@Baldcyclist
It may just be me, but you appear to have a pair of Burgess Shale animals wedged in your handlebars.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Stuff
Designing the Ultimate Commuter
(170 posts)-
Posted 9 years ago #
-
@Baldcyclist Do the crosstop brakes suffice as a main brake?
My DiaCompe 131s were fine with a rear mini-V-with-Travel-Agent and a normal double-pivot caliper on the front but they're not as useful with mini-Vs at both ends (not enough slack to have toe-in, resulting in screeching), so I was wondering about something with a bit more pull.Posted 9 years ago # -
@wingpig
That problem solvers website could quite easily become an obsession. Thanks....I think.
Posted 9 years ago # -
@Wingpig They have so far performed fine as a main brake, and I have had to use them in 'anger', and found them to have sufficient stopping power. I would offer some comments though...
1. They do feel a little spongy, maybe just needing adjusted now for cable stretch as they have been on for a bit.
2. If you mount the levers right at the end of the bar right under the shifter, they do foul on the shifter cable exit because of where the pivot is. I did have to dispense with the barrel adjuster. Most people seem to get round this by pushing the lever inwards a bit, so that the lever is on the inside of the bar, this also helps with cable mounting.
I have small hands so need the lever to be directly under the bar, so my solution was to mount the lever about 1.5 / 2cm down the bar (can be seen in my pictures). This solved that issue, but it does mean that not all of the bar is available to hold because of the bracket. For me the positioning is very comfortable though.Posted 9 years ago # -
I do have another problem with the set-up, that is that is with the bar-end shifters. The plug is juuust too long for the handlebar and hits the curne of the handlebar on the inside. I did tighten the allen bolts as much as I could, but both shifters have worked themselves loose. They're not going to go anywhere as the cable is holding them in, but the shifting is off now, and they are moving about the inside of the bar.
Need to work out a bodge at the weekend to sort it...
Posted 9 years ago # -
Hi all,
In a couple of weeks I'm going to buy myself a bike for riding my Leuchars-St Andrews commute (just over five miles each way, largely on former railway line, flat but windy) and for going around town, perhaps doing longer rides occasionally. It will also have to put up with being loaded onto trains regularly and perhaps getting bashed. It will be stored in my tenement stairwell where we've never had any problems but it probably shouldn't be super flash. I'm not really into bike maintenance. My main bike for Edinburgh will continue to be my Dutch bike. I tend to ride at just below the speed at which I start sweating, and find the concept of clip-in pedals terrifying.
There's no particular budget, but I'd want a good reason for spending over five hundred quid, particularly as it will sometimes be parked in places that aren't massively secure.
I was thinking of going for this, http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/products/revolution-country-traveller-15?bct=browse%2fbicycles%2ftouring-bikes .
Does anyone have a strong opinion? Is there some logical upgrade which would cost another hundred quid but save me some stress in the future? Any advice would be very welcome!
Posted 8 years ago # -
It's a decent bike. The only other option at that sort of price would be the chromoly steel framed Raleigh Royal. Heavier perhaps, but otherwise nearly identical.
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/raleigh-royal-2015/
IIRC Eastside Bikes had one of these in stock recently, if a test ride is required.
Posted 8 years ago # -
An old but thorough comparison review of the two bikes that have just been mentioned:
http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/comms/site_sizing/product-reviews/revolution-country-traveller-cycle/revolution-country-traveller-cycle.htm
Note that it is from 2012, though...Posted 8 years ago # -
Is the type of bike particularly important to you?
the Kona Dew Deluxe is only £420 from wiggle and comes with hydraulic disc brakes and 700c wheel set. Add in mudguards and a pannier rack and you are set!
Posted 8 years ago # -
PS sorting the wiggle bikes by discount brings up some tremendous deals..
Posted 8 years ago # -
@UtrechtCyclist - you might wish to consider a folding bike. Had I not had a folder, I would have been refused entry on some of the Leuchars-Edinburgh trains.
Nothing like being able to transform your bike into luggage when necessary!
Robert
Posted 8 years ago # -
Or if you are happy to source/fit your own rack, you could save yourself £100 and get one of these:
I rode one on my commute from Fife to Edinburgh for a couple of years and did over 10,000 km on it, so it can certainly handle a fair amount of abuse. Not the lightest, but a good workhorse for not a great deal of money.
