Commuting - the importance of a good bike

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aturley
04-19-02, 07:06 PM
I think I finally figured out why I wasn't riding to work at the beginning of the week. I've fallen in love with riding my fixed gear bike. Which is fine, except that it has no rack, so it makes a bad commuter if I plan on taking my own lunch. I think I was just dreading lugging my heavy commuter out, so instead I would just chicken out and drive. I rode the commuter in today, so hopefully I've broken myself of this attitude, but I'm still seriously trying to figure out a way to get a road bike for my commute.

And yes, I could put a rack on the fixed gear, but then it just wouldn't be the same. I'm aiming for simplicity.

andy

MichaelW
04-20-02, 01:30 AM
There is no need for a commuter bike to be a heavyweight agricultural machine, or an ultra-light racing machine. You need to be somewhere in the middle ground.

My road bike has eyelets for a rack. It also has horizontal dropouts, so can be converted to a single/fixed, and clearance for 32mm tyres, or 28+fenders.
This is an older style of bike and I bough the frame 2nd hand.

Modern racing bikes lack these, so make really bad commuters.
RainmanP
04-21-02, 07:33 PM
Andy,
Man, just throw a few things into a light backpack and ride what you feel like. My regular commuter has all the goodies - rack, pannier, fenders, lights, etc., but I ride my two road bikes from time to time, as well with a backpack and little 3-LED headlight for my dark morning ride. I try to plan for those days by taking any extra stuff I might need on the commuter. Variety is the spice of life!
Rainman