RCUK guide: commuter and street bikes

Cannondale Road Warrior range

700c road style wheels roll faster and smoother than smaller wheels and as long as you go for a well built and durable pair, such as the Mavic Speedcity then you’ll be able to hit the odd pothole or curb without too much worry.

Tyres

Riding in town along bumpy roads with plenty of grates and glass around you need to be careful of picking up pinch flats and punctures, opt for a well protected tyre with thick sidewalls and avoid lightweight and thin inner tubes. Choose a tyre with minimum rolling resistance but that can shed water and that grips in the wet, Continental make a fast urban commuter tyre, the Sport Contact costing about £19, with carbon and silica composition for grip and longevity. It has strengthened sidewalls and filaments of aramid (Kevlar) for added puncture protection, also the 37mm width enhances comfort from road jolts and rough surfaces whilst the wide grooves guide water away in the wet.

Saddles and grips

Saddles and grips should be comfortable and durable, extra padding or gel inserts are a good choice if you often ride in normal clothing, it also helps absorb some of the road shock. The same goes for grips too, your extremities will thank you for the padding and comfort.

Forks

With 700c bikes, you could pay extra and go for a carbon fork to reduce weight and enhance stiffness, they also help minimise road shock through the front end. Or, if you enjoy a more comfortable ride then short travel suspension forks such as the Suntour NRH fork on the Scott Sportster come complete with lockout and 60mm travel option. The best of both worlds in a fork!