Commuting - In pursuit of a well rounded bike

Hey everyone,

I'm new to the forum, but I'm an experienced cyclist. Im only 15, but I've been on wheels since I could walk. I actively ride BMX and I enjoy an ocassional distance ride on my road bike.

I really want a bike that has the following specifications, if possible:

- Speed of a road bike or close to it

- Durability to the extent that I can confidently jump up and down curbs and ride on relatively rough terrain

- Under 30 lbs.

- Not ugly... Most of the commuter bikes are super
Ugly... I really want something that at least isnt bad looking ..

- semi-knobby tires

My main use will be simply to get around town(Dallas) and ocassionally ride for pleasure.

Please comment and make suggestions.
Thanks in advance.
--
Sam

The ideal bike is probably the one you build up for your requirements.
There are a couple of styles that may work well:
Non suspension MTB
Cyclo cross
Tourer.
Road bike (with long drop caliper brakes)
On flat terrain you may not need lots of gears. You can simplify the bike using singlespeed or fixed gear. Look for a frame with horizontal rear dropouts so you can tension the chain.
You probably need a frame with threaded eyelets for rack and fenders.
The last option: road bike , is one that uses long drop brakes so you can fit medium tyres. These are sometimes called winter training or light-touring bikes.

Surley seem to specialize in these general-purpose all-round useful bikes.

Hey everyone,

I'm new to the forum, but I'm an experienced cyclist. Im only 15, but I've been on wheels since I could walk. I actively ride BMX and I enjoy an ocassional distance ride on my road bike.

I really want a bike that has the following specifications, if possible:

- Speed of a road bike or close to it

- Durability to the extent that I can confidently jump up and down curbs and ride on relatively rough terrain

- Under 30 lbs.

- Not ugly... Most of the commuter bikes are super
Ugly... I really want something that at least isnt bad looking ..

- semi-knobby tires

My main use will be simply to get around town(Dallas) and ocassionally ride for pleasure.

Please comment and make suggestions.
Thanks in advance.
--
Sam

I'd suggest a high end hardtail mountain bike. You could use either a lockable front fork or a rigid front fork...I'd suggest the former. If you run hard pack semislicks on it like the Schwalbe CX Comp (http://www.schwalbetires.com/bike_tires/off-road_tires/%252Fcx_comp), you can do some pretty rough mountain biking with it while running relatively fast on the street.

If you are capable of building up your own, get a hardtail mountain bike frame in a larger size so it more resembles a road bike and build it up to your liking. It will be fast, durable and have options of different size tires. I would recommend a 26in wheel as these accelerate quicker and come close to the top speed of a road bike and you can use semi knobby or slicks or both on an as needed basis. Kind of what mine looks like in my avatar.

I'm not sure what you mean by semi-knobby tires. My guess is that knobs on tires are the single biggest factor in slowing down a bicycle. So if you want a reasonably fast bicycle, you want reasonably smooth tires. And if you plan to ride the bicycle mostly on pavement, you don't really want knobs. If you're careful and they aren't too narrow, slicks work fine on gravel, dirt and grass, although not so well in mud.

I agree with MichaelW's suggestions. Your typical contemporary road bike won't fit wide enough tires. A mountain bike with smooth tires and drops would work, and a touring or sport touring bicycle would be great.

Knobs on pavement also make your traction worse, as your contact patch is much smaller; see Sheldon:

http://sheldonbrown.com/tires.html

Check out cyclocross bikes. They are like beefy road bikes with larger tires, and can take a lot of abuse.

I'll also say that cyclocross bikes sound like a good match - or maybe one of the older sports tourer models/styles. Another option is buying a MTB frame and building it up with drops...I LOVE my all arounder MTB conversion and it weighs in at well under 30lbs with a ti frame and rigid steel fork with beefy wheels.

Another vote for cyclecross.

