Conner always seems to be having the most fun. For a former racer he seems to have embraced becoming a nice and casual cyclist who doesn't take himself to seriously.
The GCN Mantra. Many sponsor their videos for advertising. Not all bad. Nice people doing what we love. Ribble makes nice bikes. But no mistake, marketing/sales is the ad revenue that makes the high production value of GCN videos possible including pay the salaries of these nice people who look good on video. Money makes the world go around and the root of all evil. ;-)
@@lukewalker1051 After a long abstinence from bicycles (due to my motorbike), I've recently gotten back into the subject. I like this channel and the presenters, but because of the sponsoring, there is barely any useful consumer advice or real comparison between manufacturers, groupsets, whatever. That's a bit of a shame. For example I'd like to see a video of the current Tiagra vs. 105, but they couldn't just say "Yeah, just get the Tiagra, if you're a newbie."
'Cows hunt in packs', " I got to put the GoPro away, cause if I have to sprint, I'm going all in." I died laughing with these. Love the comedic content of your videos!
10:30 "although that lot has sort of lured me into a false sense of security, it's quite likely there's a couple of _real_ big ones lurking behind a bush up here"🤣
@@garysanderson4932 sort of. General taxes pay most of the road network cost. Since motor vehicles cause most of the wear and tear, cyclists are subsidizing motorists. So don't laugh too hard on your way to the bank.
Well, not necessarily. My motto was "Never work in your commuting clothes or commute in your working clothes." My daily rt commute was 42 miles w/a 550 ft drop and a 550 ft climb homeward. Rode my geared bike in on Monday w/clothes and food for the week. The Tues-Fri I rode fg. I'm retired now, but maintain those as the best 10 years of my life.
In Sweden we have something called regional cycle paths. It theory it is supposed to be like highways for biking. Room for overtaking, no stops or automatic green lights at crossings, no dangerous hidden corners etc. In reality though there are just one or two crossings and some part of a whole stretch that almost live up to the standard. So it’s still a long way to go, cycling still have less priority then cars in the planning. If the whole stretch would be like the vision it would be amazing, hopefully the municipalities will get better soon.
We have something like this (though not nearly long enough) in my home city of Brisbane. I can ride from about 20km out from the city along a dedicated path that follows the motorway and only a couple of controlled street crossings and one stretch on a very quiet back road where there's literally no space for a dedicated bikeway. It's mostly wide enough I can pass down the middle of two people travelling opposite directions, and from my house I have about 2km to get to the bikeway on normal roads, and then 9km to the city with only 2 controlled street crossings, it's glorious. I can do door to door in under 25mins if I'm feeling good. They're expanding the network, so it's getting better, but there's at least this one to the south and another to the west of the city that is at a similar level where it is 90% on dedicated infrastructure. I'd rather it was more like the scenery on Si's commute, but you can't have everything. There is an extended version that uses both of these (come in from the south and out to the west) that takes me to some proper MTB trails when I really want to get that feeling before work, or the river loop that follows the river but mostly on road (though usually quieter roads).
Totally with Connor on this one…I would commute on an e-bike. You feel good in the morning, but I think you all should commute home after a day and see if that changes any minds 🤣
I love nothing more than the ride home after work, cooped up in an office. I ride an aero race bike too, some of my fastest segments on Strava are on the after work sprint. I'll add that I've done it almost daily for over a decade, irrespective of weather, sometimes having to navigate in a thunderstorm around flooded sections. I do also have a MTB that I ride on days that look a bit gnarly.
@@4nz-nl Same for me, in the early morning it seems to be temting to ride like hell, but usally i'm more cruising, but in the afternoon it makes so much fun to ride fast, so i can't resist;)
I'm very happy with my current setup: A dedicated belt-driven commuter bike with an internally-geared rear hub (pretty much ZERO maintenance), mudguards and pannier rack; plus a gravel bike for fun on the weekends.
Same here, flat bar belt drive with 8 speed hub and pannier rack, which I use for my commute and short hops to the shops, I do have an MTB and two road bikes, then a steel bike on the trainer, I'm averaging 15mph on my commute with a total of 500ft of climbing.
@@timb171 Aaaah, I'd like to try a pinion-equiped bike one of these days! Lately I've been spending way too much time watching videos of the Tout Terrain Scrambler and Outback.
@@colinmartin2689 Awesome. I have a Marin Presidio 3 (w/ Shimano Nexus 8). The first few weeks I considered selling it because the IGH felt sluggish compared to a chain/dérailleurs drivetrain, but now I love this bike! I even enjoy riding in crappy conditions knowing I won't have anything to clean/degrease/re-lube when I get home.
Your conclusion is brilliant and excellent. E-bikes are awesome because almost everyone can communte with them. Call it cheating if you're bitter or wasteful if you're ignorant - it is the best way for most people. Especially for all of those car drivers who think they *absolutely have to* drive a car around. If you are fit and bodily unstressed enough, get an analog one that suits your suit :)
I have the Ribble CGR Ale, best of all worlds. On road, off road, Panier mounts for the laptop and office peripherals and a motor for when you travel home fully laden and you have to tackle that steep hill on your way home after a tough day in the office.
@@username8644 but an ebike is better for the environment and you can turn off the motor if you want to. and the best part is saving insurance money and parking almost everywhere. But I get your point. Fortunately there are cheaper options too
Yep, ebikes are great. I love riding my race bike to work, but the number of people commuting by bike to work has more than quadrupled in the last couple of years, it's been bloody amazing.
Conner and Manon have the best bikes for commuting and Conner is correct that a lot depends on your skill level or physical strength. One nice thing about the E Bike is that if you have to carry something along the the E Bike will compensate for the added weight and not ever work place has a place for you to change and clean up at so you can ride a slower pace and not get sweaty on an E Bike.
I'm with Manon! I ride a Ti road bike on my 15km (each way) daily commute. Ti is perfect for real world riding: light, stiff, dent resistant, won't rust (a big deal here in Canada with salty winter roads). Add that smooth Ti ride and for me, it's perfect.
For commute consideration while trying to balance these different options it would be worth factoring in price. The CGR starts £1100 cheaper than the hybrid e-bike. That's quite a cost-benefit analysis for somebody considering this as a means of saving money vs driving or public transport. A particularly substantial consideration if the bike is almost purely for commuting.
Great video, most relatable content. I’ve got a straight bar hybrid for my commute. If only more businesses made bike storage and showering easier, that would encourage more riding!
Agree the bike shed at work is onlt a roof and 1 side covered so basically the bike is left out to the elements. Also it holds 4 bikes comfortably but with the good weather about 8 of us riding in meaning its cramped and i now have xhips on my mtb frame so i dont wanna risk taking a 2grand road bike which only gets used on a weekend for this reason
Yes! Showers are such a big thing. I've changed work and my last office had a shower which I'd take usually after cycling to work, but my new one doesn't so I just usually use public transportation now. :(
right? never been able to work in an office with showers! i live near the equator! that's my biggest concern(besides dying unceremonously from an ahole driver)
Thank you GCN. I love the previous episode and the latest. After returning back to work 2 days a week for over a year. My commute to work (Reading to London) has changed from 2 bikes +1 train to just one 65 km ride! Obviously I only ride to work in morning and train in the return journey. If the weather turns bad or mechanical problems then I catch the trains. So I am with Ollie's Ferrari!! My current set up is still my old trusted CAAD12. Tempting to upgrade with all the £££ save from train but I am happy with my 5 years old bike. TBH my motivation (just for fun) is to do my commute under 2 hours! Currently on my Strava ~2 hrs 1mins xx seconds (without break traffic light etc)
I commute on a Brompton. It’s perfect as I do have a part train journey. Although it’s little wheels, once when all the trains were cancelled I still got home and cycled the 40 mile route home! It’s perfect for my commute and my cycle travels.
I was surprised that they didn't include a folding bike in this video. Being able to bring your bike into the office and tuck it under your desk is a huge benefit as well.
40mi on a Brompton - you are my hero :-) I did a spontaneous 50 km when the trains failed me once too, but it was on a recumbent which is really comfortable. Normally I do commute 50 km (even up to 80) too, but by velomobile, which is fairly secure and super fast.
Little wheels are stronger! BMX wheels (20") take a hell of a beating I spent summer 2020 doing 80+ mile gravel and road loops around the northeast on my BMX
I have a pure city commute in NYC. I liked using the Citibike bike share option, but too often the docks either had no bikes left or were too full to park. I got my own Ebike (Orbea Vibe) with panniers. My workplace has secure locking areas that are inside. It is by far the fastest way to get to work. Much, much, much faster than driving (or taking a taxi) and even faster than the subway.
I've always commuted on a do it all style bike with mudguards and a pannier as I too prefer to carry all my kit on the bike. However, I'm very much interested in getting an ebike simply because it would eliminate the need for a car in other aspects of life such as popping to the shops, visiting friends or family etc.
