I need your advices: building a commuter!

[Nicolas]

Hi all,

I think I could use some help from the ACC collective wisdom. I plan to start commuting to work on the bike, probably starting next spring. The thing is it is quite a long way (for me at least) from Clapham to Staines (just under 20mi each way!). The good thing is as we have shower and everything at work, I can wear proper kit and use the commute as 'training' when I feel like it. I may cycle 3 or 4 days a week and take the train the other days.

Well, now I need a bike, as I would prefer not to leave my nice Bianchi in the car park all day. Given the distance, I think I need a fast proper road bike, and I'd like to keep the cost reasonable as well, so I though of either:
- Buy a second hand old racer on the cheap, and maybe upgrade it as required (modern brakes/transmission...). The problem is I don't know anything about old bikes (well... and not much about bikes anyway!)
- Buy a new steel frame (several builders make 'Audax' frames that seem adequate) and move my existing 10spd bits from my Bianchi to it. Upgrading the Bianchi a bit in the process. I was thinking about the Thorn Audax Mk3 maybe (f+f for £299).

I'm a bit confused with all the options, what do you guys think?

Thanks

Nic

[Marky Mark]

I find PC World very helpful

[Nicolas]

Thanks a lot! I will have a close look to the classifieds on bikeradar, the descriptions there seem much better than on ebay or gumtree!

[quote="marco"]On a nice bike it should be a good commute and quite doable, the only problem may be choosing roads that you feel safe enough riding home on in the dark.

[Dominic]

Ribble are doing their winter frame at the moment for £129. You just need a fork and you are ready to go.

It's 7005 alloy, nothing flash but good value. Not too much to worry about leaving it in the car park. I have had one for the past 4 years and have used it to commute, train, audax and the odd race. I have even managed to do 400k on it in one go so it should be fine for 40 miles a day.

Unless you specfically want steel

[Andrew G]

How tall are you? I have just built up a new winter bike and my old frame is available if it's suitable.

Picking up the bits ebay is a good source as some shops use it to sell surplus stock.

Do you use Campag or the japanese stuff as I may be able to help out with some bits if you make the wise choice .

[Marek]

Andrew G, a frame up for grabs that sounds great, I need a 63cm frame.

Cheers

Marek....

[quote="Andrew G"]How tall are you? I have just built up a new winter bike and my old frame is available if it's suitable.

[Marek]

The ride should be ok with carbon forks etc. I used to ride 20 miles each way on a reasonably regular basis when lived in Coulsdon. Probably did about 2 or 3 days a week. Need to take it reasonably easy if you don't want to fry yourself for the weekend. Is great training though and will have you flying in no time.

Cheers

Marek....

[George]

[quote]Also, do you guys think 40mi a day most of the days is too much? Anybody doing this kind of commute?

[carl f]

Nicolas
i'm selling a second hand ribble frame with forks, alu' race double',blue horizontal TT 52cm
Pm me if your interested
Cheers
Carl

[Dominic]

I can assure you the ride is fine. The design of the frame is more important than the material and they are well designed frames. I've done lots of distance work on mine and it was regulary used for 2 years for 40 mile a day commute, 5 days a week no probs. Be careful with the sizing though as some people say they come up slightly big. Not sure I agree as my 58cm Ribble is near enough the same as my 58cm Specialized.

[Andrew G]

Frame would be a bit small for you then as I'm only 5'6" and it's a 52cm effective top tube. Carl's Ribble may be okay as I think they can come up a bit longer on the top tube. I was looking at the Ribble but this was what prevented me as I thought it might be a bit of a stretch. Reviews I read when looking was great frames, bargain price. Aluminium won't be too harsh with a carbon fork, or I've never found it so, I like Alu frames.

Re the distance I'd start on 2 or 3 days a week and see how you feel and if you want to build it up. Mine is 14miles each way but a bit lumpy so tend to do 3 or 4 days a week depending how I feel, and have a rest day. Make sure you get good lights. I'm in the process of getting a dynamo set up as I found rechargables a pain to have to keep charging up all the time as they never seem to last as long as they say they will. The top end ones are probably good but I decided it was far more sensible to get a dynamo and wheel than spend the same amount, or more on rechargables and still have to charge up and carry the battery.

[kieran]

Hi Nicholas,
I used to commute from Crystal Palace to Egham, passing through Staines, the commute is ok, problem is the roads are busy - have you worked out a route yet? I often did it in winter but sometimes it was a chore, if it was raining and windy, my travel time varied from a best of around 1hour 12min (in summer on road bike with little luggage and favourable traffic lights) to 1hour 45min (in winter, rain, wind, on MTB with shopping in pannier, bought in the Sainsbury's in Staines). Sometime I hated it mostly I liked it. Certainly got me fit and when I moved work I missed the mileage so I joined ACC!

[Dombo]

[quote="Andrew G"]

Do you use Campag or the japanese stuff as I may be able to help out with some bits if you make the wise choice .

[Nicolas]

Thank you for all your helpful insights! Sounds like I have a bit of homework to do now As I plan to start using it next spring, I have time, guess I need to resist the temptation to click 'buy' on the first nice frame I see

Andrew, 52cm top tube wouldn't be too bad for me, but if it's a 52cm seat tube as I suspect, it would be too small.

Carl, don't you mean 52cm seat tube?

I'm still quite attracted by this Thorn Audax Mk3 (http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/product-Thor ... -14217.htm), it comes in a 'short top tube' version that nearly exactly matches the measurement recommended to me by Cyclefit (near custom without the price tag!!). Oh and they have a flashy fuchsia pink version that would make even Chloe envious
Well the frame weights 2.3kg and the steel fork 1kg! But I don't think it matters too much for flat-ish West London.
What do you think of it?

I am also keeping my eyes open for a good deal in the classifieds...