jgib

I have been on my bike search for quite some time now, including visiting many bike shops, riding different bikes, and educating myself with the help of many of you. I know that I want a FAST straight bar commuter style, that can handle good distances and be tough enough to handle abuse. I want the bike to be able to accomodate tire sizes 28 to 37. Comfort is also important for a 6'1 160 lbs guy. Oh, and most important is that the bike be fun as hell to ride (nimble & Fast enough for the road, yet universal for hopping off curbs & occasional gravel) . All this being said, here are a few that I have been giving a second look:
1.Bianchi Backstreet
2. Kona Dew Deluxe
3. Jamis Coda Sport
4. Bianchi Boardwalk
5.specialzed sirrus
Please feel free to enlighten me with you knowledge and opinions about my search, the bikes I have listed, or anything else that might be helpful. By the way, I have 34 inch Inseam and trying to figure the appropriate frame size MM and Inches.

chipcom 

Surly Crosscheck or Karate Monkey

ryanparrish

good distance drop bars and trekking bars are very good. I did a 17 mi one way commute with flat bars on the Nishiki never again my hands were horrible so after saving up for my single speed conversion I am saving up for the drop bar conversion depending on the stuff you want to take with you make sure you have a rack for panniers

stapfam

With such a choice of bikes you have suit you- and the many you have not- Look for the LBS that will give you the service that you want. Talk to them and discuss the options. If not happy with the first shop look for the second or third or.............

HardyWeinberg

The best plan, I think. If you can find an LBS that skews toward commuters, or even has any experience w/ them at all (as opposed to roadracers, BMX acrobats, mtn bike crashers...) go w/ them. The bikes are mostly 6 of one half dozen of the other, and you might wind up tweaking whichever one you get to fit you and your riding style just exactly perfectly anyway.

bloodhound

I recommend that you check out the Specialized Sirrus, if it's available at your LBS.
I've had one since July. I'm 6'4", 262 lbs. It has 28mm tires, but will support wider.
For comfort, it has a bouncy(?) seat stem thingy.

Oh, and I rode it for 50 miles in the Honolulu Century Ride.

Mine is the XL 61cm frame which comes with 175mm cranks.

Hope that helps.

jgib

What is the largest tire size that specialized sirrus would accomodate without forcing it on the bike?? I am still interested in the Kona Dew Deluxe( with modifications to improve speed) and Bianchi Backstreet.

ryanparrish

For instance my LBS they have their own frame called the S.O.F.A. King they also have a commuter challenge when you first come in it is kinda intimedating because they have Sevens and Cannondales and Bianchis up front. When you start looking you find surlys in the mix

aadhils

If you wan't something thats fun as (well I would not use hell, as it's not really fun) to ride, get a fixed gear...

Artkansas 

You want enlightenment?

Attachment is the root of suffering.

fenester

I don't have a specific bike suggestion, but regarding flat bar:
You don't have that many hand position options. Following on ryanparrish's suggestion, bullhorn bars will give you a few more options too. Another option is to have cross-levers installed on a dropbar bicycle. (the cross levers basically let you have mtb style brake levers on the flat portion of the dropbars in addition to the regular dropbar brake levers)

I was looking for a similar bike, and ended up having my LBS build up a road bike from a SOMA smoothie-es frame with cross levers. I haven't ridden a dropbar bike in years, so I was a little hesitant to commit to it. But after doing more ~20 mile rides I was convinced I wanted the options the dropbars afford.

jgib

What is the largest tire size a Specialized sirrus can accomodate?? More opinions on the Kona Dew Deluxe and the Bianchi Backstreet???

hairlessbill

Surly Cross-check can go to 700x45c on the tires and you can convert to fixed/SS easily. Comfortable as any road bike I've ever ridden and can go offroad pretty well. Hard to beat for a $330 frame/ $800 bike.

Lurker1999

I have a Jamis Coda Sport. It comes with 28mm tires. You can add some bar ends for added hand positions if you're looking to get more hand positions. For a 34 inch inseam you could likely try out the 21.5" model which has a standover height of 32.13 inches or the 23" model with a height of 33.19.

I can't comment on handling as I'm still the limiting factor vs. the bike but i'm sure the extra 20 pounds of rack, pannier, lock on the back of the bike aren't helping my cause at present. I'm pretty sure I could put 35mm tires on if I wanted to. It has two eyelets front/back for fenders and racks. For $600 I'm quite happy.

bloodhound

hmmmm... I only have the 28's, so I can't tell you for sure. I was shopping for new tires a couple weeks ago and the LBS said 32's would be fine (I went with the 28's again).

My commute is part MUP, part road, and plenty of glass/gravel. I swapped out the stock tires for Armadillos and have been extremely happy. I stopped getting flats when I went from the 22/28 tubes to the 28/32 tubes... and I haven't had to put air in them since I put them in.

Anyway... the 28's have been great for the commute. Plenty fast, with enough footprint to give a comfortable ride.

bloodhound

my bikeIMG_0172c.jpg

Lurker1999

If only I could just park my bike in my office. It would make life so much easier. Alas I have to remove everything thievable when I lock the bike up.

jgib

Very nice setup!! Thanks for the pic.

dynaryder

I briefly looked at putting cross tires on mine. 32's will fit. You could prolly do 35's if they were smooth.