Commuting - bike identification and gear help

I just bought Fuji Monterey 12-speed bike. The bike has "suntour seven" derailleur and suntour shifters. It also has Dia Compe sidepull brakes. The shifters are mounted on the stem. It has number 667 on the tube. Can anyone guess what year, original price this bike could have been? I'll post pics of it tomorrow after work if that helps.

I'm very excited to get my bike commuting started. But first I need to buy the necessary gears like helmet, clothes, shoes, etc. Does anyone have any recommendation?

hmm. Either the bike must be really old or rare. 20 reads, no reply.

Well, I can't help you with the bike ID, you may try the classic/vintage forum.

As for gear, a lot of it really depends on where you're riding, and how long your commute is going to be.

A helmet is a given, obviously. I would recommend bike shorts if your commute is going to have you on your bike for any length of time. I would also recommend a mirror if your going to be playing in traffic. Gloves are mandatory for me on any ride that's longer than a quick trip to the coffee shop. Taking water is a good idea for longer commutes, too.

I would also say that a rack, a set of cheap panniers, and a rain jacket stored on the bike at all times has also help me out on many occasions.

I don't have any special clothes - i figure if it rains, I'll get wet and after the first 5 minutes you won't feel the cold (depending how cold it is...). I just wear a cotton t-shirt and a really light pair of shorts. And I'm fine without clipless pedals - I just have straps and toe clips which I use with a pair of runners. A lot of people swear by clipless pedals but I'm happy without them - ignorance is bliss I suppose. I just use a backpack to carry a change of clothes in and me lunch. I also have cateye lights front and back. Decide if you mainly want to see with or be seen with your front light and then decide what type to get (cateye have LED lights for both purposes which will be bright for 30hrs - and mine will stay visible for 110hrs). I aso use a cyclecomputer - justa basic one so I can see my current speed mainly - see sigmasports.comor cateye.com (I have the sigma 800 model though you may like one with average speed) - I think the sigma models have a more universal mounting system (mine uses o-rings which allow me to mount it onto my non-circular stem). Be sure to have some water and maybe a snack for halfway. Apart from that, happy riding mate. (..and wear a helmet)

I just bought Fuji Monterey 12-speed bike. The bike has "suntour seven" derailleur and suntour shifters. It also has Dia Compe sidepull brakes. The shifters are mounted on the stem. It has number 667 on the tube. Can anyone guess what year, original price this bike could have been? I'll post pics of it tomorrow after work if that helps.

I'm very excited to get my bike commuting started. But first I need to buy the necessary gears like helmet, clothes, shoes, etc. Does anyone have any recommendation?

Is it Fuji VALite tubing? Is the rear dropout spacing 126mm (normal 6-speed spacing) or 120mm (ultra-6 spacing)? My guess is early 80's and around $250

Is it Fuji VALite tubing? Is the rear dropout spacing 126mm (normal 6-speed spacing) or 120mm (ultra-6 spacing)? My guess is early 80's and around $250


Not sure where on the tube to look for. It says "Fuji Hi-tension steel tubing 667" on the tube below the seat. Does that help?