cycle to work scheme.

[stevo as b4]

I need a bit of bike choice advice really.

I already have what I term as a nice hardtail MTB, (Giant Talon0) It's had a few little bits fitted and I'm going to upgrade the forks eventually too.

But I want to take advantage of the cycle scheme through my work salary, to get another bike. Now I'm very not fussed about riding on the roads generally, but I don't need another MTB as don't like full suspension bikes.

What I would like to do is cycle home from work 1-2times a week in the daylight and warmish weather. The ride would be 18-19miles out from Birmingham city centre, and it's all busy roads, hence I'll be using the cycle paths and shortcuts whenever possible. I'd be putting the bike on the train to get me to work on my cycling days.

The three types of bike I'm thinking of are:

1, Folding 20" wheel commuter bike.

2, A hardtail Hybrid, I prefer 26" wheeled bikes for the way they steer and handle, but would consider a 29'er too.

3, An off the peg Electric assisted bike. (I know this is not the best way to go electric, and it might cost more, but if it's hassle free and it works I'd consider one)

I have doubts about doing the distance on Option1, and option 3, might be too much cash spent on something I could piece/spec myself in a build maybe?

Oh yeah and lastly the scheme max budget is £1000, and I'd be looking to go up to £700 max ideally for the right bike.

Anyone know what could be a decent option?

[bamt]

I'd forget the electric option. If you already have a reasonable MTB, then you'll hopefully be OK pedalling a bike. Get a proper road bike and 20 miles will take you an hour to 90 minutes. Really not worth the hassle of electric unless you are old or infirm.

A folder is good if you need it go onto a commuter train - but I'd be going for a proper drop handled road bike. A hybrid is pretty similar to what you've got, so why not get a machine that will actually handle better and faster on the road? You'll find it takes a fraction of the effort of your MTB, and you may well decide to just do the round trip commute rather than mess about with trains.

If you don't need to carry luggage, something like a Specialized Allez or Secteur - but there are loads of options.

[Ste]

Good luck getting your bike onto a train in rush hour.

[Seb]

Personally I'd be looking straight at a 700c Hybrid, Cyclocross or plain Roadbike depending the shortcuts on offer.

You'll get a really nicely specced Specialized Sirrus or the like for that sort of money, Planet X do a few tasty options as well.

Getting a hardtail 26" mtb would be a bit of a waste, better off spending that money on posh wheels, post and a lockout shock for your Talon if you want to stick with that sort of thing.
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2010 Triumph 1050 Sprint ST

[stevo as b4]

Thanks for all the advice.

Well I wouldn't be commuting 20miles each way to and from work everyday, as I do a fairly physical job at times and though that sounds like being a pussy, I'm not sure what times I will finish and so can't always plan my journey's to suit cycling.

It's only ever going to be a dry day and in the daylight option, I just wouldn't do dark, cold, wet 20miles on a pushbike on boring roads full of crazy traffic. I also have to be in at work for 7:30am at the latest, so guessing id need over an hour for the uphill half of the commute, id be leaving home at 6am ish?

I don't mind most nights what time I get home, and in the summer I could have a slow and steady ride home, maybe even stopping off for a cold pint if I have nothing planned for the evening etc.

As for bikes, well it would need to go on the train some mornings, train is 6:30am, so it's not too busy to get a normal bike on, but it gets very crowded closer to work. A folding bike would be much easier in this respect. I did 8miles through B'ham on a knackered old girls folding bike once, and I found it hard work, but maybe a decent folder would be a lot easier to ride and less likely to get me lynched in Birchfield/Witton etc?

The bike will probably be able to go in my shared van 2days a week, so it would be an easy one way trip then, and cycle home and train it in the next morning etc?

I know I don't want another MTB, though I really like them and I hate pure drop bar road bikes. Speed does not interest me, and I bet 40miles a day plus 11hours at work would still be hard on such bikes, so I might as well make it comfortable if slow.

I'll forget electric for now, it was more for a laugh than as a serious option I think. So I'm still thinking of a good folding bike or a hybrid for £700 max. Is there a massive advantage to having a 29" wheeled bike instead of a 26'er that I prefer generally?

And has anyone ever done 20miles on a folding bike, and enjoyed it?

[bamt]

[Seb]

https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBPXSLPFBTIA/planet-x-pro-carbon-shimano-tiagra-flat-bar

8 and a half kilos, quality kit, flat bars. About the best fair weather commuter I can think of at that price point

As for the advantages of big wheels, the best way to see it is to have a play on a fat bike as an extreme example, you sacrifice some agility for big gains in stability and ride comfort, 700c wheels are noticeably better at handling all the bumps and ripples in our roads these days.
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2010 Triumph 1050 Sprint ST

[chris-red]

[spnorm]

I've just added a bike to the collection with this scheme, but as I already had a full suspension mountain bike and a Ribble Audax/winter training road bike, I've bought a nice light Cannondale CAAD 10 racing bike with Shimano 105 groupset