Commuting - 925 vs. One Way for Short Haul Commuting

I'm looking for a simple solid single speed for a funky commute a couple days/week (two miles to a commuter boat, disembark downtown, and 1.5 -2 miles to the office on the other end) and general messing around with my kids, beer runs, around town fun.

I've got one hill to deal with just before I get home - otherwise, all pretty much flat. I'm pretty much set on single speed for ease of maintenance, simplicity, and spiritual reasons.

My choices are pretty much narrowed down to the Redline 925 or the Raleigh One Way. Anyone have any strong feelings on which presents better value etc.? I'm not a big fan of drop bars as I have MTB background, so the drops would come off the One Way. Would have to live with the moustache bars on the 925 for a while to see if they work for me or not.

Otherwise, research hasn;t turned up a whole lot of definitive "this is better than that."

They're both decent bikes. You could also try an IRO Rob Roy (http://www.irofixedgear.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=12). I have mine set up with a flat bar, and it handles like every 73/73 frame I've ever thrown a leg over. If you can, test ride before you buy, or compare the geometry to a bike that you already know the fit for. There's this thread as well: http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=209116.

Sounds very similar to my commute.

You don't happen to live on the South Shore of Boston do you?

Anyway - I'm commuting on a Swift folder single speed/fixed. I've slowly been replacing any steel bits that are showing rust from the boat ride to aluminum or stainless steel. The folding aspect of the bike will also allow for use on the commuter rail during rush hour.

Yup. Hingham.

Did Hingham to Back Bay via boat for 3 years and it was totally untenable. Go to No. Station now which is more reasonable - but I still wind up driving 90% of the time because it's faster. A bike would chop 20 minutes off the trip via boat and make it pretty nice and competitive with driving for time.

If it turns out we know each other, don't tell anyone I'm wasting billable time trying to find a commuter bike online . . .

Consider the Bianchi San Jose. I plan on getting one in the next year for an easy 2 mile commute and fun on the weekends.

I think either bike will work for you. I ride a 925 and like the mustache bars, especially for climbing. Both bikes are geared the same and should require about the same effort. The 925 may have a tighter geometry for quicker handling. Actually, for your short hops almost any bike would work. Maybe the 925 or One Way will tempt you to stretch out your rides.

The One Way comes with 35mm wide tires. Not sure about the Redline, but the one I saw looked like it had skinnier tires than that. For a short commute, I'd go for the wider tires (if indeed there is a difference).

Edit: The 9-2-5 comes with 30mm tires. Choose based on the tire width you want and the frames' capability to fit the tires you prefer.

My 925 was delivered with 28s. And I agree with the idea of choosing the bike based on the tires you want to mount because that would also depend on what kind of surfaces you'd ride it on. I think the 925 was designed for the street. The San Jose has been described as a SS cyclocross bike, and the One Way is it's close cousin. If I was choosing just one bike, the SJ and OW would give you more versatility and would be my choice. Between those two models, because they seem so similar to me, I'd make my choice based on the dealer and the price.

I think either bike will work for you. I ride a 925 and like the mustache bars, especially for climbing. Both bikes are geared the same and should require about the same effort. The 925 may have a tighter geometry for quicker handling. Actually, for your short hops almost any bike would work. Maybe the 925 or One Way will tempt you to stretch out your rides.
Hey how long have you had your redline? Are there any real cons you could think of. I rode one on friday and loved it but the shop tempted me with surly steamroller complete. I like the surly but don't know if I can drop the cash for that right now and really want o have a fixed around soon than later. How long is your commute?

toughy, I've ridden the 925 for about a year. I live across the street from my job so don't have much of a commute, but I regularly ride it 20-30 miles for whatever errand I can invent and I rode it 90 miles through the country this last Saturday. For riding in the city, what I do most, it's my favorite. The only thing I haven't enjoyed about it was changing a flat on the rear wheel. It was made easier by loosening the rear fender struts to provide more clearance. I can't think of any other negatives. I changed the seat for a Brooks B17 and added aero bars under the moustache bars, but ride it stock other than that.

