The perfect commuter

[Jurgens Smit]

ahhh...so you want advice on a 'fun gravel grinding, fun loving roadie rides, fun in the sun holiday bike" ......... you should have said so from the start

 

I mos said "The perfect commuter"

 

It's main purpose will be for commuting, but I only have access to N-1 bikes so they need to have multiple purposes

[lechatnoir]

My budget will be around 30k for the cx bike.

 

Shortlist is currently

 

Spez Crux (if I can find one)(first choice)

Canyon INFLITE AL SLX 8.0 PRO RACE

Colnago Prestige(35k based on the website)

Ridley X - Night

 

 

It wont just be a commuter though, it will become my go to bike for outdoor training and these non technical mtb races. We holiday mostly in the Drakensberg and most rides I've done there a cx bike will be more than fine.

 

You land an INFLITE here within your budget and you're doing well. Perhaps a bit too well even... 

[Jurgens Smit]

You land an INFLITE here within your budget and you're doing well. Perhaps a bit too well even... 

 

With their shipping included on that model it amounts to 32k, which is doable for me.

[Letum911]

My budget will be around 30k for the cx bike.

 

Shortlist is currently

 

Spez Crux (if I can find one)(first choice)

Canyon INFLITE AL SLX 8.0 PRO RACE

Colnago Prestige(35k based on the website)

Ridley X - Night

 

 

It wont just be a commuter though, it will become my go to bike for outdoor training and these non technical mtb races. We holiday mostly in the Drakensberg and most rides I've done there a cx bike will be more than fine.

 

Ok, this is officially out of my "commuter" bike reference. I'll just stick around and drool. 

[Mongoose!]

 

 

It wont just be a commuter though, it will become my go to bike for outdoor training and these non technical mtb races  . We holiday mostly in the Drakensberg and most rides I've done there a cx bike will be more than fine.

 

just beware. Drop handles not welcome  allowed in mtb races....

[Jurgens Smit]

just beware. Drop handles not welcome  allowed in mtb races....

 

I've seen many okes on gravel bikes at races?

For the smaller races I'm sure they allow it if you ask beforehand.

[Mongoose!]

I've seen many okes on gravel bikes at races?

For the smaller races I'm sure they allow it if you ask beforehand.

Just make sure you don't get podium...

[Patchelicious]

Wait what? A SS can't be used for training? I beg to differ.....

 

hehe

Oh I'm sure it can.

 

Jurgens likes riding at SBR, but if he can ride SBR on a SS then I don't think he needs to train anymore ????

[Jewbacca]

As long as it's tjoobless. Our roads/pavements and side paths are littered with glass and other nasties.

 

Drop bars are better because they take up less space on the road, but find a 'back' route that involves side paths and some fun because it's safer and rad.

 

I have a super sweet monstercross SS with a dynamo front light and On one Midge bars... It is super fun and my commute often turns into a spin around the green belts just because.

[GLuvsMtb]

My budget will be around 30k for the cx bike.

 

Shortlist is currently

 

Spez Crux (if I can find one)(first choice)

Canyon INFLITE AL SLX 8.0 PRO RACE

Colnago Prestige(35k based on the website)

Ridley X - Night

 

 

It wont just be a commuter though, it will become my go to bike for outdoor training and these non technical mtb races. We holiday mostly in the Drakensberg and most rides I've done there a cx bike will be more than fine.

My choice in the sub R30K bracket.

 

https://www.trekbikes.com/za/en_ZA/bikes/road-bikes/cyclocross-bikes/crockett/crockett-5-disc/p/2484000-2017/?colorCode=blue

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[Jurgens Smit]

My choice in the sub R30K bracket.

 

https://www.trekbikes.com/za/en_ZA/bikes/road-bikes/cyclocross-bikes/crockett/crockett-5-disc/p/2484000-2017/?colorCode=blue

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

No hydraulic brakes?

[ChrisF]

Jurgens I did not read all the replies, so sorry if I repeat some stuff.

 

 

I have been a regular commuter since October last year.

 

In theory I could get a road bike, as 99% of my commute is on tar.  (well everything except when I get creative with my return trip and include some extra loops)

 

BUT, and this is a mother of a big but !!!!!  LOTS and lots of thorns on my commute route !!!!

 

The tubeless tires on my MTB WORKS !!!!  (which reminds me it is time to top up the slime ....)

 

 

Full frame suspension is obviously an overkill.

 

But I find a proper FOX gas shock on the front helps a LOT .... I commute on the side of the road, and various sections on the pavement (NO pedestrians here), and encounter a lot of "ripples/corrugations" along the route !  My wrists take a pounding with a rigid bike.

 

 

Brakes - get a bike with DECENT brakes !!!  Car drivers a BLIND, despite having TWO front lights (800Lumen ON, 600Lumen flashing) I had a driver turn in front of me last week - looking at kids and drove straight over the stop sign.  I was sliding sideways, and stearing away from her, and still came within centimeters of sideslamming her car !!

