sean76

whats the best commuting bike in the 500$ range. I saw a couple I liked trek su 2.0, specialized globe sport and a couple from Gary fisher. thanks

brightscreamer

How far is your commute? Is it on a flat road? You have to remember to save money for accessories (lights, helmet, rack, panniers, spare tube, etc.), too.

I was just advised to purchase the Kona Smoke 2-9. Seems like a really sweet deal, and you'll have money left over for accessories.

kjmillig

Oh, you mean $500
Seriously though, take some test rides and buy the one that fits best and that you like. That way you'll ride it more.

shubonker

Perhaps something from KHS or Jamis, but depends on what kind of bikes you prefer. Tell us your needs.

ShadowGray

Jamis Coda and Specialized Globe City are good hybrid commuters.

You could try the Windsor Tourist from BD:
https://bikesdirect.com/products/windsor/tourist.htm

Heck, if it's short enough, buy a mid-90s steel mountain bike for about $100 and deck it out.

shubonker

Don't discourage him, there is more incentive to continue to ride if you spend more money on your bike. At least i hope thats how it is for him.

ShadowGray

Eh.

I would think you'd have the most incentive by modifying your bike. Spend $100 on a cheap bike, deck it out with whatever you like, much more money to modify.

At least that's how it is for my mountain bike. Switched out grips and seat, added rack, added slicks, in the process of converting to single speed.

balindamood

New/used?
Nice weather/crappy weather?
Snow?
Do you want to wear street clothes or change/shower at work?
Distance?
Hills/Flat?
Do you want to ride fast or slow?
What sort of shape are you in?
Pavement/dirt/gravel?
How much crap do you want to take with you?
Do you want to carry it on your back or on the bike?
Are you unusually short/tall (below 5'6" or above 6'4" mens, subtract about 2-4" for women)?
Do you want to do anything else with the bike?
Store bike outside/inside?
Theft a problem/concern?
Do you want it now or have time to shop around?
Ride at night/day only?
Do you have any sort of injuries/physical issues (old broken or artificial limbs, back pain, wrist problems, etc.)

We can probably dial it in from there.

chingon77

Kona Dew is what you need. I just happen to know somebody who has a shiny new Dew for sale which would save you a few bucks to go crazy on accessories and still be within your budget.

Rinaldo

Do you think you can help me with my list?


New/used? Doesnt matter
Nice weather/crappy weather? South Florida, one of the wettest places in the US. Hot and FLAT. It rains almost every day in the summer and it's 90% every day.
Snow? I Wish !!!
Do you want to wear street clothes or change/shower at work? I am a grad school student and will need to change into Business attire
Distance? 21 miles each way
Hills/Flat? FLAT FLAT.
Do you want to ride fast or slow? As fast as comfortably possible
What sort of shape are you in? 225 15% body fat. I'm athletic
Pavement/dirt/gravel? Pavement and Asphalt
How much crap do you want to take with you? Books and a change of clothes most likely, and my laptop
Do you want to carry it on your back or on the bike? Bike
Are you unusually short/tall (below 5'6" or above 6'4" mens, subtract about 2-4" for women)? 6 1'
Do you want to do anything else with the bike? Commute and perhaps use it to tow a kayak and grocery shop. My Civic is great on Gas but the Bike would be better.
Store bike outside/inside? Either.
Theft a problem/concern? It's South Florida, Crime is a concern in general.
Do you want it now or have time to shop around? I have time but why wait?
Ride at night/day only? Day only for now, people here can't drive during the day, I'd hate to risk it at night.
Do you have any sort of injuries/physical issues (old broken or artificial limbs, back pain, wrist problems, etc.) I have minor back pain occasionally. I am currently nursing a sprained wrist, Putting pressure on it does not hurt however. I have a sports injury on my left ankle. I cannot stand running more than 3 miles so bicycling sounds like a great supplement to my exercise requirement.

mconlonx

Buy a used road bike or used sporty hybrid in the neighborhood of $250-300. With the extra money, get a rack and panniers. And fenders. A helmet if you don't have one, and a lock. Also with the extra money, set your ergos up--figure on probably wanting a seat that fits you, and possibly stem and bars. Plus some basic tools, extra tube and pump, etc.

ShadowGray

For you, a road bike would be good. 21 miles on asphalt = road bike or at least hybrid. Since you're also carrying stuff, I'd go for touring bike or a steel road bike, they usually have mounts for racks.

If you need more help, start a thread with all the specifics.

