Commuting - what kind of bike???

What kind of bike do you used to ride to office/work place???
I ride my old school MTB...

My Trek 7500...a hybrid. It's a very nice, comfortable ride.

Hey I just noticed I graduated from Newbie to Junior Member! :fun:

I ride my RANS wave recumbent bike.

My mountainbike, a -94 Cannondale M600, whith dropbars and barend shifters, V brakes, rear rack for panniers (Karrimor) and a barbag (VauDe). Richey Cross Bite tyres 1,1". I´m very happy with it. I love it!
Anders
Sweden

I ride my "old" road bike, '99 Raleigh R600.
http://home.mindspring.com/~rhorne/smRaleigh.jpg

I ride my '93 Giant Innova, a hybrid updated with V-brakes, aero bars (I'm mostly on the highway), 32mm tires, and the usual lights, rack, rack pack, and sometimes a pannier.

As with my other bikes, I've also got a wedgie with tools and spare tube, and pump, water bottles etc. that stay on each bike all the time.

I use a cateye HR-100 computer, and my other two bikes have the same mount, so I just switch it (after changing tire size) to each bike.

BTW, nice looking commuter Ron!

This Novara Randonee is my usual commuter, although I ride my Airborne as often as possible. I washed the bikes today, and snapped this:

Here's the Airborne, not "dressed for work:

A Giant MTB with rack and semi-slicks. Works for me.

Richard

i usually ride my old MTB (not really so old) - '97 Norco Torrent with XT and Judy XC fork, fenders, rear rack, panniers, clipless pedals, semi-slick tires (studded snow tires in winter)... it's much more than i need for a commuter, but i have safe parking at work, so why not?

sometimes i ride my road bike ('97 Raleigh R700) like today since i will be taking a training ride right after work

sometimes my new MTB ('02 Stumpjumper FSR XC Comp) usually if it needs to go to the shop b/c the bike shop is right by my office

and occaisonally i ride my old old MTB ('89 Stumpjumper rigid) which is my city commuter for when i don't want to wear cycling shoes or the parking is not safe.

For me i always ride my c'dale road bike to and from places. It's old and i love it but i'm thinking of getting a newer bike. then when i just sport ride to and from some places in my area i have to use my MTB.

I am now using an old Schwinn Le Tour as my commuting bicycle. Until last week, I was using a Trek 1440 for that chore, but decided that since i had the Schwinn sitting in the garage, and have been fixing it up for over 15 years, that I should start riding it to work. I took off the rack from the Trek, and the handlebar bag, and put them onto the Le Tour. In the process, I stripped down the Trek to it's minimum configuration. The results were very, very interesting.

The Le Tour is designed to do this job. It is more stable loaded than riding it without the load. It is smoother than the Trek, and takes the bumps much nicer than the Trek. The bar-end shifters I put on it some years ago work very well. I'm still riding it with toe clip pedals (the better rode ones--got them used too). Over the years I probably put $100 into fixing it up, verses ~$1500 for a new bicycle. It is still a 10 speed, but I find that I don't need more than the 5 speeds this gives me. So this has become my main commuting bike.

The Trek, stripped down, is a totally different bicycle. It's "squirrely," the handling is much different (better) and it simply begs to go fast. So I'll be taking longer rides with this bike, and enjoy it as it was meant to be riden. I may even upgrade it to brake shifting from down tube shifting.

It's been an interesting ride, and one that continues.

Originally posted by John C. Ratliff
The Le Tour is designed to do this job. It is more stable loaded than riding it without the load.

I think others share your opinion. One of the riders in the 4660-mile fully-loaded "Red aCross America" ride (www.redacrossamerica.org) happily rode an old Le Tour.



For light loads, I use my 1959 Capo road bike (full 531 frame, long wheelbase, 700Cx28 Armadillo tyres, full lightweight mudguards, Pletscher "mousetrap" rack, original Weinmann centerpull brakes and Campag. downtube shifters). Since the Capo gets very whippy when loaded, I sometimes use my mountain bike (1988 Schwinn KOM-10, featured in the RedaCrossAmerica finish line Fox News video clip), instead.

