Commuting - Recommendations for 8 spd hub shifting bike?

I'm thinking about getting a "bad weather" bike for the real nasty Vermont snowstorms and could use some help from anyone in the know about what pre-built bikes exist for me. I'd like something with a more upright posture, no derailleurs, internal shifting (prefer 8 speed), chain guard, etc. Would prefer disk brakes but that's not a dealbreaker. I will need fenders and a rack but I can add those things after if they're not included. I intend to use studded snow tires.

So far I've only found the Jamis Commuter 3 (http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/thebikes/street/commuter/09_commuter3_spec.html) and the Trek Soho (with the belt drive) (http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/urban/soho/soho/). Ideally I'd get the Trek but its pretty pricey. I'd like to keep it around $500 or $600 if I can though I'm open to any suggestions.

Any other suggestions for bikes I should look at?

I am looking for a winter commuter as well and have found a very limited selection with my requirements.

Trek Soho (Carbon Belt Drive)
Giant Seek 1 (Chain)
Devinci Paris (Chain)
Norco Seres (Carbon Belt Drive)
Rocky Mountain Metropolis (Chain)
Opus and Stevens both have IG bikes as well, but are EXTREMELY expensive!!!

I am either going with the Giant or the Rocky Mountain as they are the best ride for me. (I would buy the Trek Soho if it was the same mat black look as the soho s though!!!)

Shopping around there are huge differences in prices and if you are in the US you will probably get way better deals than here in Canada. (The soho s is on sale for 479$ down from 799$, but the soho is not on sale at all and is retailing for 1149$).

Wow, that's a sweet looking bike. How much do they usually go for? Did it include those fenders?

How 'bout a Boston Roadster (http://antbikemike.wordpress.com/boston-roadster/)?
http://antbikemike.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/boston-roadster-09-006.jpg?w=500&h=375

Swobo baxter or the Giant Seek 1 would be my vote in this category. That Raleigh is a classy looking ride.

I'd swap for a flat bar with barends on any of these bikes - personal preference.

How 'bout a Boston Roadster (http://antbikemike.wordpress.com/boston-roadster/)?
http://antbikemike.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/boston-roadster-09-006.jpg?w=500&h=375

Nice bike for sure, but waaaayyy to nice for a winter beater and at almost $2000 a bit out of my price range as well ;-)

That Raleigh is a lot of bike for a grand.

How about the Globe (Specialized) Haul (http://www.globebikes.com/us/en/globe/GlobeBike.jsp?pid=10HAUL2)?

How about the Globe (Specialized) Haul (http://www.globebikes.com/us/en/globe/GlobeBike.jsp?pid=10HAUL2)?

:thumb: That's a damn fine looking bike. Very stylish and functional.
It's great to see all of these new bikes in this niche.

I ride a Giant Seek 1 - paid $900 CDN and really like the bike. It has about 3,000KMs on it and never had a tune up or anything of late.

The gears sometimes stick in the highest gear but I suspect a tune up would fix that. The brakes are terrific.

I commute on a Novara Transfer from REI. Bought it on sale a few years back, and have enjoyed using it as my primary commuting vehicle.

So far I've only found the Jamis Commuter 3 (http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/thebikes/street/commuter/09_commuter3_spec.html) and the Trek Soho (with the belt drive) (http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/urban/soho/soho/). Ideally I'd get the Trek but its pretty pricey. I'd like to keep it around $500 or $600 if I can though I'm open to any suggestions.

Any other suggestions for bikes I should look at?

Last January I picked up two Jamis Commuter 3's at Bicyclebananas.com for $399 apiece. They are 2007 overstock but I have been incredibly happy with them. I don't know what they have left but would check it out. I bought a 22.5" for myself but with that upright frame I should really have bought the 20.5.

Trek Soho (Carbon Belt Drive)
Giant Seek 1 (Chain)
Devinci Paris (Chain)
Norco Seres (Carbon Belt Drive)
Rocky Mountain Metropolis (Chain)


Kona Dr. Fine
Felt X-City 1
Felt X-City 2
Glove Vienna
GT Traffic 2.0
Motobecane Cafe Express 8
Giant Transcend EX
Bianchi Milano Alfine
Fuji Cambridge
Breezer Uptown 8
Breezer Finesse
Gary Fisher Simple City 8
Schwinn Searcher NX8

I started out looking only at Alfine bikes. But a recent question in this forum informed me that the Nexus hubs model 8R36 should be near the quality. However, it's hard to tell which Nexus bikes have the higher quality hubs.

I'm finding it hard to find any of these bikes in the LBS in my area. I did get a chance to ride the SOHO. Very nice feel to it, but the brakes took a lot of force. Didn't feel confident.

