Cycling to work

Easy Rider

Hi All,

I am looking to start cycling to work now that the law is in for the 2nd provisional for driving cars etc....I have my test in August so I will need to cycle and anyway was something I was always thinking of doing..

So, I have two options....get a folding bike, cycle it to the bus stop and then from the bus stop in town to work...or getting a decent road/commuter bike and just cycle all the way....I live in Northwood, Santry and work in the IFSC...so porbably around 4/5 miles....

Does anyone have any recommendations on either type of bike or opinions, buy online or not etc..?....I could spend around 600 euro...

Plus I have another question for those who have to wear shirts to work...what do you do in that case when carrying them to work without getting it creased..? We have showers in our work but no lockers that we can keep clothes in, so will have to take a change of clothes...thanks!

Easy

cyclopath2001

Easy Rider wrote: »

So, I have two options....get a folding bike, cycle it to the bus stop and then from the bus stop in town to work...or getting a decent road/commuter bike and just cycle all the way....I live in Northwood, Santry and work in the IFSC...so porbably around 4/5 miles....Easy

Go by bike all the way. Get some easy-care shirts from M&S and bring them plus socks & jocks into the office once a week in a back-pack.


I think your best route might be down the Malahide Road.

Studoc

Easy Rider wrote: »

Hi All,

I am looking to start cycling to work now that the law is in for the 2nd provisional for driving cars etc....I have my test in August so I will need to cycle and anyway was something I was always thinking of doing..

So, I have two options....get a folding bike, cycle it to the bus stop and then from the bus stop in town to work...or getting a decent road/commuter bike and just cycle all the way....I live in Northwood, Santry and work in the IFSC...so porbably around 4/5 miles....

Does anyone have any recommendations on either type of bike or opinions, buy online or not etc..?....I could spend around 600 euro...

Plus I have another question for those who have to wear shirts to work...what do you do in that case when carrying them to work without getting it creased..? We have showers in our work but no lockers that we can keep clothes in, so will have to take a change of clothes...thanks!

Easy

I have a similar commute but in the opposite direction. For 600 you should be able to get a pretty decent road bike, make sure you get a good lock though! I use the New York something or another, it's about 80 euro and pretty heavy but well worth the cost (bike has'nt been swiped yet!). Plus something cheaper to wrap around the wheels.

Re shirt creasing, a good back pack or panniers and a carefully folded shirt should minimise creasing. Marks and Spencer do shirts that don't require ironing and not surprisingly they travel better. Since you're going downhill in the morning you may not sweat that much and might not actually require a change of clothes.

blorg

+1 with the M&S shirts.

If you are lucky enough to have showers, definately wear cycling gear and shower at work. Carry your stuff ideally on a rack/panniers, it is the most comfortable. We don't have lockers either but I just leave my stuff on a bench in the shower room, don't know if this would be an option for you. Bring clothes in for the week on Monday.

rp

Studoc wrote: »

Re shirt creasing, a good back pack or panniers and a carefully folded shirt should minimise creasing. Marks and Spencer do shirts that don't require ironing and not surprisingly they travel better. Since you're going downhill in the morning you may not sweat that much and might not actually require a change of clothes.

A well folded shirt will survive ok in a decent pannier (that is, waterproof) and a rucksack insert from somewhere like the great outdoors (sort of a zip-up small suitcasy thing, of perforated cloth) helps keep it folded and away from all the other stuff in the pannier (Alien II, pump, spare tube, first-aid kit, overshoes, rain coat,....)

oobydooby

rp wrote: »

A well folded shirt will survive ok in a decent pannier (that is, waterproof) and a rucksack insert from somewhere like the great outdoors (sort of a zip-up small suitcasy thing, of perforated cloth) helps keep it folded and away from all the other stuff in the pannier (Alien II, pump, spare tube, first-aid kit, overshoes, rain coat,....)

nice work if you can get it:D seriously though, I'm interested in this question too. I've often ironed a shirt carefully only for it to be crumpled when I get to work. Also, do brookes make shoes? (for work, not cycling)

Easy Rider

Thanks for the reply so far....not mad on the M&S non-iron shirts....don't like the fit or the material on me....but I will look into the bags I could carry with me...

So any suggestions on what type of bike?

Sean02

Lightweight with Catorskin tyres fitted. You will get a very good secondhand bike for that money. For rack and panniers its hard to beat Argos for value.

Civilian_Target

I use regular shirts and a pannier.... it's fine provided you put it at the top and don't pack too tight...