Posted 8 years ago # -
The dawes galaxy AL can always be had for £480 from a variety of on line outlets
http://www.bikes2udirect.com/B6481.html?mv_pc=gp1&gclid=CJ3h5dDlo8gCFQFQ2wodz8cCEw
I am looking for a tourer but want a steel framed bike, as my too small budget hybrid, a mountain bike frame with road wheels is not very comfy on journeys over 45 mins. My normal journeys are 9 miles to work or 12 miles to Leith.
I have been looking for a tourer for quite some time, I tried to buy 3 galaxies of Gumtree but all sold . I wanted the classic flat bar one with the Reynolds frame.
I went to look at the revolution country explorer which is made from Reynolds 525 steel frame while it was on sale at Edinburgh cycling coop, it was on sale around 500 its normally 600 but is currently out of stock.
I have had a look at the Raleigh Royal but the reviews I read did not rate its layout but it does seem the staple tourer bike with steel frame that can always be had at under £500.
I also went to look at the Jamis aurora 2015 this was discounted to 550 at the time and has a 520 reynolds frame by the time made up my mind it was discountiued.
There is a new one just out but that wont be discounted till next year I guess.
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/jamis/aurora-2016-touring-bike-ec122210
I also considered getting a Surly LHT frameset as these can be had for £250 on line, unlike Dawes Surly sells the frames so can build it up. My hybrid has had 2 derailleurs 2 cogs sets at the back 4 new chains in the 3400 miles I have done on it. For the last 3 months most the gears did not work on my bike not fussed on fancy parts or lots gears my front gear 1 has been broken since march and never notice it missing, if use budget parts of old bike I figured could get a LHT running for less than £600.
There is also the Dawes Galaxy Cromo steel bike that can be had from £664 flat pack , if the company that sell this did not charge extra delivery and fees for using the cycle scheme would have bought this by now.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Ribble's steel Audax/winter frame is £175, cheaper than the LHT (but I went with the LHT for greater parts/size compatibility with the bits I saved from my bent Kaff).
Posted 8 years ago # -
Retiring the old hack, and trying to persuade myself that Di2 electric shifting with hydraulic disc brakes would be ridiculous on a commuter.
Unfortunately my brain got smart and is telling me that as it would really be a gravel / cross bike that I happen to ride to work in the off season, normal rules don't apply.
One way or another, I want to avoid losing all my fitness over the winter (as I did last year) so the new commuter needs to be less of an aimless plodder.
Posted 8 years ago # -
@fimm, aye I saw that review but the spec on both machines has changed since then. Also he may just have been unlucky with his test rig and the headset issues?
My own everyday 'tourer' and runabout is an old (mid-1990s) Raleigh Pioneer, which was a flat bar, steel framed (Reynolds 501 chromoly), canti-brake hybrid with 700c cross tyres. I converted it to drop bars, replaced the tyres (Marathon+ 32mm), added mudguards and a rack, new cables, got the bearings serviced. Oh I added inline brake levers too so it's kind of a 'cross bike' I suppose. A very good, comfy, sturdy bicycle. Not the lightest but not that heavy either. Reasonable nippy when I need it. Has a 6 speed freewheel at the back, triple up front, with a reasonable spread of gearing: more than enough frankly. I've even ridden a few audaxes on it.
£75 virtually unridden off Gumtree. With the additional upgrades I've maybe spent another £120 tops. Still going strong after 4 years or so.
So that kind of thing is an option, but only if you like fettling.
Posted 8 years ago # -
"just over five miles each way, largely on former railway line, flat but windy"
Not sure I'd spend £500.
Don't suppose Leuchars has bike lockers?
Posted 8 years ago # -
Other options, if you're set on spending £500:
Raleigh Gran Tour. Better frame (Reynolds 520) and components than the Royal.
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/raleigh-gran-tour-2015/
Claud Butler Regent. Very similar to the EBC tourer.
http://www.bikes2udirect.com/B6221.html
Ridgeback Tour, similar price and spec to Raleigh Royal but with alloy frame.
http://www.wheelies.co.uk/p73675/Ridgeback-Tour-2015-Touring-Bike.aspx
Or, as chdot suggests, just pick up a cheaper hybrid/trekking bike, e.g..
