Commuting - best hybrid bike for moderate daily commute?

Howdy,

I wonder if anyone has any recommendations for hybrid bike brands/models for me, who is:

1) *Not* a hard core biker in any sense of the word

2) Doing a 4.5 mile commute each way, mostly in bike lanes with an annoying number of potholes, branches and other unpredictable debris, often at night

Also appreciated would be any hints for accessories and tips that will "keep me from wimping out and driving" -- which for some reason is a strong temptation for me even though I live in Santa Barbara with the best weather on the planet...

edit to add: $300-600 is about my price range...

How about a Van Dessel with internal gears/brake in the rear, and disk brake in the front.
http://www.vandesselsports.com/contentbike.html
There is one up on ebay right now:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=7298&item=1986663255

Originally posted by Da Tinker
How about a Van Dessel with internal gears/brake in the rear, and disk brake in the front.
http://www.vandesselsports.com/contentbike.html
There is one up on ebay right now:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=7298&item=1986663255

I wish I would have seen that bike last week. Too late now, just dropped a few hundred on new parts for my project mtb.

My advice on a commuter? I like this bike. I wouldn't go for a one-trick pony, like a road bike. Touring, cyclocross, maybe even a mountain bike with slick tires would do just fine. Comfort and urban bikes are also worth a look.

If you plan on hauling stuff with you on your commute, you may want to consider something you can mount a rack to. Either that, or wear a backpack. Many people don't like to wear backpacks on rides since they cause the back to get real sweaty.

Good luck and most of all, have fun!

Personally I use a mountain bike with slicks and a Blackburn MTN rack mouted on the rear for my panniers. I have to say that even fully loaded I have no trouble sustaining 30km/h for the duration of the commute in normal conditions. I've also used this bike for touring and long weekend rides.

I know you posted in the intro forum you have a old bike, that you keep put off riding to school. Rather then take our opinions on what to get, why not go down to your LBS and test ride a few see what feels best to you. Then we can help you decide between the ones you like.

Went down the local bike shop (2 actually -- first one was marginal). The guy there recommended a hybrid Fuji, more on the road-bike end of the continuum rather than the mountain bike end. He's getting a bunch in on Tuesday so I will able to try one out of the appropriate size.

Anyone had any experience (good/bad) with this brand? ~$600 sounded like the price.

BTW there are some hills etc. on the trip so beachcruisers probably won't work.

I've done the sweaty-back backpack routine alot, definitely a rack and/or bags is a must, preferably waterproof for the wet days (unlike my backpack...)

oplopanax

PS: This is proving to be a handy forum!

:beer:

I have a Specialized Sirrus Pro which I love. The Sirrus cost me $1200. Specialized makes lower price Sirrus models that may be more to your liking; 32+mm tires and heavier rims. I think the lowest priced one goes for about $550. My bike came with Ritchey OCR rims and 23mm tires.

As others said, try a few at LBSs to see which ones you like. You are not doing a very long distance that warrants efficiency at all cost, but your ride still is long enough that you need something that fits you.

Rather than a specific type of bike, look for the following features:

- Handlebars: do you want road type or straight handlebars? Road type offer more positions and are interesting if you have a windy ride. But many people prefer straight bars for commutes. If you want straight ones, there should be more inferesting hybrids in your price rance.

- Tires. Unless you ride in snow or mud, use high pressure slicks (i.e. no sculptures). Most shops will swap tires at purchase if, for example, the bike you like comes with knobby tires.
However, make sure the bike you get can use at least 700x32 (front) and 700x35 (rear) with fenders. Or make sure you can fit 26" x 1.75" tires with fenders.
On my commuter, I find I'm OK with 700x30; I might prefer 700x28 front and 700x32 rear. On my tourer, I have 700x32 and 700x37. The perfect tire size depends on the number of potholes, your preference for comfort vs speed, and your weight (a 90 lb woman will need narrower tires than a 250 lb man).

- Brakes. All modern brakes are good at the job. However, it's unlikely that sidepull brakes (also called caliper brakes) will have enough room for wide tires and fenders. So you are likely to have cantilever brakes or v-brakes.

- Fenders. That will be extra, alas. Insist on full fenders and add a long mudflap to them. Unless you never ride in rain (that could be possible in California, they will keep you and your bike dry and clean.

- Rear rack. Also extra. Make sure the bike you get has eyelets near the front and rear wheels. That's for racks and fenders.

- Lights and reflectors. Get decent lighting (see other threads), and add a large automotive (SAE) amber reflector at the rear, which is legal almost everywhere if it is added to a red one. That's a whopping $2 surcharge at an auto parts store.

Regards,

Fuji makes some nice bikes...

Go for a good set of panniers, especialy if you don't like the sweaty back. If you do a search for panniers here there has been quite a few discussions on which is best etc..

Originally posted by oplopanax

I've done the sweaty-back backpack routine alot, definitely a rack and/or bags is a must, preferably waterproof for the wet days (unlike my backpack...)

As someone who has had to contend with tropical downpours/flash floods in the past, I am rather skeptical about "waterproof" claims made by certain panniers. For this sort of protection you are better off using plastic bags to line the inside of your panniers to protect the contents from the inevitable seepage.

Are you going to want to do other sort of riding, cause here's my .02, if you are interested in any other sort of riding, get a used bike you'll commute on and then spend the big bucks on a bike you'll recreate on. I've tried to ride recreationally on my commuter, and it sucks, one the bike isn't set up for it, and second it's my "work" bike, I can't go to the coffee shop on my work bike, just as I can't ride my play bikes to work, I spend all day wanting to go ride, or cleaning and polishing the damn thing.
My favorite commuter was an old Bianci Boardwalk. It was a cross bike, and was a champ. I out fitted it with a rack, and then put on semi slicks as the trails I road weren't always paved. I was doing 30 miles a day on it. It finally bit it when I over loaded the rear rack grabed the fram wrong and broke the seat stays at the seat post. I cried. I enjoyed the hell out of that bike, I even did a century on it, just to do one.
There are other things to consider too, like going clipless or toe cages, and what sort of brakes you'll be using, a cross bike will allow you all sorts of options you don't have with a road bike. My present one is a Gary Fisher, I like it because I can put on big honking knobbies (700/47) and cut through the snow effortlessly. And above all GET FENDERS, it just saves you headches int he long run.

Currently commuting on a mtn bike w/ slicks ( '90 Stumpjumper w/ 1.5" Nimbus EX slicks ) I do have a problem with panniers on my rack and my heels hitting them. So if you want to go the mtn route do check them out w/ rack and panniers...

I saw a perfect short-range commuter bike yesterday, a Trek model 6045

http://www.trekbike.co.uk/bikes/city_&_path/cruiser/6045.php

I was so surprised to see Trek make this type of bike, a lightweight, high performance utility bike with 7speed internal hub gears. This is the kind of rig that hardcore all-weather city riders sometimes build up for themselves.