Avid biker needs a town bike- what to look at?
#1
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Avid biker needs a town bike- what to look at?
I've been riding for my whole life. I have a serious Felt road race bike and a Specialized stumpjumper mountain bike. Both do their jobs great. I also have a cheap hardware store beach cruiser that I converted to a 3 speed hub- horrible quality bike and I'm not happy with it.
My wife just bought an Electra Townie and wants to start riding everywhere. We're moving to Hawaii soon (thanks US Navy!)
I'd like to get a high quality bike to: cruise around, ride to the beach, ride everywhere around town, ride to the bars, go get meals, small shopping trips, etc. Everything is paved, most trips under 5 miles. I'll want a rear rack and a side bag to hold stuff. Oh, and almost all riding in flip flops and shorts. I do want a lot of gears, I've very picky about keeping my cadence the same.
Of course being a total gear head- I can't just ride a plain-jane commuter. So something I'll take pride in ownership and not look "sissy", and have high quality components and be light weight.
Any suggestions? I'm looking at the $500-1000 price range, but the lower end of that would be better.
I saw felt has a cafe 24, trek has the 7000 series bike path bikes. What else should I consider?
My wife just bought an Electra Townie and wants to start riding everywhere. We're moving to Hawaii soon (thanks US Navy!)
I'd like to get a high quality bike to: cruise around, ride to the beach, ride everywhere around town, ride to the bars, go get meals, small shopping trips, etc. Everything is paved, most trips under 5 miles. I'll want a rear rack and a side bag to hold stuff. Oh, and almost all riding in flip flops and shorts. I do want a lot of gears, I've very picky about keeping my cadence the same.
Of course being a total gear head- I can't just ride a plain-jane commuter. So something I'll take pride in ownership and not look "sissy", and have high quality components and be light weight.
Any suggestions? I'm looking at the $500-1000 price range, but the lower end of that would be better.
I saw felt has a cafe 24, trek has the 7000 series bike path bikes. What else should I consider?
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Hello zimm... I would check out some of the "urban" commuters or fitness bikes. I just bought a Trek Soho for all the same reasons you've listed. Of course, opinions vary on how to suit our needs. If you have a Felt racing road bike and a Stumpjumper then I'm sure you're aware that 500-1000 is not going to buy you the best of everything bike, so compromise will be the name of the game. haha... I know, I struggled with it too, I have a Santa Cruz Heckler and also had to fight off the idea that I needed another 2k+ bike to ride around town. Anyway, I'll link you some suggestions... Good luck.
Trek Soho 1.0 HERE
Trek 7.3FX HERE
Cannondale Bad Boy series HERE
Cannondale Quick HERE
Specialized Sirrus HERE
But if I had any advice it's this.... Stick to aluminum if you're going to Hawaii.
Trek Soho 1.0 HERE
Trek 7.3FX HERE
Cannondale Bad Boy series HERE
Cannondale Quick HERE
Specialized Sirrus HERE
But if I had any advice it's this.... Stick to aluminum if you're going to Hawaii.
#3
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Dahon mu?
Or if you want it to be classy, why not go retro and restore an older classic?
Or if you want it to be classy, why not go retro and restore an older classic?
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Redline makes some decent bikes in their fitness line. I have the R530 and it is a good city bike, but probably not enough gears for what you want.
Aaron
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Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
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Here's my town bike. It's a Rans Crank forward. Very comfortable and way fast and light compared to a cruiser.
#7
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save your dough up and get an ANT. you won't regret it.
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I agree 110%. As long as you want a city bike you can keep then ANT is it.
https://antbikemike.wordpress.com/light-roadster/
If not an ANT bike then look at the pictures to see what a true city bike looks like and is.
You really don't want no testoerone laden racer wanna be bike to ride in cities such as
those bikes posted.
https://antbikemike.wordpress.com/light-roadster/
If not an ANT bike then look at the pictures to see what a true city bike looks like and is.
You really don't want no testoerone laden racer wanna be bike to ride in cities such as
those bikes posted.
__________________
My preferred bicycle brand is.......WORKSMAN CYCLES
I dislike clipless pedals on any city bike since I feel they are unsafe.
Originally Posted by krazygluon
Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred, which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?
My preferred bicycle brand is.......WORKSMAN CYCLES
I dislike clipless pedals on any city bike since I feel they are unsafe.
Originally Posted by krazygluon
Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred, which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?
Last edited by Nightshade; 08-09-08 at 09:26 PM.
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I'd suggest a looking at Breezer, Electra, and Beria.
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Most commuter and utility bikes are fairly heavy. They get banged around, beat up, and used hard so the weight makes sense. You're seeing a lot of internal hubs because in stop and go traffic, they have a lot of advantages. You'll never be stuck in a high gear after an emergency stop, and it's rare to keep a steady cadence in stop and go. Single speed can work well too. Deraillers are *really* unfriendly... my knees would scream if I had to make an emergency stop while loaded. Most of the other gadgets you find on high end city bikes really are handy... about the only feature I don't use daily on my Villager is the lights (and well, I rarely ride at night, so that's not surprising).
