Commuting - Trek Lime or Raleigh Coasting?

has anyone ridden one of these? either? what do you think? these automatic shifting three speed internal hubs bikes have me intrigued.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v248/mozartman/treklime.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v248/mozartman/raleigh-coasting-men.jpg

I hopped on a Trek lime at the trek store before one of my monday night rides. Opinion: Good for recreational tooling around on a nice day. Would be completely impractical for a commuter. The computerized stuff would have me worried about riding it in the rain, too.

hm interesting. it looks like the handlebars are hinged somehow to adjust them?? the raleigh they advertise as having a rack (front) that will "hold a six-pack" LOL. from the looks of it you'd have to strap it on, though.

They're just adjustable stems.

The Raleigh looks cool.

Haven't ridden one yet, but I've seen quite a few around town, and have talked to a couple of people who bought one. They all love how they ride. I find the Raleighs (and the Giants) far more aesthetically pleasing than the Treks. I'm not in the market for one, but I'd more than likely get the Raleigh.

For your reference, here is the Giant:

http://www.giant-bicycles.com/_upload_us/bikes/models/zooms/2007_spring/Suede_Coasting_DX_Black_Bag.jpg

Does the Trek play mp3's?

This is from an article on the "coasting" bikes...


"Sheldon Brown, technical manager at Harris Cyclery, in West Newton, Massachusetts, a self-described Shimano fan who nevertheless calls Coasting "a wrong-headed exercise in form over function." His objection: "Making the bike look simple is not the same as making it be simple. The hubcaps over the wheels cover up the stuff you need to get at to fix a flat tire." He also points out that in hilly terrain, like that of suburban Boston, coaster brakes can be a challenge in stop-and-go traffic."

Haven't ridden one yet, but I've seen quite a few around town, and have talked to a couple of people who bought one. They all love how they ride. I find the Raleighs (and the Giants) far more aesthetically pleasing than the Treks. I'm not in the market for one, but I'd more than likely get the Raleigh.

I was thinking the same. the trek is not exactly eye candy to me. I think it's exciting that Giant is putting racks and panniers on theirs, and a light.

This is from an article on the "coasting" bikes...


"Sheldon Brown, technical manager at Harris Cyclery, in West Newton, Massachusetts, a self-described Shimano fan who nevertheless calls Coasting "a wrong-headed exercise in form over function." His objection: "Making the bike look simple is not the same as making it be simple. The hubcaps over the wheels cover up the stuff you need to get at to fix a flat tire." He also points out that in hilly terrain, like that of suburban Boston, coaster brakes can be a challenge in stop-and-go traffic."

Yeah, but all three models have coaster brakes and all three use hubcaps.

That's what I'm saying ... Sheldon's not a big fan of these.

Sorry---I thought you were implying one was worse because sheldon didn't like it.

I don't really go for any either. I don't understand the fulll coverage chainguard--my Dutch commuting bike used to be my everyday until it snapped a chain link and then took me a month to get around to removing the chainguard. I like the look but it's hardly practical.

What was wrong with the Shimano Nexus 3 speed hub? Was it too hard to learn how to shift a 3 speed?

Regardless, I like these bikes and Ellen gave a who bunch of them on her show! I would still want a front brake because my coaster brake Dahon Presto would be very dangerous to ride without one. You would have to ride with clipless pedals with no front brake.

Hubcaps?

Spinners FTW !!

Looking at the pictures, the Trek model should have come with a spring saddle because of the seating position and geometry of the bike. If you buy that bike, replace the saddle with a Brooks Champion flyer or a good suspension seat post. The other models were built with a spring saddle and are fine.