Cyclocross, touring, or fully rigid mountain bike with 2 sets of wheels. One set of wheels set up with knobbies & the other with slicks or semi-slicks. The choice of cyclocross or mountain bike depends on how wide of tires you wan't to be able to run. If you aren't going to run much wider than 35's then cyclocross would probably be better. If around 2" or more, then a mountain bike or some of the tours that take 26" wheels (Surly Long Haul Trucker or Disc Trucker). If you are building or having a shop build, and want wide tires but also lots of speed on the road, you can set up a mountain bike with drop bars. Soma has some 2009 & 2011 Groove frames for sale on the website http://store.somafab.com/mtbframes.html.

I'm not sure why anyone suggested anything but cyclcocross bikes. The OP posted a fairly precise description of a CX bike (except maybe the "not ugly" part).

Check out the Kona Jake or Redline Metro Classic.

Saw a child's 1st bike with wheels that were actually balls ..
they were Round in all directions..

Cyclocross bike would be my vote.

The "not ugly" part depends on whether you consider road bikes or mountain bikes uglier.

The best looking bike in the hybrid category is the Cannondale Bad Boy IMO. If the frame and fork will clear 650B mountain tires you could add a 650B wheelset for hitting rougher trails. This could probably be done with a lot of disc brake hybrids and cross bikes. Here's what I'm talking about.

http://www.bikeman.com/bikeman-blogs/650blog/1888-salsa-la-cruz-650b-conversion

I'm not sure why anyone suggested anything but cyclcocross bikes. The OP posted a fairly precise description of a CX bike (except maybe the "not ugly" part).

Check out the Kona Jake or Redline Metro Classic.

Because there are other options that fit his criteria?

Salsa vaya??

Redline Metro. I have the sport but the classic is even nicer.

Im happy to hear people suggesting hardtail mtbs... Although a front shock will slightly impair my hill climbing ability, they are pretty versatile. I am definitely capable and open yo building a bike.

A rigid mtb frame could be a nice place to start. I could make it a 7 or 10 speed. With one gear in the front... A lot less could break with no front derailur/gears.

Im completely amazed by the community on this forum. I definitely plan to become and active member. Everyone is so knowledgable and willing to help.

I ride moutain bikes every weekend with a buddy of mine who has a Fisher Mamba. I like his hike a lot, but it doesnt hop very well..

In a perfect world, I would have a mtb with road tires(not slicks, not small, but for the road... Hybridish.) i ride dirt jumps sometimes, so it needs to be strong, but my main concernt is maneuverability. I want to be able to control it confidently.

Thank yall so much for your advice. I appreciate it very much. Can anyone articulate on their suggestions based on this post?
--
Sam

Any comments on this...?

http://www.bikerumor.com/2011/03/19/nahbs-2011-form-cycles-29er-touring-commuter-cyclocross-bike-others/

http://brimages.bikeboardmedia.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/nahbs-2011-form-cycles-viaje-29er-commuter-cross-bike01.jpg

Looks legitt.

http://salsacycles.com/files/bikes/bikes_Vaya2_2013.jpg

vaya is sick.

Cannondale Hooligan w/BMX tires.

Cannondale Hooligan w/BMX tires.
The hooligan seems like its a bike that u either love or hate... It doesnt really look like my style. Maybe itd he good for tooling around to starbucks and back, but the wheels would get be hard to pedal and not as effort rewarding. Similarly the standover would get annoying.

Im happy to hear people suggesting hardtail mtbs... Although a front shock will slightly impair my hill climbing ability, they are pretty versatile. I am definitely capable and open yo building a bike.

A rigid mtb frame could be a nice place to start. I could make it a 7 or 10 speed. With one gear in the front... A lot less could break with no front derailur/gears.

Im completely amazed by the community on this forum. I definitely plan to become and active member. Everyone is so knowledgable and willing to help.

I ride moutain bikes every weekend with a buddy of mine who has a Fisher Mamba. I like his hike a lot, but it doesnt hop very well..

In a perfect world, I would have a mtb with road tires(not slicks, not small, but for the road... Hybridish.) i ride dirt jumps sometimes, so it needs to be strong, but my main concernt is maneuverability. I want to be able to control it confidently.