I live in a very hilly area (18% hills), got a 250w 48nm ebike for relatively cheap and it's been amazing. Threw some Gravelking SKs on it for the offroad fun as well as some pannierbags for my shopping trips and it's super utilitarian. Yes I don't run the same wattage up the hill as others do, but on the other hand I can commute and not feel like I've been steamrolled after, or have to shower. Plus you tend to take way longer trips (50k being something rather casual) that even out the lesser workout or push yourself harder by simply going faster. I don't need a car in my life with this to be perfectly honest, and if you live in a flat area you can throw a small trailer on it to do weekly grocery shopping tours with ease! I have to say though, it feels weird to overtake other riders with an ebike since it's cheating... lol.
@@lukewalker1051 they don’t eliminate a car completely. But it also depends on the infrastructure and where you live. If you live in a car-dependent area then nothing will replace your car because you need it to do everything. But if you live in a place that you can reasonably do most tasks within walking or biking distance and it’s safe to do so, then you don’t NEED a car. You could essentially use a ride share or other method to obtain a car the 1 time a month you need it. Thus, saving the cost of the car, the gas, and the insurance.
An electric bakfiet (cargo bike) would eliminate cars more than regular ebike. It's definitely not going to be your main bike, but it is a versatile transport which can easily carry most furnitures and children.
To me Conners is the best choice if seriously commuting. I have and old 90’s MTB with a nice comfortable seat u can ride in regular cloths which is great for cruising around the neighborhood. Maybe I’ll convert it to e bike 😁👍 would never ride my carbon bike for commuting to work
Great comparison guys. So I am torn between the gravel bike and the e-bike, however I do own a Gravel e-bike so I get best of both worlds. If I had to choice between the ones in the video, I would go with Conor's e-bike.
One of the best, most enjoyable and delightful videos you've ever made. Not sure what it was specifically but just a really lovely vibe to it, even heartwarming somehow?!
I lived with a guy in London who commuted on a single speed belt drive bike. It was awesome, but wouldn't work where I live due to hills. If you stuck strictly to the commute route it would be OK, but I like to go off-piste and explore if I have a lovely morning and can get away a few mins early.
Fixie commute here, too. £120 off FB marketplace, 46/18, a pair of clip on mudguards and the most fun riding I’ve had since bmxing as a kid. The gearing is noob friendly and I can climb ok on it. Approx 250 elev gain on my commutes.
I think a big part of this question depends on the infrastructure you have at work to store your bike... where I work I had to just leave my 'ferrari' bike near my desk. The amount of attention my bike got had me stressing out all day - people touching it, knocking on it, etc. I just walk to work instead now and leave the bike for fun rides. If I lived farther away (and had space for more than 1 bike) I think I would go for Manon's or Connor's bike. I think flat pedals would be worth it for commuting as shoes would be one less thing you have to drag back and forth every day and if you can get away with riding in work clothes, all the better
Totally agree! I've been lucky to have either a bike locker or a locked bike room with racks to lock up my bike at work. I would never feel comfortable locking my Canyon Endurance on the street, so if I lost secure bike parking, I would buy a beater bike to commute.
Love commuting to work, my commuter bike is an 8 year old Boardman Road Bike that cost me £300. It's been upgraded throughout the years and had a new coat of paint - inspired by Manon's bike spraying video - it's a lovely shade of pink (chosen by my 6 year daughter). Currently rocking 2 year old 105 groupset, campagnolo scrirroco wheels (7 years old and just about on its last legs) and a lovely set of mudguards. all I could wish for!
One thing the video does not touch on is how long parts last and how expensive they are to replace. Commuting in all weather and all months of the year means that i go through parts quite quickly and it's frustrating to replace expensive bike parts.
Yes, very good point. This is why you’re better off sticking with 8/9 or 10 speed groupsets, as cassettes and chains are way cheaper paired with sturdy 32 spoked wheels that will take a few potholes and knocks. Mudguards help too.
I dont bike to work (I live in the same compound as the office), but same idea on why I chose to stick to a Sora gearset. I ride both on wet and dry conditions. Even going to an 11- or 12-speed Sensah or Ltwoo gearset or my roadbike would drive up maintenance cost.
@@a1white It's why you ultimately get a beater bike. If you need gears, get a road or hybrid bike with the groupset you mentioned. If you live in a flat area, get a fixie/single speed. Pawn shops, OfferUp or Facebook Market is awesome for getting cheap fixies. If I had to choose any of these, it's the e-bike first, then a tie between the do it all bike and the gravel bike. Manon's bike may be able to do it all, but so can Si's. Just throw road tires on it and it's as much a road bike as Manon's is a gravel bike. The biggest difference/preference is the mudguards.
Huh. People exercise every day in same conditions and ride much longer trips while doing so. I don't think there's much difference. Just wash the excess dirt e.g. with a bucket of water and remember to measure your chain and check your cogs once a while. Yeah, people do ride throughout the year, parts cost some money but not a fortune.
The off-road route reminds me of the one I take for my commute. It's an extra 8 km for me but the scenery and nice bike paths are so enjoyable and worth it! :)
i think manon's choice is what i would take. it can do every aspect of cycling you might cover in a commute, plus the Ti frame looks like a steel frame to the masses and you could likely lock it up anywhere without worry. and then have ollie's or si's for the weekend, depending on your flavor of speed.
As someone who lives and works in the area I can tell you for a fact that the cycle path is the best way between the two cities. Cy's route has about a bajillion gates for the first half and is some serious offroad for the second half. Manon's route goes onto the bike path or the main road or into the hills south of Bristol, some of which are pretty mean. Ollie's route is just the main road, and I think would be better in the hills for sure. The path only has two crossings and while there's some diversions atm, it can take around an hour which is pretty great when the car drive isn't much less. So for me: 1: Conor 2: Manon 3. Cy 4. Ollie.
I commute daily on a Ribble R872 and use it on club rides, training rides, on the turbo and socials with mates. I bought it shortly after starting cycling last July and absolutely love it. It lacks loading points but I'm comfortable just using a rucksack. This bike really helped me fall in love with cycling, will be looking at the Ultra SL next I think - it's pretty flat round here, lots of open road and not many situations you'd make the most of a gravel bike. Not only do Ribble make amazing bikes but supporting a British brand is another 👍👍👍 for me.
As I work from home I don't need to commute but I still do it anyway, it's about 17 miles from my bedroom to my study, and I use my Giant Fastroad SL1, which is an option not really covered by your quartet. Basically a roadbike with flat bars, which makes it very maneuverable, especially in town, but also not slow on the open road. It doesn't look out of place with mudguards in the winter and there's a good range of tyre choice. I love mine.
I think you overlooked some important benefits of the e-bike. You don't need to shower, meaning you can take your helmet off and start work. On the other bikes you need to take a shower, which takes time. Also you need to change cloths, store them somewhere and then change cloths again when you go home. If you are even lucky enough there is a shower at work. Also storing your bike could be challenge at work. Most e-bikes have proper locks, contrary to the other options, especially the Ferrari :D Happy to do my 54 km commute on my e-bike.
The other thing about an e-bike is you have a rear rack on most of them. This allows for much more versatility during your commute. Don't have to wear a backpack for the entire trip and get your back all sweaty when you can just put on a rear rack bag and all your stuff in there. Ebikes have a lot of variety too. Mine is a step-through design, has a throttle, lights, a horn etc.
I built up a Cinelli Vigorelli Shark two years ago for my work/gym commutes. Super happy with my decision to switch to fixed gear... love the hustle of riding in the traffic! Amazing how quick you can get around town riding track bike.
Such a big smile watching this! I'm really torn between the allroad CGR and eBike. Simplicity of a pure bike vs that electric assist when bringing a load of groceries and office gear up the hill back home after a long day. Oh n+1, one of each please!
Yes - no backpacks - panniers always - ALWAYS let the bike do the work. I'm approaching 20 years of bike commuting and I have been doing them all on 29ers: hardtail, rigid fork - good for everything, everywhere. And I've toured on them.
Could also include a folding bike, a single speed, a "hybrid" bike, or even one of those dedicated commuters with a belt drive and internal gears. Many options besides these, but I do appreciate highlighting the options of on and off road. I would personally go with Manon's choice from these four.
This was a good video. Staying in a city where commuting by bike is virtually impossible (traffic, safety and hills), I am fascinated by bike commuters. I think it would be cool to attach some metrics to determine which bikes gets you to work in the best condition to actually "work". So for example: Lowest avg HR, lowest avg power exerted, least fluid loss through sweat, on time arrival, general feeling on arrival, safest commute, etc.
I have Manons Endurance Ti and freaking love it! I use it mainly on as an road bike but im not scared when it turns to gravel. For real MTB adventures i got a full suspension for the most smiles
There are a lot of variables to consider. The distance. The terrain. The climate and whether you are riding all seasons. Here in Canada, I ride through the winter. That means for me a belt drive. My commute at most is 6km. There are a few short grades and I can manage on a single speed if necessary. 20km commute is quite a bit -- that is in e-bike territory.
