Living Car Free - what bike do you ride??

i am planning to go to just a bike for transportation soon, what bikes are the best ones to be on to do it efficently.hauling groceries,tools etc and be low maintence. whats your opinion?? zeke

The bike I ride most often is a hybrid - a Trek 7.3 FX. I like it because I find it comfortable. I've swapped the handlebars to make it even more comfortable for me (I swapped the flat mountain bike style handlebars for a more swept-back style - I find it gives me a much more comfortable hand/wrist position). I've added a rear rack with folding baskets, plus a front basket to make it convenient for commuting and errands.

You mention low maintenance, so you might want to consider looking at bikes with an internal geared hub. This is a change that I plan to make to my bike soon.

Good luck! :)

surly big dummy.

Lot's of options...depending on your preferences. My ONLY bike for years was a beat up Raleigh 3 speed (http://2whls3spds.blogspot.com/2008/06/bike-that-started-it-all-not-really.html). It did everything I needed to. It was supplemented by a nice mid range steel MTB (Giant Iguana (http://sports.webshots.com/photo/2228118390066886751zDTflr)). Now we have luxury of choosing from things like an Xtracycle (http://www.xtracycle.com/). For minimal maintenance it is hard to beat the IGH hub. For durability and availability the mid 80's steel framed mountain bikes are the clear winner.

As far as carrying things the options are limitless. Racks, panniers, back packs, trailers, milk crates and baskets all have their usefulness.

Aaron:)

I ride a Bianchi Volpe as my commuter but want to get a bike that's lighter. That's because I am old(er) and heavy bikes are no longer good for training for me, they're just heavy bikes.

I've been looking for frameset for a LeMond Sarthe or a Soma Smoothie ES or maybe a Gunnar. Any thoughts on the Soma or Gunnar anyone, especially regarding weight?

i am planning to go to just a bike for transportation soon, what bikes are the best ones to be on to do it efficently.hauling groceries,tools etc and be low maintence. whats your opinion?? zeke

Best choices are hybrids, touring bikes and some specific bikes for utility cycling. Mountain bikes built before around 1990 and some older general duty road bikes will also work, if those bikes are in good condition and do not require a lot of repairs or upgrading. Worst choices are modern performance road bikes, highly technical mountain bikes, beach cruisers, some of the comfort bikes and any of the low-end department store bikes.

The best of the bikes will be durable and well built. They should have rack mounts, at least in the rear. For general riding, stay away from any bike with a rear suspension as it's extra weight and extra maintenance. A front suspension fork may be okay but I'd personally prefer something without it.

I ride a Jamis Coda. Have put at least 300 miles on it so far. It's my only bike, and I ride it five to six days a week, all of it for utility. Never had a flat. The only maintenance I've had done was a pedal replacement, which the store I bought the bike from did for free.

http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/bikes/08_bikes/images/08_bike_images/08_CODA.jpg

Just like the answer to boxers or briefs. Depends! :)

Seriously though, if it is your only transportation and you don't have a workshop with spare parts you might want to consider having something as a backup. Another bike, an old car, a helpful friend, a bus pass, or whatever will get you around. As far as the bike goes things to consider are how many miles are you going to be riding it, what kind of terrain/roads, what kind of weather, how much do you plan to haul, what can you outfit it with for hauling stuff, what are you used to riding now (if anything).

I used to ride a road bike for commuting and had an old mountain bike for grocery shopping and laid back around town riding. I recently got a Surly Cross Check, outfitted it with a rack/panniers and now I use it for just about everything. I even use it for distance/fitness rides sometimes rather than my road bike. For all around riding I tend to prefer touring style road bikes over hybrids or mountain bikes, but it really comes down to what you feel most comfortable on and what you ENJOY the most. I don't think you can overstate the importance of enjoying whatever it is you ride. Of course safety, comfort, fit, usefulness, sexiness, and a whole slew of other things are part of what goes into how much you enjoy the bike. Good luck and enjoy the ride, it's a blast!

My commuter is built from a touring bike frame, although it looks like a mtn bike with a rigid fork. It has downtube shifter braze-ons.

