csavoia

Hey guys, I'm new here so I guess this is hello! I've come to ask about road bikes (obviously) and a certain kind that would suit my need.

What I'm looking for is a comfortable, affordable road bike which can be used for commuting around where I live (about a 10 mile radius) and also for charity rides which require endurance rather than speed. I'm 16 years old, 5'11, and 135 pounds. I'm guessing a bike with a taller head tube would be best, and I'm interested in the Felt bikes- particularly the F95 and Z100. I have around 800 to spend, and my LBS sells those bikes for around 700-750.

So, can any of you guys recommend some nice bikes from experience? Thanks!

ptle

They'll all be about the same in that price range. Look for something that has eyelet holes/braze ons for racks and fenders. Also check under the brake to see how much tire clearance you can get. You may want to run something bigger than 700x23 on a commuter. If you want, you could get something with relaxed geometry so it'll be a bit more comfortable and less aggressive.

I'd also suggest investing in a good mini u-lock. I don't like commuting on a bike that costs a lot or looks flashy. It makes it a potential target for a thief.

Spire

Some people actively try and make their commuters look ugly (don't have worry about that here though).


I'd say try a couple bikes and find one that fits you right. This is where a good LBS is very useful. Try and go off peak so the salesman will have time to let you try a couple different bikes.

storckm

What the earlier posters said is very true. For commuting, you definitely want fenders, which means you need a good bit of clearance. I would suggest tires not smaller than 700Cx28 with fenders--as a bare minimum. Double eyelets for a rack in addition to fenders are nice, although you don't absolutely need a rack if you aren't planning to carry much. (I leave a complete change of clothes in my file cabinet, and hang extra shirts and pants behind my door.)

If you think you might ever possibly have even a small chance of riding at night, you should also definitely get lights too. For occasional use, I prefer generator lights, since there are no batteries to run out of charge, but plenty of commuters are perfectly content with battery power. Fit is also very important, and a not too aggressive geometry is nice for longer rides. Tires with Kevlar belts will help reduce flats. And of course, you'll want tools and a pump. (Forgive me if you already knew all of this.)

Given that you'll have a hard time finding these things in a reasonable priced new road bike, you should at least consider an older bike, which might (if you find the right one) also give you money left for fenders, lights, etc.

Spire

Can you recommend a generator light?

storckm

I use Peter White's Dymotech generator and an IQ fly headlight, with some sort of LED tail-light. I like the setup, but it wasn't too cheap. I also used an old Soubitez generator with a B+M Lumotech headlight. (That bike was stolen.) It was a bit less bright, but it was much cheaper, and adequate--quite adequate for city riding and good enough for unlighted roads with care.

Hub generators are supposed to be more efficient, but I've never had the money.

csavoia

Thanks for all the help, guys! I understand what you are saying, but I'm not to keen on nomenclature for bikes- I've just been riding them for a decade or so and haven't payed any special attention to the parts of one. Mind helping me out with some of the terminology?

csavoia

Bump.

ptle

Which terms didn't you understand?

https://www.sheldonbrown.com/ has a glossary and a beginner's guide full of useful information. It also makes as a great resource.

tkos

Look into a cyclocross bike if you find one in your price range. They make great commuters. Wider tires, more upright seating, room for fenders and racks, wide brakes.

I would also check to see if the bike shop has any of last seasons models. You can get great deals this way.

csavoia

Thanks for that glossary- it helps a lot! I was also looking into fixed gears/single speeds seeing as for the most part I won't be doing commutes over 5-7 miles, and even then most of it is flatland. I think a fixed gear would be an interesting change from all the other bikes I own which are geared. The Felt TK3 really caught my eye- what do you guys think of track bikes?

frpax

A nice used Surly Cross Check would be a great commuter. Should be in your price range.

agarose2000

Giant Defy 3 for $700 LBS price is a more comfort-geometry road bike that can still be aggressively raced. And it has rack eyelets in the rear. I use mine for training and commuting.

Tio

Opinions are like... and here I am showing mine: Given what you have mentioned (e.g., your age, budget, and the nature of your commute), you might consider getting a versatile bike (as opposed to the typical commuter [whatever that is]).

Sure, fenders and panniers and all the other usual suspects for commuting might come in handy, but a 5 to 7 mile commute is rather modest. Consider a bike that you will enjoy (broadly defined) as well as accounting for your commuting needs. The boon of this approach is that you might like cycling enough to venture our beyond the commute.