 

 

 

So my recommendation:

- hard tail MTB

- DECENT groupset, with PROPER brakes

- tubeless

 

 

 

I find that I sweat a lot with a backpack on, so I made a "load bin" for the lunchbox ....

 

For the morning commute (about 4,5km) I keep the speed DOWN, and the heart rate in the 120's .... then I dont sweat.  As soon as I push into 140's and up I sweat ..... It only makes about 2 minutes difference on the morning commute.  Should add my morning commute includes two steep hills  In the afternoon I give it some stick, build a proper sweat, and deliberately zig-zag to include a few extra hills to get in some practice.

 

My next thing will be to include a few short high heart rate sprints in the afternoon.  At the moment I am doing about 35 to 45% of the afternoon ride in Zone 3, want to start including a few Zone 4 stints.  Sorry, going off topic ....

 

 

 

BE SEEN .... front lights, rear lights, reflective clothing/strips ....

 

BELL - consider getting a bell for those occasions you need to alert pedestrians that you are behind them.  And KNOW that they WILL step sideways, and in front of you, when they finally notice you ....

 

 

All said, I ENJOY commuting by bike !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

 

 

PS - I have a Merida XT Edition hard tail as my commute bike.  LOVE IT !

[GLuvsMtb]

No hydraulic brakes?

I've had a Giant Anyroad with mech disc brakes as a commuter a few years ago. If you want something fairly simple and bullet proof, then mech disc brakes should be more than ok. It will also make a good touring bike due to the simplicity of servicing on the go.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[Hairy]

https://www.trekbikes.com/za/en_ZA/bikes/mountain-bikes/trail-mountain-bikes/stache/stache-7/p/2022000-2017/?colorCode=green

[ChrisF]

https://www.trekbikes.com/za/en_ZA/bikes/mountain-bikes/trail-mountain-bikes/stache/stache-7/p/2022000-2017/?colorCode=green

 

yummie ....

[Jurgens Smit]

Jurgens I did not read all the replies, so sorry if I repeat some stuff.

 

 

I have been a regular commuter since October last year.

 

In theory I could get a road bike, as 99% of my commute is on tar.  (well everything except when I get creative with my return trip and include some extra loops)

 

BUT, and this is a mother of a big but !!!!!  LOTS and lots of thorns on my commute route !!!!

 

The tubeless tires on my MTB WORKS !!!!  (which reminds me it is time to top up the slime ....)

 

 

Full frame suspension is obviously an overkill.

 

But I find a proper FOX gas shock on the front helps a LOT .... I commute on the side of the road, and various sections on the pavement (NO pedestrians here), and encounter a lot of "ripples/corrugations" along the route !  My wrists take a pounding with a rigid bike.

 

 

Brakes - get a bike with DECENT brakes !!!  Car drivers a BLIND, despite having TWO front lights (800Lumen ON, 600Lumen flashing) I had a driver turn in front of me last week - looking at kids and drove straight over the stop sign.  I was sliding sideways, and stearing away from her, and still came within centimeters of sideslamming her car !!

 

 

 

So my recommendation:

- hard tail MTB

- DECENT groupset, with PROPER brakes

- tubeless

 

 

 

I find that I sweat a lot with a backpack on, so I made a "load bin" for the lunchbox ....

 

For the morning commute (about 4,5km) I keep the speed DOWN, and the heart rate in the 120's .... then I dont sweat.  As soon as I push into 140's and up I sweat ..... It only makes about 2 minutes difference on the morning commute.  Should add my morning commute includes two steep hills  In the afternoon I give it some stick, build a proper sweat, and deliberately zig-zag to include a few extra hills to get in some practice.

 

My next thing will be to include a few short high heart rate sprints in the afternoon.  At the moment I am doing about 35 to 45% of the afternoon ride in Zone 3, want to start including a few Zone 4 stints.  Sorry, going off topic ....

 

 

 

BE SEEN .... front lights, rear lights, reflective clothing/strips ....

 

BELL - consider getting a bell for those occasions you need to alert pedestrians that you are behind them.  And KNOW that they WILL step sideways, and in front of you, when they finally notice you ....

 

 

All said, I ENJOY commuting by bike !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

 

 

PS - I have a Merida XT Edition hard tail as my commute bike.  LOVE IT !

 

Thanks Chris, all input is appreciated

 

I currently have a Spez Camber so I'm sorted on the mtb front.

 

My only issue is that I don't ride the bike as it should be ridden, most of our mtb riding is district roads. So I'd rather sell that and be able to still get decent cash for it and let somebody actually RIDE the bike as it was designed to be ridden.

 

For my type of training and goals a CX type bike would be a better option.

 

Later on I'd look at maybe getting a hardtail or something racy if/when my interests go away from road racing.

 

Edit- def agree on the visibility aspect, no matter what route I choose that will still be top priority.