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Which commuting bike?

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  1. DaveC
    Member

    Hi,

    I'm moving (back :D ) to Edinburgh after 5 years away. I currently drive to work but used to cycle commute, when I lived in Leith, to the West end. I have a mountain bike I use for recreation but I'm looking at getting a commuting bike for the journey to and from work. I was thinking about just getting a second set of wheels for my Specialized Rockhopper SL, but I though I might ask here which commuter bikes are more suitable for my trip to and from work.
    I plan to live on the south side of Edinburgh, within 7 - 8 miles from the center - where I'll be working.

    Thanks,

    Dave C

    Posted 13 years ago #

  2. chdot
    Admin

    Suppose first question is do you expect your route to be all tarmac?

    Second is how hilly is expected route?

    Posted 13 years ago #

  3. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    Y'know, to try it our I'd just get a set of 26" slick tyres. No need for new wheels - just whack them on and away you go...

    Posted 13 years ago #

  4. DaveC
    Member

    Slicks sound good but the idea behind a second set of wheels is so I can just swap over for a ride over the Pentlands, or down to Glentress (when my fitness improves). I'm not a fan of busy roads, as I used to cycle along the northern Edinburgh circular rail line/path between Pilrig and Roseburn past BAE at Crewe toll. The lack of compulsary stops at junctions, no traffic other than pedestrians and other cyclists, appeals to me. Ideally I can find somewhere to live where I can find a quiet cycle route into town, like the Innocent rail path or similar. I might have to update my 10 year old Spokes map I've seen advertised on here.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  5. chdot
    Admin

    http://edinburghpaths.info/spokesmaps.htm

    http://edinburgh.cyclestreets.net/journey/174585

    (Random start and finish points that I knew would include The Innocent.)

    - downhill all the way home!

    Posted 13 years ago #

  6. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    Ah, makes sense to have different wheels in that case! Slicks make a HUGE difference (I've got a set for my MTB, but last week decided to commute on it with knobblies and it was haaaaaaaaaaard work). The Innocent is a great route for avoiding the worst of the traffic (I scizophrenically take it in the mornings, then prefer to head home on the roads...)

    Posted 13 years ago #

  7. chdot
    Admin

    "Ah, makes sense to have different wheels in that case!"

    Only problem is balancing chain/cassettes wear.

    You might find it necessary to replace lesser used cassette when buying new cassette (and chain).

    Posted 13 years ago #

  8. cb
    Member

    "downhill all the way home! "

    Yeah, The Mound doesn't count.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  9. chdot
    Admin

    "Yeah, The Mound doesn't count."

    Well it was a random pin, he might be planning to work on G. IV Bridge for all I know.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  10. cb
    Member

    "he might be planning to work on G. IV Bridge for all I know. "

    There's a wee uphill past the museum.
    You can't win this.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  11. chdot
    Admin

    Sorry

    I meant it's all uphill in all directions.

    AND the wind will change direction while you're at work...

    Posted 13 years ago #

  12. RJ
    Member

    This still does the job for me:
    http://www.citycycling.co.uk/issue6/issue6page5.html

    currently ~ 5 miles each way. I may try to upgrade before the bike-to-work scheme goes on the bonfire of public spending (most likely a steel tourer as offering the best all-round compromise between speed, hauling gears and robustness).

    The Bike Station http://www.thebikestation.org.uk/ will have suitable hacks for sale, too.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  13. cb
    Member

    That's more like it.

    My tale of commuter woe this AM:

    - Got to station, and put bike in bike rack.
    - Realised I had forgotten my lock
    - Decided to try taking my bike on the train
    - Waited on the platform as the train arrived
    - Train arrives, conductor gets off, looks at me and my bike, says, "You're not getting on"
    (That was his not very nice way of saying, "I'm sorry Sir all the bike spaces on this train are full")

    (Got on the next train. Pah)

    Posted 13 years ago #

  14. DaveC
    Member

    Thanks for all the helpfull replies, and the cheery banter too :D

    We're in the process of selling and moving to Edinburgh so we don't have a house yet. I'll be working on St Andrew's Sq so I'll hopefully not have to 'mount the Mound'... North bridge should be a good bet (depending on where we settle). We are really at the mercy of what is available & what we can afford in the south / east / west of the city when we eventually look to buy. We're going to hop 'off and back on' the chain and rent for ~6 months to save on a potential nightmare co-ordination between two solicitors (Scottish and English) and an English estate agent. My partner would be most upset if I told her I was basing my location for a buy on where is easiest to cycle to the center from... .. mum's the word please (not that she knows about this place).

    Thanks for the Bike Station recomendation Richard, it looks like a good place to start. Thanks to chdot for the link to cyclestreets.net I've used this before, its a great resource.

    Any more specific makes and models for a commuter bike?

    Thanks

    Dave C

    Posted 13 years ago #

  15. LaidBack
    Member

    Something like a Nazca Fuego (semi-low racer) with Kojaks? Stand, mudguards, rack. Not too low. Not too heavy. Won't get nicked or confused with other bikes.
    Very comfy and drivers keep clear ;-)

    OK - you can't mountainbike at Glentress on it but it will fairly zip along the North Edinburgh path and out of town.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  16. SRD
    Moderator

    Check out the 'hoods thread. We didn't look at S/W at all when we first moved (rented in South/newington then moved to leith) but polwarth/shandon definitely wins 'best neighbourhood'... if only because we have more forum members in close proximity than anywhere else....

