WWMD :: Commuting Bike?

[jayfrizzo]

So I need a commuter to ride to/from work, 8 miles one-way. I was gonna just get a low-end road bike, but then I saw this guy on a mountain-bike looking thing: skinny tires, fenders, flat bars. And I realized I didn't know what to look for in a commuter bike.

I'm thinking: effecient, fairly comfy, and fendered. I'm not burly or skilled enough for a fixed or single-speed at this distance.

Commuters, what say ye? What's worked for you? What doesn't?

J-

PS: Sorry, Spats, I can't get a recumbent. My eyes suXor so I should keep my vital organs above the bumpers zipping around me.

[Crinkle]

I would get something with fenders and a comfy seat. Fenders for those occaisional rainy days. check your local second hand store. Probably can get a geared, fendered, bike for less than 3 bills.

[half-fast]

when I lived in the sticks, I bike commuted on a road bike (7 miles each way) now that I live in the city-(only a 3.5 mile ride) the roads really beat up the road bike (pot holes-railroad tracks-glass, etc) I hate riding my mtb on the roads (just seems so inefficient!) so I'm thinking about a cyclocross rig something like this..

[PeachesN'Cream]

i'm thinking cycle cross bike. it's the only roadie type thing i'd ever get.

[Greydon Clark]

How about a 1977 Schwinn Varsity with riser bars and a fixed gear? My wife rides a similar bike (but with gears) and I have a burly 1970s Sears bike that I'm converting to a functional commuter (currently deciding between SS and fixie). Personally, I think it is a little silly to spend heaps of $$$ on a commuters, then again, I'm not a serious cyclist and all my bikes are ghetto.

[Aldo]

Reason # 23477 I spent way too much time on this board.

My first question was, wow, he got a job?

[Mr. Altagirl]

Don't get anything under 9" of travel, front and rear. Urban assault each way to/from work.

[homerjay]

Originally posted by Mr. Altagirl
Don't get anything under 9" of travel, front and rear. Urban assault each way to/from work.

LOL!

any old mountain bike would work fine, throw some 1.25 slicks and clip-on fenders on and you be rollin'.

cross bike is a nice option, but not the cheapest.

[glademaster]

I think a cyclocross rig is the way to go for sure. Just bolt some fenders on 'em. You can get one for a reasonable price to boot. If I were to buy another bike I think a cross rig would be my next purchase.

[scoober]

The thing to look for in a commuter is: what type of bike are you most comfortable on when riding in traffic?

I always thought that I was most comfortable fighting cars on a mountain bike, but now I'm much happier zipping around on a steel road frame. I think I'll be even happier switching it to a single... (not fixed, I'm not cool enough yet.)

Moral of the story is different things work for different people. The guy you saw might prefer the upright position his flat-bar roadie gives him. Couriers all obviously love their fixies. I just like the sligtly more aggressive position a road bike with drop bars gives me.

CX bikes are cool, but unnecessary. In reality any old roadie or mtb will do just fine, its just all a matter of preference of what you like to ride.

[phUnk]

Originally posted by Mr. Altagirl
Don't get anything under 9" of travel, front and rear. Urban assault each way to/from work.

Word. Anything less and JayFrizzo's a pussy.

[Benny Profane]

Well, if you ride to work on the road (or if you live in Denver near one of those many trails), use a road bike. If you live somewhere poor with no roads, use a mountain bike, And if you live in a place with roads seperated by low fences and short hills to climb, get a cyclocross. And, yeah, avoid recumbents around urban traffic. Saw a guy once on my commute through the Bronx on one of those things, and all I could think was, poor sucka, he's doomed.

[jayfrizzo]

Originally posted by phUnk
Word. Anything less and JayFrizzo's a pussy.

I could commute on this and still be a pussy.

[Mr. Altagirl]

I have a new dream bike, thank you.

[cololi]

If you commute on that blue thing you would definetely be a pussy.

[Spats]

Find anything that fits you and has good shifters and brakes, most likely someone´s rarely-used "mountain" bike. If you´re riding every day, you´ll want something with good components, so stay away from Wal-Mart bikes.

Put kevlar-belted 1.5" slicks on it. You want the Kevlar belts for flat resistance -- the Kevlar bead on folding tires is NOT the same thing. I have some kevlar Avocets cheap if you need them. The newest Primo Comet Kevlars are good too.
Get a wide, comfy seat.
Get a taller stem or higher bars so they´re at or above the level of the seat. A cheap riser bar should be fine, or check out www.rivbike.com for the bling commuter gear.
If you´re going to ride in the winter, put fenders on it. The Planet Bike ones are excellent and cheap.

Ride.

(I recommend a rear rack and bungie net so you don´t have to wear your backpack while you ride. But some people don´t mind that.)

Closing note: whatever you do, don´t buy a road bike whose chainstays and fork won´t clear a fat tire. Skinny tires suck for commuting, and they actually roll slower than fat tires -- the reason road racers use them is they have better aerodynamics, but that´s only a net win at racing speeds. I won´t use anything less than a 700x38 or 26x1.5.