It's an older Novara Randonee, steel frame. (I got it new-in-box at an REI "garage sale" for $15!) It's a very small frame and takes 26" wheels. I have flat bars, bar ends, with 7 sp thumbshifters (working a 9 sp cogset in friction mode), Sugino trekking cranks. I have fenders on it, semi knobby tires, and front and rear racks. I ride it to work and all over town. It's pretty nicely set up, but I will lock it in most places.

I already have a touring bike (LHT), but this bike is my back-up touring bike also.

my commuter is a singlespeed cyclocross steel = bianchi san jose

Daily commuter,all around bike


http://i458.photobucket.com/albums/qq306/kev6601/Picture013.jpg


Grocery hauler or whatever else you need to carry






http://i458.photobucket.com/albums/qq306/kev6601/Picture017.jpg

Felt F-80
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh187/10wheels/HEB002b.jpg

this is my daily bike. I have another bent I use to pull trailers.

Zeke:

I tend to agree with some of the comments here, with respect to the touring bike. The geometry is usually good (ie: long chainstays, somewhat relaxed riding position), plus they are quite durable.

With respect to components and low maintenance, this is probably where there's going to be the most discussion and/or debate. Functionality for me is everything. I'm very mechanically inclined, but I don't want to be doing it while I'm out riding. That being said, I'll look towards more durable, high-end parts.

If what I want won't fit in my two rear Ortliebs, I'll hook up the BOB.

http://i480.photobucket.com/albums/rr166/spinninwheels/honeybeach.jpg

I ride a fixed road bike with drops. Ive always found drops really comfortable though. Id definitely recommend smooth tires, as opposed to knobbies. May seem like common sense but a lot of people who ride road only (or 90%+) will keep the knobbies on there even though they add a lot more rolling resistance, makes a world of difference.

I figured there would be more people riding old rigid MTBs with slicks. Hard to find a cheaper bike type, plus they are rugged and stable.

jim

I figured there would be more people riding old rigid MTBs with slicks. Hard to find a cheaper bike type, plus they are rugged and stable.
Those are great bikes, but they may have a few potential problems if someone wants to convert them into utility bikes.

I've got one of them in my basement, dismantled as I'm working to get it into shape. It's a good bike, but it's also created some headaches.

The standard headset diameter changed a few years back and today's bikes use a different size than bikes from the 1980s and early 1990s. If I ever need to replace parts here, it will be difficult. I can only hope the parts haven't been entirely discontinued.

The bottom bracket needs to be replaced. The diameters have not changed but I've had to special order the part I need as the size is not commonly stocked anymore. Perhaps it was an odd size from the start.

Most of these bikes are around 20 years old. If they've been well cared for, they're likely worth the effort to keep them rideable. If they've been neglected or badly ridden, it's possible there will be damage which cannot be fixed. I'm fortunate to have a good bike but some from that era have been badly abused over the years.

Old style threaded stems, headsets, and forks in 1" and 1 1/8" are still readily available.

If you had a 70mm BB shell, you might have trouble finding any sort of selection for a new BB. But if it is the far more common 68mm shell, you can find pretty much whatever you want.

My guess is that both of these types of items will be available into the forseeable future.

jim

Grocery hauler or whatever else you need to carry
http://i458.photobucket.com/albums/qq306/kev6601/Picture017.jpg


Sweet Xtracycle. What's your take on it?. I'm very close to pulling the trigger on converting an old hardtail MTB to being an Xtracycle. Every picture I see of one pushes me that much closer to doing it.

I think touring bikes are the best choice, but other choices are almost as good. I used an old hard-tail MTB frame with road tires for years, and it served me well, and I think hybrids work really well, too, despite their bad reputation in some (snobby) quarters. Whatever you decide, though, I'd avoid the following:

1. Carbon frames or even carbon forks. They're great for high-performance road bikes, not so good for hauling stuff. (Personally, I insist on steel.)
2. Anything that doesn't have braze-ons for racks and/or fenders.
3. Anything that can't be purchased at a reputable bike shop, or at least REI. (There's a thread around here about the Novarra Randonee that you might want to read.)
4. Anything with handlebar shifters, the ones built directly into the grips and that you rotate to shift. They lead to all kinds of irritation when you're trying to crank up a steep hill and you accidentally shift gears.
5. Any kind of suspension at all. It's extra weight, and makes for a needlessly squishy ride on paved roads.