Great video. I have 2 bikes, a 90's racer for when I want some proper exercise which I need to allow for shower time; and an ebike for when I want to get to work without needing a shower. Also in NZ most ebikes can go 45km/h so I get there much quicker.
I've been commuting 9 months of the year for nearly 10 years now in all weather and temperature conditions and I've used a variety of bikes. My current bike is the Specialized Diverge and I absolutely love everything about it. Keeping in mind that my commute is a fairly flat 5 miles with the last mile on a gravel road and we get quite a lot of snow in the winter. The Diverge is essentially a relaxed allroad drop bar bike that has 36mm wide tires and a small shock in the neck that helps to absorb vibration, and it has the ability to run panier bags, fenders, and 2 water bottle cages.
I'm so new to biking and i've watched tons of videos of you guys before deciding which to buy. I opted for an aerobike but i don't use it for work as I only work from home but I love riding it every weekends. Oh and manon I always enjoy watching you love your energy!
I have a touring bike with panniers and I ride that some of the year and then an older aluminium 105 groupset racer that I've started to use over winter for commute and general winter bike ..... I have used my carbon fibre bike the od time but generally keep for weekend .... I commute a lot so changing it up a bit adds a bit of excitement to it. Great video as usual folks
I’ve been commuting with my touring bike for a few years now, every single day and in all conditions. Heavy and slow but basically indestructible, I like that (and I can carry tons of stuff if I need to)!
been commuting to work 6,5 +6,5 km for a year now, summer and winter in Sweden I think one commuter bike that needs mentioning is the 3 or 7 speed upright open frame bike. Think its called Dutch-bike in England. Its super common. very comfortable to sit on which is important for a lot of people but its lowest gear is pretty heavy which makes it tough to ride uphill. The perfect Commuter-bike in my opinion would be a comfortable bike like that but with better gears. Maybe 27 or so, to make it easy to climb those pesky hills in my city.
I believe their ride was 20km. I think I'd choose a more sporty bike with drop handlebars for that distance over an upright dutch style bike. If I had your shorter commute, yes, I'd choose an upright bike.
@@Mantis858585 On a goo designed Dutch Bike it is possible to sit in a sport style by steering with your underarms, but maybe you have to be Dutch to learn that.
I'm with Manon - have had a similar commute since 2007 and I got a Fuji CrossPro that I put a rack and fenders on. Still using it, not many original components left, and just last week some random pedestrian said, "Hey, nice bike!"
for those of us who aren't going to have multiple bikes (space/cost) Manon's do-it-all bike is the best choice... want to race along the roads, want to doodle along the bike paths, want to hit a few trails, want to carry stuff on the bike... check! check! check! check!
The gravel bike can do it all too. I’m planning to get a new bike this December, and I’m still deciding between two Canyon bikes. The Endurance CF SL7 or the Grail AL 6… although the Grail AL is regarded as one of the best gravel bikes, the Endurance has a carbon frame, a kilogram lighter for a few hundred more dollars. Still deciding…
100% agree with Si on the stressful day at work comment. I can recall a few times my poor bike has taken an absolute beating on the way home. Thankfully not too often though 🙂
Thanks GCN team for confirming that I picked the right commuter bike. 2 years ago I purchased a Ribble CGR-ALe and added paniers which has been a great bike to date. Versatility of the CGR and electric when needed to help me up the Pennine hills after a 12 to 15hr shift.
For me as long as it has 2 wheels, 2 pedals that turn a chain connected to the back wheel, a handlebar with levers that slow down the bicycle (i.e. breaks) is good enough to commute on to and from work 😀Personally I ride to work either on a vintage Cannondale CAAD3 or just as old no name rigid mountain bike 🙂So who cares what bike is best for commuting
Many people may not have the option of pulling their bikes inside at work. Based on this the most utilitarian bicycle is always the best choice. Out of your four choices I'd take Manons' , or for a shorter 10 mile commute , I might even take an old Schwinn with fat tyres and a two speed kickback coaster brake . Great for laying down a nice long patch of rubber , or kicking it on the trails.
Absolutely loved this video, really like I'm there along with you all. Think I preferred Conor's route but Ollie looked very sleek on the Ferrari , I think you would all need a shower after cycling on that morning if it was Tuesday the 19th.
I'm on Team Manon - if only I could have one bike. For a few years I worked in a bicycle shop with a bicycle parking station at a typical commuter train station north of Hamburg. Me and some of our clients commuted through all seasons. In my case it was about 40 km per working day. I recommend enthusiastic year-round commuters: Have at least two bikes ready to ride. Two main reasons for this: 1. less time pressure for repairs, maintenance and full inspection 2. different set-ups for good and bad weather. Admittedly I'm a freak and I like variety, my fleet includes uprights and recumbents, vintage and modern, with and without e-drive ...
I think as long as you make the effort and swap the car or PT for a bike, you will arrive at work a happier person. I have a 20km commute and do it on an older ali frame, 1x9, tt base bar with one bar-end shifter, 165 cranks for better cornering, mud guards, GP5000s - I can hammer it or cruise to to work and back, no matter the weather. On tarmac only, otherwise I would rethink my tyre choice... Loved the vid!
During the first lockdown I bought a Brompton for my four mile commute. Before we went back my company closed the office and switched us to full time work from home. Now even the Brompton is overkill for my living room to spare room commute!
Defiantly the E Bike. It makes sense. Not everyone can stay fit every day. That motor is really helpful. And you get to maintain pace with cars on the road, which makes things bit safer.
i recently bought a canyon roadlite 5 for commuting and riding in the city. I think a cheaper bike with an alu frame is probably better in the city than a carbon frame, because in case you have to park it at public spot you dont have to worry about other people ruining your carbon frame.
I have a 27 km round trip conmute, I use an old 1971 Hercules 26" bicycle with a 3 speed internally-geared rear hub, mudguards, back tray on which I hang my backpack using shoulder clips. Very low maintenance, in seven years just replaced tyres and chain. I ride wearing normal clothes and get to work without a sweaty back and mud on my bum on rainy days. This bike is not a thief magnet. It's just great.
For a commute of this distance that has hills then the e-bike is the way to go for most cyclists of all ages imo. The distance and terrain is such that you would still get pretty fit after a few months, plus you can always reduce the assist if you want more of a workout on some days.EDIT: an electric Brompton would be my first choice but not cheap!
You guys are great! I just started bike commuting again after moving from the burbs back into a proper city. I love it! I’m using a specialized diverge gravel bike with panniers added. It’s a great all purpose tool! Feels zippy enough, but versatile for multiple surfaces.
Yesterday I was forced to ride on gravel, through forest for 13 km on my Super Six with 25 mm Vitoria Corsa. No Problem. But when I was riding along the river Weser, E-bike groups couldn't hardly avoid crashing into me (I`ve to E-bikes myself, but only for commuting). So I would have expected it the other way round.
Before buying from Ribble check out the customer reviews; average rating is 2.6 out of 5. Main concern is poor customer service and not dispatching bikes when they say they will
I think that was a big issue during covid. However, I received mine last month and it was on time and the communication was excellent. Not defending them, just giving my personal experience.
Ah, just the video I needed today. Started commuting yesterday. Went road bike with SPD-SL pedals. Felt fun at first, but once the heavy traffic started, the constant clipping in and out felt stressful, and as I couldn’t go fast for more than a few hundred yards at a time, it felt a bit pointless. Take the point, and my hybrid with MTB shoes will probably be more appropriate.
I commute on flats. My suggestion, esp as its hot out, get a rack and basket. There's plenty of universal rack options now like Old Man Mountain if you don't have rack mount bosses. But, getting bags off your body and onto the bike is the single best thing you can do to make your commutes more enjoyable.
I’m a new commuter, and a luckily someone recommended a hybrid to me. Total win… fast enough for my commute, but strong and fun enough for my local trails and off-road paths. 2/3 weeks in and I’m totally loving it.
@@Skaughtto I have those pedals, and I really like them. But I also wear Chrome Kursk shoes. They look like ordinary canvas shoes, but with the cleat hidden in the sole. But I also don't commute. But I would recommend the PD-EH500. They're double sided, so they can be very effective on a hybrid bike, where the flat side is for commuting, and the clip side for leisure/touring riding.
@@vaska00762 I have some Shimano XC3 shoes but I'll check out the ones you recommended. My other bike has M520 (dual sided) which I didn't find super comfortable for long rides.
I have at least 4 bikes. So out of all of them, my touring bike is my all-rounder bike. little bit on the heavy side, but considering that I can literally go off road, can put panniers on it, and have gearing to go up hills and such. What I like about it is that I made it personally to my needs and liking. Like any bike, you can customize it to your liking. What's plausible that is.😁
To be fair a 20km commute is outside what most people aka those who ride a bike but don’t consider themselves a cyclist would consider doable given the amount of time it takes. Even here in Australia half of all commutes to work are 10km or less. To be honest only the e-bike fitted the commuter bike criteria, the others were sporting bikes with the distance used to make them justifiable. A dutch/English roadster is perfectly usable for many commutes. And they are still faster than stationary cars.
