Dialogue - What's the Greatest Bike for Cycle Commuting?

Commuting on a motorcycle is an effective way to remain match, relieve stress, and keep away from the site visitors. What's the finest bicycle to commute on although? Probably the most fascinating, secure, and versatile choice?

I commute round 10 hours every week, which quantities to between 250-300 kilometres. I have been placing in these early morning and night rides for over 5 years now, and have commuted on every little thing from a mountain bike, by means of to a single pace street bike.

Nonetheless, I now assume that I've found the best commuting bike… the cyclocross bike.

Getting 'cross

I wrote a submit final yr on ' Getting 'Cross ', the place I mentioned a brand new discovered love of the world of mixed-surface using on a cyclocross bike.

What additionally rapidly grew to become evident after a number of months of commuting on a cyclocross bike, was that it was an extremely good bike to make use of for the job: extra fascinating, extra sturdy, and extra versatile than something I might used beforehand; in addition to safer, in lots of respects.

This yr I have been testing a Vitus Energie Professional Cyclocross Bike (learn my Wiggle Weblog evaluation right here). I've tailored this carbon framed cyclocross chassis, to make it much more suited to each day commuting duties.

This is how and why it makes an incredible commuter…

Secure, dependable and low upkeep

The Vitus Energie Professional includes a SRAM 1X (single entrance chainring) drivetrain, and SRAM hydraulic disc brakes.

The distinction between hydraulic and cable operated discs is large - with hydraulic offering higher brake modulation, really feel, and fewer requirement for adjustment. Clearly, in addition they nonetheless maintain all the advantages of disc brakes over rim brakes; together with much less put on on the wheels and pads, and higher perform in moist circumstances.

The SRAM Rival 1X drivetrain can be proving to be an incredible set-up for commuting. The simplicity of 1 gear shifter, one chainring, and one derailleur, means that there's much less to go incorrect, much less to scrub, and fewer to consider when altering gear (at all times good within the early morning).

Fairly merely, the SRAM drivetrain and brake set-up on the Vitus Energie Professional offers the proper set-up for commuting.

Frameset and geometry

A cyclocross bike has the next backside bracket top than a street bike, which raises up the entire of the peak of the bike. That is carried out in order that CX bikes have extra clearance over off-road obstacles, but it surely additionally has the good thing about making you extra seen, and higher positioned to see and be seen in site visitors.

The cyclocross body design additionally includes a extra relaxed geometry than most street bikes, which makes it extra comfy and fewer 'hunched over' than on a street bike. This appears higher if you're using on daily basis, and not likely on the lookout for these marginal aero features.

Tyres

Lastly, the beauty of a cyclocross bike for commuting, is that it has house for 32c or bigger tyres. I run a 32c slick tyre on the again of my Vitus Energie Professional, and a 33c cyclocross knobbly tyre on the entrance.

The combo is nice for the combination of on and off street that I can contain in my commute. The slick rear tyre helps to scale back rolling resistance, while the 32c width nonetheless offers baggage of consolation and grip.

The knobbly entrance tyre helps to supply entrance wheel traction on unfastened gravel or poor roads, with out including an excessive amount of resistance on tarmac.

Total

For me, a CX bike is a superb selection for cycle commuting; offering a secure and steady bike, which is able to allow you to combine up your on-road rides with a little bit of gravel, including a little bit of variety and curiosity!