I suggest the road bike. Come down through Santry village, Whitehall on N1, down Gairdener St. and you're there. Home is a bit more effort though

Major +1 on the M&S shirts

Easy Rider

I'm thinking of getting a hybrid at this stage...if I was to buy second hand where is the best place to look, gumtree? Adverts etc?

cyclopath2001

Easy Rider wrote: »

I am looking to start cycling to work now that the law is in for the 2nd provisional for driving cars etc....I have my test in August so I will need to cycle and anyway was something I was always thinking of doing..

The cycling will give you a sense of all-round situational awareness on the road and an instinct for forward-planning your road position. I think you'll find it a great help in passing your test.

Good luck with the cycling and the test.

Easy Rider

Thanks, yeah I amagine it would too.... but cycling is always something I did when younger and never used a car, so I don't see why I can't do it now....the up-hill cycle home will also mean I won't have to go to the gym so much either, get my work out done before getting home, instead of getting home in my car, then heading to the gym...

daymobrew

oobydooby wrote: »

I've often ironed a shirt carefully only for it to be crumpled when I get to work.

Crazy idea - bring a travel iron into work.
As someone who works in always casual IT, I have no idea of what shirt/suit wearers have to put up with but thought I'd throw out that outside-the-box suggestion.

Easy Rider

Well they have this 'Carbon' campaign going on in work to bring down the amount of waste in the place etc and education of such things....yet they hardly take into the account of the amount of people driving to work and don't supply, in my opinion, good enough facilities for Cyclists, fair enough a shower is fine...but no lockers etc is annoying....

Maybe I could campaign for an iron and board to be put in work, but they probably would not allow it due to 'health and safety' - sure they don't even let us use kettles in work to make your own tea!

seamus

Yeah, I pretty much have to carry everything every day. No lockers, nowhere to leave a towel. Well I could leave one in the shower room, but what do you do if you arrive in one day and it's been swiped!

Shirts tend to work OK for me. Iron it before I leave, then fold it up into a smallish square, probably around 6 inches square - with the collar at the top. This then sits at the top of my bag. It's not dry-cleaner ironed when I stick it on, but it's fine. Really depends on your job I guess. If I wore a full suit, I'd probably leave my suit jacket in work and have 3/4 pairs of the same pants.

SerialComplaint

I drive in 1 day a week and bring in undies, four shirts & a pair of trousers to cover the rest of the week. They are all hanging on the back of my office door, which isn't pretty, but it works for me.

seamus

Well, if I had an office...

Easy Rider

SerialComplaint wrote: »

I drive in 1 day a week and bring in undies, four shirts & a pair of trousers to cover the rest of the week. They are all hanging on the back of my office door, which isn't pretty, but it works for me.

Yeah, can't drive tho' I'm on a provisional and have my car sitting in the basement car park waiting for my test....I will probably get a bike this weekend in town, probably go to Cycleways, I know their is another place on camden street, has to be city centre...any other places I'm not thinking of?

Plus I don't have an office unfortunately.....

BostonB

I bring a sports bag in once a week with a supply of clothes. I just leave it in a bookcase. I find a well folded shirt is good enough to stay uncreased. But I don't wear suits etc. A locker and somewhere to dry wet gear would be nice.

arybvtcw0eolkf

Easy Rider wrote: »

any other places I'm not thinking of?

.....

Sean Duff's in Omni Park S.C. since your in Santry.

They've been selling bicycles in Dublin since 1912.

If you go into the car park they're to the right of the main entrance.

Speak to Frank, I've bought all my bikes for the last twenty year's from him and he's never sold me a bad one yet.

macinalli

Easy Rider wrote:

...any other places I'm not thinking of?

Make sure to haggle! They mightn't come down in price but there's loads of extras that they could throw in - lights, mudguard, pump, tubes, tyres etc. Most bike shops will do some sort of deal...

Hungrycol

I cycle Swords to the IFSC about four days a week and go through Santry on my way in. It's a piece of cake. From Santry I go:
Past Omni, turn right on the bridge that over the N1 and cycle onto the N1 heading to the Whitehall junction. Down the Swords Road past Regency Hotel all the way through to Drumcondra and left onto Clonliffe Road and right at the next lights bringing you past Croker and left onto North Circular Road. Onto Sheffif St and Seville Street (I think) and right at the pedestrian lights at the corner shop. You're in the IFSC.

