Commuting - Commuter/touring dream bikes

Was in the LBS last Friday, picking up the Nokians I'd ordered. I also picked up a new Trek fleece riding shirt, really warm. So, I've been to a couple sights and have seen some information about various bikes for commuting and touring, and have been having a tough time finding a geometry that I am comfortable with. The closest I've come for the commute is the current ride, an old Schwinn steel, a little more relaxed triangle, and all that. But one of sites on the WWW mentioned Co-Motion bikes. My LBS carries them. Sweet bikes! The LBS guy also recommended a Burley, a bit cheaper.

I would really like to get a brand new bike, one that will do what I ask of it and keep coming back for more. I want something to do a big tour on, like the four corners of the US, and Paris-Brest-Paris in 07. I look at the price tag on the Co-Motion, and figure it would, hopefully, be the last bike I ever buy. I would be commited to commuting then. Although there is also this thought that I'd get a bike like that and not ride it, because of the price tag.

What dream bike would you get? If it was to be the last bike you buy for commuting/touring.

Rivendell Atlantis (http://rivendellbicycles.com/html/bikes_atlantisframes.html) for me. Or since we are fantasizing here, perhaps a full custom Rivendell (http://rivendellbicycles.com/html/bikes_rivendellframes.html) tourer (with that sweet Sage paintjob)

I'd go for one of the Utopia bikes with a Rohloff 14 speed, front and rear disk brakes, and a dynohub. I'd probably go for the WanderDohle:

http://www.utopia-fahrrad.de/WanderDohle.html

Paul

Rivendell full touring for me. I love mine...wouldn't have any other after the enjoyment I have had with this one.

My dream bike for touring would have to be the Rivendell. It's artistic, well made and simple in function.

The Rivendell Romulus I just bought. Gorgeous bike; lightweight, lugged steel frame; relaxed geometry; correct size (for a change). Large frame allows drop handlebars to be raised to a comfortable height (for a change). Affordable. Check it out (www.rivbike.com).

The Rivendell Romulus I just bought. Gorgeous bike; lightweight, lugged steel frame; relaxed geometry; correct size (for a change). Large frame allows drop handlebars to be raised to a comfortable height (for a change). Affordable. Check it out (www.rivbike.com).

Hi, is the Romulus's chainstay long enough to take rear panniers while avoiding heel strikes?

regards,
-j

I have had several touring bikes, but my favorite is my 1984 Specialized Expedition: Lugged steel frame, perfect fit, a real easy rider but if I was to buy another now it would probably be one of the Rivendale models. The only drawback to the Expedition is its still so pretty I'm reluctant to ride it much in the Winter rain & grit. Instead I commute nearly every day on a Centurion Pro Tour 15 which is of the same vintage but has the advantage of a chrome plated frame under its paint & thousands more miles on it. Don

I am buying the Giant OCR Touring, because of the disc brakes. One note, I am going to change the 12-25 to 12-32 and the 30-42-52 to 24-34-48, which is the only drawback that I see on the bicycle.

I guess my ultimate commuter would be something light, tough and rust-proof. Maybe an unpainted Ti touring frame. I just wonder if you can use Ti for horizontal dropouts, beacuse I would have to fit a Rohloff 14spd rear hub.
In the meantime, my Bob Jackson stays inside , whilst the old Orbea takes a daily dose of wet grime and potholes.

My dream commuter bike would come in 2 versions. My fair weather bike would be an Independent Fabrications Steel Club Racer. Campy Chrous double crank with a rear 13-29 cassette. Add on narrow SKS fenders, a rear rack, and large trunk bag. Sweet and Smooth, Steel is Real. My foul weather commuter would be a titanium Airborne Carpe Diem set up with cyclocross specifications including tires. It would also need a nice lighting system. It would hard to ride such a nice bike in the snow, grit and grim, but this is dreaming.

Have to be a Roberts custom built for me.

How much these bike run for? Any idea on:

Surly "Pacer"
Co-Motion "Northener" (?)

They look sweet and practical all around
Corsaire

I'd have to go with a Vanilla Bike

http://www.vanillabicycles.com/

This local guy in portland is making great looking commuters/touriers. I have heard that he is booked solid for a while. It's great to buy local and support local craftspeople.

I am in the process of having my dream bike made for me currently...

A Thorn eXp... you can see one HERE (http://www.sjscycles.com/thorn/26solobrochure2002/solop8.asp)

how much does the thorn eXp go for? really nice bike!

How much these bike run for? Any idea on:
Corsaire

The Giant OCR Touring is $1200

Hi Tea...

Is the Thorn only available in England? or is there a US Importer that you can get one from?

How much these bike run for? Any idea on:
Corsaire

Actually I was refering to the C-Motion and Surly bikes....How much?
Corsaire

If I had to chose one bike only for commuting, assuming price isn't an issue, I'd probably go with the Airborne carpe diem (www.airborne.net) as far as production bikes go. For commuting, it's just about perfect. It's light weight (ti-frame) versatile, stable, comfortable, and very fast. It's not the best option for overall touring because, the chainstays are too short, but very daily commuting you generally don't carry that much stuff (at least I don't).

A true touring bike is probably the best overall option if you only want one machine (it's extremely durable, comfortable, and versatile), but touring bikes tend to be sluggish. One exception to this is the Heron touring bike (http://www.heronbicycles.com/) or the Rivendell Atlantis (http://www.rivendellbicycles.com/). Both these bike are similar, general purpose machines that can be used for touring. Very nice bikes, but for me the Airborne Carpe Diem is a better value because it has a nice ti frame, and with similar components it will cost about the same as the lugged steel frames of the Atlantis of Heron Touring.