Thank yall so much for your advice. I appreciate it very much. Can anyone articulate on their suggestions based on this post?
--
Sam

A good suspension fork won't impact your hill climbing ability at all. It will actually enhance your hill climbing ability off-road. On road, a good suspension fork won't have too much of an impact either. The problem is with finding a 'good' suspension fork. There are suspension forks on everything from HelMart BSOs to carbon super bikes. However there are only 'good' suspension forks on bikes nearer the high end of the spectrum. Look for an air fork with a lockout. Fox is about the best I've found but you pay for the best. Rock Shox are okay if you are fairly light weight but if you are over 170 lb or so, the lockout function isn't all that positive. Manitou isn't bad in my experience either. Not as plush as a Fox but it's half the price too.

Lots of people jump mountain bikes for very long distances, however the dynamics are different from your BMX. It's a longer heavier bike vs a lighter shorter bike. It just takes different skills.

Any comments on this...?

http://www.bikerumor.com/2011/03/19/nahbs-2011-form-cycles-29er-touring-commuter-cyclocross-bike-others/

http://brimages.bikeboardmedia.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/nahbs-2011-form-cycles-viaje-29er-commuter-cross-bike01.jpg

Looks legitt.

Got a spare $8K laying around? Nice bike but you probably should be looking at college;)

Surly Cross Check.

Surly Troll.

Kona Jake the Snake.

If you're open to something more road-ish this could work.

http://www.competitivecyclist.com/za/CCY?PAGE=PRODUCT&OPTION=LOAD_PRODUCT_BY_ID&PRODUCT.ID=10924

Here's a picture of my On One Il Pompino when I first built it up.

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2599/5852561071_166aa60457_z.jpg

The newer version has slightly longer chainstays to fit bigger tires. 35mm is the recommended max I think. The glow in the dark neon paint was limited edition.

With wide flat or riser bars and V-brakes it would be a pretty idea urban knockaround bike if you're open to the singlespeed thing. It takes a 120mm rear wheel (standard track), so you can run it fixed gear easily too. Hard to see, but there's a gusset on the downtube. It has braze-ons for a rear rack and fenders. I've done some mountain bike trails on it, and I race cross in the singlespeed category on it. One of my favorite bikes, and cheap to boot.

That FORM bike is ugly imo.

I have plenty of expreience jumping mtbs. I ride with a buddy of mine and ive riden at Steamboat, Red River, Big Cedar, Boulder.. Etc. Im not looming to learn, i already know how, but i want it to be able to be jumpedI had no clue that bike was 8 grand :/. I actually really liked it. Not anymore. And rock shoc will do the trick for me. I have had many good experiences with them. I dont necesarrily need shox. I would ideally like a rigid hybrid with flat bars (NOT BULLHORN or CURVED).Some of the bikes thatve been reccomended are great except for the fact they are fragile and couldnt he jumped. What bike resembles the 8k one that i posted?

I like that bike.. I like single speeds. If it was fixed gear itd be amazing imo. But its not what imLooking for, at least for this purchase/build.

What bike resembles the 8k one that i posted?

Salsa Fargo (http://www.salsacycles.com/bikes/fargo) - nice bikes, very versatile, but from what I've read, these really shine when fully loaded with gear. These are in the $1,500-2k range as pre-built bikes, or you can get a frame/fork for 500 bucks and build it up how you want.

Singular Gryphon (http://www.singularcycles.com/shop/index.php/frames/singular-gryphon.html) (Available only as a frame/fork - you build it up the way you want). I ride one of these, and really like it. You can configure it just about any way you like (including single speed/fixed). The US distributor is HERE (http://theprairiepeddler.blogspot.com/) If memory serves, the frame/fork is about $700 then the build will be based on your budget and preferences. You could build one up pretty nice for a touch over $2k.

Here's a pic from the Singular website:
http://www.singularcycles.com/shop/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/g/r/gryphon.png



This actually raises the question - what is your budget?

