Harlan

I've come to realize that I should be biking to the job that's preventing me from riding after work. It's only 17 miles one way. I come here because you guys are the experts.

I'd like to get a commuter bike that can handle a rear rack with panniers holding my lunch and clothes etc. Front bar bag also (no rack). Full fenders necessary, front and rear blinkys and a front beam light.

Should I go new complete with a budget of $600 max? Or should I build basing on an older frame?

Originally I wanted to run with either the Campy Athena 11 alloy group or Daytona 10 group that I have, but I think that I'll be riding in all weather even in winter, I should go with 2x8 or 3x8 friction (bar ends) for glove riding and for not-wrecking-good-parts-in-salt.

Also originally I thought 650B might be cool, but I just see it as an extra expense since I could probably run 28s comfortably on a touring/sport touring frame.

Now, drop bars?

Bianchigirll 

Where is <attapoisett? I should know that after living in Quinzy, Weymouth and HUll for close to 15yrs.

I would look for an old tourer or upper end hybrid. For a tourer all you would have to do is adjust the gearing to what you want. a Hybrid may need to be converted to dropbars but I used my Project3 MTB to run from Hull to Braintree with no trouble.

Orrery

Like BG mentioned, I'd look for something like a higher end hybrid. I really enjoy my Miyata Triplecross - set up 2x7 speed with a modern drivetrain - Stronglight Impact compact crank with a 10speed 105 RD and a FD-1055 FD. Easily clears 700x35 Vittoria Randonneur Hyper tires with fenders.

My budget was probably around $400-500, although I spent a fair amount of time scoping the frame (got it here on the forum with bar ends, etc), wheels (CXP22/Formula, ~75 on CL), etc.


IMG_1839 by orrery84, on Flickr

4Rings6Stars

Alex, I went down this road a few times (shorter commute though) and found that you really shouldn't skimp on the frame. Get something nice, comfortable, relatively light and most importantly--fun to ride. If you're going to be riding this bike 34 miles a day, multiple days a week, it needs to be a nice bike.

Haven't you had a slew of mediocre commuters in the past? What did you like or dislike about them? Are you going to be locking in an unsafe place? Exposed to the weather or inside?

My commuter is a Soma Double Cross DC I bought used/like new for a couple hundred bucks. I slowly built it up with nice, but durable stuff: 10s Chorus alloy ergos, Sugino triple crank, Shimano 8s cassette, Deore XT RD, XT hubs laced to Mavic disc rims, BB7 road discs, Brooks Pro hiding under a saddle cover, full VO alloy fenders, rear rack, Pasela TG 32 tires. Cygolite Expilion 400 headlight, decent rear blinky. It's a bit heavier than I would like, but rides very nicely and is comfortable. All in, including accessories I think I have less than $900 into it. A big chunk of that was disc brakes and disc wheels, which I doubt you are looking for.

Edit. I sas Orrery's commuter in person a few weeks back and scoped it out for a few minutes (while he was shopping at the Food Hole, shhh he doesn't know) and it is sweet. Elegant, simple and functional. I liked it a lot. Made me feel a bit like my commuter, parked next to it, was overbuilt.

Orrery

Haha, and I was scoping your Soma out after you went in -- it's a sweet bike. Definitely not overbuilt. The discs will serve you well when the weather turns.

illwafer

my stumpy rollin' 50s murders my 16 mile commute on crappy roads. poor man's 650b.

revchuck 

+1. This what I'm doing, except I'm re-purposing the bike that got me back into cycling, a lower-end Giant FCR3 flat bar bike. I'm converting it to drop bars - originally was going to be a 2x9 compact with parts I had on hand, but they went on my Ironman, I so got a pair of 3x8 RSX brifters and will use them with the original drivetrain. By the end of next week, it'll only lack a rear rack. This particular model has eyelets for fenders and both front and rear racks, so I could turn it into a tourer if I wanted to.

Advantages of getting a modern hybrid are that it'll probably be barely ridden, it'll have just about everything you need for a commuter, and it'll be cheap.