If cost is no object, I personally would get a custom made ti frame. If you are willing to spend well over $3K, you'll get a bike that spec'd exactly to your physical proportion (both in terms of frame and components). Here in Seattle, Davidson bicycles (http://www.davidsonbicycles.com/html/home.shtml) has an excellent rep, but there are probably good custom builders in just about any city. Personally, I just can't justify spending more than about $1500 for a bike, but that's just me.

"how much does the thorn eXp go for? really nice bike!"

"Hi Tea...

Is the Thorn only available in England? or is there a US Importer that you can get one from?'

Mine will run around $3,100.00 once she's finished. Thorn's are available anywhere in the world that has a shipping address! :) Yes, they are made in the UK but they ship worldwide. Great bike, great company!!

In the Touring area here at the forum you can find a couple threads on the 'birth' of my eXp w/pictures. The company is fantastic-besides the quality of the bike they're building me, they regularly send my pics of her as she gets ready to ship across the pond!!

Hi,
I like my Carpe Diem, but my size 11 feet just barely clear medium sized panniers. If they shift a bit (which can happen) my heels rub. There are a number of options in custom steel. Waterford makes a nice touring bike; but it's slow. Their 'extended' ride model would be a better choice if you're not crossing the continent. A custom Ti bike is another possibility. Seven has an awesome reputation, and a fearsome price. I think Habanero does custom Ti for half their price. But the question was which dream bike. I would go with a top Ti campany that makes cutom frames.
Seven fits that bill, and they're close enough I could drive to the company to talk to them. I like that idea. It might be a fantasy, but I'd like to have them take the measurements; and then talk about what I want it to do over a cup of good coffee. Sounds like I ought to go to Italy for my bike, doesn't it? After it was done, I could get to know it on a long cruise through Tuscany. Yeah, that's the ticket.

Define dream commuter? Is this a bike that I would be afraid to crash or have stolen because it would be expensive to replace?

How about an old steel touring bike converted to an internal hub 7 speed with 700x35 tires, full fenders, and front and back racks.

Thorn have a new dream commuter bike, made of lightweight steel, and built for the Rohloff 14spd hub gear (I think on 26" MTB rims).
The dropouts are near vertical for easy and secure wheel changing, and chain tension is achieved by using a tandem style adjustable bottom bracket. Its a neat, simple and reliable solution. I want one.

Thorn have a new dream commuter bike, made of lightweight steel, and built for the Rohloff 14spd hub gear (I think on 26" MTB rims).
The dropouts are near vertical for easy and secure wheel changing, and chain tension is achieved by using a tandem style adjustable bottom bracket. Its a neat, simple and reliable solution. I want one.


That does sound about ideal. Wow! Now how much is it and where do you get one? Is the 14 speed hub very heavy?

26" mountain bike tires would be even better than 700c since you can get pretty much anything even studded.

*Homer Simpson voice* Mmmmmm Rohloff.....

On a Ti frame with SON Dynohub (disk) rear would be a Rohloff Hub brake. Brooks B17 saddle...

Is that coffee I can smell? lol

I'm sort of looking at one of these bikes as a commuter-- price seems OK, I like the idea of a flat bar road bike-- not sure about the components on this. It does have fender and rear rack mounts and comes with 700x28 tires-- with any luck it might even take slightly bigger tires. Dunno. Anyone, anyone, Bueller?

What do you think?

http://bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/cafe_latte.htm

Compo seems a bit 'dodgy'. I bet you could pick up a 2001 quality frame for next to nothing (I mean, who cares what age the frame is as long as it wasnt made so long ago that its wrought iron :) ) and then get your LBS to put it together with better parts on it (if, of course, you can't do it yourself) Most likely you would get some discount on a big order of parts and get the warranty and tune ups from them.

I just upgraded my commuter and I can't tell you how happy I am with the result. People said that I could have bought another bike for the cost but then I would have had 2 bikes with crappy components on them....


Top and bottom, only rarely do you not get what you pay for (Bargain sale)

Tiagra or better still, a SRAM 7 or Shimano 7 (or is it 8?) hub gear and brake combo cuts out the messing around with components and keeps it simple (as it should be) on a commuter.

My choiice current is the Airborne Carpe-diem too.

BTW you can get a custom Ti Carpe-diem frame for $400 more. I'm even getting them to change cable routing and add down-tube-shifter mounts!!!

Also on the heel-rub issue in general. Its the rack mon!

My beater-commuter (most of the bikes mentioned above would not do well baking in the Florida sun and rain) is a cheapo mountain bike (well cheapo with LX components)... OK to the point. It only has 42.5cm stays and a 175 crank. I'm a US10 and I get no rub with big bags... Why? Jandd-Expedition rack!

It is a long wide rack that provides pelnty of extra length (it is like 3 inches longer than other racks and is 2 inches wider)... This beast is designed to carry a lot and because it is 3 inches longer simply push the bags back... No kickin' them bags!

I'd bet if my litespeed with 40cm stays had rack mounts I'd still be able to put large bags on with this rack!!!

Note: the wider rack is better for larger top-bags...

Also this rack has extra rear-ward arms to keep large bags from turning into the spokes!!!!

Read these comments:
http://www.mindless.ca/triplogs/gear/rearrack.html

Therefore in conclusion... Any bike with proper fittings for fenders and racks is probably a good touring bike... Just depends on how much $$$ you want to spend... Which determines things like weight, performance, lifetime of frame and compoents, etc...

For me that is Ti as I don't plan to do expedition riding (If I did I'd probably use a mountain bike!)... I like to do brevet type tours (solo and in groups) where I will ride to the event and need to carry clothes (2-3 days of riding solo) and need to carry supplies and lights... Therefore the Ti Carpe-Diem seems the best suited... Heck it may even replace my litespeed!.... Nah... The litespeed is still the racer when I need carry nothing extra than what I can fit into my back pockets!!!