Recommend me a decent commuter bike/frame

[ti-fat-man]

I'm currently riding to my work place on a right 'dog'. a few miles through Bedford.
Generally all the trash parts on an old sh1t frame. (Loose headset, one front brake, locked off front mech, random choice of maybe six gears) ... :facepalm:

However I need to commute to a new office five miles further.
I want a decent bike for my new ventures. A bike with mudguards, rear rack for Ortlieb bags generally something I'm proud to arrive at work with

What are your suggestions?

Cheers alan

 

[xerxes]

Re:

Most 90s MTBs with rigid forks will take racks and mudguards, some of the higher end "race" models didn't have mudguard eyes etc. but most did. Replace the knobbly tyres with a set of road tyres and you're away, with the right mudguards you can still have some fairly wide, high volume tyres for some comfort over the pot-holes and if you don't mind the extra weight some touring tyres are very puncture resistant; I have a set of Schwalbe Marathon Plus, nearly a kilo a tyre in 26 x 1.75" size, but no punctures in about 2,000 miles and they last for ages.

Alternatively, if you want drop bars look at touring or audax bikes.

 

[legrandefromage]

£60 buys a lovely rat bike ideal for commuting

 

[cce]

i love my kinesis T2 for commuting, but it might be a bit racey for some tastes

 

[Dickyboy]

Marin Four Corners?

http://www.marinbikes.com/us/bikes/desc ... ur-corners

 

[hamster]

I think a touring bike is a great solution: tough load lugger but with drop bars you get a turn of speed on the road that an MTB will find hard to match. How about a Dawes Galaxy?
Or for something a bit more economical, Edinburgh Revolution Country
http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/product ... ring-bikes

The LGF 90s MTB plus drops solution is an alternative way to the same endpoint - my own touring bike is exactly that.

 

[GOv]

Older MTB i find comfortable and reliable.

Nothing too special about this Specialized 2000 Hardrock model but fits me like a glove hence the upgrades, much to the annoyance of the good wife

 

[brocklanders023]

Re:

How much are you looking to spend mate? I keep toying with the idea of selling my brand new cross bike that would fit the bill and has rack mounts etc. Oh, and what size?

 

[Trebz]

Re:

Go old school. I just sold one of my 1987 Specialized Rockhoppers, complete and serviced for £30 on Ebay.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/201636143687? ... 1559.l2649

They'll go forever and no one tends to want to steal them as they don;t have suspension or disk brakes.

I used the one I just sold as my touring bike for the last three years or so.

I still have two, same year, same model, same colour.

 

[hopper22]

I recently bought a cube cross race and the difference in speed against a mtb is massive, if your riding on the road get a road/cross bike, it will pay for its self in time saved.