ProduceSection

Hey,

I'm moving off-campus in the fall and looking to start commuting to school, biking rather than busing. It's a pretty short ~3 mile commute, fairly hilly though, and traffic moves quickly. It's in Boston, so there's snow on the ground a few months out of the year, and the roads get slushy. I was wondering if someone could possibly point me in the direction of a solid, fairly inexpensive (700 is about max, but preferably closer to the 400-600 range) bike. I'm a total newbie at this, and i'm worried if i don't consult some people in the know i'll end up making some sort of a bad decision.

Cliffnotes:
I'd like a recommendation for a bike that's good for a short commute, can maintain a brisk pace, and can handle hills and snow. Price range 400-700.

Thanks

Commando303

For making trips within three miles' distance, I imagine you'll be OK on pretty much any bike. If you want speed, looking for something light-weight that positions its rider aggressively (i.e., "hunched forward"); for comfort (at the cost of speed), choose a bicycle with a softer saddle and more upright riding position. If you intend to ride in wet/slushy weather with some frequency, consider purchasing a bike with disk-brakes, but know this feature alone, can add substantially to the total cost of your ride. As you say you'll need to tackle plenty of inclines, try not to go for a three-speed (or, of course, for a single-speed or fixed-gear); above that, considering what's available, nowadays, you ought to be fine.

Good luck.

canyoneagle

Snow and slush - the ability to install larger tires for winter would be good.

If you want a good bang for the buck, a rigid mountainbike (no suspension) would do the trick, especially for that distance. You can install slick tires for fair weather, which would allow you to cruise nearly as fast as on a road bike with more comfort and control.

Search local used bike offerings - Craigs list is always a good place to start. If looking at mountain bikes, simpler is better IMO - look for a "rigid" (no suspension) model. You can get a very good quality bike for your price range.

I'm a big fan of 29" (29er) wheeled mountain bikes - the larger wheels are smoother on bad roads/trails than the normal 26" mountain bike wheels.

Now is a good time to look for '08 and '09 models that your local bike shops want to get rid of.

Something like this https://www.redlinebicycles.com/adultbikes/d440.html with a set of slicks would probably get you set within your budget. There are many options out there.
I recommend getting at least one "blinky" red ligt for the rear and a white one for the front to increase your visibility to motorists. Allocate $30-$50 for these. I use three rear blinkies - one on my helmet, one under my saddle, and one on my rack.

Good luck!

z415

+1 on that Redline.

GTALuigi

Mountain Bike if i were you.

get the Dahon Matrix, if you want to be able to store away the bike in your dorm.