Commuting - Good Commuter/ Road Bicycle / Cross Bicycle / Light Touring

I am looking for a bicycle that does all these things relatively well in the exact order too. I am a decently experienced cyclist (Race Triathlons and so forth) and am looking for a more relaxed ride than my race bicycle for commuting and training in the hills. Right now I use a 2006 trek 1500 as my race bicycle thats outfitted as a TT bicycle basically and I do not like using it for multiple uses because I finally dialed in a fit like I like that is specific to TT.

Anyways I have about a 6 mile commute to school and would like a bicycle that can possibly be outfitted for racks and has a longer wheel base. I have also thought that getting a cross bicycle would help me move into another race scene that looks like a lot of fun. It also seems that cross bicycles can double as a good commuter as well. I have looked at a lot of cyclocross bicycle and still haven't found the ONE. So maybe with a little help from this forum I can finally figure out what I am looking at. Price is an issue and I'd like to stay as close to $1000 as possible since I am a student.

I have looked at bikes from Trek, Gary Fisher, Specialized, Kona, Surly, Blue, Felt, Cannondale, Motobecane and probably a few I haven't mentioned. I really liked the Gary Fisher steel frame and the treks sram apex drivetrain and the Motobecane's price but I cannot find a bike with all the combinations that I like plus rack mounts and my price range.

Thank you for your input!!

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/fantom_cross_pro_rival.htm

Sram Rival drivetrain, very similar to Apex. You probably saw it too but thought I would post just in case you'd missed it.

Looks like a very versatile machine indeed.

Yes I saw the Sram Rival drivetrain on the Motobecane and the price is really great. I'd just rather support my LBS and I like steel frames better. Gary Fisher has a steel cyclocross frame that seems not to weigh much different than a aluminum frame which I like a lot. For this price range I cannot be too picky and the Motobecane does the trick very well. I like the SRAM Apex because it has a wider range of gears than the Rival counterpart and it could be good for touring. I guess I am just wondering if there is any other bicycle's out there that I haven't looked at that would fit the bill perfect. I am sure there probably is but I'd have to pay more.

Salsa Vaya is exactly what you're looking for, except its a bit outta your price range.

Have you looked into having your LBS build up a Surly Cross Check or Soma Double Cross frame for you? For the components you want, it'll be over a grand, but you can get exactly what you want, and support your LBS.

What did you think of the Kona Jake? It's got a triple, which would give you the wide gear range and does all of the things you asked about well. I haven't seen the '11 model in person and online pictures give me a mixed impression of whether or not it has rack mounts. The 2010 model definitely does and if you can find one they seem to be going for under $800.

yea cross is OK, lots of brands , Trek Portland includes Disc brakes ,
may be a lower BB

but since Cross isn't using Toeclips for 25 years, not an issue..

Maybe look at the Jamis Aurora, Bianchi Volpe, and maybe Specialized TriCross. They might be a little out of your price range so maybe see if they have last years models.

What did you think of the Kona Jake? It's got a triple, which would give you the wide gear range and does all of the things you asked about well. I haven't seen the '11 model in person and online pictures give me a mixed impression of whether or not it has rack mounts. The 2010 model definitely does and if you can find one they seem to be going for under $800.

That is my bike, and my recommendation. 2010 Kona Jake. Slap some more road oriented tires on it, and you're off.

A bike I think is a great deal is the Redline Conquest Classic. Steel with disc brakes http://www.redlinebicycles.com/bikes/fitness/2011-conquest-classic

It's not cyclocross, but my brother just bought from REI the Novara Verita http://www.rei.com/product/807242/novara-verita-bike-2011

Which with the 20% coupon is an awesome deal. Steel bike that will take rack and fenders and uses the SRAM Apex drivetrain. It's more a relaxed road bike or light tourer than cyclocross, but it's a very nice bike.

The Salsa Vaya is a very nice bike and everything that I want except it is not a cyclocross bicycle.

Any vintage (pre 80s) road bike will do.

Have you looked into having your LBS build up a Surly Cross Check or Soma Double Cross frame for you? For the components you want, it'll be over a grand, but you can get exactly what you want, and support your LBS.'t

No I haven't asked for the LBS to build a bicycle for me. I could actually build the bike myself but still I think the total cost would be out of my price range. Surly Cross Check looks real nice especially the blue one.