I used to commute on an older (late 90s) singlespeed converted Cannondale mtb with slicks on it. It was fun to ride (which is important if you gotta go and ride it everyday) and didn't need much maintenance. My daily commute was between 15 and 25 km (one way). In urban environments where bikes are stolen all the time, the best commuter bike shouldn't be too expensive and also the maintenance should be as easy as possible. I bought the bike used and after adding a rack and doing the singlespeed conversion I have spent less than 200 Euro on it. I later sold it for only slightly less money. I do miss this bike, but as I live in a hilly environment nowadays, a singlespeed is not as ideal anymore.
Great video! At rainy days or when the streets are still wet i commute my 25km to work with my travel bike with fat tires and huge mudd guards. But when the wheather is perfect i prefer the speed of my aero road bike. On the way home i choose then often a longer way so i have done training. I often ask myself how you do these great videos. Could you make a behind the scenes video with all included people and processes?
😍 Loved seeing this video, it was genuinely my commute to Bath from Bristol for years. I'd mix in all of these routes over the year depending on how I felt and what the weather was like. Having a few different bikes to pick from made it easier to choose how I'd ride it. Personally, the best all round tool for the job was the Boardman CX Team, which I could switch out wheels for different terrain, add the mudguards when it was going to be wet, and even have options for carrying with a rack mount. Off road was always more fun. Also reckon Si could have gone a little further on the dirt before hitting the tarmac, just involves a bit of lifting over gates and styles! 😉 For sure a "do it all" bike is probably the one to go for, especially if your budget is tight. 👍
I got an Endurance Ti from Ribble earlier this year. Specced for winter but what a bike. I’ve actually found I’ve been taking it out more then my R872 over the summer months.
In the Netherlands, country with most bikes per capita, virtually nobody commutes in racing gear. People wear plain clothes and ride a normal city bike in a comfortable position.....
These bikes are fun to ride but for daily use they are unsafe. By leaning forward you lock yourself in a position… which restrict your ability to look around you and reduces your awareness. Give me a classic straight up Dutch bike. Where you sit in a good position and have good awareness.
My dutch bike with Nexus 3, led light, hub dinamo, mudguards and racks is perfect. Steel frame and 700x42c wheels make it comfortable enough. It's a bit heavy, but rides really fine as an urban cycle. Plus I load it like a mule when I shop for groceries.
Recently did an e-bike conversion and I’m loving it! Still get a light workout in while commuting without dying in the summer heat. I’m definitely team e-bike on this one.
still a little scared. my 16k on my 15 year old cyclo cross daily(rain o shine). keeps the kilos on the scale where i want them to be. with e i think i had to skip some icecream and cake. boy and i love icecream and cake;))) and burgers, brezels and chocolate, and ..............
I commuted full time for eight years before switching to remote work. 18 miles each way with 1,300’ of climbing. I started on an old MTB that I fixed up, then bought my first “road” bike, a Schwinn Cyclocross bike. It flew by comparison. It was my daily driver for more than seven years except on ice/snow days, where I’d take the MTB with some studded winter tires. After an unfortunate accident, insurance bought me a sexy new Specialized endurance road bike (Secteur Elite Apex) which I still ride every day almost 12 years later. Biking to work made me a happier, more relaxed person, and I would do it again in a heartbeat. Even now, when my commute is “to the living room”, I instead detour to the garage and crack out a 15-20 mile morning ride before I start working.
I wish this is true for hilly small town like my town, Bogor, Indonesia. You will need Samson or Atalanta own pair of legs here to be able to ride Fixie here. (｡•́︿•̀｡)
Loved this vid. Conors commute was my favourite. I’d love to have a dedicated bike path all the way to work. Manons bike came with a chimney for those cold winter commutes, nice 👌
My favourite commuter is a 1986 KHS Montana Crest with a brooks saddle and a set of cruiser bars, paired with 2.3" Maxxis DTH tyres. Can't go wrong, it's so comfy.
I'd mostly agree with this video; ride an all-weather road bike with decent mudguard mounts and good tire clearance. I personally ride a very nice gravel bike with 32mm road tires, and it pretty much takes me everywhere, as if it were my car (which it actually is, because I don't have a car). I take it to work every day, and last week I used it to go from Seattle to Victoria, British Columbia, on a route that included highways, paved bike paths, quieter side roads, gravel, and a bit of single-track. However, I think e-bikes are also awesome, probably even necessary. They open up the bicycle option to a much, much larger population, which can only be a good thing if you're interested in promoting and developing more bicycling infrastructure. (I'm also comforted by the idea that I will possibly be able to use a bicycle to get places until fairly close to the end of my time.)
Great content. I live in Cape Town and use either a MTB or Gravel Bike. I choose to leave earlier and take the more off-road sections along Table Mountain into the office. Its 25km one way... I also check the weather - if its windy, I plan the route so that I've got a great tailwind home (and hide in the mountain when its into the wind). Great show - thanks
I tried to bike to work once and it was a harrowing experience with a pickup trying to run me off the road. That same summer my coworker, who has biked to work for a couple years, was almost killed biking to work when he was hit by a truck that fled the scene. He was never able to ride again due to his injuries. Your life is worth whatever you have to pay to drive. Stay safe
Commuting turned into an opportunity to train. I've done the upright, swept back bars thing and it has a certain charm. That said, I will don spandex and a backpack and zip to my destination on my road bike. On the hottest days, I simply pack the shirt and put in on once I've gotten to the destination.
Conner always seems to be having the most fun. For a former racer he seems to have embraced becoming a nice and casual cyclist who doesn't take himself to seriously.
If there's one thing our ex pros are good at, it's riding a lot slower than they used to
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
I think he nailed it, too. The last thing I need when commuting is to add stress.
What one is Conner
@@hughjarse2353 The one not wearing Lycra or riding a drop bar bike ;)
To be honest Connor’s setup is the most realistic amongst the bunch that i see myself doing. But with pannier bags and kickstand
This is the best marketing that Ribble have ever had!
They should do it on bikes from Halfords. On more modest price bikes
Ollies bike color is to die for.
I'm sure they paid for it.
The GCN Mantra. Many sponsor their videos for advertising. Not all bad. Nice people doing what we love.
Ribble makes nice bikes.
But no mistake, marketing/sales is the ad revenue that makes the high production value of GCN videos possible including pay the salaries of these nice people who look good on video. Money makes the world go around and the root of all evil. ;-)
@@lukewalker1051 After a long abstinence from bicycles (due to my motorbike), I've recently gotten back into the subject. I like this channel and the presenters, but because of the sponsoring, there is barely any useful consumer advice or real comparison between manufacturers, groupsets, whatever. That's a bit of a shame. For example I'd like to see a video of the current Tiagra vs. 105, but they couldn't just say "Yeah, just get the Tiagra, if you're a newbie."
'Cows hunt in packs', " I got to put the GoPro away, cause if I have to sprint, I'm going all in." I died laughing with these. Love the comedic content of your videos!
They should do a man v cow challenge...
been hunted by cows before. dont trust them as far as i can tip them
10:30 "although that lot has sort of lured me into a false sense of security, it's quite likely there's a couple of _real_ big ones lurking behind a bush up here"🤣
"You don't even pay road tax" had me spitting out my coffee 🤣
Lol true. 🥱
Nobody pays road tax anymore it’s vehicle Excise Duty.
So cyclists are laughing all the way to the bank 🏦 🤡
Me when they said that I don't pay taxes.
"Whatever you say sunshine".
@@andyc9902 Road tax was abolished in 1938 or so. VED is based on emissions. Zero emissions = zero VED
@@garysanderson4932 sort of. General taxes pay most of the road network cost. Since motor vehicles cause most of the wear and tear, cyclists are subsidizing motorists. So don't laugh too hard on your way to the bank.
By wearing cyclist clothes you already lost the commuter challenge.
Well, not necessarily. My motto was "Never work in your commuting clothes or commute in your working clothes."
My daily rt commute was 42 miles w/a 550 ft drop and a 550 ft climb homeward. Rode my geared bike in on Monday w/clothes and food for the week. The Tues-Fri I rode fg. I'm retired now, but maintain those as the best 10 years of my life.
@@MeneerHerculePoirotthat’s how you do it!
@@MeneerHerculePoirot "fg" is fixed gear?
If you’re not resplendent in tweed and corduroy you’re not commuting
@@MeneerHerculePoirot that’s a workout twice each day, not a commute.
In Sweden we have something called regional cycle paths. It theory it is supposed to be like highways for biking. Room for overtaking, no stops or automatic green lights at crossings, no dangerous hidden corners etc.
In reality though there are just one or two crossings and some part of a whole stretch that almost live up to the standard. So it’s still a long way to go, cycling still have less priority then cars in the planning.
If the whole stretch would be like the vision it would be amazing, hopefully the municipalities will get better soon.
