Commuting - What type of bike do you commute on?

I recently started commuting 4 days a week on my MTB. I'm just curious as to what type of bike others use to commute, and if the choice is influenced by racing.

The only reason I use a Mtn bike is because I happen to have an old beater Mtn. bike, if $ were no object I would have a brand new cross bike w/disc brakes to commute on.

European city bike. Not influenced by racing.

:)

Paul

MTB this time of year and all winter, then road bike on nice days in spring summer and fall. Also depending on amount of stuff I have to take to work, with the road bike I carry a sports bag on my back, gets uncomfortable if it's too lumpy or too heavy.
I'm going to try for 2 MTB's this winter, the old trusty Norco with fenders and slicks and another trusty older Norco with fenders and knobbys/studded tires for the snowy days.

i use the MTB (cheap as hardtail) to commute to school. it's only 3km so the 20+kg beast doesnt wear me out. the bolt on wheels are good because when bikes get stolen (and it happens at least once a month at my school) they steal the quick release bikes first. sometimes take the front wheel, sometimes leave it. when i commute into the CBD (20km) I take the road bike, but I don't go that way often.

Mountain bike when it snows, cyclocross bike all other times.

'96 Specialized Hardrock GX Sport with rack and full fenders. Got it cheap and am not afraid to run it in the snow and much of the winter.

MTB. I have to deal with Queensland "roads" and a council that seems to enjoy digging unnecessary holes in those "roads".

MTB with mud guards for winter and a road bike the rest of the time. The MTB is too slow and heavy for the 40km ride. The road bike lets my legs recover quicker for the next day.

CHEERS.

Mark

MTB for the bike that sits in the sun all of the time (or in the rain)...

Here is link to a set of pics showing the lighting system (and the car horn)...
http://www.cyclemobility.org/CMFiles/nightriding.html

The components were upgraded to LX 9-speed

MTB here because I commute mostly off-road trails and the go-anywhere nature of the MTB, which in NJ is very handy at times...

Jay

Hybird here, since I found it at a bargain price a few years back. Gives me reasonabe pedalling efficiency but is burly enough to cope with the bad Brisbane roads I used to commute on, and some of the shocking Denver roads I commute on now.

A hybrid Univega "Via Montega" '95, originally 700x35C but swapped to 700x25Cs, Terry Liberator seat, clipless pedals and a K2 shock seat tube; but waiting to order the Armadillos 'cause skinny tires gave too many flats.

Right now, I'm itching to upgrade to a Bianchi: Vigorelli, Imola or Eros are in my mind, will decide by New Year's.

Corsaire :)

MTB for this week, but come Dec. I am going to sale the MTB for a cyclocross bike, I am interested in race some next season, so I figure this is a good way to get a cross bike

Aluminum road touring frame built in 1984 with rear rack and pannier. Road tires.

track bike

Old K2 hardtail with rear rack, panniers, and once in a while the trailer.

A Mango velomobile (see my signature line for link).

Thanks for all the responses guys! Gave em a read through while cooling down from my ride in this morning!

Trek 6500 MTB with fenders.

Sometimes I use my Trek 520 tourer.

'96 Marin Stinson with 700c wheels, rack,fenders, and panniers.

Old, steel, light-tourer (possibly Orbea), fully dressed for winter riding.

I use two bikes. A 16 inch wheel Dahon Piccolo for 6 blocks to the train. This bike is great for short commutes since there is nothing on the bike worth stealing unless you have another 16 inch Dahon.

When I get off the train, I ride a cheap toy store bike (Paicfic MTB) from Toys R US. I ride this heavy junk bike for 1.2 miles to work. The MTB has lived on the streets of Manhattan 24/7 now for six months and is practically theft proof in the stolen bike capital of the world

Specialized Festina SL.

Full-out road bike - no compromises, no luggage. I commute 3 or 4 times a week and carry changes of clothes and laundry the other days.

Mostly a converted fixed gear on a road frame. It's my all purpose bike. On nice weather days, when I want to ride long, I ride my Lemond poprad. Foul weather, I ride my MTB.

I like 'em all...

fast Trek road bike (2100). Maybe cheap hybrid if the weather gets too bad.

Early 80s road bike converted to fixed.

I have 12, all road bikes except 1 mountain bike. Main Rain bike is a Centurion ProTour 18, backed up by a Centurion Lemans, Schwinn World Sport & Spaulding MTN Bike. In better weather, a Motobecane Grand Tour, Centurion/Gitane, Nashbar Sport RX, a restored Raleigh Super Course, Specialized Expedition Touring all above have fenders/racks/straps. In better weather a Miyata 710, Motobecane Grand Jubilee & a Bianchi Trofeo. All 3 fenderless & sunny weather rides only! With so many, if there is an unexpected problem, I just hop on another & go on my way to work. Don

I commute on a fixed gear bike - a Bianchi Pista. Best commuter I've used. It was hard to select the "hybrid/other" section in the poll.

I ride a -94 Cannondale M600 MTB converted for road use.

I ride an "adventure touring" bike (or trekking bike as they are known in Europe) the Novara Safari (http://www.rei.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?storeId=8000&catalogId=40000008000&productId=47677190&parent_category_rn=4500921) (mine is the '03 model which is very similar) I think that this is an ideal commuting bike, in that it works year round with no suffrage from the rain/snow what have you. It can carry as much as you can throw at it, has braze ons aplenty for racks, fenders etc. and is a sturdy and comfortable ride. No problem going off road, or rough roads and well I'm not getting commission from REI, so I'll stop here. :D

You forgot SS/fixie! :mad: Typical! ;)

I used to use an old mtb with fenders everyday. Now, I use an old stripped down road bike, now single speed, for a light, fast, fuss free commute. I still use the mtb for rain and snow.

