Commuting - That's it, I'm selling my SUV and buying a new bike.

I'm going to start commuting to work. I'm selling my Blazer and putting some of that money into a new bike. I want something that is road friendly, I mean easy to ride but something that can handle the ocasional bump in the road.

oh yeah as far as being a cycling commuter, do I have any rights in case I am hit by a car? Houston's bike safty is horrible throughout most of the city .:mad:

What do you advise I get, a hybrid or a mountain bike with slicks?

Cheers. :)

#1:

Take Effective Cycling through the League of American Bicyclists.

I bet they will help you choose a bike as well!

Believe it or not, being hit by a car isn't as common as some people think. The most common cause of bicycle accidents is simply falling off. That's something you might want to remember.

If you have bumpy roads in your area, I'd recommend getting a Mountain bike for commuting. If you fit it with slick tyres and get it properly fitted (something a good bike shop can probably help you with) it should give you a good ride.

Good luck!

I use a mountain bike with slicks. You definately want highly puncture resistant tires such as Specialized Nimbus EX's.

...on the other hand, a hybrid with the 700C wheels will give you better speed on the smooth parts and you can still have wide enough tires to give you a smooth ride on the bumps. You don't really need front shocks for urban commuting or the weight they add, either.

I've been commuting on my Giant hybrid with 700X32's and the ride is comfortable.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!! on your decision. I too would opt for the hybred only with 38mm tires. (That's equivalent to 1 3/8")

I used a mountain bike with Slicks for 3 years on my commute (13-14 Mile RT). This allowed me to use a couple of rougher cycle paths. If you keep the tyre pressure high (>70 psi) Then the ride is a lot easier.

I've now normally use a road bike for the commute (the MTB is still used for bad weather days) but I've had to change my route slightly as the road wheels can't take the bumps.

:beer:

I've been looking at the hybrids, I checked out the path to work on my old POS bike today and it's not bad. I'll be sure to check into the tires also. Wow, I didn't know cycling could be this adictive when I started riding again last month. :)

Originally posted by AlienDroid
Wow, I didn't know cycling could be this adictive when I started riding again last month. :)

We've all been there. Welcome to the addicted riders' Forums!

--J

I just ditched my MTB for a hybrid and a road bike. It was like going from a Pinto to a Cadillac.

If I were to buy a bike strictly for commuting, given my commute and the one I will be looking at in the not to distant future, a cyclocross bike would get very serious consideration.

Cyclocross bikes will handle moderate dirt, allow for a good aero position on the pavement, be reasonably light and strong and have clearance for studded tires and fenders in the winter.

There is little to chose between an MTB with 1.5" slicks, and a hybrid style bike with 32mm tyres. Both will ride at about the same speed and are about right for utility/transport bikes.
Road racing bikes will be faster, but the narrower tyres will not be as comfortable.

Some of the more expensive "hybrids" are lighter and more sporty than thay used to be.
Check out
http://www.jamisbikes.com/bikes/coda02.html
for a good example.

There are few quality MTBs which can be roadified. Suspension systems are not neccessary, but only really cheap models have fixed forks. Make sure you have threaded eyelets to attatch a luggage rack and fenders if you need them.

Personally I find that light touring bikes and modern cyclo-cross bikes provide a good compromise between speed, toughness, weight and utility.
something like
http://www.jamisbikes.com/bikes/aurora02.html
also see the Bianchi Volpe.

I'd also look at tourers, both 26" and 700 wheeled variants.

Personally I use an MTB with semi-slick touring tyres.

Richard

I use a MTB with semi slicks. Mine are 1.25" tires that are rated to 80 psi. I think you can get some 1" tires that can handle up to 110 psi. If you like drop bars, a cyclocross may be better.

For commuting I use a mountain bike with slicks. These particular tires have a max inflation rate of 100 psi. This set up works great for me.

Thanks for the info.

This is going to be my only road bike and I want something I can have fun with on the weekends, so I kind of want to stay away from MTBikes.