rzm61

So I mentioned this in my introduction thread. I am looking to get a bike to mainly get to and from work, and also around town a bit when need be. Sure enough I'm looking into getting a BMX bike for this, mostly cause of the recreational uses I can get out of it. Seeing how it only has one gear and probably wont be comfortable, is this stupid of me?

UmneyDurak

Yes, next question.

rzm61

Ha ha,
fair enough.

Edit:
So what would be recomended for this commute?
I wanna say it's about 10-15 miles tops from my house, not a lot of hills but there are a few.

zeytoun

Seriously... it's not even just a question of convenience and practicality.

If you're seriously considering a bmx bike, you should get yourself a razor push scooter instead. At least that would fit in a backpack, and would use the same amount of energy to get around.

To put it in perspective, even with an old steel road bike, any fatso with a little training can go a distance of 70 miles, climb 1,000s of feet of hills, hit 20mph on the flat, and exceed 45mph on a downhill. I imagine if a full-grown adult were to attempt any of that on the bmx, they would be liable to hurt themselves...

DataJunkie

Get a commuter bike and a bmx bike.

The answer to what bike should I get will vary by the persons replying. So... a fixed gear road bike is my response. Either that or a touring bike, a cx bike, a road bike, or just about anything with 2 wheels and pedals. Sorry.... I know that I am of no help.

JustBrowsing

If you're going to insist on getting a BMX bike, at least get one with 24" wheels. However, if you're open to more options, there'll be (surprise!) more options.

Torrilin

Bikes are like cars - you'll find different styles of bikes are meant to do specific jobs. For commuting, you want a bike that's like a sedan or a station wagon. Maybe a bit sportier or maybe with a big trunk... tastes differ, but a sedan does the job and does well. So the usual suggestion 'round here is a touring bike (a road bike with serious hauling capacity) or a hybrid (aka a fitness bike or a rigid mountain bike or a cruiser etc... it's sort of a messed up category). These sorts of bikes are good because a commuter needs fenders (skunk stripes are bad), lights (riding without lights at night is illegal in most of the US), and a way to carry your stuff (a rack or baskets).

The BMX bike can't carry much of anything but a person, and it won't take fenders, and the lights would have to come off for races. If you enjoy BMX races, that's probably where you should splurge... but you'll need a second bike that's more suited to commuting for getting around.

markhr

No, it's not a bad idea. There are a number of people in London that commute on 20" and 24" bmx bikes and a few that have 26" b-mix dirt/jump bikes.

Just get what you want and make sure you test ride before you buy.

chephy

It's not even so much about one gear as about absolutely horrible riding position. It's not a bike made for riding any appreciable distances. 1-2 mile commute - it may have been okay, but 10-15... yikes.

zeytoun

I didn't know that hoodies had jobs to which they would commute....

markhr

hoodies are easy to spot

they ride wally-mart bikes (argus, toys-r-us or similar) that cost at least a fiver
they wear dark clothing with cap and hood up
they're obviously wearing bullet proof vests
their pitch is the corner of estate nearest the pedestrian paths and rat run
it's only a job until they either get shot, stabbed or OD

rzm61

Thanks for the replies everyone.
I have a mountain bike I am probably going to fix up for the commute, and just get a BMX for recreation.


Eh, I'm not 100% on the distance. I don't know if it is actually 10-15 miles. That was just a rough estimate. I am going to measure it tomorrow when I drive to work. Then figure out what I'm going to do from there.

Again, thanks everyone.

zebede

I would commute on this BMX.

devianb

You would have to be a very hardcore BMX guy to ride 10-15 miles daily. I agree with having another type of bicycle to go long distances and leaving the BMX as the fun one.

BarracksSi

Beat me to it.

tjspiel

Well my son used to ride his BMX styled target bike to school or church once in a while. They're each about a 4 mile trip and he was only 6.

We didn't get there too fast, mind you.

He's older and got a better bike now but a BMX bike should be fine for a few miles each way even if it's not ideal. If it's really 10 to 15 miles then I'd think about a touring bike. A CX bike might be a good choice if you're looking for something with more attitude.

crhilton

Plus BMX bikes look stupid.

But that might just be my personal taste.

tate65

Go with a SS 29er, same fun as a BMX, but fit for an adult.

rzm61

I'd say personal taste.
To each his own though.


Also I checked, my work is about 12ish miles away.
I recently got myself a BMX bike and I've been riding around town mostly. I wanna make a journey up to my work one of these days to see how long it'll take me and how exhausted I would become. Maybe over the weekend I'll do that.

devildogmech

Ya know, someone who is the "uber commuter" needs to make a sticky on this subject..... Don't we see this question every day?

Billy

markhr

Please post the results as that's a decent distance to commute, especially on a bmx.