I would go with whichever shop is closer/better. I think a One Way is in my future in large part because the shop which sells them is a good one.

toughy, I've ridden the 925 for about a year. I live across the street from my job so don't have much of a commute, but I regularly ride it 20-30 miles for whatever errand I can invent and I rode it 90 miles through the country this last Saturday. For riding in the city, what I do most, it's my favorite. The only thing I haven't enjoyed about it was changing a flat on the rear wheel. It was made easier by loosening the rear fender struts to provide more clearance. I can't think of any other negatives. I changed the seat for a Brooks B17 and added aero bars under the moustache bars, but ride it stock other than that.
Hey thanks, man I am so torn. the 925 is sharp and the right price, but for a couple hundred bucks more I could go witht the Surly but i would have to wait to get one as they are sold out of my size at the moment. This is gonna take some thinking.

I'd wait a little, toughy, for the bike you really want, thinking you might keep it longer and ride it more.

I recently bought a 925 as my first decent (aka non-xmart mtn bike) bike. I've been commuting ~20 miles per day round trip and I really love the bike. It took me a few rides to get used to the moustache bars and find all the best hand positions, but now I really like them. I was torn between this and the one-way as well, but I couldn't find a reason to justify the extra cost of the one-way. I always ride fixie but I'm sure the SS side is nice too. I have a few decent hills up and down and I haven't had any problem on the 925. The only thing I don't like about it is that you really have to take the front fender off to get it in a car since the moustache bars are pretty wide.

Yup. Hingham.

Did Hingham to Back Bay via boat for 3 years and it was totally untenable. Go to No. Station now which is more reasonable - but I still wind up driving 90% of the time because it's faster. A bike would chop 20 minutes off the trip via boat and make it pretty nice and competitive with driving for time.

If it turns out we know each other, don't tell anyone I'm wasting billable time trying to find a commuter bike online . . .

I'm usually on the 650 or 715 Hingham boat in the morning and the 5 or 520 going home. I typically ride a black swift folder. If you are on the boat and would like to take it for a spin, give me a holler.

I live 5 miles to the boat. I often drive to the dock, unfold the bike, and then ride from rowes wharf to Cambridge (about 3 miles). This is actually the fastest way to get from Hingham to Cambridge (55-65 minutes depending on how fast I feel like riding though the Financial district).

Cool. I live close enough to the boat that riding on boths end of the trip is feasible. I'll look for the black folder, though when I'm usually on later boats on both ends of the day.

I've got one pretty steep hill on the way home - my big query is whether that would defeat using a single speed. Otherwise, single speed seems like the way to go fo rmy purposes.

I had the same choice and ended up going with the Raleigh Rush Hour which has a bit more demanding gearing (48t vs. 42t for the cog) and no fenders. I just wanted something as minimal as possible for as little fuss as possible. The one modification I did was to get rid of the drops and add bullhorns, I just never was comfortable using drops. I've had it for over a year and I still love it. Easy to take care of, very light, and no fuss. Either way you go I think you'll be happy.

As far as hills... its a bit of a challenge at first but with a little effort I don't see it as something that's going to be a real pain in the butt. The worst thing that's going to happen is that you'll need to get off and walk over the hardest part of the hill until you build your strength up.

I'll make another pitch for the San Jose. I've been using one for a couple of months, now, and really love it-- I do a daily 18-mile round-trip commute. Before I bought it, I was looking at the One Way (which does have some compelling features) but the frame doesn't come in a large enough size for me. Also, I prefer the geometry and taller stem of the San Jose: its geometry is really zippy and nimble, and the variable-width tubing makes for a really supple, responsive ride. It'd be nice if it came with fenders, like the One Way...but we've been lucky with some reasonably dry weather the last couple of weeks, so I haven't needed to put any on, yet. It's a great bike, and I'd buy it again...but the Raleigh looks nice, too.

The San Jose is nice, but it's much higher priced than the other 2.

The 925 comes with caliper brakes which limit the size of the tire, but that may not be an issue for you. Both have fenders and rack mounts. I would check out both and buy what fits you best.

The San Jose is nice, but it's much higher priced than the other 2.

Is it? I thought they were about the same...I got mine for $560. I've seen the 925 for about $500 at most places, but most listings for the One Way I've seen have it in the mid-$600's. If these prices are right, the San Jose fits right in the middle. Of course, the others come with fenders, which is a $50 feature the Bianchi lacks, and the San Jose saddle is real garbage. I don't know how the saddles on the other bikes compare, but they'd be hard-pressed to be worse.

Maybe I was thinking of the Volpe, which is ~$900. The fenders are SKS knockoffs, so probably more like $20.

Maybe I was thinking of the Volpe, which is ~$900. The fenders are SKS knockoffs, so probably more like $20.

I think that the two use the same basic frame, with some braze-on additions with the Volpe.