Utility Cycling - Avid biker needs a town bike- what to look at?

I've been riding for my whole life. I have a serious Felt road race bike and a Specialized stumpjumper mountain bike. Both do their jobs great. I also have a cheap hardware store beach cruiser that I converted to a 3 speed hub- horrible quality bike and I'm not happy with it.

My wife just bought an Electra Townie and wants to start riding everywhere. We're moving to Hawaii soon (thanks US Navy!)

I'd like to get a high quality bike to: cruise around, ride to the beach, ride everywhere around town, ride to the bars, go get meals, small shopping trips, etc. Everything is paved, most trips under 5 miles. I'll want a rear rack and a side bag to hold stuff. Oh, and almost all riding in flip flops and shorts. I do want a lot of gears, I've very picky about keeping my cadence the same.

Of course being a total gear head- I can't just ride a plain-jane commuter. So something I'll take pride in ownership and not look "sissy", and have high quality components and be light weight.

Any suggestions? I'm looking at the $500-1000 price range, but the lower end of that would be better.

I saw felt has a cafe 24, trek has the 7000 series bike path bikes. What else should I consider?

Hello zimm... I would check out some of the "urban" commuters or fitness bikes. I just bought a Trek Soho for all the same reasons you've listed. Of course, opinions vary on how to suit our needs. If you have a Felt racing road bike and a Stumpjumper then I'm sure you're aware that 500-1000 is not going to buy you the best of everything bike, so compromise will be the name of the game. haha... I know, I struggled with it too, I have a Santa Cruz Heckler and also had to fight off the idea that I needed another 2k+ bike to ride around town. Anyway, I'll link you some suggestions... Good luck.

Trek Soho 1.0 HERE (http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/2008/urban/soho/soho10/)

Trek 7.3FX HERE (http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/2008/bike_path/fx/73fx/)

Cannondale Bad Boy series HERE (http://www.cannondale.com/bikes/08/cusa/model-8BR.html)

Cannondale Quick HERE (http://www.cannondale.com/bikes/08/cusa/model-9QR4.html)

Specialized Sirrus HERE (http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=32215)

But if I had any advice it's this.... Stick to aluminum if you're going to Hawaii.

Dahon mu?

Or if you want it to be classy, why not go retro and restore an older classic?

Redline (http://www.redlinebicycles.com/)makes some decent bikes in their fitness line. I have the R530 (http://www.redlinebicycles.com/adultbikes/R530.html)and it is a good city bike, but probably not enough gears for what you want.

Aaron:)

My dahon cadenza 8 is almost ideal. i think the Brodie ocho is worth a look.

Here's my town bike. It's a Rans Crank forward. Very comfortable and way fast and light compared to a cruiser.

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee43/domromer/0808fusion001.jpg

save your dough up and get an ANT. you won't regret it.

save your dough up and get an ANT. you won't regret it.

I agree 110%. As long as you want a city bike you can keep then ANT is it.

http://antbikemike.wordpress.com/light-roadster/

If not an ANT bike then look at the pictures to see what a true city bike looks like and is.

You really don't want no testoerone laden racer wanna be bike to ride in cities such as
those bikes posted.

I'd suggest a looking at Breezer, Electra, and Beria.

I'd suggest a looking at Breezer, Electra, and Beria <--Biria.

+1

I think Mike Flanagan (A.N.T.) has wait times that are over a year long now.
I'm not too hip on Electra's extreme seat/head tube angles, but they make tough bikes.

Fixie! :)

Most commuter and utility bikes are fairly heavy. They get banged around, beat up, and used hard so the weight makes sense. You're seeing a lot of internal hubs because in stop and go traffic, they have a lot of advantages. You'll never be stuck in a high gear after an emergency stop, and it's rare to keep a steady cadence in stop and go. Single speed can work well too. Deraillers are *really* unfriendly... my knees would scream if I had to make an emergency stop while loaded. Most of the other gadgets you find on high end city bikes really are handy... about the only feature I don't use daily on my Villager is the lights (and well, I rarely ride at night, so that's not surprising).

