Commuting - What's the most you'd spend on an all-day bike-racked commuter?

Let's say you've got a commute. But at work/school/wherever, you'll have to lock your bike at the public rack for several hours without being able to check on it. Let's also assume you're in a college town. How expensive of a bike would you risk daily in said scenario?

My bike is roughly $1000, and I'll be locking it on campus with a mini-U lock and a cable lock on the front wheel for long stays.

Just lock it in well-lit areas near pedestrian traffic. If you are worried about components getting stolen, try filling the screws with hot glue.

Unless I could keep my eye on it, I wouldn't spend more than a few hundred bucks. Personally though I would rather focus my energy on finding a safe place to store a more expensive bike.

A few hundred dollars tops!

I've left my more expensive bike locked-up (two locks, cable & U-lock) for several hours a few times but I try not to. When I do I also take the seat/light/comp, just to be on the safe side.
Locks are a deturent not a solution.. A pro-thief will get past any lock..

Oh yea, also try to lock it up where there are alot of people about. Finding a nice safe hidden spot means any thief will now have lots of free time without having to worry about being seen hacking into your cool new locks..

:)

Let's say you've got a commute. But at work/school/wherever, you'll have to lock your bike at the public rack for several hours without being able to check on it. Let's also assume you're in a college town. How expensive of a bike would you risk daily in said scenario?


Leave 4 u-locks on the bike rack and spend 2 grand

A couple hundred for a used bike. I would then put security bolts on and spray paint it some butt ugly color.

I lock up a diamondback bmx bike. Its enough fun to ride around on, and I'm not worried about someone breaking or stealing it like my road bike. I've thrown it off a 20ft cliff onto dirt and tossed it around in pools and have yet to break anything. It's damn near indestructable. Can be had for about $200 too. :D

I'm too protective over all my road bikes to leave them around for someone to damage them. :\

right now? $200, because I'm broke. I bought the bike I have now for $150. If I had a bunch of money? mmm, maybe $600-700.

$35.00. I'm tired of my bikes being ripped off. Anything more expensive than that, and some jerk is sure to find some way of stealing it. That's been my experience. A garage sale bike, and I can feel pretty secure that it's not gonna get ripped off.

I've had bikes ripped off in a lot shorter time than you're talking about leaving it. That's in a well-lit, well-trafficed public place. If it's gonna sit all day, and if you can manage to ride in comfort on an inexpensive bike that you can consider totally expendable, then that's what I'd do if I had to leave a bike all day.

Everyone will have their own individual financial tolerance when it comes to the sort of risks their willing to take. But, for peace of mind, I agree with the others that you should get an inexpensive used bike so you're not paranoid all day that your gear is getting jacked. No more than $400 including security measures like u-lock, chain, etc... But then again, maybe $400 to me is like $1000 to you?

I am in the market for a new commuting bike and my budget is around 800-900$CDN. I bike around 3000 km/year, most of it being commuting.

Unless I had a very long commute where speed & comfort really matter, I would use a $400 used bike.

What about a folding bike you could carry? This might be your best option.

Michael

If it was to be locked up all day, £20-30 ($40-60 at current exchange rates). I might put another £20 or so into doing it up, but that would be all. From my current stable, that would allow me to choose an 80's 531 road bike (which I wouldn't choose), and 80's 531 tourer (maybe), a 60's 4 speed Raleigh Roadster (most likely), a converted roadster that's now a single speed (and much lighter) - there's no lack of choice. If I was riding 25 miles each way, I'd start to think maybe I needed something better, but you know what? Probably not. It'd probably just mean I'd ride the tourer, and perhaps buy some bar end shifters and cross top levers. You don't need an expensive bike, they're just nice to have.