I suspect that virtually every major manufacturer, and a large number of minor ones, all have a Nexus 8/Alfine bike in their lineup. The problem is finding one that is in the OP's specified price range as the general price range for these seems to be more in the $700 to $1000 area. If want to go ultra fancy with Dynamo lighting and fenders and rack included as standard then it goes higher such as the Breezer Uptown8 or the Civia Hyland Alfine. Both very nice bikes IMO.

I got a 2008 Rocky Mountain Metropolis last week to be used for my winter commuter this year.(Birthday present from my wife)

It has a Afine 8 speed IGH. The changes made are Easton EA70 flat bar & Ritchie WCS stem. I'll install Schwalbe Marathon Winter 700c x 40 once the snow start to stay on the ground. So far, so good, it handles nice and rides fairly smooth.

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c76/TequilaJoe888/Rocky%20Mountain%20Metropolis/IMG_0829.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c76/TequilaJoe888/Rocky%20Mountain%20Metropolis/IMG_0830.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c76/TequilaJoe888/Rocky%20Mountain%20Metropolis/IMG_0832.jpg

How about the Globe (Specialized) Haul (http://www.globebikes.com/us/en/globe/GlobeBike.jsp?pid=10HAUL2)?

I like that one. Kind of like cargobike-lite

Some more that haven't been mentioned yet:
Specialized Globe Live 2 & 3
Dahon Glide P8, Ciao P8, Cadenza 8 and Mu XL Sport
Electra Townie Euro 8i and Amsterdam Royal 8i
BikeFriday Season tikit

tcs

I'm thinking about getting a "bad weather" bike for the real nasty Vermont snowstorms and could use some help from anyone in the know about what pre-built bikes exist for me. I'd like something with a more upright posture, no derailleurs, internal shifting (prefer 8 speed), chain guard, etc. Would prefer disk brakes but that's not a dealbreaker. I will need fenders and a rack but I can add those things after if they're not included. I intend to use studded snow tires.



Any other suggestions for bikes I should look at?

Wickedcold-

I have the Jamis 3 for my winter commuter.
Got it at Old Spokes Home Had them mount my W106 tires, they are a tight fit under the
fenders - but they fit.
Could probably call the bike my "awful weather ride", have ridden it in freezing rain, sleet, snow,
slush, on ice, mud; temp to -20 F; takes a licking and keeps ticking [to paraphrase a slogan].
Changed the seat to a B-68. The handlebar grip angle was not quite right for me, so I had a LBS
put on an origin8 space bar- now a pretty good fit. Starting its third season soon.
If it fell apart today I'd probably get another, but OSH did have Breezers- might look at one.
I recently test rode a Specialized IGH 3, just in a parking lot. It had disc brakes. However it cost more and is only a 3 speed - not quite sure 3 is enough for some local hills. A nice bike.

This is Raleigh USA's tribute to the famed Raleigh Sports!

Other bikes I know of have been mentioned already - I would suggest the Giant Trans Send EX:


http://www.giant-bicycles.com/_upload_us/bikes/models/zooms/2009/Tran-Send-EX-Olive.jpg

http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-us/bikes/lifestyle/2306/32160/


The Bianchi Milano Alfine is cheaper at my local bike shop, to:
http://thehubbikecoop.org/product/bianchi-2009-milano-alfine-53837-1.htm

Personally, I would prefer the trans send, though.

Other bikes I know of have been mentioned already - I would suggest the Giant Trans Send EX:


http://www.giant-bicycles.com/_upload_us/bikes/models/zooms/2009/Tran-Send-EX-Olive.jpg

http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-us/bikes/lifestyle/2306/32160/


The Bianchi Milano Alfine is cheaper at my local bike shop, to:
http://thehubbikecoop.org/product/bianchi-2009-milano-alfine-53837-1.htm

Personally, I would prefer the trans send, though.

To me, that Transend has a fatal flaw by requiring a chain tensioner. I assume Giant was trying to keep the price down by using the same dropouts as the other models that do not use an internal geared hub or not incorporating an eccentric bottom bracket.

To me, that Transend has a fatal flaw by requiring a chain tensioner. I assume Giant was trying to keep the price down by using the same dropouts as the other models that do not use an internal geared hub or not incorporating an eccentric bottom bracket.

You know, I would have thought so to. I bought a Civia Highland Alfine which has no chain tensioner.

But owning it, aesthetics aside, I'm not sure it's that big of a deal. Now it could be a big deal if the bike had a full chaincase - but it doesn't. And the "no tensioner" thing means that as the chain stretches you have to adjust some quirky screws to keep it tight. I'm not saying it's tough, but it's something extra. And I've wondered if it would be easier or harder to get the back wheel off with a chain tensioner - might be easier, not sure.

That's been my experience/thoughts. Other than the aesthetics (which aren't *that* big of a deal), I don't think a chain tensioner would have any influence on which bike I bought the second time around.