Road bike for work

marklloyd said:

My first post so first of all a big hello to everyone😄

I''m a fairly keen mountain biker looking to buy a road bike mainly to cycle to work. (30 miles round trip). Im 30, fairly fit, 5'7 and a heavey 16 stone.

I have no idea when it comes to road bikes so any advice and frame size suggestion is much appreciated.

For your height, you probably want a frame with a 53cm top tube -- real (probably 51cm set tube, c-c), or virtual (sloping top tube) ...

The stem would be 110mm, +/- 10mm.

alfeng said:

For your height, you probably want a frame with a 53cm top tube -- real (probably 51cm set tube, c-c), or virtual (sloping top tube) ...

The stem would be 110mm, +/- 10mm.

What is the best value for money bike that will be suitable for my needs?

marklloyd said:

What is the best value for money bike that will be suitable for my needs?

That's THE question that vexes everyone regardless of the budget a person is working with ...

I like the base model JAMIS CODA because it only costs $550(US), but I'm not sure it is available where you live ...

[CENTER][IMG]jamisbikes.com10s coda bk.jpgOpen ↗[/IMG][/CENTER]

[CENTER]2010 JAMIS BICYCLES - SPECIFICATIONS[/CENTER]

So, use some-or-all of its specs as a benchmark ... it has clearance for FENDERS (highly recommended for commuting) + "fatter" tyres (if desired).

I would probably recommend the 15" for you (maybe, the 17", particularly if you never anticipate changing the handlebars) because it has the shortest top tube BECAUSE I would anticipate eventually re-fitting it with DROP handlebars + Campagnolo (non-QS) 10-speed shifters [which will mate with the rest of the existing 8-speed drivetrain without any effort] + cantilever brakes ... and, in the interim, if the fit isn't quite right on the smaller frame then I would change the stem to one which is longer.

I was hoping to purchase a carbon fibre frame. Budget is £1000

marklloyd said:

I was hoping to purchase a carbon fibre frame. Budget is £1000

I think you're going to be hard pressed to buy an off-the-peg CF CX/"touring" bike for £1000 ... alloy, yes.

FENDERS are really more important than you probably think if you are going to be using the bike for commuting ...

So, you need to determine the tyre size you want to use & add at least 1.0 cm for fender clearance ... most Road frames have a hard time accommodating a 700x28 tyre ... few Road forks can handle a 700x28 tyre ...

At your current weight, I would think 700x25, or larger (i.e., 700x28 to 700x32), tyres would be better than not ...

FWIW. You might be able to cobble something together ... you can fit a carbon fibre CX fork on a Hardtail MTB frame ... the head tube angle will be relatively slack (probably about 71º) and the BB will sit higher than a typical Road bike, but you can get used to it, but you will have clearance for relative large tyres + fenders ...

OR, fit a CF Hardtail with a rigid fork + 26" wheels/tyres + Road components ...

You can buy a CF Hardtail frame from China (where more than half of the CF frames are probably fabricated ... I presume the 'naked' frames are production overruns) for under £250 via eBay ... add a rigid fork + nice set of 26" wheels + Road components and you'll be almost set -- you may still want a rack + fenders + lights, of course.