Commuting - Type of bike

Don't know if this has been asked before, so I'll give it a try.

Indicate the type of bike you mostly use for your commutes.

Me, I like my Trek 520 touring bike. It takes a beating with no compaints and has air-cheating drops. The only problem is it's heavy !!

Converted Torelli Racing bike. I don't want to drop the coin to get a more comfortable commuting bike, and the torelli is about 8 or so years old. If it breaks I'll upgrade, but the steel frame feels pretty solid and it has a nice smooth ride.

But with all the crap on it, it no longer looks like a racing bike. I have 28's on the wheels, rear rack, panniers, light system, my wedge mounted under the stem/handlebars so I can move my rear light higher on the seatpost, cycle computer, downtube fender mounted to the back end of my rack to keep any spray off my back, and keep one of my taillights clean. Also lots of reflective tape.


I am thinking of swapping out my stem for one that angles slightly up to get a slightly more upright position.

During late spring, summer, and early fall I mainly use my road/cyclocross bike, 2001 LeMond Poprad with slick tires and use a Timbuktu bag.

During the late fall, winter, early spring (and any really yuckie weather) I use an old MB that I've converted into a commuter bike with slick tires. It's an old GT Outpost (circa early 1990's). Put a rack and panniers on it, plus fenders front and back.

Both bikes have clipless pedals.


About the only thing I wish i could change is the drivetrain on the MB so that it had higher gearing. I have no problems riding in the highest chainring and smallest cog on flat terrain. I mostly forget about pedalling down steep hills. Unfortunately, I'm planning on using this MB until next spring, and then I'm going to build a new commuter/offroad bike from scratch. Thinking about a Seven frame.


PBW

I have two 1999 Trek 6500 Alum MTBs I use. I bought a 15" new and then picked up a second one a couple of months ago. It is a 16.5", which was left over and finally put on ebay by a Mass bike shop. Both have SKS fenders and Serfas RX seats. I also added Burley's alternate hitch/hub for pulling my dlite to work. A picture of the 15" is attached.

Heavily customised MTB -

semi-slick tyres, 28-38-48 gears, rack etc.

Richard

I very rarely commute since I have need to travel about the area during the day. Though when I do, I use the road bike. It's only 4 miles to work.

I mainly use my roadie. My MTB(s) mostly just sits in the shed gathering dust now! I rode my clunker MTB to work today though, just for something different.

My trusty steed Alphonse is a Specialized Sequoia cross bike, just put $300+ in a major overhaul (first in 12 years) and its like having a new bike again I also have an antique Bianchi San Remo road bike ('86) that I was riding quite a bit in the summer, but I broke the rear axle and decided that due to its age and parts are getting harder to find that I will reserve it for fun rides and good weather. I have been told by several bike friends that I am long over due for an upgrade. I was looking for a good sturdy commuter bike as well as a mountain bike, we have many soft pack trails around here, but they eat up the Bianchi and the specialized just doesn't have the same traction. Almost none in a couple of spots on the John Wayne trial going over the pass (Snoqualime Pass). I settled on a Bianchi Grizzly (02 model) put a down payment on it at my LBS should have it sometime after the holidaze! Since I don't single track I was looking for speed and comfort over all and strength of course I put 100 miles a week just in the commute. I have always been impressed with Bianchi comfort as well as its agility and response, a true sports car like bike!
:beer:

I've commuted with my road bike for a week or two at a time, but there's just too many curbs to hop, shortcuts through the grass and/or trails and bumps on the road. These are all aggravations on the road bike, just part of the ride on the MTB. The lift bridge grating is nightmarish at best with the road bike, barely noticable on the MTB. I don't like to walk when I'm riding!!
My commuting MTB has higher gearing, so it's work to pedal in top gear. I haven't tried my real MTB on the commute, the gearing is so low I don't think I would enjoy it.

This is an interesting post because the results are different than I thought they would be.

For me, I mostly ride a touring bike. My definition of a touring bike is a heavier duty road bike - not a 1960's English 3-speed which is an old school definition of a touring bike.

The roads around here would destroy a lightweight road bike in short order if it was used every day; especially if it was used for hauling stuff.

Most of the commuters I see still seem to be riding older bikes, but I do see more commuters decked out in tights and zipping along on nice machines.

It will be interesting to see how things pan out as this thread get more responses.

