post subject: Reply with quote
stinkwheel wrote:
I dread to think what the quality of a £700 carbon fibre road bike would be like. A Chin-orello?

Can I recommend you try riding it as a quickly as you can down a steep, twisty hill before you commit to buy. I've ridden a carbon framed bike once and it was utterly terrifying downhill.


stinkwheel wrote:
More it did a whole lot of unwelcome bending and flexing wround the seat/chainstay area as you tried to corner. The whole affair seemed so insubstantial as to destroy any confidence.

You couldn't really stomp it uphills either, it was so light the front wheel kept lifting, you HAVE to spin the gears on them.

This was a rental bike on Mallorca during the winter (they have different bikes in the winter to the ones they hire out to drunken mancunians in the summer).

So. Make sure you give it a good road test before you fork out for it and watch out for Chinese "replicas".


I think maybe you should have a go on a 'known' carbon bike old chap. The price of carbon frames has come down considerably in the last 5 years and will probably be on a level with Aluminium within the next 5 I reckon.

Early ones were pricey and potentially made by people who didn't appreciate where frames needed to be solid (BB?) and I'd hate to think of a single shite bike souring your views of a massive step forward in bike design. I still think you'd struggle to get a carbon framed bike of any real quality for £700 though.

As Jon said, they make them with all sorts of geometry now too - have a look through the big names catalogues and they all have their grand touring frames with a bit of flex built in to the fork and the seatstay. I think the Specialised actually has a rubber section behind the seat tube too.
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D O G
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Joined: 18 Dec 2006
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PostPosted: 22:35 - 13 Jul 2013    Post subject: Reply with quote
Have done a lot of web based research on chinky carbon frames, and I've not seen much, if any complaints from their users. Users who have previously had branded carbon bikes. The only naysayers are those who have never tried them.

I'd happily buy one (in fact I nearly did).
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JonB
Afraid of Mileage



Joined: 03 Jun 2004
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PostPosted: 14:32 - 14 Jul 2013    Post subject: Reply with quote
Pretty much almost all carbon frames are made in the same factories.

The only difference between big brands is the £££ that goes into the R&D. Which can make a difference. As for strength, they are all much of a muchness.
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Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it?s worth.
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dodsi
Dirty Carny



Joined: 06 Aug 2004
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PostPosted: 11:16 - 15 Jul 2013    Post subject: Reply with quote
Mondeo Man wrote:
dodsi wrote:
Well for commuting in reality you want to spend upwards of £500 to get something that will last and be bearable over that sort of distance.


Absolute rubbish.

100+ is fine.

My bike was £160 and I routinely do 60 mile bike rides.

All these numpties spending 500 quid plus are like the numpties who think that they need a £80 pair of trainers (Nike, Addidas etc) to walk out the house.

My 8.50 pair of trainers have lasted years, including jogging,cycling, climbing mountains, etc.

What a nation of branded pussies we are.


I have just replaced my last bike i used to commute on (specilized rockhopper SL) which the drive train wore out and in reality seemed an uneconomical repair. I was Quoted £240 to bring it back to life. ended up selling it to a colleague for £100 which means that the Kona single speed bike I bought to replace it essentially cost me a further £160.

During the same period of time a friend of mine has bought 4 £100ish bikes - none of which have worked that well and some which he has spent money on + had hassle with.

So, over 5 years I have had no hassle until the drive train went on my specialized other than the odd puncture. Even without getting any money back on the old bike £750 + a few sets of tyres, innertubes and occasional chain oiling over 5 years of commuting is cheaper than a car, motorcycle, bus, train.

The new bike comes with a warrenty, is lovely to ride - has little to go wrong with it and ended up being £500 new. if it lasts me another 5 years I will be happy.

For commuting I would always suggest buying something decent (doesnt have to be brand new or expensive) and that rides really well. Over a years it will pay for its self just in equivalent bus tickets.
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Fladdem
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Joined: 29 Jun 2011
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PostPosted: 14:07 - 15 Jul 2013    Post subject: Reply with quote
My commute to work is 6 miles, I either take the 250 or my 1958 Raleigh I rescued from a scrapman, sometimes the fixie takes me, sometimes my DJ bike, maybe my Raleigh Ace, my cross country bike takes me on occasions as well, other times it's the 1990's diamondback Topanga, the 90's Specialized RockHopper goes too. I have plenty of bikes to pick from, 23 bikes at home, 5 motorbikes and loads of bits for both. Just do the commute and see what happens.
Most of these push bikes I got for free or paid less than £50 for, it doesn't matter what you ride really, I love overtaking the Lycra brigade on my old Raleigh in jeans and a hoodie, the ADHD might help, always more energy where that came from Smile
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Current:1991 Honda MT50 (Soon to be a H100/MTX/MT5 hybrid), 1976 Honda Cub C70, 2005 Honda Varadero 125, 1993 Yamaha TTR250 Open Enduro , 2010 Road Legal Stomp YX140, 1994 Honda CRM 250 MK III, 1999 Cagiva Mito 125, 1992 Honda CB400 Super Four, Stomp T4 230, 1984 Honda H100s, 2009 Sym XS125K
Past:2003 Aprilia RS125, 1982 Kawasaki GPZ550(FREE BIKE!)
I'm having more fun than a well-oiled midget.
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