I ride my GT Nomad about half the time. The other half of the time, when I bring an extra lunch to work the day before, I will ride my fixed gear bike. The Nomad is good for hauling stuff around, but the fixie is fast and fun.

andy

my custom build (by me :D) Leader 59 cm road bike... I don't use panniers so normally I'll carry around 10-20 lbs on my back. (books weigh you down :p)

Cannondale Bad Boy Ultra.
I have been riding to work nearly everyday since October 2001. The warm and snowless winter made commuting a pleasure. I ride with my backpack which usually contains about 15-20 pounds of junk.

I use my 1976 Schwinn Super Le Tour 12.2 every day for all my errands at lunch time, a good compromise as a drive to work is not easily done at the early hour I have to be in, so doing my errands to the bank, post office and movie rental houses it works well and most days I put in about 10 to 12 miles during the lunch hour so that isn't a BIG ride but then it's my second year of doing this as a habit and I'm enjoying it a lot more this year!

G2

I ride a bridgstone RB-t re-fit with shimano Dura-ace tripple front, XTR rear with rack on both ends. I generally carry rear panniers and a trunk bag and a night rider classic lighting system, When I travel light I ride a Raleigh technium re-fit with shimano Dura-ace double, when it's really wet and dirty out, I ride an Iron Horse AT 50 re-fit with shimano XT and a topeak rack. I also have an Iron Horse MT-400 for off road riding built with shimano XT and a Fat City straight blade rigid fork.

I ride my '02 Specialized Stumpjumper FSR XC to work so that I can hit the trails over lunch break. When I ride to campus I take my '99 Giant Rincon SE. I'm taking the knobbies off of it and putting on skinny tires so that it's more of a hybrid bike. That's also my foul weather bike. It's nice to have options.

I carry my weeks worth of clothing and stuff in the panniers of an old Gary Fisher "Sphinx," it is my basic commuter, I had it out fitted with 700/47s this winter for a bigger footprint in the Minneapolis treacherous icey roads.
When I don't have to carry anything to work or home or somewhere else I hop on my Raliegh Technium, supercourse(of course this means I will also have to "ride") and usually take liberties with my ride home, extending them to 30 miles home, and often 20 miles to work, making it a half-century day.
I haven't ridden the fixie to work yet, I'm afraid I will like it too much, and the old school Schwinn Collegete hasn't been out of the basement yet. I also want to ride the MTB to work, as there are some really sweet single track trails on the way to work.
I don't think I've left any bike out...

To ride year-round in comfort I have 3 bikes. My winter, maybe there will be ice or slush bike is a Specialized HardRock with Nokian Mount-n-Ground studded tires. My 3 season, dry weather bike is a flat-barred Terry Symmetry with a VauDe handlebar bag. My 4 season wet weather bike is my Terry Flora with rear rack trunk. I swap lighting systems around & use a 4X6 inch array of 18 LED's on the rear. The VauDe handlebar bag holds as much as the rack trunk, but organizes it better.

A fixed gear (42x18) Sterling. Bombproof wheels, Brooks saddle and 48cm(!) handlebar

Old School Schwinn World, fixie

I just bought a Trek 520 Touring and use it as my commuter. It's great for commuting. Takes on the tough road surfaces with ease. It's a tough bike. Comfortable, predictable, confidence-inspiring.

I've done nearly 10,000 commuting miles on a few bikes over the years. A Trek 450 (?) hybrid, which lasted over three years with very, very little maintenance was my mainstay commuter.

I used my road bike recently for about 1000 miles but I was worried about killing it, so I bought the 520. I've been very happy with it.

One day I hope to use it on real tours. But I have too many things going on right now with kids and work and all.

my redline conquest; cyclocross with 35 knobbies. it works well in urban areas.

A Giant Aluxx FS Boulder (entry level aluminium framed MTB not available in the US) with most of the parts upgraded (including a 28-38-48T crankset for better on-road gearing), Vredestein Spider puncture resistant semi-slicks and a Blackburn Expedition 2 rack. Pictures of the bike o the 'pictures of my commute' thread.

