Commuting - New Bicycle Suggestions?

I have been commuting for 2 years on a 9 mile/18 mile roundtrip early am late night commute. I have used a 10 year old Jamis boss beach crusier with wire panniers and a import cheap swiss arm styl seven speed. I am now using a Jamis c earth cruiser that is my wifes nexus 4 speed coster. What do you think about the Breezer 8 Uptown. I intend to use mu commuter light from light motion excellent ?? What do you think of the Breezers 50 yeold flat terrain?

First off, welcome. Second, I see that this is your first post to these forums. So, Welcome again! And, make GOOD use of that search button up there ;) This topic has been covered many times and its always a bit different. What it comes down to is this:

The biggest thing is to get a bike that FITS you. Get one that you can add a rack, fenders, panniers, and a light to. Get one with enough gears to be comfortable. And get one that you LIKE!

The rest is all symantics. Just get a bike that you like and ride the heck out of it. Are there any special conditions for your commute? Mentioning those will bring in much better responses. Get detailed.

PS: I did this search and found tons of stuff,
http://bikeforums.net/search.php?searchid=385266
and if that doesn't work just do a search for 'ultimate commuter'

Thanks. My commute is in FL on flat terrain with lots of afternoon storms. It is about one third sidewalk the rest city streets. Thanks again

I too had a Jamis Earth Cruiser (7-speed) for commuting year-round, and decided to trade up this year to a Trek L200 -- it's a commuter bike built for the European market and brought to the US just this year. It's a real pleasure to ride. I chose it for the 8-speed Nexus and the complete chain cover (take a look on the Trek Web site). My one warning -- i got a rear flat tire last month and my bike shop was baffled -- taking the rear tire off with the Nexus and the internal brake AND the chain cover -- and then putting it all back -- took them many hours, they say, but they charged me for an hour and half. (Sorry to say that I am not built for tinkering with bikes -- i have neither the space at home for it, the tools, the time and the skills.) I has selfsealing tubes installed this time -- but i think that Trek should sell the bike with sturdier tires and tubes, Kevlar whatevers.

I looked at the Breezers and they are swell, but I live in Pittsburgh Pa and no dealers exists, whereas Trek is well represented and my shop could back it up. Also consider the new Specialized Globe if you want a 21-speed

Take a look at the Web site www.commuterbicycle.com -- an enthusiast in Santa Barbara runs it -- a good reference source

Thank you for the info. I am from Harrisburg Pa originally. How does the Trek with the Nexus do on hills?
The flat on the back is a pain and you are right they should have Kevlar as standard from the factory. I am using Armadillos (kevlar) with a liner on my bike that I use to commute. I have never had a flat. I go over a lot of glass (broken bottles) and down here sand spurs with NO problem. Do you like the shifting and the ride on the Trek. I have the same situation with close shops with Trek no Breezer. thanks

My commute might not be the best test case scenario -- i don't encounter hills beyond a gentle grade, and I go 15 minutes to and from Downtown. But I think this new Nexus 8 shifts and feels better than the Nexus 7 i had on the Jamis, and 1st gear is plenty low for me the few times i was on a steepish hill. I like the overall feel of the bike -- it is nimble yet substantial. The large and enveloping chain guard has yet to be fully tested -- i got the bike in June and I like to ride year-round, so it has not been exposed to muck and snow. But after the bike shop had to remove it for fixing the flat, the chain guard has rattled when the bike goes over bumps. I haven't had the time to go back to see if it is a matter of a simple adjustment.
The bike comes with a generator light which is turning out to be better than i thought at first -- it's a bit loud and does slow me down, but it throws enough light to have the bike seen, i think, and it's convenient

BTW, I paid $700 for this Trek L200 plus another $50 in shipping for the special order.

The equipment that works great for me is the commuter light by Light and Motion for about 100 dollars. Great light bright. If I get the Breezer or the TrekI think I would still use it. Can you feel the generator and is it alwyas on? Does it drag if it is not on? I really do not know how it works but want my next bicyle to have have a geneartor light. Especially the rear light I spend a fortune on batteries. In the winter my commute is dark sometimes both ways. I wear a goofy engineers blaze ornge and bight green/yellow reflective stipe vest that was made for road crews, I got from an outfit in Canada on a web search for reflective vests. It has long sleeeves and I have had many folks say it is the brightest on the road-

oh, the generator can be switched on and off -- it fits into grooves in the tire in fact. I see that the most expensive Breezer has that nice hub generator, i have heard somewhere that those are smoother. Trek comes with a light attached to rear rack. Again, my ride is short and largely flat -- i have become used to the drag of the generator and now have come to appreciate the noise it makes -- keeps tipsy pedestrians alert