Here's a CX bike I bought a few months ago:
http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=focus+mares+ax3.0&hl=en&sa=X&tbo=d&biw=1384&bih=780&tbm=isch&tbnid=yHpXqA5ANlCmwM:&imgrefurl=http://www.wheelworx.ie/focus/Mares-AX30&docid=4vGmo2VnIJoArM&imgurl=http://www.wheelworx.ie/image/cache/data/Focus/mares-ax30-500x500.jpg&w=500&h=291&ei=qiDdUKyAHejC0QX874CwAg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=836&vpy=136&dur=41&hovh=171&hovw=294&tx=178&ty=56&sig=110226762829690133117&page=1&tbnh=135&tbnw=232&start=0&ndsp=29&ved=1t:429,r:4,s:0,i:100

It might be something you like, or similar. I found the CX tires, surprisingly, punctured easily on roads so they were swapped out. IDK what it's like off-road, I think it would be ok considering I've taken my 25mm slick-tire'd road bike on trails (a bunch of fun for different reasons!).

Salsa Fargo (http://www.salsacycles.com/bikes/fargo) - nice bikes, very versatile, but from what I've read, these really shine when fully loaded with gear. These are in the $1,500-2k range as pre-built bikes, or you can get a frame/fork for 500 bucks and build it up how you want.

Singular Gryphon (http://www.singularcycles.com/shop/index.php/frames/singular-gryphon.html) (Available only as a frame/fork - you build it up the way you want). I ride one of these, and really like it. You can configure it just about any way you like (including single speed/fixed). The US distributor is HERE (http://theprairiepeddler.blogspot.com/) If memory serves, the frame/fork is about $700 then the build will be based on your budget and preferences. You could build one up pretty nice for a touch over $2k.

Here's a pic from the Singular website:
http://www.singularcycles.com/shop/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/g/r/gryphon.png



This actually raises the question - what is your budget?
I like the Gryphon that similar to what i have in mind. With some Crow Bars or something similar, it would br pretty sick.

I dont have a precise budget, but under 2.5k is what im going for. Preferabley less. I was thinking more around 1200

I am by no expect no bikes, I have read somewhere else in here that traditional road frames in particular higher end ones are designed for about 250lbs carry weight. But a cx frame has much the same geometry but built for more abuse, even though how would it handle jumps. I understand a lot of the force is absorbed in the tires and riders legs.

I am by no expect no bikes, I have read somewhere else in here that traditional road frames in particular higher end ones are designed for about 250lbs carry weight. But a cx frame has much the same geometry but built for more abuse, even though how would it handle jumps. I understand a lot of the force is absorbed in the tires and riders legs.

The tires and riders legs do most of the absorbing, no-doubt. As long as you land properly, you wont damage the bike. Id even say that you could jump my carbon fiber road bike with no worries... If you land well. But the issue is you wont always land well and the bike is guna take abuse....

Id have no problem jumping a cx frame with so
Strong forks and not worrying about the bike.

Ps. A proper landing is a level, slightly leaning back landing, ideally on an incline but not necessarrily, where the back wheel hits the ground slightly before the front and the rider is leaning back.

Kona bikes have been mentioned before, but thier cx bikes look really nice.

bikes direct has these if your looking for a different look
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/gravity/zilla.htm

Kona bikes have been mentioned before, but thier cx bikes look really nice.

bikes direct has these if your looking for a different look
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/gravity/zilla.htm

Yeah that bike is nice. Konas are pretty cleann.. It has everything im looking for but im not so sure about bent bars... Do you think it would impair my hopping ability?

I have plenty of expreience jumping mtbs. I ride with a buddy of mine and ive riden at Steamboat, Red River, Big Cedar, Boulder.. Etc. Im not looming to learn, i already know how, but i want it to be able to be jumpedI had no clue that bike was 8 grand :/. I actually really liked it. Not anymore. And rock shoc will do the trick for me. I have had many good experiences with them. I dont necesarrily need shox. I would ideally like a rigid hybrid with flat bars (NOT BULLHORN or CURVED).Some of the bikes thatve been reccomended are great except for the fact they are fragile and couldnt he jumped. What bike resembles the 8k one that i posted?