Richard

In the "summer" my 1963 Rattray's of Glasgow Flying Scot Continetal, fitted with a Blacburn expedition rack, and in the winter my Sandy Gilchrist 531c frame with the same rack (Hey, it's worked for 17 years and if it ain't broke I won't fix it)

Picture of the scot elsewhere on this site, picture of the SG in my profile.

Just had to reply since I got my new commuting beauty today! I'm now riding a 2003 fuji touring bike. Man is this thing sweet. I also have a gary fisher mtn bike that I used before I got this bike. Can't wait to get out there and ride!

carrie

:) i get to talk about my ride

Just about everyday I ride to work on my... well... custom cycle of sorts... started with an Austro-Daimler 531 54cm cream road frame, made into a fixed gear (flip flop hub - fixed on one side, freewheel on the other... only used the freewheel once and realized how much I coasted - haven't gone back), just finished my handlebars (started with some Azonic wide risers, they were ok - tried drops - no dice, tried priests - no dice) - love my Black Ritchey Comp straight bar cut to about 53cm with brass Ritchey logic levers; cork grips (hole drilled at ends); Newk anatomic drop ends (found a pair from the United Kingdom); ended with washer-shaved Velox plugs; and of course a little brass bell - all mounted on an SR 70mm cold forged stem, blue brake housing, shimano calipers, 700c wheels, 23mm tires (black now, but by week's end they will be tan with brown sidewalls), silver plastic fenders (still seeking a pair of 35mm chrome fenders - all but given up hope really), pair of Shimano M324 hybrid clipless pedals... I like my bike lots... it gets cleaned and polished this weekend

next item will be a Tubus Fly rack and some small panniers (HELP!, i can't stop spending money on my bicycle ;) )

I ride my Easy Racer's Gold Rush Replica. Laid back and loving it.

Here's my Trek 7500....

I ride a 1999 Trek 6500 and tow a Burley d'Lite trailer with laptop, clothes and my dog. Ride is 17 miles round trip/year round. I use IRC Metro's (1.25 front/1.75 rear) during the spring/summer/fall and Nokian M&G's in the winter.

May retire this to my spare bike fleet and pick up a new bike. Interested in ideas. Bike must be able to survive lots of miles and salt/grit winter brings here in Southern Maine, USA

If I want a lie in I use my Orbit swb recumbent.

http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/philandcandice/lst?.dir=/My+Photos/Bikes/Blue&.src=ph&.order=&.view=t&.done=http%3a//photos.yahoo.com/

There it is. Started as an entry level mountain bike. Just put the new wheels deore lx and the michelin city tires on it.

Originally posted by bt_
my redline conquest; cyclocross with 35 knobbies. it works well in urban areas.
That's an intresting bike!!!

I ride my Raliegh M-40 mountain bike with some new 1.25" semi slicks. I'll post a picture one of these days but it's banged up, scratched, and rusty in places. Not a pretty sight. Everything works well on it except that I need to true the wheels.

I use my '99 Specialized HardRock Comp FS I've thrown a set of Avid Arch Rival 40's on it with a set of Travel Agent pullys (noodles rust) I run Specialized Crossroads tires on it (good combo of knobs with a slick center strip for less rolling resistance) I've also slapped a set of Topeak Defenders on it. :D

I am picking up my new 2001 Bianchi Volpe today which I plan to use for commuting. I was going to use my 98 Gary Fisher Marlin but it is 12 miles one-way and it would have been too much of a hard ride since the bike is just a little heavy.

And yes, I bought a really good lock (theft is what I am most worried about).

Originally posted by SteveS
I am picking up my new 2001 Bianchi Volpe today which I plan to use for commuting.
Very sweet. Should do nicely. I liked the Bianchi when I test drove them. Very relaxed. I ultimately opted for a touring bike (Trek 520) for commuting and, eventually, for actual touring.

When I can't bear wearing a backpack (no pun intended) I ride my Fila MTB with Panniers. When i want to go fast I rid my 80s era Centurian le Monde with a backpack full of clothes.