How long till America catches up? 200 years? (Says the American)
We have something like this (though not nearly long enough) in my home city of Brisbane. I can ride from about 20km out from the city along a dedicated path that follows the motorway and only a couple of controlled street crossings and one stretch on a very quiet back road where there's literally no space for a dedicated bikeway.
It's mostly wide enough I can pass down the middle of two people travelling opposite directions, and from my house I have about 2km to get to the bikeway on normal roads, and then 9km to the city with only 2 controlled street crossings, it's glorious. I can do door to door in under 25mins if I'm feeling good.
They're expanding the network, so it's getting better, but there's at least this one to the south and another to the west of the city that is at a similar level where it is 90% on dedicated infrastructure.
I'd rather it was more like the scenery on Si's commute, but you can't have everything. There is an extended version that uses both of these (come in from the south and out to the west) that takes me to some proper MTB trails when I really want to get that feeling before work, or the river loop that follows the river but mostly on road (though usually quieter roads).
Im jealous 😅
Totally with Connor on this one…I would commute on an e-bike. You feel good in the morning, but I think you all should commute home after a day and see if that changes any minds 🤣
I actually usually ride fastest in the afternoon. Long workday locked up in the office, riding like a dog fresh off the leash right after.
@@4nz-nl I ride on my hybrid, it wakes me up and keeps us fit.
I love nothing more than the ride home after work, cooped up in an office. I ride an aero race bike too, some of my fastest segments on Strava are on the after work sprint.
I'll add that I've done it almost daily for over a decade, irrespective of weather, sometimes having to navigate in a thunderstorm around flooded sections.
I do also have a MTB that I ride on days that look a bit gnarly.
@@morosis82 Yes!
@@4nz-nl Same for me, in the early morning it seems to be temting to ride like hell, but usally i'm more cruising, but in the afternoon it makes so much fun to ride fast, so i can't resist;)
I'm very happy with my current setup: A dedicated belt-driven commuter bike with an internally-geared rear hub (pretty much ZERO maintenance), mudguards and pannier rack; plus a gravel bike for fun on the weekends.
Same here, flat bar belt drive with 8 speed hub and pannier rack, which I use for my commute and short hops to the shops, I do have an MTB and two road bikes, then a steel bike on the trainer, I'm averaging 15mph on my commute with a total of 500ft of climbing.
Same here except my gearbox is in the frame.
@@timb171 Aaaah, I'd like to try a pinion-equiped bike one of these days! Lately I've been spending way too much time watching videos of the Tout Terrain Scrambler and Outback.
@@colinmartin2689 Awesome. I have a Marin Presidio 3 (w/ Shimano Nexus 8). The first few weeks I considered selling it because the IGH felt sluggish compared to a chain/dérailleurs drivetrain, but now I love this bike! I even enjoy riding in crappy conditions knowing I won't have anything to clean/degrease/re-lube when I get home.
@@francoispayen checkout the Sonder Broken Road Pinion, I love mine.
Connor has been a brilliant addition to the team and never fails to make me laugh at some point a real legend !
Your conclusion is brilliant and excellent. E-bikes are awesome because almost everyone can communte with them. Call it cheating if you're bitter or wasteful if you're ignorant - it is the best way for most people. Especially for all of those car drivers who think they *absolutely have to* drive a car around. If you are fit and bodily unstressed enough, get an analog one that suits your suit :)
Riding a bike is riding a bike. E-bikes are great for getting more people out of cars
Agree!
I have the Ribble CGR Ale, best of all worlds. On road, off road, Panier mounts for the laptop and office peripherals and a motor for when you travel home fully laden and you have to tackle that steep hill on your way home after a tough day in the office.
@@username8644 but an ebike is better for the environment and you can turn off the motor if you want to. and the best part is saving insurance money and parking almost everywhere. But I get your point. Fortunately there are cheaper options too
Yep, ebikes are great. I love riding my race bike to work, but the number of people commuting by bike to work has more than quadrupled in the last couple of years, it's been bloody amazing.
Conner and Manon have the best bikes for commuting and Conner is correct that a lot depends on your skill level or physical strength. One nice thing about the E Bike is that if you have to carry something along the the E Bike will compensate for the added weight and not ever work place has a place for you to change and clean up at so you can ride a slower pace and not get sweaty on an E Bike.
I'm with Manon! I ride a Ti road bike on my 15km (each way) daily commute. Ti is perfect for real world riding: light, stiff, dent resistant, won't rust (a big deal here in Canada with salty winter roads). Add that smooth Ti ride and for me, it's perfect.
Needs a rack on it. The single best purchase I've ever made for bike commuting (other than the bike itself) was a rack and Wald basket.
For commute consideration while trying to balance these different options it would be worth factoring in price. The CGR starts £1100 cheaper than the hybrid e-bike. That's quite a cost-benefit analysis for somebody considering this as a means of saving money vs driving or public transport. A particularly substantial consideration if the bike is almost purely for commuting.
Great video, most relatable content. I’ve got a straight bar hybrid for my commute. If only more businesses made bike storage and showering easier, that would encourage more riding!
Agree the bike shed at work is onlt a roof and 1 side covered so basically the bike is left out to the elements. Also it holds 4 bikes comfortably but with the good weather about 8 of us riding in meaning its cramped and i now have xhips on my mtb frame so i dont wanna risk taking a 2grand road bike which only gets used on a weekend for this reason
Yes! Showers are such a big thing. I've changed work and my last office had a shower which I'd take usually after cycling to work, but my new one doesn't so I just usually use public transportation now. :(
Agree Earl, Im fortunate to work at a company with a changing room and showers, it makes it a lot easier.
right? never been able to work in an office with showers! i live near the equator! that's my biggest concern(besides dying unceremonously from an ahole driver)
@@meia1855 Singapore?
Thank you GCN. I love the previous episode and the latest.
After returning back to work 2 days a week for over a year.
My commute to work (Reading to London) has changed from 2 bikes +1 train to just one 65 km ride!
Obviously I only ride to work in morning and train in the return journey. If the weather turns bad or mechanical problems then I catch the trains.
So I am with Ollie's Ferrari!! My current set up is still my old trusted CAAD12. Tempting to upgrade with all the £££ save from train but I am happy with my 5 years old bike.
TBH my motivation (just for fun) is to do my commute under 2 hours! Currently on my Strava ~2 hrs 1mins xx seconds (without break traffic light etc)
I commute on a Brompton. It’s perfect as I do have a part train journey. Although it’s little wheels, once when all the trains were cancelled I still got home and cycled the 40 mile route home! It’s perfect for my commute and my cycle travels.
a Brompton is kinda outside my budget at the moment, but the btwin folding bike ticks the same boxes for me 😁
I was surprised that they didn't include a folding bike in this video. Being able to bring your bike into the office and tuck it under your desk is a huge benefit as well.
Me too. Totally like it and although normally I don’t need to put it on the train, should the need arise I can do so easily.
40mi on a Brompton - you are my hero :-) I did a spontaneous 50 km when the trains failed me once too, but it was on a recumbent which is really comfortable. Normally I do commute 50 km (even up to 80) too, but by velomobile, which is fairly secure and super fast.
Little wheels are stronger!
BMX wheels (20") take a hell of a beating
I spent summer 2020 doing 80+ mile gravel and road loops around the northeast on my BMX
I have a pure city commute in NYC. I liked using the Citibike bike share option, but too often the docks either had no bikes left or were too full to park. I got my own Ebike (Orbea Vibe) with panniers. My workplace has secure locking areas that are inside. It is by far the fastest way to get to work. Much, much, much faster than driving (or taking a taxi) and even faster than the subway.
I've always commuted on a do it all style bike with mudguards and a pannier as I too prefer to carry all my kit on the bike. However, I'm very much interested in getting an ebike simply because it would eliminate the need for a car in other aspects of life such as popping to the shops, visiting friends or family etc.
I have two ebikes. Neither eliminate my car.
I live in a very hilly area (18% hills), got a 250w 48nm ebike for relatively cheap and it's been amazing. Threw some Gravelking SKs on it for the offroad fun as well as some pannierbags for my shopping trips and it's super utilitarian. Yes I don't run the same wattage up the hill as others do, but on the other hand I can commute and not feel like I've been steamrolled after, or have to shower. Plus you tend to take way longer trips (50k being something rather casual) that even out the lesser workout or push yourself harder by simply going faster. I don't need a car in my life with this to be perfectly honest, and if you live in a flat area you can throw a small trailer on it to do weekly grocery shopping tours with ease!
I have to say though, it feels weird to overtake other riders with an ebike since it's cheating... lol.
@@lukewalker1051 they don’t eliminate a car completely. But it also depends on the infrastructure and where you live. If you live in a car-dependent area then nothing will replace your car because you need it to do everything. But if you live in a place that you can reasonably do most tasks within walking or biking distance and it’s safe to do so, then you don’t NEED a car. You could essentially use a ride share or other method to obtain a car the 1 time a month you need it. Thus, saving the cost of the car, the gas, and the insurance.
Buying an e-bike eliminated the 2nd car for me. The bike is a flatbar with guards so I can ride the 5 km trip to my office every day.
