Best commuter bikes 2023 — beat the traffic by cycling to work

If you have a longish commute then a road bike like the Ribble Endurance AL disc is ideal as it brings speed and comfort, it also takes full mudguards which are a must if you are riding whatever the weather.

For just over a grand you are getting an aluminium frame and full carbon fork, a Shimano Tiagra groupset with hydraulic disc brakes, quailty Level finishing kit and set of Mavic Aksium wheels.

Read our guide to the best road bikes under £1,500

We found the geometry to be ideal for commuting putting you in a reasonably aero position for the open road, although the front end is tall enough that you can see clearly when negotiating traffic. The slightly more upright position also reduces pressure on your back and makes it easier to carry a rucksack as there are no rack mounts on the Ribble. 

It's also hugely versatile too, making the ideal winter training bike, club machine or entry level racer when you aren't using it for commuting. 

We couldn't have a commuter bike guide without including a Brompton, the brand behind the iconic folder available in a range of builds, materials and now comes in electric versions too.

Bromptons are acknowledged as having one of the easiest folding mechanisms and compact sizes when folded. This makes them particularly appealing for commuters who combine their ride with public transport (no need to reserve space for a folding bike on the train, and you can take them on the tube), and the addition of two small wheels that allow you to trolley the bike when folded is very useful. All very convenient.

Since we reviewed the S6L back in 2017 the line-ups have had a bit of rebrand with the differing ranges now being called A Line, C Line, P Line and T Line bringing a mixture of steel and titanium frame options.

This C Line Urban build is part of the third tier range using a classic steel frame and fork. It uses a two-speed transmission, comes with mudguards and a front flap to keep your feet dry, plus a carrier mount to accept Brompton's luggage range.

You can also get a model that comes fitted with lights for the ultimate year-round folder. 

The Canyon Commuter 5 is a fast and fun urban bike that provides all the performance that people who are ready to splash £1,000+ on a commuter are probably looking for. It's not the most forgiving ride, but – ironically – considering how responsive it is, that's actually quite easy to forgive. Perhaps most surprising, though, the Commuter 5 provides all its thrills while also coming with a hub gear.

Just like the MiRiDER above, it also comes with a belt drive which is ideal from a commuting point of view alongide the hub gear. You get longevity, minimal maintenance and it remains clean.

The Canyon is definitely one for those who like a spirited ride, and while it can't take a rack, mudguards are possible. 

If your commute is a mixture of road, by-ways or canal paths then the Tifosi Rostra could be exactly what you are looking for as we found it to be hugely versatile.

Based around an alloy frame and carbon fork with geometry similar to that of an endurance road bike the Rostra is a capable machine on the tarmac, rolling along smoothly on a on a set of slicks up to a maximum width of 32mm tyres with full mudguards fitted.

Gravel bikes v N+1 - is a fat tyre bike the best alternative to a fleet?

When we reviewed it our test model came with a set of 35mm knobbly tyres which certainly opens up the options of routes and terrains.

The handling is well balanced wherever you are riding and the slightly flared handlebar gives extra confidence in the drops on loose surfaces, or wet roads.

Fitted with the latest Tiagra hydraulic groupset Tifosi haven't scrimped on the spec and the external cable and hose routing makes for easy maintenance at the weekend. It'll take a rear rack too.   

Alpkit's Sonder Camino AL is a very capable gravel machine that is also well prepped to take on the role of a multi-terrain commuter thanks to big tyre clearance, loads of mounts for racks, bags and mudguards.

The 2022 version of the Camino AL gets an uprated fork to full carbon fibre, and also with eyelets for load lugging. The frame also now has internal cable routing and the fornt end geometry has been slackened off a bit to give more confident handling whether cruising along the local gravel trails or winding your way through the rush hour traffic.

Read our guide to the best gravel and adventure bikes under £2,000

There are various build options available, or you can create your own build around the £449 frameset that we recently reviewed.

 It's the ideal machine for getting you to the workplace and back during the week before heading out on an epic adventure at the weekend.

This urban styled bike brings with it plenty of integration, including security from a rear wheel Dutch lock to a built in alarm, lights and loads of customisation within the Vanmoof app, and it certainly looks great too with its smooth looks and lack of any oily bits on display.

It has a three-speed hub-gear which can be shifted either manually or automatically, and as far as assistance goes the S3 gets 504wh battery powering a 250W front hub motor which helps you shift the 21kg bike.

For commuting duties it can be fitted with Vanmoof's own mudguards and front and rear racks.

The only compromise against some other e-bikes is that the battery can't be removed for charging.

For some of us, commuting makes up the bulk of our weekly mileage with a trip to work and back making for an excellent training session. If that's the case and your commuter is the bike you are going to spend the most time on you're going to want something a little special, something like Kinsesis' titanium GTD.

The latest version of the GTD is the V2 and it's available as a frameset for you to build into your dream machine.

Read our guide to the 10 best titanium road bikes 2022

For commuting compatibility you get full mudguard mounts and the ability to fit a rear rack. You also get three mounting points for a bottle cage with one sitting under the down tube which is ideal for carrying a tool container whether riding to work or touring at the weekend.

It's a beautiful looking machine with a massive amount of little details and when we reviewed it we found it to be stiff, comfortable and a real blast to ride. Tyre clearance is 34mm.