Originally Posted by
BadBoy10
I tend to ride bikes hard, hard peddling, cornering, ---the $2700 Rivendell ---ehhh--I just don't see myself commuting "comfortably" on it daily. I am battling speeding cars, I don't want to be distracted by vanity and oh ish did I scratch my custom paint or oh poo are custom lugs smudged.
Ah... this aspect did occur to me. Rivendell bikes are just so... pretty - I guess that's the word for it! Well, I have a Brompton folding bike that I kept nice and clean and then at some point after some extended use I figured, "what the heck". After only a few months of use the logo is rubbing off, some of the paint is scuffed, the Brook saddle has a gouge in it, and it's been dropped on its side more times than I can count. I would *like* to think I'll use the bike on a utilitarian basis - ah, I suspect I would never want to lock it up outside!
If I go with the Surly CC, what do you figure is a good "used" price? I saw one on Kijiji that is fully decked out for commuting (minus pedals) for $1600. Seems a bit on the high side given that I can get a new one for about $1300 before tax (without upgrades, fenders, etc.).
And any ideas if I can install a higher stem to raise the front to be comparable or higher than the saddle?