all good points Craig

just as the 'best bike' selection depends on the rider and the type of riding typically done, the best commute bike depends on terrain, conditions, riding style, etc.

Having tried them all I prefer the mtb in NYC. But a hybrid or cross, etc - anything that will accomodate wider 700s and set up with a flat bar and bar ends - suits me fine too as a second choice.

1) Speed: No question a road bike is faster, given the lighter weight. I usually don't like to quote average speed. I just measure time of commute. On my Sequoia, I cover 3.8 miles in 19-21 minutes going to work. It's up a 1.2 mile, fairly steep hill with the rest steeply rolling. Very little flat running. Coming home doesn't count. On my '88 Trek 830, (pictured below) it's 23-25 minutes.

2) Price: The sky's the limit. For what it's worth, I blow by some very pricey bikes on that hill on a regular basis. One guy always seems to want to chase me. Well, maybe he's already put out 30 miles, I don't know. I paid $500 for that 830 back then. You might find it for $100 now. Great bike. The Sequoia's just a rec-roadie I got on sale for $950. Fun bike.

3) Comfort and Carrying capacity: Goes solidly to the all rigid, old school 830. It's as comfy as my 520 and has more hardpoints for racks and panniers! Just try and find that on a modern mtb. No question about carrying capacity: road bikes have little or none. I used a backpack with the Sequoia and ended up going back to the 830 after four days.

4) Flexibility: I use the 830 for everything including centuries. I don't have a single purpose bike. The Best Bang For The Buck? Very subjective here, but I favor recycling a good old bike. Few bikes get much use and good ones abound. Unless you find a good sale, you will be over charged at any LBS for a new one. I got my '98 Trek 520 (near mint) for $550, fully dressed with racks, fenders, Brooks and Nitto stuff. I can't believe what they go for new and naked. Same with my new Sequoia Elite. If it wasn't marked down to the degree it was, I'd have passed. Buy a decent used rigid mtb. They are the toughest bikes ever built, with the possible exception of Euro 3-speeds.

You didn't mention tour machines. They are also excellent all-rounders. However, due to the hills, my commuting is done on the 830 because it has OvalTech chainrings.

This pic shows a very large old school mtb. I bought it that way because I knew I would never be an off-road rider except for maybe the occasional greenbelt shortcut. Plus, in 1988, if you wanted a truly comfortable bike, you had to buy an mtb. It was that or a roadie, and there was nothing around like a Sequoia at the time either, with it's relaxed geo. It is one poor man's attempt at a good solid Expedition/Atlantis type. It now has North Road bars, Brooks B67, clipless peds, Freddies, and 1.5" Armadillos. Original mid-range Deore DR's and shifters which work as smooth and quiet as my other 105 $tuff. Sakae Ovaltech chainrings and cranks (forged). I recently changed the freewheel to a low of 28t. I've lost some climbing power but gained some road speed. I don't know - I might go back to the 32t.
http://i10.tinypic.com/455mczt.jpg

cool bike!

I am still doing the backpack thing (actually waterproof mssngr bag today as rain is in the forecast).

I need to break down and try a blackburn or similar knock off rack.bag. My 93 Marin has all the fittings too, I just never used them.......

I'll point out that I've commuted to work on a unicycle (couldn't find a rack, however :D). If it were me and I was riding not off-road, throw some slicks on a mountain bike and your 80% of the way there.

Take a star nut and install it in the bottom of your steerer tube. Then you can put some sort of fender in there, making sure it has clearance for the suspension travel.

Probably figured it out by now. Had 8 years to think it over.:)

Seatpost rack!

ZOMMBBEEEEE:eek:

O.k. I admit I've thought of it since (it's been about 20 years since I've commuted using a unicycle). I'm currently rusty, so adding additional weight in weird places might not be such a good idea (although, compared to a backpack, maybe it reailly is a better idea). Might hurt more when I fall, though.

Huh. Lots of food for thought. :D

Wow, 8 years. That may be a new record. Not even an errant post in between.

What if you used two seatpost racks, front and back so that it stays balanced?

This made me laugh.

For the record, there was an errant post in between and it was deleted. As I click on "go to new posts", it wasn't obvious that the thread was a Zombie when I posted (yes, I could have looked at the start date before I clicked "new posts"...)

I thought you were just bored and wanted to break out a commuter unicycle.

I like to see old threads revived because it means someone actually did a search on a topic instead of starting the umpteenth thread about "What did you name your bike?" or "Has anyone ever ridden an MTB with slick tires?" And sometimes new threads on the same topic will be started within hours of each other when if the thread-starter had even looked at "Today's Posts" they'd have seen the earlier thread.

#somepeopleschildren

Nah... I'm enjoying my recumbents too much. I guess I could try commuting on a recumbent unicycle.

http://www.unicycling.com/garage/pix/RECUMBNT.JPG

I actually prefer my hybrid. I've owned and commuted on both mountain bikes and road bikes. Mountain bikes have power for carrying things and adding racks and fenders but road bikes have speed and smooth rides.

But then a hybrid has a decent amount of speed and smoothness as well as a little more strength and the ability to attach racks and fenders.

Search is overrated. You use search when you want information. If you want to talk about something, you start a conversation. When was the last time anyone something new to talk about?

Plus, bike commuting is so different now than it was in the olden days. Think of all the innovations like new apps and um....

Hey, what about the innovation of 8-speed cassettes? And 9-speed cassettes? 10-speed cassettes? 11-speed? Hold the phone, I think I've got an idea for the next big thing!

I don't know...kind of like being able to turn the volume up to 11...for commuting, I could easily get away with a low, medium and high gear. Currently have 27 gearing options, as long as I don't mind a bit of cross chaining. However, I'm talking about real life-changing innovations, like GoPro cameras, that as I understand, make you virtually invincible.