Commuting - Interesting Website: Commuting Bikes in USA

It's not the greatest list of commuter bicycles sold in the USA, but you might find something of interest. There is also some other tips and accessories for commuting that some might find handy.

http://www.nordicgroup.us/commutebike/

Whoa doood.......
Awesome link !!

Thanks !
:)

Wonder how up-to-date that site is. The Giant Tran Send didn't make the list, and absolutely nothing was mentioned about Bianchi?

It's a great site, but they used a very strict definition of a commuter, including the need for a chainguard. There are lots of commute worthy bikes that aren't on there.

It was updated last August. Since the last year has seen an extraordinary increase in city/utility/commuting style bikes, I hope it gets updated again soon. There's so much more available in August 2008 than August 2007.

A commuter bicycle has the following components from the factory:
1. Chain guard


Is that to give you practice with hand tools when you remove it and take it to your scrap metal recycler?

Generators?

Why do they add cost to these bikes with those ridiculous generators that snap into place. The only good generator I've heard of was a German made hub which supposedly shuts itself off when there's no power draw (I don't know what its called and don't have any clue how it does that, sorry -- heresay).

Just put a $50 headlight with batteries on it. If you want to be eco-friendly include a $30 set of rechargeable batteries and a charger. Recommend that they carry an extra set of batteries ;).

Yea, I've run across that page several times. It was outdated even in 2007. It's really out of date now.


Too bad.

Is that to give you practice with hand tools when you remove it and take it to your scrap metal recycler?
Each to their own. :)


Generators?

Why do they add cost to these bikes with those ridiculous generators that snap into place. The only good generator I've heard of was a German made hub which supposedly shuts itself off when there's no power draw (I don't know what its called and don't have any clue how it does that, sorry -- heresay).

Just put a $50 headlight with batteries on it. If you want to be eco-friendly include a $30 set of rechargeable batteries and a charger. Recommend that they carry an extra set of batteries ;).

My Shimano generator hub works wonderfully. I get complaints all the time about how bright my front light is. :thumb: Theft of battery powered bike lights is a huge problem here.

Theft of battery powered bike lights is a huge problem here.

I hate to say this, but that's almost a good problem to have. It means people are riding bikes! :o

It's not the greatest list of commuter bicycles sold in the USA, but you might find something of interest. There is also some other tips and accessories for commuting that some might find handy.

http://www.nordicgroup.us/commutebike/

Beware of clicking on Kronan bike link on that website at work, takes you to a porn site. :(

I hate to say this, but that's almost a good problem to have. It means people are riding bikes! :o

That might be true in some parts, but I'm afraid in many places the theft of a small portable item like this means instead that some young person with insufficient morals and good sense is looking to steal something simply for the sake of stealing it. It's much the same with hood ornaments on cars, for the few cars that still have them.

Somewhat off topic, but if you go to Google Trends and search "bicycle," it's interesting to see the results. The all time search high of the term was during the gas crisis of 08. Neat stuff.

http://www.google.com/trends?q=Bicycle&ctab=0&geo=all&date=all&sort=0

Kind of Fred-i-centric for my tastes.

Generators?

Why do they add cost to these bikes with those ridiculous generators that snap into place. The only good generator I've heard of was a German made hub which supposedly shuts itself off when there's no power draw (I don't know what its called and don't have any clue how it does that, sorry -- heresay).

Just put a $50 headlight with batteries on it. If you want to be eco-friendly include a $30 set of rechargeable batteries and a charger. Recommend that they carry an extra set of batteries ;).

1. I've read that in Germany it's required by law that non-race bikes come with a generator hub and light.
2. I would have thought the same dang thing, but then I saw pics of modern LED generator lights. There's no way your $50 battery light puts out this much light. Take a look:
http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/headlights.asp

http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/images/products/Lights/supernovae3assym1.jpg

Beware of clicking on Kronan bike link on that website at work, takes you to a porn site. :(

lulz. :(

fred!

eh ... nothing with drops ...

fred!

Wiiiillllllmmmmaaaaaaaaaa!

Odd...I thought that a commuter bicycle was a bicycle used for commuting. The bicycle that I use for commuting looks (and rides) nothing like those on that site.

Beware of clicking on Kronan bike link on that website at work, takes you to a porn site. :(

Thank you for the good laugh... Someone at work pulls up a year-old BF thread about commuting bikes, follows a trail of links, and ends up on a porn site. Fail