Hey all, I will be commuting 16km to work as often as I can this year and have been looking for a commuter bike. I will have minimal gear and thought this would be a good cheap option. Am I better off spending more? Budget is up to $1500 but there is no secure storage at my workplace.
by Pound-Few
2 Comments
Its a good bike but try to get Carbon. For me i had a lot of bikes. Specialized Roubaix ia best! I miss my 2012 Specialized roubaix. So if you got $1500. Get better bike. Idk market near you but in US that bike is $350 bike maybe 400 if good componenta
Not a traditional bike for commuting, but you could make it work if you are willing to deal with the disadvantages.
Advantages are that it is lightweight, quick, and lots of fun outside of commuting. The disadvantages are as follows. Pretty bike! Very attractive to steal. It has an aggressive geometry, not particularly comfortable. It has no rack or fender mounts. It is relatively fragile. The gearing is focused on racing and speed which means you sacrifice hill climbing gears. Adjustments can be made to make the gearing easier for hills, but at the end of the day there is a limit. There is most likely 28mm tire clearance due to brake calipers or rear chainstay. Wider tires and lower pressures will help with comfort, grip, and might actually be faster depending on how rough or smooth your path is.
If you want to make this or similar bikes work: Get a Kryptonite Seat Leash, Security Quick-release Skewers, Kryptonite Keeper 790 chain COMBO lock (and more importantly learn how to properly lock it up), and a Blackburn Frame Bag.
If you want my opinion, you might be better off with a entry level gravel bike or 80s/90s rigid mountain bike (AKA cheap gravel bike) upgraded into a city bike. If you buy used, get a tune-up so you don’t eat pavement or die. Both these bike options allow fenders, rack, easier hill climbing, tire size options, endurance geometry, and won’t be as attractive to a thief.
Good news for you, the used bike market is saturated with valuable bikes for dirt cheap (at least in my area). You have options. Hell with a budget like that you could buy 2, get them tuned up/safety checked, ride them both, then resell the one you don’t like as much.