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-   -   Square peg, round hole. (https://www.bikeforums.net/commuting/1075399-square-peg-round-hole.html)

blackieoneshot 08-05-16 08:55 PM

Square peg, round hole.
 
Do you ever intentionally use the "wrong" bike on your commute?

Archwhorides 08-05-16 09:47 PM

I destroyed a nice wheel set that way. Should I try again and expect different results?

Originally Posted by blackieoneshot (Post 18964637)
Do you ever intentionally use the "wrong" bike on your commute?


tjspiel 08-05-16 09:53 PM

I think I've had to use my bike that still had studded tires on it in the Spring when I had some issue with my other bike. I also remember wiping out on ice during my commute home because the temp dropped faster than expected after a late Fall/early Winter rain.

Both of those incidents were really related to wrong tires more than wrong bikes because at the time I had studded and non-studded tires for both of them.

GeneO 08-05-16 10:06 PM

You have more than one commutter bike :eek:

SHBR 08-05-16 11:41 PM

Nope.

My other bike would disappear, not worth the risk.

bmthom.gis 08-06-16 04:15 AM

For me the only wrong bikes would be the mountain and cyclocross bikes. Not sure why I would ever decide to try and commute on them. If I absolutely had to use one of them, it wouldn't be fun it wouldn't be the worst ever. One day I might try it on the single speed syclocross just for the extra challenge

TenSpeedV2 08-06-16 06:23 AM

Almost daily. Fixed gear track bike with no rack mounts, no fender mounts, no bottle cages and won't fit anything larger than a 25 up front. Just cleared 2100 miles with it already this year and it puts a smile on my face every time I throw a leg over it.

tsl 08-06-16 07:06 AM

I did once. December 10, 2013.

It was supposed to start snowing after 10 pm. The snow started at 4 pm. I was working until 7 pm.

Four inches of snow outside, and I had the bike with the summer slicks. Riding home with the bike in the back of my boss's pick-up, it ended a run of 1,596 consecutive workdays of bike commuting.

Full story here: » End of the line » brucew.com - Scenic Route

tsl 08-06-16 07:10 AM


Originally Posted by TenSpeedV2 (Post 18965072)
Almost daily. Fixed gear track bike with no rack mounts, no fender mounts, no bottle cages and won't fit anything larger than a 25 up front. Just cleared 2100 miles with it already this year and it puts a smile on my face every time I throw a leg over it.

Well if that's the wrong bike, then as often as three days a week I do too, when I ride my Litespeed with full Dura-Ace.

wolfchild 08-06-16 08:33 AM


Originally Posted by blackieoneshot (Post 18964637)
Do you ever intentionally use the "wrong" bike on your commute?


There is no such thing as a "wrong" bike for commuting.

gregf83 08-06-16 08:43 AM

I usually switch to my 'summer' bike (Tarmac) in Apr and occasionally get caught in a rainstorm with no fenders. If it's raining at the start I'll take a bike with fenders.

mcours2006 08-06-16 11:40 AM

Wrong bike usually in winter when not expecting snow but happens on the way home. But I usually err on the side of caution by taking the studded steed unless there's absolutely 0% chance of precipitation.

pdlamb 08-08-16 09:04 AM

I don't have a "wrong" bike, but I have made some wrong turns. Usually on cool, clear, spring days when I don't have anything urgent at work. I've only been riding these routes for the last six or seven years, so sometimes my mind drifts and I forget to turn. :) Sometimes I have to ride five extra miles to get there! or 20 extra miles to get home.

noglider 08-08-16 09:31 AM

All of my (too many) bikes are up for the task, given sufficient preparation, so no. I could even ride my track racing bike in (with added front brake) if I wanted to, though I haven't done it yet.

JanMM 08-08-16 12:06 PM

Have ridden on the same bike since I got it in '08. (V-Rex)

ThermionicScott 08-08-16 12:21 PM


Originally Posted by blackieoneshot (Post 18964637)
Do you ever intentionally use the "wrong" bike on your commute?

Define "wrong."

blackieoneshot 08-08-16 07:11 PM


Originally Posted by ThermionicScott (Post 18970153)
Define "wrong."

I have a purpose built commuter (with fenders, racks, comfy tires, long chain stays, and good luggage) but the only bike I want to commute on these days is an old race bike that has none of that stuff. Maybe the term "irrational" is a better choice than "wrong".

ThermionicScott 08-08-16 07:26 PM


Originally Posted by blackieoneshot (Post 18971286)
I have a purpose built commuter (with fenders, racks, comfy tires, long chain stays, and good luggage) but the only bike I want to commute on these days is an old race bike that has none of that stuff. Maybe the term "irrational" is a better choice than "wrong".

Aha! See, I don't even find that irrational -- if said "proper commuting bike" is too heavy and slow, you won't want to ride it on the nice days if you've got something zippier lying around. :thumb:

botak 08-08-16 11:29 PM

yes. in fact i did it this morning. It was my other bike that has for wheels with an engine strapped to it...

caloso 08-10-16 10:59 AM

9 times out of 10, I ride my race bike to work. Some might consider it the wrong bike.

Booger1 08-10-16 12:21 PM

I did once.....When I was 10,I rode my sting-ray 19 miles to the beach....Thought I would have to stay there forever....Wasn't the wrong bike,it was my only bike.

Darth Lefty 08-10-16 12:53 PM

I still think it would be funny to ride around alone on the tandem...

...but I don't actually do it.

dcole300 08-10-16 03:00 PM

My 3rd year in university I went to grab my mountain bike to head off to a winter final, flat tire. So I grabbed the road bike. Made it to campus safely but on the way home the roads were iced up and I wrecked pretty hard.

Ultimately I think it's fun to switch bikes up for the commute. It keeps things interesting.

locolobo13 08-11-16 07:36 AM

I almost always ride the "right" bike. Why? Because that's the bike I chose that day. No matter how hard, how slow or how crazy the ride gets that makes it "right" for me.

Leebo 08-11-16 08:13 AM

All my bikes 2 wheels with pedals. All work fine.


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