My first-line commuter is an inexpensive 1996 REI Novara Randonee steel touring bike with Avocet cross tires. Pretty bombproof. It's about time to put the fenders on (although Mother Nature is playing with us by having the temp be 75F today).

Currently riding a MTB, and will continue. Reason being I have some nasty roads, one wooden bridge, a small dirt hill, and a few curbs between home and work. Plus I don't think a road bike would accomodate studded tires in the winter, although I may be wrong. Thus, I find a MTB with a resonably tall final gear and some un-knobby tires works great!

Hopeing to pick up a new MTB this winter/spring for commuting and some weekend trail rides. Either a Kona Fire Moutain or Rocky Mountain Fusion.

I currently have a road rig.

I had a Surly Crosscheck. I sold the frameset and bought the new Surly Pacer frameset. I love the thing. Heavy for a road bike, but that's just fine with me. It can take more abuse than the typical road bike.:beer:

My main work-horse commuter is a hybrid with 1.25 slick tires, flat-bars, & 24" wheels. Good weather I ride my road bike, but it has to be dry, salt & sand have to have washed away, and the leaves can't have fallen yet. My wet, winter ride is a MTB with the option of studded tires. I have racks on the hybrid & MTB, and use a fanny pack to haul my stuff on the road bike. I carry lighting systems on all of my bikes year-round, in case I get stuck working late.

It´s a converted Cannondale M600 from -94. Most of the original parts are changed.

Anders K

My main steed for the past 5 years has been a Ribble 653 road race (british company in Ribble valley England)
Its incredibly light and when I strip it for a clean/ rebuild I am amazed it can carry my weight at all (240 Ibs) without crumpling.

I drove 240 miles in a day to pick it up and when I got there it was shocking flo pink :confused: :o
Still I could hardly return home with nothing so I bought it and its been pink ever since. Certainly no possibility of the locals missing the pink flash as I zip by.

Sadly its in a pile of bits at the moment awaiting a re-build for next spring. I love the bike but haven't thought of a name yet!?

2000 Novara Randonee steel touring bike with fenders for when it might rain, is raining, rained recently.

2001 Airborne Carpe Diem ti touring/cyclocross frame set up as a touring bike, with a chro-moly fork, for the dry days.

I'm thinking seriously about buying a road bike and keeping it rack- and fender-free, just for training rides. I'd never commute on it, though; Philadelphia's streets would eat up road tires in no time.

RichC

My new Cross Bike is my commuter now. I use to ride my beater Mtb but I hated going on the flats and not having enough gearing. I was riding my roadbike but I don't like riding it in the rain. The Cross is perfect for me now, I like the slightly wider tires and the gearing is more than enough. :)

My main commuter is a old road bike converted into a fixed gear. Very low maintenance! I use a 42x16 gear (70 inches), Conti 28c tires, SKS fenders, and Brooks leather saddle. I usually carry my stuff in a messenger bag--I used to use panniers, but converted to a messenger bag cause I can also use it like a brief case even when I don't ride in (very seldom). I guess my messenger bag has basically become my "mans purse." This also results in a light bike since I have to carry it up two flights of stairs.

Dave

My workhorse is a Giant x800. A Hybrid. Showing the devistation of 6years winter comuting and weekend shopping trolley.
I`m not complaining unduly th`o as i guess it has paid its way several times over compared to say running a car or bus/train fares over the same period.

I have a couple of road bikes that both get used for commuting. One is an old steel frame, with many new components. The other is an aluminium framed bike, bought new a couple of years ago. Both are a great ride. My justification for having two bikes is that it means I'm never left without transport. My reason for having two is that I like them ;)]

Ed

Hardtail MTB w/ 1.5" slicks. Fenders when necessary.

MTB with slicks, rack and all the rest of it. I could probably get away with a road bike (if I owned one) but I want to be able to handle all the holes that the Gold Coast City Council seem so fond of digging in roads (not to mention the popular recreational activity among rednecks of smashing glass bottles).

Touring bike, Trek 520. I started on an ancient Specialized Rockhopper, and the only thing I miss from the MTB is the extra granny for the big hills. Still, the larger gearing just means that I go faster and end up stronger for wheezing my way up the tall hills.

Since the Spec was too small, it is hard to be objective about the difference between road/touring and MTB. The biggest difference is that riding the touring bike is pain free. But I dig the drop bars, and I appreciate the slimmer tires and road gears. I seem to ride more for pleasure on the touring bike than I did on the mtb, but that is probably due to the lack of pain factor as well.