    Posted 13 years ago #

  17. DaveC
    Member

    Cheers SRD, but we're looking for 3 bed Semi with garden & ( or room for) garage. Plus moving into a Flat makes me nervous nowadays what with these cowboy Statutory Notices. They were bad enough when we lived in Edin in 2004 when the council were too busy to enforce them before you oganised it yourself. But now I hear stories of bills running into tens of thousands due to unscrupulous (sp? sorry) site managers working on commission of the total costs, adding as much work as thy can to push up their fees. I expect these are just scare stories, but we want to live similarily to how we do now and I couldn't manage without a garage to store my crap in and a private garden to leave the children in during the hours of daylight...

    Wow the Nazca Fuego looks very recumbant. Infact the first picture Google threw up was of a red one in the meddows. it isn't yours is it? Laidback. (www.recumbentblob.com/...)

    EDIT Sorry David, I see it is your bike. Hmm looks like a challenge to learn to ride. Might have to investigate this when I'm up in October.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  18. SRD
    Moderator

    There's semis and bungalows in the area. Whether you can afford one, rather a different issue.

    Personally, I love tenement living!

    Posted 13 years ago #

  19. LaidBack
    Member

    Hmm looks like a challenge to learn to ride. Might have to investigate this when I'm up in October.

    Not that difficult. A bit like riding a folder as you have to adapt your steering technique and centre of balance. Nowhere near as difficult as a unicycle.
    Fuego is quite easy in recumbent terms and quite fun to ride.
    Give us a shout and put an hour aside.
    On Skye Bridge...

    Posted 13 years ago #

  20. 1lesscar
    Member

    I have a 19 mile round trip commute which I started doing on a Boardman hybrid about 2 years ago. It was a complete doddle, up and down hills. I now have a Boardman road bike and it is even better. Can't fault them at all, with both being very high quality and an absolute bargain. Plus the road bikes get very good reviews in cycling press. Unfortunately, Halfords isn't every ones cup of tea, however I was tied to them as both bikes were obtained through cycle to work.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  21. gembo
    Member

    1lesscar - those boardmans looked good in halfords yesterday (looking for mats for the err, car) but you have not suggested where Dave Crampton should live which is also part of the thread.

    I am very much liking the idea of picking the street and getting the commute sorted. How about right at the end of Ashley Drive some nice 3 bed houses with gardens, handy for Craiglockhart Primary School (should this be needed) and indeed the majestic new Tynecastle High School. The commute is along the canal to the lochrin basin then down Gardner Crescent and across behind the Edinburgh INternational Conference Centre, then very slight on road bit round Charlotte Sq and along George St to St Andrews Sq,. THis might be too short but flat, could be done easily on single speed or even the stylish Pashley, last British made bicycle. Juni Green/Currie/Balerno lengthens the commute - can be done on Water of Leith path then same route on Canal or just down the lanark road to the Canal at Longstone. We never thought to look in SW Edinburgh (phoned up one in Juni Green the day it sold) but the house we are in was first and only one we looked at in SW Edinburgh. About 8 miles to St Andrews Sq but a lot longer on way back up the hill. Many 3 bed semis with gardens out this way. If Dave Crampton opts for Balerno then should go for Specialized Tricross as it does all the routes on and off road, just those spongy brakes to endure and the new model is supposed to be better.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  22. wee folding bike
    Member

    Ahem,

    "or even the stylish Pashley, last British made bicycle."

    There is one other UK volume bike maker which you can find in west London.

    Pashley stopped making a completely UK based bike a few years ago, probably when SA moved abroad.

    I'll probably get a Roadster for my commute in the autumn. The council don't have a cycle to work scheme in place yet.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  23. 1lesscar
    Member

    you have not suggested where Dave Crampton should live which is also part of the thread

    I stay in Midlothian and commute either down Gilmerton Road or Lasswade Road. There's no cycle paths etc out this way but then I prefer to be on the road as I don't have to dodge pedestrians and dogs (not that I mind them being a dog owner myself). I used to live in town and didn't like it much, plus it was too close to work. Cycling is my man fitness activity and with 2 young kids, its often the only time I get on the bike. It's good to live a little further from work if you commute. It lets you build up a bit of a sweat. (If you have facilities for showering at work)

    Posted 13 years ago #

  24. amir
    Member

    I am also in Midlothian. I often cycle in via the NCN route via Whitecraigs and the Innocent Path - to get extra distance and relax. Dogs not usually a problem early in the morning. I usually return along the road through Craigmillar - to cut the distance a little and increase the speed. In bad weather or when short of time I'll come in on Gilmerton Road. This is fine, though the road is a touch narrow near Dobbies (there is also a on-pavement cycle path).

    Midlothian houses are cheaper and you are nearer the countryside for weekend rides. Downside is distance from facilities in Edinburgh.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  25. DaveC
    Member

    Wow Ashley drive is a lovely place, from memory, but I don't think it will be within our budget.. (Between 200 and 300 thousand pounds :-( I'll keep buying the lotto tickets.. ) Keep the ideas coming though. Those halfords bikes look ok. I've asked the local bike shop to quote me for a replacement set of wheels and new road tyres....

    Posted 13 years ago #

  26. chdot
    Admin

    "Wow Ashley drive is a lovely place, from memory"

    Who needs memory when you have Google StreetView - http://tinyurl.com/AshleyDrive

    This is the school/canal end.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  27. DaveC
    Member

    Yes I did look at this too. Just by the bridge opposite the boat house is a lovely place to sit on a warm summers afternoon, with a drink...

    Posted 13 years ago #

  28. DaveC
    Member

    Err just to update this thread, I have a S/H (2006) Dawes Galaxy. Good for the commute, bad for Audax!!

    Oh and now live in Dalgety Bay, 16miles each way on the bike.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  29. kaputnik
    Moderator

    bad for Audax

    Maybe not the best loaded down on a short, fast, hilly audax like the Tour of East Lothian, but on a longer, flatter, more moderately paced one it would be good.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  30. DaveC
    Member

    yes but this is Scotland not East Anglia... :-(

    Posted 13 years ago #

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