I think touring bikes are the best choice, but other choices are almost as good. I used an old hard-tail MTB frame with road tires for years, and it served me well, and I think hybrids work really well, too, despite their bad reputation in some (snobby) quarters. Whatever you decide, though, I'd avoid the following:

1. Carbon frames or even carbon forks. They're great for high-performance road bikes, not so good for hauling stuff. (Personally, I insist on steel.)
2. Anything that doesn't have braze-ons for racks and/or fenders.
3. Anything that can't be purchased at a reputable bike shop, or at least REI. (There's a thread around here about the Novarra Randonee that you might want to read.)
4. Anything with handlebar shifters, the ones built directly into the grips and that you rotate to shift. They lead to all kinds of irritation when you're trying to crank up a steep hill and you accidentally shift gears.
5. Any kind of suspension at all. It's extra weight, and makes for a needlessly squishy ride on paved roads.

I use a touring bike for Sunday rides (and touring...) and a modified hybrid for most everything else.

http://bikes.javazoid.com/images/bike/ilVolpeConBaggagio.JPG

I've got an old ugly purple 80's Rockhopper (paid $60, added another $100 over time), and it beats my touring bike for hauling loads. I really think these old mt bikes with rigid forks make some of the best utility bikes. Fun to ride too, with some 1.5" Kenda street tires.

surly pacer that i use for commuting and long distance rides.

i also have a steel ciocc that i use for faster rides.

i don't have a utility bike since we just walk to the grocery store.

Those are great bikes, but they may have a few potential problems if someone wants to convert them into utility bikes.

I've got one of them in my basement, dismantled as I'm working to get it into shape. It's a good bike, but it's also created some headaches.

The standard headset diameter changed a few years back and today's bikes use a different size than bikes from the 1980s and early 1990s. If I ever need to replace parts here, it will be difficult. I can only hope the parts haven't been entirely discontinued.

The bottom bracket needs to be replaced. The diameters have not changed but I've had to special order the part I need as the size is not commonly stocked anymore. Perhaps it was an odd size from the start.

Most of these bikes are around 20 years old. If they've been well cared for, they're likely worth the effort to keep them rideable. If they've been neglected or badly ridden, it's possible there will be damage which cannot be fixed. I'm fortunate to have a good bike but some from that era have been badly abused over the years.

I ride an old MTB from the era to which you refer.

It's a garbage-dump bike with a Hi-Ten steel frame (heavy!)-- I found it at the dump about two years ago, equipped with rusty steel wheels. They have been replaced by rims from the dump, alloy hubs that I bought really cheap off eBay, and two pairs of alloy cantis I found in a shed.

It has a steel rack with a wide base on it for my lunch box and other loads, a pair of quite good MTB pedals I picked up at a Op Shop $5.00 when the lady asked me what they were, and a pair of cobbled-together SKS fenders that came off my touring/rando bike after I broke the rear one. Some of the stuff has been added as needed, such as the fenders for winter.

The bike is closing in on 5,000km over two years of commuting, that includes 4km of rough gravel road for each return journey. I started out using the tyres that came with it, some non-descript Kenda mild knobblies, then I changed to slicks.

When it comes to replacing anything, I will just go back to the dump and pick and choose the parts, ranging from BB and crankset and rims, to shifters (cheap, old friction that are prone to rust), chain and freewheel, and even brake pads and spokes.

That way I am assured that the parts will be available for a time to come. While dump bikes might seem a liablity, in my experience, many bikes have been ridden only short distances in their lifetimes, and the parts are still usable, albeit needing a bit of a clean-up.

As it is, that 5,000km has been done on most of the original mechanical stuff, except for brake pads and rear cogset (6sp instead of 5).