My commuter special.

I use a '02 Gary Fisher Mamba. I like it but its kind of heavy. Its a big mtb. My commute is only about a mile, but I also do a lot of errands, and I bike over to my buddies houses about 5-10 miles away on a regular basis. The Gary Fisher's chain blew off, so I have to use a Diamondback mtbk till I get that fixed up.
:mad:

Pucci, do many people use racers to commute in Japan. I only ever saw one, and that had a kickstand!!

Originally posted by MichaelW
Pucci, do many people use racers to commute in Japan. I only ever saw one, and that had a kickstand!!

Road cycling is getting more popular here; the annual Norikura hill climb race draws 3,000 riders and they turn away people once it�fs full. FYI, Norikura is a 1,400 meter climb over 22kms that peaks at 2,700 meters altitude. Unbelievable views.

Back to your question. In three years of commuting by bike, I haven�ft run into more than a handful of commuters on racers. Not very many real bike commuters at all, in fact.

I�fm a roadie and for me, the commute is training (and rush hour train avoidance.) At 50 kms round-trip and 2/3 of that all hills, a road bike is the only way to go. I keep two sets of clothes at work and shower at a nearby gym.

18 days to Norikura! Wish me luck!

I ride a really old Bianchi Sport SX. I can't put a rack on the back, so I use a backpack.

I use a Trek 7900 hybrid. I recently replaced the bars, brake levers and shifters with drop bars (46cm), DiaCompe aero levers, Dura Ace barcons and an adjustable stem and I have to say it is way more comfortable now. It has 38c Avocet Cross tires on it that I'd like to replace with 30c but I can't seem to wear the Avocets out; they have been on there for about three years and at least 3000 miles. I say at least because I didn't start using a computer until late last year. Lighting has always been a concern because the commute takes me through areas with dense tree canopy and no street lights. There are pictures of my light system on a lighting systems thread in this Forum section. I have recently switched from a 2-D cell system to a 2-C cell system because it is lighter and it seems to work just fine.

'99 Novara (REI) Strada. Streets are flat and mostly smooth here. I keep saying to myself that I'll put on a rack and replace the drops with a straight handlebar and upright stem. Haven't gotten around to it. Probably never will.

'00 Bianchi Veloce, and i keep everything i need in a messenger bag

Here is a pic of my bike
It´s a converted Cannondale M600 from -94. Most of the original parts are changed.

- Fork GT.
- Aheadset Ritchey Logic, Aheadset reducers take the headset down from 1 1/4" to 1 1/8".
- Bottombracket Shimano BB UN 71 (XT), 68 mm x 122,5 mm.
- Chainset (crankarms and rings) Middleburn RS-2, 175 mm, 22, 32, 42 tooth rings.
- Front mech Shimano XT.
- Rear mech Shimano Deore DX.
- Shifters Shimano barend shifters.
- Stem ?
- Handlebar Modolo ergo dropbar.
- Brakelevers Shimano Ultegra 600.
- Pedals Wellgo.
- Front hub Schmidt SON Dynamo hub 36h.
- Rear hub Shimano XTR -94 36h.
- Spokes DT Champion.
- Rims 36h Sun Rhyno 26"
- Tyres Ritchey Crossbite 1,1"
- Kassette Shimano M737-8, 11-28 tooth.
- Chain Sedis.
- Saddle Selle Italia Flite Transalp.
- Seatpost USE 350 mm aluminium with 27,2 mm shim.
- Front brake Shimano XT V-brake with V-daptor to pull more cable.
- Rear brake Shimano XT V-brake with Travel Agent to pull more cable.
- In-Line Cable Adjustors, for adjusting the brake cables.
- Brakeblocks front Shimano XT, rear Shimano XTR.
- Sigma BC-700 computer.
- Air Zound horn.
- Rear rack Cordo.
- Front light Busch & Müller Lumotec Oval Senso Plus (with standlight).
- Rear light Cateye battery lamp.
- VauDe handlebar bag, waterproof.
- Rear panniers Karrimor Iberian.

Anders K