Revolution Courier Race 8 speed. (Needs mudguards/rack). Only £349
http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/products/revolution-courier-race-15
Or the Ridgeback Speed. 7 speed freewheel on the back, triple up front, rack and guards. Only £279.
http://www.wheelies.co.uk/p73670/Ridgeback-Speed-2015-Hybrid-Bike.aspx
You can also find similar bikes second hand at places like Soul Cycles, Eastside Bikes, maybe the Bike Station too.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Revolution Courier Race 8 speed. (Needs mudguards/rack). Only £349
+1 Courier Race was the first "proper" bike I owned, way back when. For a flat route it would be ideal (it has more gear range than almost all internal geared hubs anyway).
Mudguards and rack won't set you back too much - £50 should cover both.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Revolution courier race is the one I am recommending over on the other channel. Very little to go wrong. No cross chaining, quite light. Product placement was edited out.
How secure is leuchars? Drop handlebars used to deter thieves in Edinburgh. You could go for a single speed with drop bars, again low maintenance, specialised did one that could take a rack and mudguards, it was called The Langster.
You could also just get another Dutch bike? The Dutchie bike company sells them Starting at £279 for a single speed , £339 for a nexus three speed. Called the Dutchie dapper gentleman's bike. Will be heavier so maybe not the single speed for hills if you do not want to sweat.
Not best time of year with return of students but I might be inclined to get something from bike station if I was leaving the bike at leuchars, unless you have acquired safe storage.
Basically a flat five mile commute could be done on almost any bike without much difference in time, not sure this helps?
Posted 8 years ago # -
Of course for that ride to that university there's always something like this!
Posted 8 years ago # -
Would need some vintage pedals? What is the lunch box attachment on the racks about?
Posted 8 years ago # -
Aye a single speed bike would do that commute no bother, but maybe not so suitable for the leisure riding mentioned. Very good deal on the Revolution Track 14 just now (52cm frame only): £254 is a bit of a steal frankly. Braze-ons for a rack and mudguards too by the looks of it.
http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/products/revolution-track-14
Posted 8 years ago # -
Very true crowriver I forgot about that though the leisure riding might be on flat routes too? When we were chilling our bones to the marrow on red stone rig, a chap came up very slowly on a single speed. He did look like he was perspiring.
Something like a ridgeback velocity is often considered as a good all rounder?
Posted 8 years ago # -
5 miles each way? lock it at Leuchars, £189 (from £339!), 3 speed hub gear, cable disc brake solid ox from decathlon, hooray!
Posted 8 years ago # -
@chdot, that is lovely! If I had any room in the garage I'd be sorely tempted... ;-)
Posted 8 years ago # -
@gkgk, that is a great deal on that spec. Would be ideal for the OP's needs. I see it has fixing points on front fork suitable for an MTB-style front rack/basket carrier too.
Posted 8 years ago # -
That is a good deal if you are size medium Utrecht cyclist that would be worth a punt
Posted 8 years ago # -
Thanks everyone for the suggestions! I think I would summarise that the Revolution Country Traveler is a reasonable bike for the price, but that I could get something a bit cheaper if I was prepared to shop online and/or do a bit of tinkering myself. Also some of you are skeptical as to whether I need to spend so much.
@Dave/Gembo, the courier race looks like a very good deal, but I think I want drop handlebars, not least because they make it easier to stack multiple bikes on the train. They're also slightly better for leaving in my stairwell.
@crowriver, those options from Wiggle look great, but since this will be my first non-Dutch bike I think I'd like to test it out in a shop so online companies aren't ideal.
@Roibeard, I did think about a folder, but to be honest I've only failed to get a bike on the train once in the last year of commuting Edinburgh to Leuchars, so for the moment I think I won't go down that route. There are good bike lockers at Leuchars which I may end up using if getting the bike on the train becomes a hassle.
@ChDot, I also questioned whether I need to spend this much for such a simple commute. But this will be my only non Dutch bike, and hence my only bike that weighs under 19kg, so I think I want a little more versatility out of it than I said earlier.
Also, I was teaching the other day and I looked around at the students and realised that they all had nicer phones than I have ever had, and nicer computers than I've ever had, and maybe I should try and overcome my natural aversion to spending money...
Anyway, thanks again all for the suggestions, I might try my luck again at the Bike Station and see if they have anything in my size that fits my needs, but if not I think I'll go for the country traveller.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Although I just looked again at the link from @gkgk which does look like a bargain.... Maybe the things that it does well are similar to the things that my Dutch bike does well though, and I should get something more different.
Posted 8 years ago #
Reply »
You must log in to post.
posts