What did you think of the Kona Jake? It's got a triple, which would give you the wide gear range and does all of the things you asked about well. I haven't seen the '11 model in person and online pictures give me a mixed impression of whether or not it has rack mounts. The 2010 model definitely does and if you can find one they seem to be going for under $800.

I like the Kona Jake, I actually saw one on ebay that was 2008 major jake frameset but it was too large for me but I loved the color green. I am keeping my eyes peeled for a good deal on a late model that is actually how I have purchased all my bicycles I own now.

Maybe look at the Jamis Aurora, Bianchi Volpe, and maybe Specialized TriCross. They might be a little out of your price range so maybe see if they have last years models.

I like the Jamis but I am not sure how well of a cross bicycle it would be for racing. If I wasn't going to race it I would probably choose this bicycle very nice. Looking for last years model of tricross for sure. The Bianchi Volpe, I think, is not made anymore and I am not sure of who carries bianchi in my city.

That is my bike, and my recommendation. 2010 Kona Jake. Slap some more road oriented tires on it, and you're off.

I like the Kona Jake just looking for one with the right components for the right price is difficult along with the correct size.

A bike I think is a great deal is the Redline Conquest Classic. Steel with disc brakes http://www.redlinebicycles.com/bikes/fitness/2011-conquest-classic

It's not cyclocross, but my brother just bought from REI the Novara Verita http://www.rei.com/product/807242/novara-verita-bike-2011

Which with the 20% coupon is an awesome deal. Steel bike that will take rack and fenders and uses the SRAM Apex drivetrain. It's more a relaxed road bike or light tourer than cyclocross, but it's a very nice bike.

I think that I am looking for a bicycle with cantilever brakes even though I personally think disc brakes are AWESOME but, unfortunately I think some cyclocross races do not allow you to have em so better to err on the safe side. And the Rei bicycle is a nice bike but again I think I really want a cyclocross.

I like the Kona Jake just looking for one with the right components for the right price is difficult along with the correct size.

You're right. I got lucky with mine. A couple months ago, I found one in my size, at a good price, and jumped on it. Good luck!

You're right. I got lucky with mine. A couple months ago, I found one in my size, at a good price, and jumped on it. Good luck!

Yea I am keeping my eyes peeled for great deals on ebay and craigslist. I am not opposed to buying used at all either because I am a decent mechanic and what I can't do I can learn to do or take it to the LBS for them to do.

I think that I am looking for a bicycle with cantilever brakes even though I personally think disc brakes are AWESOME but, unfortunately I think some cyclocross races do not allow you to have em so better to err on the safe side. And the Rei bicycle is a nice bike but again I think I really want a cyclocross.

Disc brakes are now allowed in cyclocross. http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/uci-allows-disc-brakes-for-cyclo-cross

Not sure if that changes your mind or not.

Disc brakes are now allowed in cyclocross. http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/uci-allows-disc-brakes-for-cyclo-cross

Not sure if that changes your mind or not.

Actually it does. Now I am think really hard about the salsa vaya. I am actually probabaly going to check the LBS today that carries Salsa to how it feels and if they have any older models they might sale me for a discount to get me in my price range.

Thanks for the heads up JAG410!!

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/740139-Road-Cyclo-bike-1000

More suggestions, thoughts in this very recent thread. As long as you're talking 'light' touring, you have many choices nowadays.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/740139-Road-Cyclo-bike-1000

More suggestions, thoughts in this very recent thread. As long as you're talking 'light' touring, you have many choices nowadays.

I checked out the thread. Very similar to my needs. Thank you for the heads up. I think I just have a bit of research to do and test rides and so forth to see what I like. Nobody in my town has the Salsa Vaya so I couldn't test one but there is a LBS that carrys the Kona Jake although I am not fond of it's choice of colors this year and the aluminum fork. I'd probably rather have the Major Jake but it's out of my price range and again I am not fond of what they did with the color this year. I liked the older ones. We will see what happens. Might just end up commuting on my Mt. Bicycle I just got a few weeks back. Which won't be too bad but I was hoping for a zippy little commuter that would help me break my way into the cross scene as well.