Easy there tiger. We don't know you or your abilities. Most people who come here ask all kinds of questions from the perspective of a newbie. Don't get your nose out of joint:rolleyes: You are the one who brought up the Mamba and it's lack of hopping ability. If you are looking for a bike that you can jump...and not just do some curb hops and drops...then don't even consider a cyclocross bike. Cross bikes are glorified road bikes and really aren't made for the same abuse that a mountain bike can take. Doing a curb drop on one isn't all that hard nor taxing on the bike's abilities but if you start talking serious air time, look elsewhere.

If you want a bike that you can jump...again not just curb hops...I would suggest that you not go rigid. Unless you are really, really good at soft landings, a shock helps take some of the impact that the headtube experiences in jumping. BMX bikes, with their smaller frames, can take a lot of impact without too much trouble but once you start getting a larger frame, the forces involved start to break things...like frames. Even with a suspension fork, the forces involve can damage the bike.

I would suggest that you go the route that many of us go. Get multiple bikes to fit the conditions that you want to ride in. I know it seems expensive but if you buy a bike that isn't up to what you want to do with it and you break it, you'll end up paying twice anyway. I'd suggest that you buy a good high end used hardtail (stick with a 26er if you want to jump it) and ride the bejebbers out of it. Look for a cross or road bike while you ride the bejebbers out of the mountain bike. When you find one, ride the road bike when you want to go fast (and do little curb drops) and the mountain bike when you want to go big. The mountain bike can also be used on the road...it's not that slow...when you want to ride from trailhead to trailhead. If you can make the mountain bike go fast...speed on a bike is almost all about the engine...you'll make the road bike go that much faster.

There are perhaps hundreds of bikes that fit your criteria. You need to add some more criteria if you are to get meaningful answers.

Easy there tiger. We don't know you or your abilities. Most people who come here ask all kinds of questions from the perspective of a newbie. Don't get your nose out of joint:rolleyes: You are the one who brought up the Mamba and it's lack of hopping ability. If you are looking for a bike that you can jump...and not just do some curb hops and drops...then don't even consider a cyclocross bike. Cross bikes are glorified road bikes and really aren't made for the same abuse that a mountain bike can take. Doing a curb drop on one isn't all that hard nor taxing on the bike's abilities but if you start talking serious air time, look elsewhere.

If you want a bike that you can jump...again not just curb hops...I would suggest that you not go rigid. Unless you are really, really good at soft landings, a shock helps take some of the impact that the headtube experiences in jumping. BMX bikes, with their smaller frames, can take a lot of impact without too much trouble but once you start getting a larger frame, the forces involved start to break things...like frames. Even with a suspension fork, the forces involve can damage the bike.

I would suggest that you go the route that many of us go. Get multiple bikes to fit the conditions that you want to ride in. I know it seems expensive but if you buy a bike that isn't up to what you want to do with it and you break it, you'll end up paying twice anyway. I'd suggest that you buy a good high end used hardtail (stick with a 26er if you want to jump it) and ride the bejebbers out of it. Look for a cross or road bike while you ride the bejebbers out of the mountain bike. When you find one, ride the road bike when you want to go fast (and do little curb drops) and the mountain bike when you want to go big. The mountain bike can also be used on the road...it's not that slow...when you want to ride from trailhead to trailhead. If you can make the mountain bike go fast...speed on a bike is almost all about the engine...you'll make the road bike go that much faster.

Well i have a rigid specialized mtb

2 bmx bikes, both of which are my babies

a nice road bike, mostly carbon fiber

as a trek hybrid thats prestine.

You are right to put me in my place regarding jumping.. My strong suit is undoubtedly bmx. I have ridden park for years and i ride competitively.

