Originally Posted by
NakamuraLock
It's rare if I ride for more than 15 miles at a time
Originally Posted by
NakamuraLock
Headwinds are an issue in my area, which makes me want to consider something with a more aerodynamic posture. I'm riding exclusively on pavement, with few bumps, and the terrain is fairly hilly.
Originally Posted by
hyhuu
Get a new bike if you want one but with only 15 miles your MTB with slick tires is more than sufficient. On my commute I've seen a lady on a mountain bike with semi-slick tire wearing sandals and yesterday I got to talk to her a bit. Her commute is 30 miles EACH WAY. Quite impressive. I switched to road bike when my commute got that long.
Is that one way? Daily round trip?
15 miles each way is a petty decent ride. With wind... Yep, it would be possible to do on an old English 3 speed. Or even a one speed beach cruiser. BUT IT WOULDN'T BE FUN.
Get a bike that one enjoys riding... and that 1000 miles in a year will become 3000 or 5000 miles, and continue year after year.
$800 is scraping the bottom of the barrel for new road bikes or cross bikes at the LBS.
However, on the used market, or perhaps the Bikes Direct or online market, it can get a pretty decent rig.
A good bike can also last for a very long time... years, or decades, leaving the purchase price very small.