Suggestions for a friend's geared commuting bike

Ok - UTFSed, of course; not really turned anything up.

My friend is just starting to get into cycling to work but doesn't own his own bike yet. Here's the brief:

• OTP and available on the cycle to work scheme
  
• £500 max
  
• Some gears required but not necessarily a full complement; e.g. hub geared, or something like the Tokyo Bike Shimano setups that have a rear derailleur but a single chainring
  
• Not a road bike
  
• Preferably not a hybrid
  
• Not too heavy
  
• Will take (or come with) mudguards
  
  

Closest I've come is the Charge Tap (it has mudguard eyelets, right?), but it's over budget. The Tokyo Bike Classic/Promenade would do the job but you can't get them on the scheme.

Any suggestions?

(NB: "friend" is not a euphemism for "me".)

the 2009 tap might just hit your friend's price range..

http://activesport.co.uk/shop/article_1556.001/Charge-Tap-2009.html?pse=coa

A pal of mine has one of these and loves it: http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/ebwPNLqrymode.a4p?f_ProductID=12412&f_FullProductVersion=1&f_SupersetQRY=C416&f_SortOrderID=1&f_bct=c012372c012370
Pretty much the same as the Courier S1ngle which a couple of colleagues have bought, which seems very solid transport.

I'd try and get a cyclocross framed bike with mudguard and rear rack eyelets. IMHO its the most versitile option.

http://www.cyclesurgery.com/pws/UniqueProductKey.ice?ProductID=CSBC0382KS

+1 to a cycocross.

Just convince him he'll get used to the drops - which he will. And get ones/put on crosstop brakes.

Otherwise... although everyone will rinse me for saying it... get a hybrid.

Tbh I loved mine, even if it was far to big. It had brazeons for everything, Decore groupset which always worked well, clearance for any tyre and cost £300. Plus when I changed the tryres to new nice 23s before I sold it, it road really well.

Thanks all. I'd originally suggested the Genesis Day One but he was adamant he needed gears.

In the end I showed him the entry-level Bad Boy and that was that - he loves the look of it.

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/bikebuilder.asp?action=GenerateConstructor&part=BBRIBBLE7005AUDWINT&sub=conf_BBRW&bike=1

get them to find a second hand bike and then do the CTUK maintenance day

will end up with a much better bike for the money and the know how to keep it running

total bargain

^ ? - isn't that just a bike course?

I think it needs to be on the CTW. But if not 2nd hand is best.

TBH until you start riding (and buying) bikes you'll never really know what you want and need from a bike.

I think that ribble looks good, or go for the geared planet x version of the il pompino? - Still think cyclocross is the way to go for all round bang for your buck.

^ ? - isn't that just a bike course?

I think it needs to be on the CTW. But if not 2nd hand is best.

TBH until you start riding (and buying) bikes you'll never really know what you want and need from a bike.

I think that ribble looks good, or go for the geared planet x version of the il pompino? - Still think cyclocross is the way to go for all round bang for your buck.

This looks like an fantastic commuter. Alfine hub, CX frame, hydraulic disc's.....