I didnt at all mean to say that the mamba wasnt awesome... But i want something more maneuverable as far as chainstays etc.

On my custom Kink, I can jump 4 stacked skateboards (the height of the trucks x4) easily.
Ive done five before... (On flat)

i dont plan on dirt jumping on it, but there are some
hips and jumps on the sidewalk near me and some sewers that we like to ride.

As far as bike strength, im not super concerned. Im 5'7 125lbs. I wont say that ive mastered soft landings for the following reasons, howver, i do plenty finesse:

- Cyccomute doesnt need another opportunity to put me in my place ;)

- im a relatively consistant rider, but im
always pushing my ability and the bike will undoubtedly get dropped.

But in all seriousness, I treat my equipment very well. I care about my belongings.

Cyo, i agree with your statement on cx bikes. They are cool, but its not what im
looking for atm. I like the Salsa. Do you have any experience with it? If so, what are pros and cons?

There are perhaps hundreds of bikes that fit your criteria. You need to add some more criteria if you are to get meaningful answers.

Criteria
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- NOT A CX BIKE

- Tires that can handle dirt

- Id really like disc brakes, i ride in wet conditions frequently...

- light but dialed

- Speed of a road bike or close to it

- Durability to the extent that I can confidently jump up and down curbs and ride on relatively rough terrain


- Under 30 lbs.


- Not ugly... Most of the commuter bikes are super
Ugly... I really want something that at least isnt bad looking ..


- semi-knobby tires


My main use will be simply to get around town(Dallas) and ocassionally ride for pleasure.

Eh, cross bikes aren't that fragile. Not everyone likes drop bars for commuting, but at 125 pounds you're not going to kill a cross bike hopping a few curbs.
http://i.imgur.com/cRxOX.jpg
http://www.sportifimages.com/Cyclocross2012/Colorado-State-CX/Singlespeed/i-7gHBNjC/0/M/COLORADO_STATE_CX_CHAMPIONSHIPS-2973-M.jpg

Yeah ur right about that... But thats off of a huge launch... Im not so sure about cx bikes for
A straight bunny-hop though... Whereas a rigid mtb is much more equipped for jumps, but is lacking in speed and rack space

Anyone familiar with these? They appear to be high quality. http://www.fyxation.com/products/catalog/session-700

Those men jumping those CX bikes look very strong and fit. They may be able to land softly every time. If not, those frames will eventually crack without having a full suspension. That spells disaster for the rider when it completely breaks in half and they go head first in the dirt, possible death will occur. I have to agree with cyccommute on his recommendation of the MTB.

From a durability/cost standpoint a rigid 26" would probably be better.

This would be a cheap and sturdy basis for a 26" commute/knockaround bike.
http://shop.titusti.com/product-p/froovdo126.htm
http://shop.titusti.com/product-p/fooocr26.htm

The Surly Troll as mentioned earlier would be good as well and has a zillion braze-ons for racks, etc... which would make it a bit more commute-friendly.

Going 26" would give you a good selection of wheels too. A lot of people are dumping nice 26" wheels to go 29".

If you want a more road-ish 29"/700c bike the Vassago Fisticuff might be up your alley. It can run rim or disc brakes and fit pretty huge tires. The biggest potential drawback is the track ends/disc brake combo being a bit of a hassle. That and new units won't be available for a while.

http://www.vassagocycles.com/fisticuff/

Well i have a rigid specialized mtb

2 bmx bikes, both of which are my babies

a nice road bike, mostly carbon fiber

as a trek hybrid thats prestine.

You are right to put me in my place regarding jumping.. My strong suit is undoubtedly bmx. I have ridden park for years and i ride competitively.

I didnt at all mean to say that the mamba wasnt awesome... But i want something more maneuverable as far as chainstays etc.

On my custom Kink, I can jump 4 stacked skateboards (the height of the trucks x4) easily.
Ive done five before... (On flat)

i dont plan on dirt jumping on it, but there are some
hips and jumps on the sidewalk near me and some sewers that we like to ride.