I leave a few pairs of trousers in work and bring a shirt, jocks and socks with me on a bag on my back. Shower and change and either leave my bag in the shower room or bring it to my desk.

Easy Rider

Mairt wrote: »

Sean Duff's in Omni Park S.C. since your in Santry.

They've been selling bicycles in Dublin since 1912.

If you go into the car park they're to the right of the main entrance.

Speak to Frank, I've bought all my bikes for the last twenty year's from him and he's never sold me a bad one yet.

I bought my last bike off them...years back....but I have been told they may be overpriced on some bikes....not saying it is true but just something someone said....

Yeah, I will haggle alright, get something to cover the full costs....

arybvtcw0eolkf

Easy Rider wrote: »

I bought my last bike off them...years back....but I have been told they may be overpriced on some bikes....not saying it is true but just something someone said....

Yeah, I will haggle alright, get something to cover the full costs....

I've just bought a new bike from them, like most shops the profit margins on the bikes are pretty tight on the shop but I got a 50% discount on everything else I bought from him.

Since your within walking distance from the shop it wouldn't do any harm to do in.

unionman

Any advice I would have given is already in this thread.

But this thread and its origin is yet another example of why we need a Bike to Work scheme in this country (recession or not!)

Good luck OP, you'll never look back (even when you get your licence).

Easy Rider

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_241881_langId_-1_CarSelectorCatalogId__CarSelectorGroupId__varient__categoryId_124468_crumb_33980-33957-124465_parentcategoryrn_124468


http://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=38&idproduct=20954

http://www.cycleways.com/store/product/37027/08-Sirrus-Comp-61/

Okay well I am going bike shopping this weekend, will be looking and getting advise from various stores I go to but have been looking online at the above three, the Boardman, Specialized and the Giant......

Boardman Performance Urban Comp: The reviews I have seen are positive, but halfords don't get great reviews....also it is at the top of my price range and the disc brakes are not meant to be too hot....

Giant R2 - Cheaper, I could go for the 599 euro version R1, but are the tyres on both not wider, should I be looking at 28ce etc? The cheaper R2 would give me more money to work with for extra's etc...plus the disc brakes, not sure if they are positve or negative...

Specialized 08 Sirrus 47 (basic) - Again just on my max price range....but not sure if they are any better than the ones above or am I paying more for a name here?

Soooo, anyone have any ideas on other options or better deals I could get, i.e. going cheaper and saving money for extra's etc.

Thanks...

blorg

Disc brakes would generally be a positive in that their performance does not degrade in the wet, but rim brakes are perfectly adaquate on the road. I wouldn't pay extra for discs.

All look like good bikes, the Giant is maybe a bit more MTB-oriented than the other two and mightn't be quite as fast but might be marginal. Arguably better value than the Sirrus though.

You can swap tyres easily enough. The Boardman and Sirrus are 700x28, the Giant is 700x32 (wider.)

Boardman gives you the best bang per buck but setup and after-sales tuning etc. is likely to be better from Cyclesuperstore or Cycleways.

Easy Rider

Yes, agree the Giant does look more MTB...Boardman does look good......but Halfords...I would get it in coolock if I was to get one...are they any good....

I will probably head into cycleways, the one on Wexford street and the shop on the liffey to get a better idea....

blorg

Definately best try them all out, you'll probably find one fits you better than the others and feels better overall. That will make your decision a lot easier! If you are unfamiliar with basic bike maintenance Halfords might be a bit of a crapshoot all right. I have heard rumours that the more professional bike mechanics work Mon-Fri so better not to buy at the weekend (you are better off buying during the week at any bike shop though, they are quieter and will have more time to devote to setting up your bike properly.)

arybvtcw0eolkf

At the risk of sounding like I'm plugging Sean Duffy's in Omni S.C. but they'll allow you to take the bike for a test ride.

I must have broke their hearts testing bikes for two hours before deciding on mine.

Of course your not obliged to buy, but it might give you a better idea of what will suit you best.

blorg

Any decent bike shop will let you do this. They may want to get a pre-authorisation on a credit card first if they don't know you.

cunnins4

wear a tshirt under your shirt to stop it getting sweaty or, i've found if you kinda roll your shirt lighty and sit it on top of the stuff in your bag it survives rather well without creasing. try the jeff banks shirts in debenhams if ya don't like m&s ones-good quality, nice fit and most dont crease badly.

+1 on a road bike too.

BostonB

Cannondale seem to do some decent hybrids too.