Saddles are a bit of a hassle, though, because they all seem to be ripped.

I am not sure what you mean about parts being superseded on these bikes. Do you mean the change in headset going from 1" threaded to 1-1/8" threadless? There are still new 1" headsets kicking about. Ball and race BBs might be a bit more problematic as you've found, particularly as now we have moved from square taper cartridge, to Octalink or ISIS cartridge, to outboard bearings.

But an eBay store here in Australia deals with most retro needs including spindles.

That MTB is my commuter. I also would use it for hauling a trailer if I still had one. My previous trailer was hauled also by another MTB. I am just planning on what my next trailer will be like.

My grocery and sometimes touring and rando bike is a fixed gear based on a lugged Cro-Mo steel Shogun 400 frame also collected from the local garbage dump (but I then spent $400 making it what I wanted).

My grocery runs each weekend range from 48 to 60+ kilometres (60km today because the weather was so good).

My touring bike is a Fuji Touring with almost 60,000km on it. However, for quite a while there it served as my touring, commuting, utility and randonnee bike. I endorse the comments that touring bikes are well-suited to everyday needs.

My MTB for MTBing only is a NZ-made Avanti Barracuda I built up from the frame only.

My go-fast fun bike is a Merlin C110 Works, a CF frame that I also built up from scratch. It's good for a run down to the post office or local store if what I collect can fit in a jersey pocket.

I'm fortunate in several respects. I enjoy tinkering and playing bike mechanic on my machines. I am not afraid of adapting -- my Fuji Touring has towed an MTB frame with the front forks wedged down into the rack, and had another frame (in fact, the Shogun) placed across the rear rack and held in place by rounds of electrical insulation tape. Both were transported more than 20km home.

The original trailer I built moved 90% of my then-possession from home into storage when I left Hobart in 2005.

I also have enough disposable income to be able to buy or build bikes that suit particular tasks.

Pictures can be provided except for the Shogun on the back of the Fuji.

Right now I just use my LHT. It does just about everything I could ask it to do. I also have a Trek 7.2fx, but it's a size too small and not comfortable to ride. I am thinking about changing the bars and stem, to see if I can't get a decent fit on it and turn it into a winter/bad weather bike.


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3270/2913098665_0b9df4c27b.jpg

I stick a rack and panniers on it when I go grocery shopping, etc.


I really like the '09 Kona Utes.... I might look into one of those if I find I have the money laying around at some point.

surly big dummy.

Just got a Surly Long Haul Trucker and love it, the next addition to the stable will be a Big Dummy for sure.

Right now I just use my LHT. It does just about everything I could ask it to do. I also have a Trek 7.2fx, but it's a size too small and not comfortable to ride. I am thinking about changing the bars and stem, to see if I can't get a decent fit on it and turn it into a winter/bad weather bike.


I stick a rack and panniers on it when I go grocery shopping, etc.


I really like the '09 Kona Utes.... I might look into one of those if I find I have the money laying around at some point.

Has anyone made some gratuitous but well-founded suggestions on your handlebar angle?

Has anyone made some gratuitous but well-founded suggestions on your handlebar angle?

If you are referring to why they look like they look slanted down - it's the camera angle.

Sweet Xtracycle. What's your take on it?. I'm very close to pulling the trigger on converting an old hardtail MTB to being an Xtracycle. Every picture I see of one pushes me that much closer to doing it.
I think the Xtracycle works great, rides excellent and will haul a wide variety of "stuff", and is simple to install. However, I am thinking a trailer might be a good choice too.

I have two bikes for carrying stuff. My daily commuter is a hybrid Nishiki XRS Sport 21-speed:
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/Bicycle08/Picture181.jpg

I recently added panniers but haven't taken any pics yet.