The cross bike recommendation was good, as it fits the versatility bill in that it can function as a commuter, decent road bike, and it can handle some off-road riding. While dedicated "commuter bikes" are fine, there are some limitations. Frankly, unless you plan on toting groceries or small children, the tradeoff between comfort (rack and pannier) and riding diversity (road or cross bike with a backpack/messenger bag is minor (no pun intended). Being 16 yo is marked by pushing the envelop, venturing out, and diversity of experience... I would think that you might want a bike that is a kindred. Good luck.

marcosbullock

+1 on the definite awesomeness of the Defy line

tallmantim

A regular road bike can be fine for commuting, as long as you can change when you get there. Fenders are definitely a requirement if you will be riding regularly in poorish conditions (wet roads etc) and you need to be presentable at the other end.

I ride my road bike to work every day - sometimes with a "rat tail" (a mud guard that attaches to the seat stay to stop mud/water spraying up your back).

tallmantim

A regular road bike can be fine for commuting, as long as you can change when you get there. Fenders are definitely a requirement if you will be riding regularly in poorish conditions (wet roads etc) and you need to be presentable at the other end.

I ride my road bike to work every day - sometimes with a "rat tail" (a mud guard that attaches to the seat stay to stop mud/water spraying up your back).

tFUnK

for commuting i'd prefer a dedicated city bike or townie. one can commute on a road bike but even the ones with relatively relaxed geometry can be unnecessarily aggressive for just getting around town.

csavoia

So would a Fixie be a nice change for a pretty much, completely flat 15 minute school commute? I'm looking at roadies mainly because I want something different. Every bike I have owned was and is a mountain bike, so I want some change. A fixie seems fun for a short commute, and where I live, you can get to pretty much anywhere with a 45 minute (max) bike ride with minor uphill [Excluding Los Altos Hills]. I live in the Mountain View/Los Altos area if any of you are familiar with it.

I've gone through a hybrid and I never cared much for it, so fixies and road bikes seem to be my only options since a cruiser would be way too sluggish for my taste.

storckm

I use a fixie as my main commute bike, and prefer it for rides of under ten miles. I don't have fenders or lights yet, as I originally wanted to keep it lighter, and I have a touring bike for wet days and dark nights; but I like riding it enough that I'll be putting some fenders,--probably a light too--on as soon as I come up with the money.

Really, fenders, a rack, and lights don't slow you down significantly unless you're actually in a race (in which case you can take them off) and they make the bike a lot more versatile. There's no rack on my fixie, and I don't like carrying a backpack on a bike, so I use a medium sized bag under the seat--enough for lunch, a few tools, three or four books (if they're not too big), and a clean shirt or two. The bag was originally an East German combat pack--it cost about five bucks and it's waterproof. If I'm carrying more (which happens about every other week) I use my touring bike.

Sheldon Brown really liked fixies, and has an explanation of how to set one up. If you have a non-suspension mountain bike frame, you could put new wheels on it with reasonably narrow tires and perhaps change the handlebars, and you might be able to avoid buying a new bike.

badhat

i commute (in colorado, year round, 25 miles a day) on a specialized tricross CX bike and highly recommend it.

you can run road tires (i run gatorskins in the summer) or knobbier/studded tires in the winter when theres snow/ice on the ground. its nimble enough for rec road riding but is also drilled for a trunk rack for panniers and has clearance for fenders, and can handle dirt trails and non-technical single track.

pretty much a swiss army bike for commuting/rec/cx/touring, etc

Tio

With more information unfolding, I chance my vote/suggestion... csavola, you live in truly one of the most beautiful places on Earth. I agree with poster "tallmantim" that a roadie is fine for commuting (caveat warning, I use a road bike for my commute; I do use more flat-resistant tires and tube sealant for extra assurance that I get to work on time and arrive without greasy hands).

Fixed-gear/single-speed bikes are great... I have owned a few and loved them. This said, you can set-up a road bike to have either the same gear ratio or near-about, you cannot say the same for a fixed-gear (i.e., one gear-ratio). If you catch the cycling bug, you'll be riding through Big Sur with no trouble...

With your modest budget, I would try and seek the wisdom of a local who has an understanding of bike fit and bike quality. Under her/his tutelage, I would be on Craigslist and/or Ebay daily (I assume that there will be a wealth of great bikes in your area that will alleviate shipping fees). While I am a fan of buying from (and establishing a relationship with) a LBS, you cannot beat the value of a lightly used older bike (we 30-something dudes with big ambitions and little time are plentiful and often find our former [cycling] ambitions on an auction site).

In the end, if you are riding you cannot go wrong with your choice; also, regardless of what you buy now, if you do find that you like the sport, you will probably buy another bike in a year or two.

sbxx1985 

SS Bianchi San Jose.

csavoia

That's a nice Bianchi- how does it work out for you?

sbxx1985 

I couldn't ask for more out of a $650 SS cross bike. I use it year round for commuting. Simple, comfortable, and fun as hell in the mud.