An electric bakfiet (cargo bike) would eliminate cars more than regular ebike. It's definitely not going to be your main bike, but it is a versatile transport which can easily carry most furnitures and children.
You guys are amazing at giving us these quality cycling content videos. Can't wait for another crew ride like the "In Pursuit" one.
Thanks for the positive feedback! We're glad you enjoyed watching it as much as we enjoyed making it!
To me Conners is the best choice if seriously commuting. I have and old 90’s MTB with a nice comfortable seat u can ride in regular cloths which is great for cruising around the neighborhood. Maybe I’ll convert it to e bike 😁👍 would never ride my carbon bike for commuting to work
Grow a set of legs.
yep. if you actually work a normal office job E-bike is the way to go. Nothing worse than seeing clients and being smelly.
I rather go with the folding bike . I'm going to work not racing to work.
Great comparison guys. So I am torn between the gravel bike and the e-bike, however I do own a Gravel e-bike so I get best of both worlds. If I had to choice between the ones in the video, I would go with Conor's e-bike.
One of the best, most enjoyable and delightful videos you've ever made. Not sure what it was specifically but just a really lovely vibe to it, even heartwarming somehow?!
I was about to say the exact same thing! These guys - I really feel them as my friends
I’d go for the super secret 5th option. I commute on a fixie, Minimal maintenance and it keeps you fit. Granted I live quite close to work!
My exact idea as well
I do the same ! commuting on fixe in the streets of Paris since 2 years now. Couldn't go back to subway commut that is too depressing
I lived with a guy in London who commuted on a single speed belt drive bike. It was awesome, but wouldn't work where I live due to hills. If you stuck strictly to the commute route it would be OK, but I like to go off-piste and explore if I have a lovely morning and can get away a few mins early.
3
Fixie commute here, too. £120 off FB marketplace, 46/18, a pair of clip on mudguards and the most fun riding I’ve had since bmxing as a kid. The gearing is noob friendly and I can climb ok on it. Approx 250 elev gain on my commutes.
I think a big part of this question depends on the infrastructure you have at work to store your bike... where I work I had to just leave my 'ferrari' bike near my desk. The amount of attention my bike got had me stressing out all day - people touching it, knocking on it, etc. I just walk to work instead now and leave the bike for fun rides. If I lived farther away (and had space for more than 1 bike) I think I would go for Manon's or Connor's bike. I think flat pedals would be worth it for commuting as shoes would be one less thing you have to drag back and forth every day and if you can get away with riding in work clothes, all the better
I leave a spare pair of shoes at the office and can store my bike indoors 👍 On days I'm going to happy hour after, I ride a less flashy bike.
Totally agree! I've been lucky to have either a bike locker or a locked bike room with racks to lock up my bike at work. I would never feel comfortable locking my Canyon Endurance on the street, so if I lost secure bike parking, I would buy a beater bike to commute.
Velo Sambas could be worn at work
Love commuting to work, my commuter bike is an 8 year old Boardman Road Bike that cost me £300. It's been upgraded throughout the years and had a new coat of paint - inspired by Manon's bike spraying video - it's a lovely shade of pink (chosen by my 6 year daughter). Currently rocking 2 year old 105 groupset, campagnolo scrirroco wheels (7 years old and just about on its last legs) and a lovely set of mudguards. all I could wish for!
with dropbars?
One thing the video does not touch on is how long parts last and how expensive they are to replace. Commuting in all weather and all months of the year means that i go through parts quite quickly and it's frustrating to replace expensive bike parts.
Yes, very good point. This is why you’re better off sticking with 8/9 or 10 speed groupsets, as cassettes and chains are way cheaper paired with sturdy 32 spoked wheels that will take a few potholes and knocks. Mudguards help too.
Or a gearbox/hub and a belt drive
I dont bike to work (I live in the same compound as the office), but same idea on why I chose to stick to a Sora gearset. I ride both on wet and dry conditions. Even going to an 11- or 12-speed Sensah or Ltwoo gearset or my roadbike would drive up maintenance cost.
@@a1white It's why you ultimately get a beater bike. If you need gears, get a road or hybrid bike with the groupset you mentioned. If you live in a flat area, get a fixie/single speed. Pawn shops, OfferUp or Facebook Market is awesome for getting cheap fixies.
If I had to choose any of these, it's the e-bike first, then a tie between the do it all bike and the gravel bike. Manon's bike may be able to do it all, but so can Si's. Just throw road tires on it and it's as much a road bike as Manon's is a gravel bike. The biggest difference/preference is the mudguards.
Huh. People exercise every day in same conditions and ride much longer trips while doing so. I don't think there's much difference. Just wash the excess dirt e.g. with a bucket of water and remember to measure your chain and check your cogs once a while. Yeah, people do ride throughout the year, parts cost some money but not a fortune.
The off-road route reminds me of the one I take for my commute. It's an extra 8 km for me but the scenery and nice bike paths are so enjoyable and worth it! :)
i think manon's choice is what i would take. it can do every aspect of cycling you might cover in a commute, plus the Ti frame looks like a steel frame to the masses and you could likely lock it up anywhere without worry.
and then have ollie's or si's for the weekend, depending on your flavor of speed.
Agreed. It’s perfect and can be modified for fast weekend group rides.
CGR is my daily commuter bike and fantastic.
This plus a rear rack for the backpack
That was a great video. Just a lot of fun covering an important subject. Thanks GCN team, you all rock.
As someone who lives and works in the area I can tell you for a fact that the cycle path is the best way between the two cities. Cy's route has about a bajillion gates for the first half and is some serious offroad for the second half. Manon's route goes onto the bike path or the main road or into the hills south of Bristol, some of which are pretty mean. Ollie's route is just the main road, and I think would be better in the hills for sure. The path only has two crossings and while there's some diversions atm, it can take around an hour which is pretty great when the car drive isn't much less.
So for me: 1: Conor 2: Manon 3. Cy 4. Ollie.
I commute daily on a Ribble R872 and use it on club rides, training rides, on the turbo and socials with mates. I bought it shortly after starting cycling last July and absolutely love it. It lacks loading points but I'm comfortable just using a rucksack. This bike really helped me fall in love with cycling, will be looking at the Ultra SL next I think - it's pretty flat round here, lots of open road and not many situations you'd make the most of a gravel bike. Not only do Ribble make amazing bikes but supporting a British brand is another 👍👍👍 for me.
As I work from home I don't need to commute but I still do it anyway, it's about 17 miles from my bedroom to my study, and I use my Giant Fastroad SL1, which is an option not really covered by your quartet. Basically a roadbike with flat bars, which makes it very maneuverable, especially in town, but also not slow on the open road. It doesn't look out of place with mudguards in the winter and there's a good range of tyre choice. I love mine.
I think you overlooked some important benefits of the e-bike. You don't need to shower, meaning you can take your helmet off and start work.
On the other bikes you need to take a shower, which takes time. Also you need to change cloths, store them somewhere and then change cloths again when you go home. If you are even lucky enough there is a shower at work.
Also storing your bike could be challenge at work. Most e-bikes have proper locks, contrary to the other options, especially the Ferrari :D
Happy to do my 54 km commute on my e-bike.
The other thing about an e-bike is you have a rear rack on most of them. This allows for much more versatility during your commute. Don't have to wear a backpack for the entire trip and get your back all sweaty when you can just put on a rear rack bag and all your stuff in there. Ebikes have a lot of variety too. Mine is a step-through design, has a throttle, lights, a horn etc.
I built up a Cinelli Vigorelli Shark two years ago for my work/gym commutes. Super happy with my decision to switch to fixed gear... love the hustle of riding in the traffic! Amazing how quick you can get around town riding track bike.
Oli, the stat-nerd, showing massive levels of care and compassion for his teammate. That's why I keep watching GCN! Great job you two!
Connor's work shirt straight out of the packet from M&S
Great feature guys! Definitely encouraging people to cycle to work 👍 We need more and more people to ditch the car for the bike commute.
Such a big smile watching this! I'm really torn between the allroad CGR and eBike. Simplicity of a pure bike vs that electric assist when bringing a load of groceries and office gear up the hill back home after a long day. Oh n+1, one of each please!
how about an electric gravel bike?
Yes - no backpacks - panniers always - ALWAYS let the bike do the work.
I'm approaching 20 years of bike commuting and I have been doing them all on 29ers: hardtail, rigid fork - good for everything, everywhere. And I've toured on them.
Could also include a folding bike, a single speed, a "hybrid" bike, or even one of those dedicated commuters with a belt drive and internal gears. Many options besides these, but I do appreciate highlighting the options of on and off road. I would personally go with Manon's choice from these four.
This was a good video. Staying in a city where commuting by bike is virtually impossible (traffic, safety and hills), I am fascinated by bike commuters.
I think it would be cool to attach some metrics to determine which bikes gets you to work in the best condition to actually "work".
So for example: Lowest avg HR, lowest avg power exerted, least fluid loss through sweat, on time arrival, general feeling on arrival, safest commute, etc.