What I'd do in your position is grab a backpack (or rack and panniers) and start using your good bikes for 'round town riding. See what you like and what you don't like. After a few months, you'll have a *very* clear list of what would Make Life Better. Then go forth and get a bike that really *is* better. It sounds like a "standard" city bike wouldn't be something you want, and it's silly to rush out and get one if it's not a good fit. And if you change your mind after a few months of city riding, it will be because you've done enough to have a solid idea of what you want.

Much better than us tossing ideas at you and hoping one sticks!

Get a Breezer. They are perfect for what you want.

It's overkill to get a 27 speed bike for such a purpose. A Villager, which costs approx. $800, has plenty of gearing to get the job done plus has a chainguard, quality bike rack, fenders, lights, and kickstand.

If your looking for a bag, too, get the grocery pannier that Breezer has on its website. I use mine all the time--it's perfect.

http://www.breezerbikes.com/bikes.cfm

Other good options are posted here:
http://kentuckybicycling.com/2008-commuting-bikes/

Enjoy shopping!

Fixie! :)

If you live somewhere flat as a pancake, perhaps. But unless you are in tip-top physical condition, hills+fixie=pain.

I've been riding for my whole life. I have a serious Felt road race bike and a Specialized stumpjumper mountain bike. Both do their jobs great. I also have a cheap hardware store beach cruiser that I converted to a 3 speed hub- horrible quality bike and I'm not happy with it.

My wife just bought an Electra Townie and wants to start riding everywhere. We're moving to Hawaii soon (thanks US Navy!)

I'd like to get a high quality bike to: cruise around, ride to the beach, ride everywhere around town, ride to the bars, go get meals, small shopping trips, etc. Everything is paved, most trips under 5 miles. I'll want a rear rack and a side bag to hold stuff. Oh, and almost all riding in flip flops and shorts. I do want a lot of gears, I've very picky about keeping my cadence the same.

Of course being a total gear head- I can't just ride a plain-jane commuter. So something I'll take pride in ownership and not look "sissy", and have high quality components and be light weight.

Any suggestions? I'm looking at the $500-1000 price range, but the lower end of that would be better.

I saw felt has a cafe 24, trek has the 7000 series bike path bikes. What else should I consider?

Something along the lines of this would fit all your needs except the cadence thing(in flip flops?) The Hawaii vibe will wear off on you and you'll drop that quick :) ...

http://www.bikerubbish.com/rubbish/june2008/rf4.jpg

http://www.bikerubbish.com/rubbish/june2008/dd5.jpg

I like my Raleigh Detour Deluxe pretty well. There's a lot to be said for dynamo hubs, fenders, and disc brakes.

I would follow BAH's suggestion above, and convert the hardware store cruiser to an Xtracycle-equipped beach machine. Maybe (if you want to splurge) throw a 7 or 8 speed internal hub on there. Then you'd have a truly useful town machine, IMHO.

Steve

Of course being a total gear head- I can't just ride a plain-jane commuter. So something I'll take pride in ownership and not look "sissy", and have high quality components and be light weight.?

As a gearhead....build your own....get a quality 80's/90's frame (probably japanese) an go to town

total pride ownership you did it

and you can end up with somehthing like this (lot's of pride of ownership here :D )

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w142/squirtdad/IMG_0248.jpg

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w142/squirtdad/IMG_0248.jpg

Yes, damn! I start to drool everytime I see this bike!!THIS kinda eye candy you can't buy.
Ya gotta BUILD it!!:thumb::thumb::thumb:

As a gearhead....build your own....get a quality 80's/90's frame (probably japanese) an go to town

total pride ownership you did it

and you can end up with somehthing like this (lot's of pride of ownership here :D )

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w142/squirtdad/IMG_0248.jpg

Only 3 things I'd change here:

1. I'd get rid of the derailleur and put in a hub gear.
2. I'd get rid of that saddle and put on an Easy Seat.
3. I'd get a hub generator or install a set of Reel-Lights.