DeusExa

I just got a Redline Conquest Sport for $400 at my LBS - it was an 07 model, so they took off $300 from the $700 MSRP...great bike - good components for the price, Sora derailleurs , Tektro brakes, light aluminum frame. You may want to look into Cyclocross bikes like the Redline., more faster and efficient than hybrids, more comfortable than true road bikes..

balindamood

+1 on the cyclocross/touring bike given the distance and the pavement. Touring would be better (back pain), but the ones I know of off hand (Fuji and Novara) are both pushing $1000 reg. price. Cyclecross would come with knobby tires you will want to replace with road tires. Either will take fenders and should have rack mounts. You are going to have to scrounge to find a good new one under $500.

As a side note, a very nice mid-80's Miyata 1000 sold on Craig's list here for $300 the other day. This would have been perfect for you if frame wasn't 1-2" too small, but those bikes are out there if you have the time to look.

kwrides

Awsome list. Can we make this a sticky?

kwrides

Check out Craigslist for Miami. https://miami.craigslist.org/bik/

I see several road bikes/hybrids there that might be a good fit and still leave money for accessories to keep your total under $500.

Rinaldo

I look every day but I can't seem to figure out what components to look for. It's as if they write it in French. I have no idea what pedals are great, which gear set will suit me, what the difference between 17 different shimano shifters are. It's a daunting task for me. I prefer to buy used, everything depreciates the moment you use it. I'd imagine bikes are similar to cars, boats, and text books (the worst).

nahh

I 2nd the need to sticky that list. just slap that on to any of those "which bike?" threads, and it'll make things 100% easier.

daredevil

Flat, flat as mentioned equals a single speed, no?

martianone

Check out a Breezer Freedom or Jamis Commuter 2.
Both are pretty much equipped for commuting,
the Breezer with a 3 speed hub and Jamis with a 1x8.
Pragmatic components for commuting and within your $.

kwrides

Very good point. In the end it always comes down to ride them and see which one you like, which is why I am an LBS advocate.

I'm going to make a few BIG assumptions.
1. You will want a road/touring/cyclocross bike and not a mtb.
2. In your price range, you will probably end up with Shimano components.
In that case, I would recommend not going below Sora, and if possible, getting to Tiagra or better. At least on the shifters and the rear derailleur. However, you live in Miami. I've lived there, and I live in Houston now...for a commute, you'll be lucky to use more than 3 or 4 gears that are very close to each other imho, so take that into consideration. However, if you get a bike with lots more, that will be a benefit when you get the bug to take it to the hills.

Pedals and saddles are very personal and everyone has an opinion. In general, I would recommend staying away from a big puffy saddle, but below that, like I said, it's personal. A bad saddle and the wrong clothes will lead to saddle sores in places you don't want sores. This is one place I recommend paying a lot of attention to.

Rims and tires make a HUGE difference. A nice bike with crappy wheels does not always feel like a nice bike.

I don't know what accessories you will want, but I would guess you will want most, if not all, of these: shorts, a wicking shirt, a backpack or rack and panniers, a helmet, gloves, water bottles, lights, a computer, at least 1 lock, spare tubes, a pump, a multitool, and tire levers. Being very optimistic, this will cost you at least $200 (my guesses for cheap ones, in order, $25+10+20+30+15+10+40+20+20+10+10+10+5) if you don't already own any of these items. So, you're looking at a $300 bike.

Now, everyone who rides in street clothes with no helmet and no computer, go ahead and shoot holes in this

UmneyDurak

I would go with something single speed, or a fixie. Less maintenance, and since it's flat not having tons of gears shouldn't be a problem. Personally I love my Specialized Langster. Getting back from classes/lab, tired as hell with laptop and books that Fix gear sure helps.

Rinaldo

Thanks Mate.
I really appreciate you breaking it down for me so simply !
I probably wouldn't need more than a 3-10 speed. I don't shift very often, I remember quite vividly when I first started school in 2000 always beginning my ride from the hardest gear as it was just simpler and I never could figure out which side of the gears to shift first. I wouldn't mind a couple gears just so that if i ever end up towing a dog in one of those trailers or if I try riding over the bridges in the keys, I don't kill myself trying to do it in the highest gear.

I found this : https://www.abikestore.com/Merchant2/...Store_Code=abs
I will be looking into the bikes you have recommended. Is the highest gear on say a 21 speed road bike the same as the last gear on a 3 speed or single speed?

kwrides

That bike is way to small for you at 6'1.

Probably the best way I can answer this is to point you to a gear ratio calculator: https://www.sheldonbrown.com/gears/

ex - on my fixie with 700x28 tires, 48x18 and 172.5 crank, I get ~70 inches (be sure to switch from gear ratio to gear inches). On my 10 speed road bike with 700x23 tires, 34x50crankset and 12-25casette, and 172.5 crank, I would have to be in either 34x15 or 50x19 to get approximately the same ratio.

Make sense?

huhenio

Or a single speed road bike ....