I have Manons Endurance Ti and freaking love it! I use it mainly on as an road bike but im not scared when it turns to gravel. For real MTB adventures i got a full suspension for the most smiles
There are a lot of variables to consider. The distance. The terrain. The climate and whether you are riding all seasons. Here in Canada, I ride through the winter. That means for me a belt drive. My commute at most is 6km. There are a few short grades and I can manage on a single speed if necessary. 20km commute is quite a bit -- that is in e-bike territory.
Great video. I have 2 bikes, a 90's racer for when I want some proper exercise which I need to allow for shower time; and an ebike for when I want to get to work without needing a shower. Also in NZ most ebikes can go 45km/h so I get there much quicker.
I've been commuting 9 months of the year for nearly 10 years now in all weather and temperature conditions and I've used a variety of bikes. My current bike is the Specialized Diverge and I absolutely love everything about it. Keeping in mind that my commute is a fairly flat 5 miles with the last mile on a gravel road and we get quite a lot of snow in the winter. The Diverge is essentially a relaxed allroad drop bar bike that has 36mm wide tires and a small shock in the neck that helps to absorb vibration, and it has the ability to run panier bags, fenders, and 2 water bottle cages.
I'm so new to biking and i've watched tons of videos of you guys before deciding which to buy. I opted for an aerobike but i don't use it for work as I only work from home but I love riding it every weekends. Oh and manon I always enjoy watching you love your energy!
I have a touring bike with panniers and I ride that some of the year and then an older aluminium 105 groupset racer that I've started to use over winter for commute and general winter bike ..... I have used my carbon fibre bike the od time but generally keep for weekend ....
I commute a lot so changing it up a bit adds a bit of excitement to it.
Great video as usual folks
I cannot help but marvel at the quality of GCN videos. So well captured and produced with ever so witty and charming presenters… Just delightful!
So joyful to watch, tx for producing & sharing!
Agree with most, Manon‘s bike seems a winner here..
The best bike to commute on, is the one you already own.
And I own 4 bikes. Each are different. I retired the old Ridgeback Velocity, so really 3 bikes.
I think that is the best to start with, but you may ultimately end up with something else..
Thanks for the nice little zen moment.
Rock On!
Bikes are too cheap for that kind of statement.
I’ve been commuting with my touring bike for a few years now, every single day and in all conditions. Heavy and slow but basically indestructible, I like that (and I can carry tons of stuff if I need to)!
How many km do you have to traverse from home to your place of work ? Just curious.
been commuting to work 6,5 +6,5 km for a year now, summer and winter in Sweden I think one commuter bike that needs mentioning is the 3 or 7 speed upright open frame bike. Think its called Dutch-bike in England. Its super common. very comfortable to sit on which is important for a lot of people but its lowest gear is pretty heavy which makes it tough to ride uphill. The perfect Commuter-bike in my opinion would be a comfortable bike like that but with better gears. Maybe 27 or so, to make it easy to climb those pesky hills in my city.
I believe their ride was 20km. I think I'd choose a more sporty bike with drop handlebars for that distance over an upright dutch style bike. If I had your shorter commute, yes, I'd choose an upright bike.
I changed the rear sprocket from 16 to 20. A lot easier now.
@@Mantis858585 On a goo designed Dutch Bike it is possible to sit in a sport style by steering with your underarms, but maybe you have to be Dutch to learn that.
And a good Dutch bike you wil be able to go offroad without the bike falling to pieces.
@@backfireisback Never thought about that. Ill try it. Thanks for the tip:)
I'm with Manon - have had a similar commute since 2007 and I got a Fuji CrossPro that I put a rack and fenders on. Still using it, not many original components left, and just last week some random pedestrian said, "Hey, nice bike!"
for those of us who aren't going to have multiple bikes (space/cost) Manon's do-it-all bike is the best choice... want to race along the roads, want to doodle along the bike paths, want to hit a few trails, want to carry stuff on the bike... check! check! check! check!
The gravel bike can do it all too.
I’m planning to get a new bike this December, and I’m still deciding between two Canyon bikes. The Endurance CF SL7 or the Grail AL 6… although the Grail AL is regarded as one of the best gravel bikes, the Endurance has a carbon frame, a kilogram lighter for a few hundred more dollars. Still deciding…
oh yes, second choice... I just prefer the aesthetics of the higher seat stays, that's all!
100% agree with Si on the stressful day at work comment.
I can recall a few times my poor bike has taken an absolute beating on the way home.
Thankfully not too often though 🙂
Thanks GCN team for confirming that I picked the right commuter bike. 2 years ago I purchased a Ribble CGR-ALe and added paniers which has been a great bike to date. Versatility of the CGR and electric when needed to help me up the Pennine hills after a 12 to 15hr shift.
I think it shows well how individual the choice can be. But generally also why the normal road bike is the default option.
For me as long as it has 2 wheels, 2 pedals that turn a chain connected to the back wheel, a handlebar with levers that slow down the bicycle (i.e. breaks) is good enough to commute on to and from work 😀Personally I ride to work either on a vintage Cannondale CAAD3 or just as old no name rigid mountain bike 🙂So who cares what bike is best for commuting
*brakes bro
What's wrong with a belt drive? 😉 Jokes aside - I agree, any bike is a good bike for commuting.
@@xykel13 nothing wrong with a drive belt... Just didn't think about it when I wrote the comment...
Many people may not have the option of pulling their bikes inside at work. Based on this the most utilitarian bicycle is always the best choice. Out of your four choices I'd take Manons' , or for a shorter 10 mile commute , I might even take an old Schwinn with fat tyres and a two speed kickback coaster brake . Great for laying down a nice long patch of rubber , or kicking it on the trails.
Absolutely loved this video, really like I'm there along with you all. Think I preferred Conor's route but Ollie looked very sleek on the Ferrari , I think you would all need a shower after cycling on that morning if it was Tuesday the 19th.
Definitely needed a shower 😑
Great video. The best bike depends on individual preferences. Personally, I love riding my Look 785 road bike to work.
I'm on Team Manon - if only I could have one bike.
For a few years I worked in a bicycle shop with a bicycle parking station at a typical commuter train station north of Hamburg.
Me and some of our clients commuted through all seasons. In my case it was about 40 km per working day. I recommend enthusiastic year-round commuters: Have at least two bikes ready to ride.
Two main reasons for this: 1. less time pressure for repairs, maintenance and full inspection 2. different set-ups for good and bad weather.
Admittedly I'm a freak and I like variety, my fleet includes uprights and recumbents, vintage and modern, with and without e-drive ...
I feel that the best commuter bike is one you don’t mind getting damaged or stolen.
There was a missed opportunity for a "Clever girl" reference with the cows hunting in packs there Si.
🦖
I think as long as you make the effort and swap the car or PT for a bike, you will arrive at work a happier person.
I have a 20km commute and do it on an older ali frame, 1x9, tt base bar with one bar-end shifter, 165 cranks for better cornering, mud guards, GP5000s - I can hammer it or cruise to to work and back, no matter the weather. On tarmac only, otherwise I would rethink my tyre choice...
Loved the vid!
During the first lockdown I bought a Brompton for my four mile commute. Before we went back my company closed the office and switched us to full time work from home. Now even the Brompton is overkill for my living room to spare room commute!
The question is: Even though it is overkill, do you still use it? ;)
Defiantly the E Bike.
It makes sense.
Not everyone can stay fit every day. That motor is really helpful.
And you get to maintain pace with cars on the road, which makes things bit safer.
i recently bought a canyon roadlite 5 for commuting and riding in the city. I think a cheaper bike with an alu frame is probably better in the city than a carbon frame, because in case you have to park it at public spot you dont have to worry about other people ruining your carbon frame.
Unfortunately something we all have to consider 😞
I also recommended a Canyon Roadlite 7 to my friend as a everyday commuting bike, great bike in my opinion.
I have a 27 km round trip conmute, I use an old 1971 Hercules 26" bicycle with a 3 speed internally-geared rear hub, mudguards, back tray on which I hang my backpack using shoulder clips. Very low maintenance, in seven years just replaced tyres and chain. I ride wearing normal clothes and get to work without a sweaty back and mud on my bum on rainy days. This bike is not a thief magnet. It's just great.
For a commute of this distance that has hills then the e-bike is the way to go for most cyclists of all ages imo. The distance and terrain is such that you would still get pretty fit after a few months, plus you can always reduce the assist if you want more of a workout on some days.EDIT: an electric Brompton would be my first choice but not cheap!
You guys are great! I just started bike commuting again after moving from the burbs back into a proper city. I love it! I’m using a specialized diverge gravel bike with panniers added. It’s a great all purpose tool! Feels zippy enough, but versatile for multiple surfaces.
Yesterday I was forced to ride on gravel, through forest for 13 km on my Super Six with 25 mm Vitoria Corsa. No Problem. But when I was riding along the river Weser, E-bike groups couldn't hardly avoid crashing into me (I`ve to E-bikes myself, but only for commuting). So I would have expected it the other way round.
