Originally Posted by
okiride
Commute is 4.5 miles one way
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After reading everyone's help input I am seeing that a vintage bike would not be the best option for me, especially for my first road bike.
I'm not sure I agree with you. A vintage bike with decent components is not expensive, is easy to maintain, is more or less indestructible. Also 4.5 miles is not a great distance. My commute is 16 miles each way, with about 700ft of climbing each way. I've done it on all my bikes, from super-bikes like the Masi or Motobecane Champion Team to that basic bike-boom Peugeot. I use the Peugeot, the oldest and heaviest, now because it is set up with lights and because I don't mind if it gets dirty and wet. It has served me well for 42 years, and continues to serve.
Originally Posted by
79pmooney
27" wheels aren't necessarily bad because if you replace them with 799c,
799c?
You mean 700c, right? I can't tpye eihter.
You are absolutely right. 27" wheels are not a problem but could be swapped out for 700c as long as the brakes will reach the extra 4mm. Several of my bikes have 27" wheels, including that Peugeot in the picture.