What I'd do in your position is grab a backpack (or rack and panniers) and start using your good bikes for 'round town riding. See what you like and what you don't like. After a few months, you'll have a *very* clear list of what would Make Life Better. Then go forth and get a bike that really *is* better. It sounds like a "standard" city bike wouldn't be something you want, and it's silly to rush out and get one if it's not a good fit. And if you change your mind after a few months of city riding, it will be because you've done enough to have a solid idea of what you want.
Much better than us tossing ideas at you and hoping one sticks!
What I'd do in your position is grab a backpack (or rack and panniers) and start using your good bikes for 'round town riding. See what you like and what you don't like. After a few months, you'll have a *very* clear list of what would Make Life Better. Then go forth and get a bike that really *is* better. It sounds like a "standard" city bike wouldn't be something you want, and it's silly to rush out and get one if it's not a good fit. And if you change your mind after a few months of city riding, it will be because you've done enough to have a solid idea of what you want.
Much better than us tossing ideas at you and hoping one sticks!
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Get a Breezer. They are perfect for what you want.
It's overkill to get a 27 speed bike for such a purpose. A Villager, which costs approx. $800, has plenty of gearing to get the job done plus has a chainguard, quality bike rack, fenders, lights, and kickstand.
If your looking for a bag, too, get the grocery pannier that Breezer has on its website. I use mine all the time--it's perfect.
https://www.breezerbikes.com/bikes.cfm
Other good options are posted here:
https://kentuckybicycling.com/2008-commuting-bikes/
Enjoy shopping!
It's overkill to get a 27 speed bike for such a purpose. A Villager, which costs approx. $800, has plenty of gearing to get the job done plus has a chainguard, quality bike rack, fenders, lights, and kickstand.
If your looking for a bag, too, get the grocery pannier that Breezer has on its website. I use mine all the time--it's perfect.
https://www.breezerbikes.com/bikes.cfm
Other good options are posted here:
https://kentuckybicycling.com/2008-commuting-bikes/
Enjoy shopping!
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I've been riding for my whole life. I have a serious Felt road race bike and a Specialized stumpjumper mountain bike. Both do their jobs great. I also have a cheap hardware store beach cruiser that I converted to a 3 speed hub- horrible quality bike and I'm not happy with it.
My wife just bought an Electra Townie and wants to start riding everywhere. We're moving to Hawaii soon (thanks US Navy!)
I'd like to get a high quality bike to: cruise around, ride to the beach, ride everywhere around town, ride to the bars, go get meals, small shopping trips, etc. Everything is paved, most trips under 5 miles. I'll want a rear rack and a side bag to hold stuff. Oh, and almost all riding in flip flops and shorts. I do want a lot of gears, I've very picky about keeping my cadence the same.
Of course being a total gear head- I can't just ride a plain-jane commuter. So something I'll take pride in ownership and not look "sissy", and have high quality components and be light weight.
Any suggestions? I'm looking at the $500-1000 price range, but the lower end of that would be better.
I saw felt has a cafe 24, trek has the 7000 series bike path bikes. What else should I consider?
My wife just bought an Electra Townie and wants to start riding everywhere. We're moving to Hawaii soon (thanks US Navy!)
I'd like to get a high quality bike to: cruise around, ride to the beach, ride everywhere around town, ride to the bars, go get meals, small shopping trips, etc. Everything is paved, most trips under 5 miles. I'll want a rear rack and a side bag to hold stuff. Oh, and almost all riding in flip flops and shorts. I do want a lot of gears, I've very picky about keeping my cadence the same.
Of course being a total gear head- I can't just ride a plain-jane commuter. So something I'll take pride in ownership and not look "sissy", and have high quality components and be light weight.
Any suggestions? I'm looking at the $500-1000 price range, but the lower end of that would be better.
I saw felt has a cafe 24, trek has the 7000 series bike path bikes. What else should I consider?
#16
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I like my Raleigh Detour Deluxe pretty well. There's a lot to be said for dynamo hubs, fenders, and disc brakes.
#17
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I would follow BAH's suggestion above, and convert the hardware store cruiser to an Xtracycle-equipped beach machine. Maybe (if you want to splurge) throw a 7 or 8 speed internal hub on there. Then you'd have a truly useful town machine, IMHO.
Steve
Steve
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total pride ownership you did it
and you can end up with somehthing like this (lot's of pride of ownership here )
#19
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Yes, damn! I start to drool everytime I see this bike!!THIS kinda eye candy you can't buy.
Ya gotta BUILD it!!
Ya gotta BUILD it!!
__________________
My preferred bicycle brand is.......WORKSMAN CYCLES
I dislike clipless pedals on any city bike since I feel they are unsafe.
Originally Posted by krazygluon
Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred, which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?
My preferred bicycle brand is.......WORKSMAN CYCLES
I dislike clipless pedals on any city bike since I feel they are unsafe.
Originally Posted by krazygluon
Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred, which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?
#20
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1. I'd get rid of the derailleur and put in a hub gear.
2. I'd get rid of that saddle and put on an Easy Seat.
3. I'd get a hub generator or install a set of Reel-Lights.