Originally posted by earleybird I love the bike but haven't thought of a name yet!?

Pinky?:D

When I can, I ride my Trek 5200. It's faster than a MTB, and I can't really stomach the incredible leg speed required to ride a fixed gear (too many hills - Both WAYS!) to work and back.

That having been said, I'm staring at my SBI FSR comp which I use during the winter. It ups my commuting time about 10 minutes, but I think it reduces the incidence of falling down stoopidly.

Gotta get my Schmidt hub dynamo up and running...need more light!

happy trails,
Tom

Main commute bike is a REI Novara Strada road bike. Bought it in May '99 and this summer REI replaced/upgraded the frame when the mysterious creak turned out to be a crack at the weld where the seatpost meets the BB. REI guarantees the frame for the life of the bike for the original owner. Since they didn't have a Strada frame in my size, they gave me a brand-new Triompho frame (Al frame with carbon stays). It's like a brand new bike. REI rules!

I wish I could afford to upgrade the drivetrain and wheels, but then it'd be too nice to ride to work and I'd have to get a beater for the commute.

Jamis Nova cyclocross bike with 28c armadillo tires, fenders, rack, and panniers. It's a tough bike, making it great for commuting, because commuting is hard on bikes.

'93 Bridgestone RB-T w/moustache h-bars (named Rocinante). Currently sporting 700x32 Avocet Cross II SLs.

I use either a Ross Mt. Bike, Old English 3-Speed (both rescued from the trash) or a 70's 10 speed I used to race on for my 20 mile round trip commute.:)

Use a late eighties Raliegh citylite, which I broke nearly every original part on, so there isn't much of the stock bike left except for the frame and a bit here and there. If the weather's nice and I don't have to be out after dark, I use one of my Peugeots, but then I take a different route to and from my "work" (hah, right) to take advantage of better streets. Longer commute on the road bike, but faster, or at least it seems that way.
Am currently rebuilding an old PX10 into a fixed gear beater, hope to have it ready by spring.

currently i use a cheap ds mtn bk for commuting. the only thing i did this summer as puslick tires and fender on it. now it sports a rack and no fnenders, the knobbies are to wide for em. shortly i intent to buy a new bike or a good used one the local bike shop has been after me for over a year to buy one of their trek navigator line, but my old clunker is lighter and less likely to get stolen, what to do what to do. i hear road bikes make good commuters, but my route takes me over sever brick streets and such so with my size strength is a must.I will keep looking and trying to decide funny how when u use a bike, a 300 dollar investement in transport is a major decision, but when u use a car the same 300 is a drop in the bucket?

Just wondering where a hybrid or comfort fits in the list.:)

I'm retired now, but when I was working I commuted by bike most of the year. My last commuter bike was a Supergo bike shop MTB frame with a Rock shocks fork, Shimano LX group, 1.5 Avocet tires, rear rack & Performance light system.
Riding to work in the dark on our city streets you couldn't miss ALL the potholes, so a mountain bike was the best choice in my mind.
gino;)

Living in rain central, I prefer to ride a beater singlespeed. It's a old 80's fuji road bike I converted. I like the low maint. of a singlespeed , even if I do have to walk one hill on the way home.

Being in the rain capital as well... I ride my trusty old 1990 Specialized Stumpjumper with full fenders ( planet bike ) and a small rack, although I use a courier bag.

I am looking into a cyclocross bike for a commuter ...something like a Surly /Gunnar/ or Soma. Any comments about them, go ahead an send them on...

thx.

Hi, Mike

I think cross bikes would make a great commuter,for the money the Surly crosscheck is pretty good. Other mid priced cross bikes ,the Jamis nova ,Fuji cross. Montlake bike I think has some left over Diamondback podiums , these are even set up for disc brakes including hubs. I'am leaning towards a cross bike,but also looking into a touring bike. With a touring bike you can carry a bigger load with more stability.[ panniers, with more heel clearance] . Like you I use a messenger bag ,but sometimes panniers would be handy. I hope this helps.

Pat

I have been using a cross bike for the last couple of months. I started a new job and because of the terrain (one serious hill) I garaged my road bike. I also like panniers as it keeps me cooler. We dont get the extreme temps that I have read about on this site.