I also have a 3-speed Raleigh very similar to wahoonc's:
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/Bicycle08/Picture176.jpg

The biggest difference is that his is a Sports (with conventional brake calipers) and mine is a Tourist with roller lever or rod brakes (i.e., a hard brake linkage that pulls the brake shoes radially into the rim).
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/Bicycle08/Picture040.jpg

Also, I added the baskets; makes it easier for grocery shopping. ;)

i am planning to go to just a bike for transportation soon, what bikes are the best ones to be on to do it efficently.hauling groceries,tools etc and be low maintence. whats your opinion?? zeke

I use a BikeE AT semi-recumbent as my main commuter, but for groceries and other hauling chores, I have a modified custom trike (cruiser-trike) with extra large baskets.

I use a Trek 7.2fx The major reason why I think hybrids (and this is a pretty standard hybrid) are the right choice is because they have 700x35c tyres and semi upright position. The tyre width is vital for having a smooth ride. The upright position again adds to your comfort and feeling of control. You also tend to go slower which means that you don't get as sweaty.

If you're riding bad bike paths or roads, some small suspension front fork would be good as well.

I figured there would be more people riding old rigid MTBs with slicks. Hard to find a cheaper bike type, plus they are rugged and stable.

jim
That's me summed up in 2 sentences! For luggage i have a few different sizes of ruck sack up to 60 litre (although that's a pig to ride with as the weight distribution is all wrong).

Had a Bianchi hybrid and traded for a Schwinn Le Tour. Hybrids make great bikes in the right circumstances, but it was starting to feel a little pokey for me and my needs. The Le Tour is my only bike, for now. I have a rack to throw on the back and will get another folding basket so I have two on the bike for light grocery runs. I'm going to work on getting a trailer built up soon for larger utility runs.

I'm really looking to build up a bike for my daily commute. Probably off of the Nashbar cyclocross frame. Something a little sleeker when I don't need to cary much.

I went from this (http://www.flickr.com/photos/9320902@N04/1375536981/) to this (http://www.flickr.com/photos/9320902@N04/2742080069/) in less than a year with no regrets.

I use a 26" wheel hybrid with rack and panniers, and I just bought a trailer for it, I'll be testing it out tomorrow.

I have two rides moto fantom cross and soma double cross both are fine machines but I am a little partial to the soma seems to ride a little smoother. I have had road and hybrids bike which were good but I just really love cyclocross bikes they just seem so multipurpose and still fun at the same time. If I couldn't have a cyclocross I would probably have a touring bike just because I love drops and I like the ability to put on wide tires and a rack and not worry about a bike being to delicate. Plus at 35 I still like to play in the mud and dirt.

Edit: Almost forgot Doohikie that Raleigh is cool.

Get a touring bicycle. If I had to have one bicycle. It would be my Trek 620 touring bicycle from 1985. It can do it all. I can go fast like road bike and still haul loads of stuff.

My bike is a Breezer Villager. It has the stock rear rack, which has held up to load well so far, and a removable front basket. Suits me fine for rides of 20-30 miles, and should not prove problematic for longer rides.

It is pretty close kin to the old Raleighs, and for most of my riding that's about perfect.

This is my ride:

My bike set up with shopping panniers:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3182/2757597003_69723e4e8e_b.jpg

Comfy, sturdy, easy to ride with the panniers and basket loaded with stuff!

I have 14 bikes with a few of them being designed for specific purposes like my road bike and mountain bike, a few more are antiques that would be perfectly use-able as daily drivers (but why would I do that), and then the main herd which is composed of some very utilitarian bikes.

My Trek 7500 sees a great deal of miles and it has been greatly modified from it's original form to what it is now... the drop bar set up is amazingly comfortable and I replaced the stock drive with a stiffer mtb drive with lower gearing as it does a good deal of towing.

This bike could probably do 90% of the things I need a bike to do and I rode it just over 1000km this season.

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/Trek7500tourer2.jpg

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/bikehaul5.jpg

My other primary bike is a 1987 Kuwahara Cascade that I converted into a drop bar, fixed gear tourer / commuter and it is probably one of the finest examples of a mid eighties mtb in that it has touring geometry, a stellar frame, and is quite simply one of the nicest bikes I own.

It saw more riding this year than any other bike I have.

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/kuwiewhitedoor2.jpg

And everyone one needs a long bike... so I built my own.

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/longbike8.jpg