You greatly coined the commuting kinks, that can really appeal to sports cyclers.
Keep up the good work!
Before buying from Ribble check out the customer reviews; average rating is 2.6 out of 5. Main concern is poor customer service and not dispatching bikes when they say they will
I think that was a big issue during covid. However, I received mine last month and it was on time and the communication was excellent. Not defending them, just giving my personal experience.
Your videos are so interesting and as a newbie to cycling, I’m learning so much. Thanks folks
Ah, just the video I needed today. Started commuting yesterday. Went road bike with SPD-SL pedals. Felt fun at first, but once the heavy traffic started, the constant clipping in and out felt stressful, and as I couldn’t go fast for more than a few hundred yards at a time, it felt a bit pointless. Take the point, and my hybrid with MTB shoes will probably be more appropriate.
I commute on flats. My suggestion, esp as its hot out, get a rack and basket. There's plenty of universal rack options now like Old Man Mountain if you don't have rack mount bosses. But, getting bags off your body and onto the bike is the single best thing you can do to make your commutes more enjoyable.
SPDs are better if you're frequently clipping in and out. Check out the PD-ES600 Shimano pedals.
I’m a new commuter, and a luckily someone recommended a hybrid to me. Total win… fast enough for my commute, but strong and fun enough for my local trails and off-road paths. 2/3 weeks in and I’m totally loving it.
@@Skaughtto I have those pedals, and I really like them. But I also wear Chrome Kursk shoes. They look like ordinary canvas shoes, but with the cleat hidden in the sole.
But I also don't commute. But I would recommend the PD-EH500. They're double sided, so they can be very effective on a hybrid bike, where the flat side is for commuting, and the clip side for leisure/touring riding.
@@vaska00762 I have some Shimano XC3 shoes but I'll check out the ones you recommended. My other bike has M520 (dual sided) which I didn't find super comfortable for long rides.
I have at least 4 bikes. So out of all of them, my touring bike is my all-rounder bike. little bit on the heavy side, but considering that I can literally go off road, can put panniers on it, and have gearing to go up hills and such. What I like about it is that I made it personally to my needs and liking. Like any bike, you can customize it to your liking. What's plausible that is.😁
Might seem weird, but love my upright Dutch bike for commuting.
Really heavy, but reliable and keeps me perfectly clean in any weather!
20 km each way with hills, though?
To be fair a 20km commute is outside what most people aka those who ride a bike but don’t consider themselves a cyclist would consider doable given the amount of time it takes. Even here in Australia half of all commutes to work are 10km or less. To be honest only the e-bike fitted the commuter bike criteria, the others were sporting bikes with the distance used to make them justifiable. A dutch/English roadster is perfectly usable for many commutes. And they are still faster than stationary cars.
I used to commute on an older (late 90s) singlespeed converted Cannondale mtb with slicks on it. It was fun to ride (which is important if you gotta go and ride it everyday) and didn't need much maintenance. My daily commute was between 15 and 25 km (one way). In urban environments where bikes are stolen all the time, the best commuter bike shouldn't be too expensive and also the maintenance should be as easy as possible. I bought the bike used and after adding a rack and doing the singlespeed conversion I have spent less than 200 Euro on it. I later sold it for only slightly less money. I do miss this bike, but as I live in a hilly environment nowadays, a singlespeed is not as ideal anymore.
Great video! At rainy days or when the streets are still wet i commute my 25km to work with my travel bike with fat tires and huge mudd guards. But when the wheather is perfect i prefer the speed of my aero road bike. On the way home i choose then often a longer way so i have done training.
I often ask myself how you do these great videos. Could you make a behind the scenes video with all included people and processes?
It's nice to have the choice
I love cgn videos. The content, narration, engagement and informative. I think ill strat cycle to work
😍 Loved seeing this video, it was genuinely my commute to Bath from Bristol for years. I'd mix in all of these routes over the year depending on how I felt and what the weather was like. Having a few different bikes to pick from made it easier to choose how I'd ride it. Personally, the best all round tool for the job was the Boardman CX Team, which I could switch out wheels for different terrain, add the mudguards when it was going to be wet, and even have options for carrying with a rack mount. Off road was always more fun. Also reckon Si could have gone a little further on the dirt before hitting the tarmac, just involves a bit of lifting over gates and styles! 😉 For sure a "do it all" bike is probably the one to go for, especially if your budget is tight. 👍
I got an Endurance Ti from Ribble earlier this year. Specced for winter but what a bike. I’ve actually found I’ve been taking it out more then my R872 over the summer months.
In the Netherlands, country with most bikes per capita, virtually nobody commutes in racing gear. People wear plain clothes and ride a normal city bike in a comfortable position.....
These bikes are fun to ride but for daily use they are unsafe.
By leaning forward you lock yourself in a position… which restrict your ability to look around you and reduces your awareness.
Give me a classic straight up Dutch bike. Where you sit in a good position and have good awareness.
My dutch bike with Nexus 3, led light, hub dinamo, mudguards and racks is perfect.
Steel frame and 700x42c wheels make it comfortable enough.
It's a bit heavy, but rides really fine as an urban cycle. Plus I load it like a mule when I shop for groceries.
The perfect combo bike is Ribble CGR ALe. Luckily enough to have one and love it.
I was very surprised they didn't use that one, indeed 👍
The music for each ride/the editing is *chef's kiss* Hahaha!
Recently did an e-bike conversion and I’m loving it! Still get a light workout in while commuting without dying in the summer heat. I’m definitely team e-bike on this one.
still a little scared. my 16k on my 15 year old cyclo cross daily(rain o shine). keeps the kilos on the scale where i want them to be. with e i think i had to skip some icecream and cake. boy and i love icecream and cake;))) and burgers, brezels and chocolate, and ..............
I suggest a motorcycle. They go even faster without summer heat.
I commuted full time for eight years before switching to remote work. 18 miles each way with 1,300’ of climbing. I started on an old MTB that I fixed up, then bought my first “road” bike, a Schwinn Cyclocross bike. It flew by comparison. It was my daily driver for more than seven years except on ice/snow days, where I’d take the MTB with some studded winter tires. After an unfortunate accident, insurance bought me a sexy new Specialized endurance road bike (Secteur Elite Apex) which I still ride every day almost 12 years later. Biking to work made me a happier, more relaxed person, and I would do it again in a heartbeat.
Even now, when my commute is “to the living room”, I instead detour to the garage and crack out a 15-20 mile morning ride before I start working.
Fixed wheel best for everything simple no hassle 👌
I wish this is true for hilly small town like my town, Bogor, Indonesia. You will need Samson or Atalanta own pair of legs here to be able to ride Fixie here. (｡•́︿•̀｡)
Move to Edinburgh where I live and tell me that’s still the answer.
My Derbyshire hills disagree
Great vid James! Super informative and greatly appreciated 🚲❤
Damn cyclists and their "being in shape" and "being happy" and "saving hundreds on petrol and insurance"...
Where's the lie?
Love this video GCN. My bike was in the shop for a week and I noticed my mental health declined after driving everyday.
Solution = a backup bike for when maintenance and repairs comes.
Loved this vid. Conors commute was my favourite. I’d love to have a dedicated bike path all the way to work. Manons bike came with a chimney for those cold winter commutes, nice 👌
My favourite commuter is a 1986 KHS Montana Crest with a brooks saddle and a set of cruiser bars, paired with 2.3" Maxxis DTH tyres. Can't go wrong, it's so comfy.
I'd mostly agree with this video; ride an all-weather road bike with decent mudguard mounts and good tire clearance. I personally ride a very nice gravel bike with 32mm road tires, and it pretty much takes me everywhere, as if it were my car (which it actually is, because I don't have a car). I take it to work every day, and last week I used it to go from Seattle to Victoria, British Columbia, on a route that included highways, paved bike paths, quieter side roads, gravel, and a bit of single-track.
However, I think e-bikes are also awesome, probably even necessary. They open up the bicycle option to a much, much larger population, which can only be a good thing if you're interested in promoting and developing more bicycling infrastructure. (I'm also comforted by the idea that I will possibly be able to use a bicycle to get places until fairly close to the end of my time.)
Great content. I live in Cape Town and use either a MTB or Gravel Bike. I choose to leave earlier and take the more off-road sections along Table Mountain into the office. Its 25km one way... I also check the weather - if its windy, I plan the route so that I've got a great tailwind home (and hide in the mountain when its into the wind). Great show - thanks
I tried to bike to work once and it was a harrowing experience with a pickup trying to run me off the road. That same summer my coworker, who has biked to work for a couple years, was almost killed biking to work when he was hit by a truck that fled the scene. He was never able to ride again due to his injuries.
Your life is worth whatever you have to pay to drive. Stay safe
Commuting turned into an opportunity to train. I've done the upright, swept back bars thing and it has a certain charm. That said, I will don spandex and a backpack and zip to my destination on my road bike. On the hottest days, I simply pack the shirt and put in on once I've gotten to the destination.