As far as bike strength, im not super concerned. Im 5'7 125lbs. I wont say that ive mastered soft landings for the following reasons, howver, i do plenty finesse:

- Cyccomute doesnt need another opportunity to put me in my place ;)

- im a relatively consistant rider, but im
always pushing my ability and the bike will undoubtedly get dropped.

But in all seriousness, I treat my equipment very well. I care about my belongings.

Cyo, i agree with your statement on cx bikes. They are cool, but its not what im
looking for atm. I like the Salsa. Do you have any experience with it? If so, what are pros and cons?

I think the problem with the Mamba for jumping may be the 29er wheels...if that is what it has. The bulk and the larger frame keep it grounded. I think that's going to be a problem with any mountain bike as compared to a BMX but it's going to be worse with the 29er as compared to a 26er. It also has a lot of low end...aka heavy steel...components which don't help.

As to your size and weight, impact is still impact. You can probably get your tiny little carcass into the air higher than I can get my...um...larger frame into the air. A light weight dropped from a longer distance has the ability to build up a lot of momentum and could probably match the kind of impact that I put on my bikes so don't discount a strong frame too lightly:o

I don't have a Vaya but I'm not sure that it's made for your application. It's still pretty close to a cross bike. If you keep the wheels on the ground most of the time and just drop a curb occasionally, it would probably do as would most cross bikes. You could even jump them like in marqueemoon's post. However, realize that those guys may be paid to ride bikes and they may get their bikes as part of that payment. When someone else is footing the bill, you can ride with wild abandon. When the money for repair or replacement comes out of your pocket, it changes how you look at bicycles.


Yeah ur right about that... But thats off of a huge launch... Im not so sure about cx bikes for
A straight bunny-hop though... Whereas a rigid mtb is much more equipped for jumps, but is lacking in speed and rack space

There are ways to work around the racks. While a Stumpjumper, for example, may not have rack mounts, the Rockhopper does. Even without rack mounts, you can use p-clips to mount racks on a bike without rack mounts. This bike doesn't have rack mounts

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r181/cyccommute/Bikeforum%20pictures/IMG_0765.jpg

and it has a disc mount that interferes with the rack. I use a Delta Disc Rack for the rear rack. I can't really use panniers on it but I don't use panniers for commuting anyway.

Maybe you should take a look along the lines of the Salsa El Mariachi SS.

[LIST]
Strong cromoly steel frame
Rigid fork
Flat bar
29er
Takes wide tires
Single speed
Plenty of dropouts for attaching commuting gear

http://www.salsacycles.com/images/sized/files/bikes/bikes_ElMariachiSS_2013-500pxx349.jpg

Well i supposed death could occur but i wouldnt say that djing a cx bike is a death wish lol. Its just not preferable...

I need something in the middle of a rigid mtb and a cx bike. And the frames rly arent that much weaker.... A broken fork or cracked headtube
Is the most common mishap

Bikes break eventually. Ideally damage is an effect and not a cause of a crash. You improve your odds by riding an appropriate bike for the application and checking it regularly.

Riding a bike in traffic twice every weekday is risky too.

Well isnt pretty much any bike that ur paying 1k+ for
Guna have a strong frame?

And i know that all these can do Curb drops, heck ive done curb drops On my tri bike... But i want something thay at the bare minimum can jump up curbs. If fixed gears could just jump up curbs, thats all I would ride. I really like the whole fixie culture and idea, but theyre not versatile.

*Note* I prefer single speed, but i could compromise for gears if the setup was right. And single speed conversioms arent difficult..*note*

Yeah ur right about that... But thats off of a huge launch... Im not so sure about cx bikes for
A straight bunny-hop though...

Seriously? I haven't kept up with this thread, so I'm not sure what kind of commuting you're planning that requires front squish, but...

http://cyclephotos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/2012-cx-world-cup-tabor-53-rob-peeters.jpg

Granted, you can break carbon this way too, but bunny hopping barriers isn't particularly uncommon anymore.