wojoku

Hey everyone! I'm 22 and looking for a little advice on...you guessed it...bikes before I get started. I just finishing up school in Boston - heading to upstate NY (home) for the summer before moving to CT in the fall.

As the title points out, I'm essentially new to the world of cycling. I've had my share of K-mart/Wal-Mart bikes from when I was in high school - I had a Huffy (still have it) and used to take 25-30 mile rides every Saturday, but since I was a swimmer/musician, that's where the bulk of my cash went, so I never had the money to get a decent bike.

I've got some extra money now, but keep in mind it's a college budget - less than $1,000. I'm also fine with going 'used' in order to get something better for cheaper. I figure if I'm just getting started, there's no need to fork over tons of cash immediately 'till I get more into it, right?

Here's what i'd like to do: I want a bike that I can take out for long rides, but I want to be able to use it for commuting once I move to CT too. From what I have found, that steers me away from the 'true road bike' towards something like a cyclocross or touring bike, but I'm not sure what's unique to each. I've looked at Trek's Portland, XO1, and 520 along with Specialized's Sequoia or Tricross, but I'm not sure on the technicalities of which is better than others, etc.

If you guys (and gals) have any suggestions on styles, companies, or anything in general, I'd really appreciate it. Again, I'm on a college budget, so I can't go over $1000, would like to go much lower, and I'm very willing to look around for something used.

Thanks a lot!

neilfein

For the money, you can outfit an older mountain bike with good racks and panniers and slick tires.

Head over to the commuting forum sometime. If your commute is short, you can pretty much use any bike that has eyelets for a rack. I have a steel frame, and it's great at hauling stuff. Anyone commute or tour on an Aluminum frame?

It's always nice to see someone else musically inclined on bikeforums, welcome!

East Hill

Prices in Boston on the CL appear to run a bit high, but I see a few bikes there that might fit your description...but first, how tall are you?

Welcome to BF!

East Hill

wojoku

I'm 6'0", 165lbs. I got "sized" at a LBS this past summer - they told me to go for 55cm, which looks like for most companies I'd go with either a 54 or 56.

East Hill

Hmmm, there's this one on CL:

https://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/bik/632504228.html

East Hill

wojoku

Thanks. I guess what I'm looking for more is just an idea of what type of bike, or maybe specific models, are better than others. I've found a lot of different bikes for sale used within my price range, but I'm not sure if for what I want to do, I would HAVE TO steer away from a true road bike or not. I've had different people tell me different things (either that the true road bike is too fragile for the everday commute or someone will say "I've used mine for years on commutes"). So I've tended to look lately into more of the cyclocross bikes, which I realized are not really completely separate from the road bikes, so it's a learning process.

I found a couple more lists on the Boston Craiglist:
Specialized Allez ($450)
https://boston.craigslist.org/bmw/bik/634106276.html

Raleigh One Way ($400)
https://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/bik/634324307.html

Fuji Roubaix ($690)
https://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/bik/634335954.html

Bianchi Volpe ($200)
https://boston.craigslist.org/sob/bik/633887406.html

Raleigh Airlite ($400)
https://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/bik/633751142.html


So really, I'm just looking for ideas on which type of bikes are good, what's bad, what should I DEFINITELY look for, what really doesn't matter.

Thanks.

East Hill

Something like the Volpe would be excellent. It already has a rear rack (so, you know it has eyelets, which you need for a commuting bike), and it's a steel frame (very sturdy, and absorbs shock well). The Volpe can also be used to ride trails.

The Allez is a carbon frame--nice and light, but I don't think it has eyelets for racks.

The Raleigh One Way is shown with fenders/mudguards, so it has eyelets. It's a singlespeed, and comes with a flip flop hub. It's a steel frame bike, and relatively inexpensive.

A true 'racing bike' would be too fragile in that the carbon frames don't normally have eyelets for mounting mudguards/fenders, racks, or panniers.

East Hill

wojoku

Apart from the presence/absence of eyelets (given that anything I commute with will most likely be in a backpack - on my back), would a carbon frame be able to handle...how do I say...the commute type conditions?

I know the carbon frames are much lighter and also not as hardy as say an aluminum or steel frame, but I don't know on what scale that would be measured against. I'm pretty sure the tires are the main concern as far as a bike being able to handle a commute style ride (normal bumps and such), but what would you say for the frame?

East Hill

Depends...there are good reasons for not using a carbon frame road bike as a commuter...


Drivetrains on a carbon fibre bike are using high end components, making them more expensive to maintain.

If you plan on doing any commuting in cold weather, using nice warm gloves makes operating brifters more difficult.

The bike and the components will get stolen if you have to leave your bike where thieves can get to it.

Carbon is much more vulnerable to 'ding' damage than aluminium and steel frames.

The wheels on a good carbon frame road bike are more fragile than those on a 'commuter' bike, and are liable to be damaged easily when going over potholes and other road hazards.

Carbon frame bikes tend to not allow for wider tyres, which may not seem important, but wider tyres make the commute a lot more pleasant.

If you are going to ride in the rain, the only fenders which will work are raceblades (because of the narrow tyre width).

Using a carbon frame bike can work as a commuter, but it's not the best solution. That carbon road bike will need a lot of maintenance to keep it in good shape for 'when you want to go fast' riding if you use it as a commuter.

East Hill

ipm

There are a lot of good bikes that are less than $1000.

I like to view bikes as three tiers. (From 1990 prices that might be a little off now.)

$50-400 Walmart Quality (Low)
$400-$1000 Mid-Range Quality ( little lighter than above but not as good as racing bikes)
>$1000 Race quality bikes (overkill for for the commuter)

I would recommend a Kona,Jake the Snake. They make good commuter bikes.

wojoku

Ok, so carbon would definitely be out then. The only others I know of are aluminum or steel, but I'm sure there are others. I just want to make sure I can get a bike to really get out and put some miles on, but also be able to commute with when I want to.

And to ipm's response, I'm definitely not going for Walmart quality. I've had my share of mountain bikes in that range and while I appreciate what it taught me in attempting to maintain them, that's not what I'm looking for now. I'm definitely looking to the Mid-range as you called it or even Race quality if I can find it in my price range, but I'm looking used 'cuase I know I can get something better for less that way.

Thanks for the tip on the Kona. I hadn't heard of them before, but the Jake series definitely looks like it would do the job. I'm sure there's a shop around that would have one to try.

~Wojoku