Commuting - NYC Bike recommendation

Hey all,

I don't have a whole lot of money to spend. but i'm looking to get a decent bike that can handle a commute in a place like NYC where there are obstacles like garbage, gravel, potholes, hills, etc.

any recs? i'm kinda clueless about bikes. haven't owned one in 10 years now.

Thanks!

Do you live in NYC? Any mtb from a bike store would do, just stick some fenders and armadillo tires on it and you're good to go.
I commute in NYC through an industrial junk yard and my specialized hardrock with specialized hemisphere tires have worked well so far.

A good quality used bike may be better value than a new very low-end bike. Old style MTBs with no suspension are tough and reliable.
Touring bikes and hybrids will also work.
Make sure the frame has enough room for wide tyres (mtb size or large 700c up to 35mm), and has threaded eyelets for a luggage rack and fenders.

A good quality used bike may be better value than a new very low-end bike. Old style MTBs with no suspension are tough and reliable.
Touring bikes and hybrids will also work.
Make sure the frame has enough room for wide tyres (mtb size or large 700c up to 35mm), and has threaded eyelets for a luggage rack and fenders.

i agree...a mtb bike is probably your best bet for the NY streets. i find tons of used bikes at the charity sales (like for churches, etc...). you can also comb through creig's list for used bikes. there are a lot of cheap bikes that would be fine with a new set of tubes, tires, and a good lube job. your biggest challenge will be preventing it from being stolen. if you're going to keep a bike outside, do not invest in anything expensive...you WILL be sorry. trust me.

if you're going to keep a bike outside, do not invest in anything expensive...you WILL be sorry. trust me.

This is the most important aspect for those riding bikes in New York City. My cheap department store bike has been living on the streets of Manhattan for over a year. If you intend on traveling more than 2 miles, better get a used bike. On the other hand, a used bike has a greater chance of getting stolen than a rusted Pacific toy store bike.

The Sixth Avenue flea market on Sundays offer cheap used bikes.

This is the most important aspect for those riding bikes in New York City. My cheap department store bike has been living on the streets of Manhattan for over a year. If you intend on traveling more than 2 miles, better get a used bike. On the other hand, a used bike has a greater chance of getting stolen than a rusted Pacific toy store bike.

The Sixth Avenue flea market on Sundays offer cheap used bikes.

BTW: Steve, I've been leaving my beater near my house in brooklyn and after about 5 months, someone swiped the rear wheel. :(
I locked the front + frame instead of the more valuable rear without thinking one night.

BTW: Steve, I've been leaving my beater near my house in brooklyn and after about 5 months, someone swiped the rear wheel. :(
I locked the front + frame instead of the more valuable rear without thinking one night.

Where in Bklyn? Wouldn't it be cheaper and/or more enjoyable to ask a garage for a spot and get a nice(r) bike rather than buy a beater every couple of months?
Quite sure you can find a garage that would let you park your bike there for a small nominal fee....
I park mine in the basement... lucky....

For used bikes... how about "recyle a bike" in DUMBO?
http://www.recycleabicycle.org/shop.html

It's parked around sunset park (of all places).

I have a mtb and a road bike I keep in my room for regular commuting and weekend riding. The beater's a left over pacific bike that was so rusted dirty and nasty I didn't want it in my house. I just used it to cruise around the neighborhood if I were too lazy to walk 5 blocks to the supermarket or bank.
One of the guys who commutes to work too got his from recycle a bike. He says good things.

do you NY guys notice a lot of bike that have bent wheels? like someone kicked them in or drove over them or something. i see it all the time. i've never caught anyone in the act of vandalizing a bike, so i don't know how you'd go about bending a rim. i just see it sooo much, i'm curious as to why someone would do that or how.

THANKS EVERYONE!

ok. so most of you are suggesting mtb. and i had no problems with a decent used bike. in fact, i was counting on getting something used. do any of you recommend shocks or anything like that?

i'll be using it occasionally to go even 7-10 miles at once on it sometimes. will a mtb be good for that? or is a hybrid better? or is a road bike w/ mtb tires good enough?

also, i'm 5'8 -- what size frame should i look into? (i really know very little about bikes)

thanks again to everyone for helping me out. i appreciate it.

Just ask your LBS to help out, they will find the right size for ya. I would say get some slick MTB size tires, so you can still jump curbs and all. As for the shocks, the simpler the better, but from what I remember of my in-line escapade through Manhattan, I was jumping many potholes.

THANKS EVERYONE!

ok. so most of you are suggesting mtb. and i had no problems with a decent used bike. in fact, i was counting on getting something used. do any of you recommend shocks or anything like that?

i'll be using it occasionally to go even 7-10 miles at once on it sometimes. will a mtb be good for that? or is a hybrid better? or is a road bike w/ mtb tires good enough?

also, i'm 5'8 -- what size frame should i look into? (i really know very little about bikes)

thanks again to everyone for helping me out. i appreciate it.

I'd get a flatbar roadbike depending on your price range. They are pretty durable, comfortable with the speed of a roadbike but the position of a mountain bike. Many are disc/v-brake so slap some big 700x40-ish WTB Mutano Raptor tires on there and you are set. An MTB with slicks does a decent job too though.

I keep 2 old 10-speeds (1 salvaged from a dumpster, the other a $16 Ebay win) locked up at 2 local parks. They are my backups between home and work in case my main ride (1990 Mtn bike) gets stolen or run over.

No one seems interested in stealing or molesting them here in NJ ... NYC is a different story. Mountain bikes get stolen in my neck of the woods pretty regularly. My suggestion is to get any cheap 10 speed(s) you can find and not worry about them getting stolen. If they get stolen, walk 2 blocks to your other cheap 10 speed.

Mountain bikes with slicks are very comfortable and durable for commutes under ten or fifteen miles. Hybrids may have a slight speed advantage but I like the smooth fat tire ride. Shocks are unimportant. Fenders on the other hand are good to have.

do you NY guys notice a lot of bike that have bent wheels? like someone kicked them in or drove over them or something. i see it all the time. i've never caught anyone in the act of vandalizing a bike, so i don't know how you'd go about bending a rim. i just see it sooo much, i'm curious as to why someone would do that or how.

I think this is mainly done by idiots who are trying to learn experientially how to parallel park.

-chris