I commute on a beater road bike built sometime in the 80s, I think. It is an SR Pro Am. SR was a Japanese components manufacturer that merged with Suntour back in day, and beyond that I don't really know anything about it. I've never been able to find information about any frames built by SR, and I think this one is part of a limited run or something. The frame has no rear rack eyelets (the frame says "racing" on it", maybe that's why) so I use a seatpost-mounted rack, which is really annoying. I picked up this bike especially for commuting in San Diego, and it's old looking and no one gives it a second glance. That's cool, because I actually like it a lot and have a great time riding it. The only things I changed were the tires (I put on Vittoria Techno Sport TT Kevlar, LBS recommendation), the bar tape, and I put on the rack. It's a perfect beater bike, because it rides great, no one will steal it (cross fingers), and it cost me $60 from a collector.

When I ride to work, it's on a Trek 420 road bike. It's a mid 90s steel touring type frame, that I converted from down tube shifting to Sora 7 speed for easier use in quickly changing traffic conditions. The Sora is also easier to use than STI with my thick Thinsulate gloves.

I tend to go with the UO-10, because it cost thirty-five bucks and rides nice. It's equiped with a rack, and I've started using it to haul my trailer, which I just got. I feel okay locking it up if need be.

The PX10E sees some use, because I like riding the fixie.

The PF10, also known as the "Frankenbike" because it's slapped together from a mix of components, little of which is original, is starting to see duty as well. It's geared with a tight little corncob of a seven speed freehub, which is great around here.

The PK is reserved for nice days, and I'm still piddling around on the Surly. The PX10 from 72 is waiting for the spring, as I'm puttering about on it as well.

i commute fixed gear, b/c i know better.

I commute on an old MTB - 1987 Diamond Back Apex, hardtail, rigid fork. I built up a pair of wheels for road use (26x1.4" slicks and 13-21 cassette) and use those for most of the year. In winter, I change my off-road wheels over to studded knobbies and commute on those.

I use my new Raleigh C700 hybrid most of the time, and my Trek 8500 LT when it snows. They are the only bikes I have at the time, so my options are limited.

I was wondering though, I work at a bike shop, and I can order another bike this spring. Would a Trek XO1 make a good commuter? I'm thinking of getting that, and would like to know what you all think.

I commute on a fixie... :)

:( I only have one bike which is a road bike.So that leaves me with one choice road bike fun for down hill....

REI Novara roadie. It's fast and light but reliable. I wish I could find some fenders for it, especially for days like today. I know my feet will be soaked and my back striped by the time I get home.

Early 80's Bianchi road bike. I have a Jamis hybrid which I've used for commuting from time to time. I recently picked up a 1987 Peugeot Iseran at a thrift store for thirty bucks, and It may wind up in the commute rotation also.

I built my "nashbar special" from the steel, hardtail frames they're selling for about $50. I used old: cranks, derailleurs, stem, front wheel, and bar ends. The rest was inexpensive stuff from pricepoint and nashbar. The whole bike came in a less than $500-so I can't cry too much if someone cuts the lock and steels it. It's a 27 speed with Kenda Korba semi-slicks for lower rolling resistance but retains decent grip on unpaved trails. I actually used it to ride the entire 185 miles of the C&O Canal last spring-it held up great. I put a front fender on it, rear rack, and head and tail lights. It's also the only bike I own with a computer so I can track my commuting miles. It's comfortable and reliable (if not super fast) and had been a great commuter. Plus, it doesn't look like much so it doesn't draw much attention from thieves.

a 20$ (canadian) 18-speed road bike with fenders, that i got (minus fenders and drop bars) at salvation army.

Bianchi Strada, self built from a 2001 frame.
http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=8515&stc=1

A recumbent, which I'm a little surprised not to see listed as an option.

I *may* commute tomorrow on a Hurcules 3-speed (1966 by Raleigh) that found me. Depends if the new tube holds air.

I commute on a Franken-bike. Old Austro-daimler road frame converted to upright with parts (handlebar and seat) from a Kronan, a stem from some bike I found next to a dumpster, rubber block pedals on ISIS Truvativ cranks. Its a single speed and my short 2.3 mile one way commute is absolutely killing it... I rattle over these roads so much I've had to replace screws that have rattled right out... and I think the rear wheel needs to be seriously overhauled and its only been four weeks! Speaking of which, I need to band-aid it now before I go to work. I'm very slowly getting together an internal geared drop bar'ed mountain bike frame for commuting, but I'm waiting for the Nexus 8 to be available! :beer:

Hi,
I will let you know when I figure it out.
I had one bike in 2003. But I picked up a 20 year old Fuji Ultralite touring bike to use on my trainer. When I test rode it, I liked the ride. So I built it up so I could use it as a commuter, but I haven't had a chance to try it yet. Put on new, wider drop bars, NOS Durace brake levers, and converted it to bar ends. Spent more on the upgrades than the bike cost. I am also in deep lust over a Gunnar Sport, which could also wind up doing some commuting. Lovely dilemma.

'00 IF Club Racer. Only bike I own (right now).

Got it partly through an insurance claim.

I told the LBS, here's what I can spend, and mostly I commute.

They said, here's what you need.

We're talking High Performance Luxury Ride.