Easy Rider

Well I went into town and also went to Duffs in Santry....I had a look at the Giant FCR 3, Specailized Sirus and a Ridgeback Flight T1....

I do like the FCR 3 but the handlebars are very wide, the specialized was good if not fairly basic...finally I also had a look at the Ridgeback Flight T1 which was at cycleogical...sooo prices:

FCR 3 in Duffs in Santry : 550 Euro, mudguards free, 15% of all accessories...
Specialized in Cycleways..: 599 Euro and 10% off all accessories...
Ridgeback in Cycleogical: 610 euro, 15 % off all accessories....

I felt the Ridgeback to be overpriced, seemed like a nice bike and had the narrow handlebars I was really looking for...... I could also buy off www.mcconveycycles.com, which would work at cheaper, I could even push out and get a specialized elite, or an FCR 2 or 2.5....or if I went with the FCR save some money also.....

Has anyone ever bought off these guys? Does the bike come pretty much set-up minus some parts like peddles and handlebar?

Easy Rider

I went to halfords and they did not have the Boardmans at all....so I think I will just go with the FCR 2 or Sirrus Elite....but I am unsure about ordering online as I don't know how it comes, i.e. pre-built or not...I will give them a ring tomorrow but has anyone dealt with McConveys?

BostonB

Which Halfords? I saw them in Liffey Valley. Blanch have hardly any bikes at the moment.

Easy Rider

It was in Coolock...not a great selection of flat bars at all....

Harpz

The handlebars on the FCR are ridiculously wide, too wide for cycling in traffic.
Should be no problem to just take a couple of inches off each side and just slide the grips in. It's only a five minute job. The bike shop should be able do it for you. I wouldnt let it put you off buying the bike

Easy Rider

They sure are...strange that they built them like that as I can see many people being put off by it..thinking of getting the Sirrus Elite at this stage.....

kenmc

I had no issues with the width of mine, think they were only around 4cm wider than my drops, so around 46cm or so.

Easy Rider

Okay, well I have phoned the guys in McConveys and they said that the essentials would be left on the bike and the handlebars would be turned, brakes and peddles may be removed...which is the norm for deliveries as far as I can see.....

So FCR 2 or Sirrus Elite..................? Hmmmmm

blorg

My Sirrus Elite bars were also ridiculously wide, don't know if they have changed this As Harpz said though, it is an easy job to make them smaller.

Wider bars generally make the steering a bit easier and less "skittish", they are not without benefit.

Easy Rider

You recommend the sirrus elite?

blorg

Definately, it's a great bike. Try both out though and see which you prefer, the Specialized might be a bit over-priced TBH.

EDIT: If you are buying online (not sure I would recommend if it is your first bike) I'd also consider the Focus Arriba
Corrente - Focus are very nice bikes (half of Boards has one) and very good value.

Easy Rider

Well, I am thinking of buying online, I can save +150 Euro on most of my choices....however I may head up to cyclesuperstore,as I believe they are open late tomorrow, to see if I do pay the extra can I get some stuff thrown in....and maybe get the handlebars sorted!

delllat

I have recently built a bike that came in a box and i found it quite easy to be honest
if you can save 25% of the price id definately consider buying it online
its up to whether or not your comfortable doing it but 150+ euro off of a 500 or 600 euro bike is a lot

Easy Rider

delllat wrote: »

I have recently built a bike that came in a box and i found it quite easy to be honest
if you can save 25% of the price id definately consider buying it online
its up to whether or not your comfortable doing it but 150+ euro off of a 500 or 600 euro bike is a lot

Where did you buy it from? Was it just handle bars peddles and brakes, do you know what tools I might need?

Easy Rider

Well I got myself a FCR 2.5 in cycle superstore....590.....Now all I need to do is buy he bits and bobs, pump, spares, wet gear etc..looking forward to get going now

arybvtcw0eolkf

Easy Rider wrote: »

Well I got myself a FCR 2.5 in cycle superstore....590.....Now all I need to do is buy he bits and bobs, pump, spares, wet gear etc..looking forward to get going now

Hey weldone, I was going for the FCR 2.5 but my last bike was a hybrid so I really wanted something different. But it was a close call.

Your out my way, if you decide on going for a spin some evening drop me a PM and we'll hook up if you fancy.

Just getting my fitness back in some kind of shape & done 40kms today so I'm still every bit the novice compared to the guys on here.

Weldone again, and happy biking.

Don17

What about lapierre bikes, they seem to have a few nice ones in the same range as the giant FCR?
Any opinions