Originally Posted by
ortcutt
But this isn't what I'd call a basic setup; for a beginning commuter, it's aspirational. That rack, for instance, looks like a Tubus -- Cosmo, perhaps? Not an impulse buy.
Good eye, yep. That's a Cosmo. I searched all over at the time for a dual-siderail rack. Now you can get them anywhere. But of course, not in stainless--only the Cosmo is stainless.
Good point too about this bike being aspirational. It was for me. I don't think I could have appreciated it when I first started riding. Nor could I have when I switched from hybrids to road bikes. But when the rider was ready, the bike was right there. I had a list of bullet points I wanted in my next everyday bike, and the Portland hit every single one, and then hit things on the "nice to have" list too. Although I wasn't sure when I first threw a leg over it, I knew from the first mile of the test ride that this bike was mine.
Fortunately, the OP seems to be thinking along the same lines when considering which bikes to replace the crashed Jake.
Achoo makes a good point as well. One bike isn't enough. I'm glad I have my other bikes, for when I leave the Portland at the shop. My other bikes are more roadie road bikes, which makes them fun, but they also increase my appreciation of the Portland on the next workday.