A City Commuter bike

coldpaw

hello all,

anyone have any suggestions on a good commuter city bike. on a mtb at momnet but its too slow a racer would too fast and dengerous in the cycle friendly dublin.
Price would be prob 400 euro max.
any suggestions where to purchase- i hear the cycle superstore in tallaght is good
are online retailers any good?
cheers for any help/suggestions

Lumen

I don't really understand the statement "a racer would too fast and dangerous". IMO the safest way to ride is at the same speed as the traffic. If you're going too fast, use the brakes or pedal more slowly.

If you want something faster than a standard mountain bike, just fit some Fat Boys - much of the resistance is down to the tyres (and the un-aero position, which won't be improved on a commuter).

If you want something faster, cheap and low maintenance you could consider this. It will take wider (more comfortable) tyres than a road bike, and if your commute is flattish, gears are just another thing to clean.

Still, nothing wrong with a hybrid.

Ghost Rider

If this is in good nick, it would probably be a good buy:

http://www.adverts.ie/showproduct.php?product=89542&cat=52

I have the FCR3 and, even though I don't use it commuting any more, it is an excellent commuting bike. The FCRs combine the thinner wheels and lighter frame of a racing bike with the flat handlebars of (say) a mountain bike so you have a more upright riding position.

coldpaw wrote: »

hello all,

anyone have any suggestions on a good commuter city bike. on a mtb at momnet but its too slow a racer would too fast and dengerous in the cycle friendly dublin.
Price would be prob 400 euro max.
any suggestions where to purchase- i hear the cycle superstore in tallaght is good
are online retailers any good?
cheers for any help/suggestions

Nate--IRL--

Got myself a Carrera Subway http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_240399_langId_-1_categoryId_165534 from Halfords for €240. Don't know alot about bikes, but this was recommended and is the best bike i've ever owned. If you stretch to €340 (i think) you can get the Subway 2. http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_240427_langId_-1_categoryId_165534

Nate

rubadub

http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/product/12287/Giant_FCR_2_Mens_Bike_2008

http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/product/11770/Dawes_Discovery_601_Bike_2007

http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/product/14401/Dawes_Discovery_501_Bike_2008

dave.obrien

Giant make some nice hybrids, I think the crs4 is their entry level one, lovely bike, you'll find it in cycle superstore and hollingsworth cycles, €349 from bikez.ie..

Ghost Rider

Broadly speaking, there seem to be two kinds of hybrid bike these days: ones that lean more towards road bikes in terms of wheels, geometry and gearing (e.g. the Giant FCR or Specialized Sirrus series) and ones that lean towards mountain bikes in those areas. The CRS would be in the latter category, as far as I can see. I'd suggest that a Giant CRS might be a bit more comfortable than a Giant FCR, but would probably also be heavier and slower.

"Whatever yer inta", as they say.

dave.obrien wrote: »

Giant make some nice hybrids, I think the crs4 is their entry level one, lovely bike, you'll find it in cycle superstore and hollingsworth cycles, €349 from bikez.ie..

blorg

The CRS is a decent hybrid, I have spun one around a car park and it seemed to go very well. Think it comes with quite wide tyres, 32 or 35, which would add to the comfort. Ghost Rider's view of the difference is fairly spot on.

I'd try to get it without the suspension fork if possible, unnecessary on the road and saps pedalling energy.

parko202

with the specialized tricross, i see they only have the 58cm in stock, at 6'5 would i be able to use this if i put a longer stem on it or better just to leave it?

blorg

parko202 wrote: »

with the specialized tricross, i see they only have the 58cm in stock, at 6'5 would i be able to use this if i put a longer stem on it or better just to leave it?

Maybe, combined with a seatpost with lots of layback, although you probably need a 60cm at least at that sort of height. It would be a bit of a risk I reckon. I have a 58cm if you want to try it out, I'm 6ft though.

Lumen

parko202 wrote: »

with the specialized tricross, i see they only have the 58cm in stock, at 6'5 would i be able to use this if i put a longer stem on it or better just to leave it?

I'm 6ft (long torso, short legs) and the 56 fits me just fine. I'd guess the 58 will be too small for you even with a long stem, but it also depends on how much drop you want.

parko202

thanks for the offer blorg, one of my friends actually got one in a 58 and i found out last night, definitely too small for me, ah well procrastination gets you nowhere, should have hit the buy button when there were 60's in stock!