Low maintenance beater/short commute bike suggestions?

Just a little Samba

Howdy.

Looking for suggestions for a bike which would be low maintenance to use for short commutes and as a "daily driver". I.e. popping to the shop for a bottle of milk or whatever.

Looking for either single speed or internal gearing, mudguard mounts and sure if it had rack mounts too that would be great.

Drop bar prefered but not essential.

So far I'd been looking at the likes of the Vitus Dee series bikes (single speed) or the BTwin Nework 500 (internal) or possibly a drop bar single speed.

Something I can chain up outside the trainstation or shops and not worry about too much,

Cheaper the better.

Cheers.

Lumen

I'd go for the cheapest Vitus.

There's even one with disc brakes for under €350.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/vitus-bikes-dee-1-26-city-bike-2014/rp-prod80998

Or maybe a BTwin with mudguards and a chaincase...

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/nework-500-city-bike-id_8303893.html

Just a little Samba

Lumen wrote: »

I'd go for the cheapest Vitus.

There's even one with disc brakes for under €350.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/vitus-bikes-dee-1-26-city-bike-2014/rp-prod80998

Or maybe a BTwin with mudguards and a chaincase...

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/nework-500-city-bike-id_8303893.html

The BTwin was catching my eye at €250 alright... So far it seems the best deal...

Would there be any way of rigging that I-motion drive train to work with drop bars do you think? Bar end shifter maybe? Or would it be a pointless effort?

Lumen

Just a little Samba wrote: »

Would there be any way of rigging that I-motion drive train to work with drop bars do you think? Bar end shifter maybe? Or would it be a pointless effort?

Having done a drop bar singlespeed mountainbike conversion once, I'm not sure I'd bother again. It was fun to do but the braking was much worse that with flat bar levers.

If you're doing it, get a smaller size frame to accomodate the extra reach.

OldBean

The Vitus 1's are great bikes for what you're after, except they've flat/riser handlebars and it's lacking mudguard and rack mounts. Well built and a fun ride though (goes about like a giant BMX) - and you can easily can a seatpost mounted mudguard or a Carradice saddlebag system. If you're looking for something to lock up and leave while you're in the shops/cinema/on a train, I'd go for a v brake version, rather than the disk brake one though. Do factor in you'd be best off to change from the supplied tyres to slicks, and pedals that come with it are crap.

I've one up on Adverts at the moment, and the only real reason I'm getting rid of it is my other half's commute is too long, and our house is too small for so many bikes.

I've no idea how they ride, but I've always though that some of Globe (Specialized) range looked pretty smart too. As far as I know, Cycleways stock them.

C3PO

I love my steel Specilaized Langster to bits! I'm surprised at myself but really enjoy the singlespeed experience!

granty1987

I'm a big fan of my Fuji Track, use it for the same reasons - cycling to training, matches, shops, pub, town etc - commute is a 20k each way so id leave that to my road bike. Doesn't have eyelets for mudguard / pannier but that doesn't bother me

Didn't think I would like a fixed gear as much as I do

Are you interested in a single speed or fixed gear?

Ardennes1944

Id like that Vitus Dee 1 except they only have it in the small frame

manwithaplan

C3PO wrote: »

I love my steel Specilaized Langster to bits! I'm surprised at myself but really enjoy the singlespeed experience!

Great bike but a bit pricey. Humphries Cycles in Finglas sorted me out with a no name steel singlespeed for a good bit less (it was a replacement for my Langster which got nicked). Heavier than the Langster but spot on for a shortish commute.

Just a little Samba

granty1987 wrote: »

I'm a big fan of my Fuji Track, use it for the same reasons - cycling to training, matches, shops, pub, town etc - commute is a 20k each way so id leave that to my road bike. Doesn't have eyelets for mudguard / pannier but that doesn't bother me

Didn't think I would like a fixed gear as much as I do

Are you interested in a single speed or fixed gear?

Definitely going for either a single speed or internal gearing. I like to coast when I'm taking it handy around town.