which bike for commuting?

[guster]

Hi,

i'm commuting 15 miles each way to work over reasonably flat, paved terrain, on a ca.1990 vintage mountain bike. After 6 months of this my body is falling apart to the point I'm prepared to get a new bike.... one that fits, as opposed to a freebie from the next door neighbour...

Only problem is that I can't get any advice out of the numerous local bike shops, who all just want to flog the most expensive thing in their stockroom.

Can anyone suggest what parameters are important in buying a commuter bike? I'm thinking things like what sort of handlebars, seat higher or lower than handlebars, distance between backside and hands, how to judge correct frame size...? Basically I want something comfortable and relatively light. I'm female, normal height, have no need for step-through frame.

Currently I feel like i'm having to reach out too far to the (straight) handlebars, which is making my neck ache. I also have the seat up too high, because having it any lower than the handlebars gives me a backache, and lowering the seat makes me feel like my legs are permanently too bent (though having it at its current height means I have to fall off to touch the ground).

One bike shop bloke reckoned that the frame is too small for me... another said a smaller frame would mean I could have a lower seat and be able to put my toes on the ground.

i'm confused - any advice much appreciated!


thanks

 

[summerdays]

What height is

normal height

I'm about 5'6 (almost) - and my inside leg measurement is 31.5 and I ride a Medium - 19" frame I think. Where do you live - can you test ride any of the bikes in these bike shops (someone may be able to suggest a good LBS nearby), if you are near an Evans store they will let you for a nominal 1p.

 

[DLB]

Sounds you need a hybrid or a road bike, both of which will be quicker than the mountain bike. More importantly though you need a LBS you can get some good advice from. Evans would be worth a look, and some of the bikes in Halfords are good value and would serve you well.

Do you need to carry many items to work? Panniers would be useful (suggesting perhaps a hybrid) if you do

 

[calvjones]

You don't need to put your toes on the ground when on the saddle. This will be too low for the 99% of the time you're actually in motion. You should be able to put the heel of your foot on the pedal with your leg straight when its at its lowest point and you are sitting on the saddle (AFAIK).

15 miles is quite a way; if you like the saddle high relative to the bars, then a drop handlebar may be worth thinking about as you can shift positions around more than on a straight bar to keep comfy and it will be quicker.

Fit is more important than make (you MUST have a good test ride) but if a drop handlebar, make sure you have one with space for proper mudguards - and get the shop to fit these for you if the bike doesn't have them. If you stay with a straight bar, then move them closer to you but add bar-ends to give you a different position.

You can alter the 'length' of the bike by changing the length of the stem (bit between bars and frame) and a good bike shop should be happy to swap around to get you a length that suits.

Fo that distance, its worth spending about £400-£500 quid for a decent aluminium (light) frame, and reasonable gears. www.bikeradar.com will have lots of reviews of bikes around this price.

Cal

 

[Eviljeem]

How much do you have as a budget? Also what is more important you you, getting there quickly or comfortably?

 

[chris667]

If you could put your feet flat on the ground, you would have your saddle too low on most modern bikes. Modern bike design always apes the head down, bottom up "aerodynamic" racer's position, where the rider is meant to crunch their maggot-like body over the handlebars for the next race.

Normal people aren't well served by most bike shops, unfortunately. You need a specialist shop that has good quality comfortable bikes. Most shops have one or two bikes that have a very upright, not stretched out riding position, but the quality is poor. There's quite a few comfortable, upmarket bikes, but they are hard to find.

Whereabouts are you? If you're near Reading, you're welcome to try a couple of my bikes to see if you agree.