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jampott · 07-09-2008, 10:50 AM

A bit of background first, since I think it is probably quite important to the decision!

I've pretty much decided, along with a slightly younger mate (I'm 34) to join the world of biking. I've been a car driver since 17, and have had a few interesting cars, including my current one, and I will always be a car driver I would imagine!

My current (car) commute is about a 40 mile roundtrip, which takes in either mostly motorway or some average A-roads, depending on whether the motorway is backed up - but I'm finding the 20 minute drive to work invariably takes twice as long as it would if there was no traffic.

So, along with a nagging curiosity to try biking, combined with perhaps a quicker journey time, a bike seems to be a good prospect at least some days in the week, and at least some weeks in the year. I should also add that cost is also a slight factor... the 200+ commuting miles are being done at certainly no higher than 20mpg, often more like 15 or 16.

So... if I'm being honest, I probably don't want to ride much (if at all) in the wet. I also don't have a hankering for an out-and-out speed machine. I want something I can be comfortable on, which is reliable and relatively easily to handle, yet is also appealing and good fun enough to want to take it out on a Sunday in preference (sometimes!) to my car.

I'm thinking some sort of Cruiser?

But I'm more interested in hearing some ideas from everyone else.

Whatever I buy, remember it is my first bike, and will be my first introduction (apart from the machine I do my CBT and DAS on) to biking. I'm not a small guy (6'4" and 18stone) so I don't want anything I'm going to be squashed onto.

I've not really thought too much about budget - I'm going to part-fund it from reducing the mileage (depreciation) and petrol costs of commuting 100% in my car, but I guess by the time I've bought all the gear, paid for the CBT and DAS, paid for a year's insurance etc, there's still going to be an outlay...

Really interested in opinions and ideas though... so keep 'em coming!

07-09-2008, 10:50 AM	#1 (permalink)
jampott Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 6	Advice on bike for a total beginner... A bit of background first, since I think it is probably quite important to the decision! I've pretty much decided, along with a slightly younger mate (I'm 34) to join the world of biking. I've been a car driver since 17, and have had a few interesting cars, including my current one, and I will always be a car driver I would imagine! My current (car) commute is about a 40 mile roundtrip, which takes in either mostly motorway or some average A-roads, depending on whether the motorway is backed up - but I'm finding the 20 minute drive to work invariably takes twice as long as it would if there was no traffic. So, along with a nagging curiosity to try biking, combined with perhaps a quicker journey time, a bike seems to be a good prospect at least some days in the week, and at least some weeks in the year. I should also add that cost is also a slight factor... the 200+ commuting miles are being done at certainly no higher than 20mpg, often more like 15 or 16. So... if I'm being honest, I probably don't want to ride much (if at all) in the wet. I also don't have a hankering for an out-and-out speed machine. I want something I can be comfortable on, which is reliable and relatively easily to handle, yet is also appealing and good fun enough to want to take it out on a Sunday in preference (sometimes!) to my car. I'm thinking some sort of Cruiser? But I'm more interested in hearing some ideas from everyone else. Whatever I buy, remember it is my first bike, and will be my first introduction (apart from the machine I do my CBT and DAS on) to biking. I'm not a small guy (6'4" and 18stone) so I don't want anything I'm going to be squashed onto. I've not really thought too much about budget - I'm going to part-fund it from reducing the mileage (depreciation) and petrol costs of commuting 100% in my car, but I guess by the time I've bought all the gear, paid for the CBT and DAS, paid for a year's insurance etc, there's still going to be an outlay... Really interested in opinions and ideas though... so keep 'em coming!
jampott Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 6

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