Commuting - Totally unofficial untrustworthy review of Trek SU 2.0

I picked up the 2.0 yesterday and maybe rode it 20 minutes just to play around and get the feel for it. Shifting, starting, stopping. Checking things. Not very enjoyable but very necessary as I like to know my beast before I get out in traffic with it.

I have a road bike (Trek 1.5) and a mountain bike (Giant XTC-850) and I've been riding both furiously for about a year give or take a little.

The other day I was in the LBS and saw my SU 2.0 and I really fell in love with it. To me if the bike doesn't excite you, well, you probably won't ride it. There were other bikes there but the looks of it excited me. The bike practically screams "solid" at you.

Anyway I took it out for the intended mission today. Riding between bases in Okinawa Japan to run work errands. My total ride was probably around 12 km or so I'm guessing.

First of all I've got to say that the SU 2.0 is the most comfortable bike I've ever been on in my life. I have a 19.5" model and while that is technically supposed to be too big for me, it is not. It fits me perfectly. Riding posture is amazing and I'm very pleased with the ergonomics of the bike. The handbars are right where I like and the grip is outstanding. On my ride I never had any discomfort at all.

It's a different type of riding. Slower and more methodical trying not to sweat through my Dockers. I stayed mostly on the sidewalks today and of course there are all manner of bumps and things. Not like riding in the street. I grimaced a couple times but the bike was soft like cotton. It would probably be softer with a carbon fork but I'd rather have the "Solid" than the comfort. Like I said, this bike is not for sweating and hammering out a ride. That's what I have the Trek 1.5 for.

The disk brakes are awesome. If you've ever ridden in Okinawa you know that the roads are made with crushed coral and asphalt and coral dust gets everywhere. When I ride my 1.5 in the drizzle or rain my brakes are worthless for the first 20 minutes or so. I'm not kidding. That coral is slicker than ice over here.

So it's disk brakes for me on a commuter bike. Period. End of story. I have disk brakes on my Giant and I have fell in love with them.

Shifting is sweet and perfect although there is just the oh so tiniest amount of noise when on the high ring in the front and the low ring in the back. I'm going to wait for the bike to break in for a few rides before I adjust anything. I can live with it for now. It's barely there.

Yes I could have bought some other bike with a group made in God's bike factory but really......on a commuter? The price of the SU 2.0 is a decent price point. It has good components, especially those brakes and again it's the most comfortable bike I've ever sat on. Not that I have sat on a lot of them mind you.

For once in my life I examined what I wanted to do with a bike, did my homework, found a bike that turned me on and bought it. I don't have any regrets about not buying a "better" or "more expensive" bike. I've got a plan for this bike and so far it's delivering and I'm not broke.

Bikes are kind of like digital cameras. They're all good but you always want that other more expensive one because it's got something the other one doesn't have. Never mind the fact that if you get that more expensive camera that you don't use whatever the extra thing is anyway.

I'm happy and my car gas tank is full cause I hardly ever drive anymore and I've lost weight and I feel better and ...........well.....just and.

John

Congratulations on your purchase. I often stop buy the Trek shop here in Kyoto and check out the flatbars etc. Great value for money.

We too lost the need for a car when we shifted to Japan. (4 years without one) If it's not the bike (close to 98% of the time) I can rely on the public transport every other time. :thumb:

My cannondale has similar qualities to what you mentioned. Strong / solid feel, reliable components, comfortable ride on the road, footpaths and dirt tracks along the river, and most important to me...great price.
Only thing I changed was the pedals (my fault, I chose the wrong type for my use)

Keep it up. :)

There's a Trek shop in Kyoto? Awesome. Next time I get out that way I need to find it.

I still use a car but I'm trying to minimize it as much as humanly possible. The area in Okinawa I live in has everything and before I was limited only by what I could carry in my backpack. Now with this SU 2.0 and a rack I can get a 12 pack of diet cokes, or whatever and make a few more trips.

I don't think I'm saving the planet and am not really doing this because gas is expensive.....I mostly just do this for me because I love to be outside and moving.

John

The TREK shop is a kind of "Trek Dream Shop" I think it's called "Project One" (?) It's near the cnr of Oike Dori and Kawabata Dori. I'll check the name later and get back to you. The components in the shop are extremely expensive (much cheaper elseware in Kyoto) BUT the complete bikes are reasonably priced.