http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkM...sp?sid=05Globe

The local shop has one of these in. Not my thing, but if you want to commute on a hybridy bike, it's GOT IT:

Rack, fenders, dynahub, lights, chainguard, kickstand.

I'm impressed by how seriously this bike goes about its purpose.

And the integrated lock is just TOO COOL!

http://www.specialized.com/OA_MEDIA/.../05Globe_l.jpg

PS... MSRP $800.

Yes, don't cheap out like I did. '05 7100 in September, I commute about 100 miles per week on it. I've now had to replace brakes, wheels, and cassette. Should have just spent the money up front.

Uhhh, maybe if you like pinch flats. I myself do not. I consider 25c the absolute minimum for me on a road bike, and I roll 28s on my commuter. Super narrow tires are the bicycle equivalant of stiletto heels-more fashion than function. High quality 25c tires roll just as fast as 23s and are very nearly as light. I'll take the extra 1 oz in exchange for a lot of reliability.

I have the perfect commuter's bike... or at least the frame of it, based on the original poster's needs.

It's a Schwinn Passage touring bike from the 80's. I estimate its worth at around $100. Columbus chromoly frame with tons of rack mounts, canti brakes, lots of tire clearance. For some reason, I find its geometry quite comfortable...?

Right now, it has a crap-o Sachs/Huret + Suntour 15-speed friction shift setup. Real wide gear spacing. But with an update to modern gearing and modern wheels, it would be a winner. I'd recommend going to a seven-speed freewheel and old seven-speed STI (8 would work in a pinch) for the original poster's needs.

So, you could piece together a decent commuter from an old steel touring frame like this one... (Personally, I'm thinking of converting mine to fixed gear.)

I'm a "wannabe racer", so I'll just ride my Cannondale.

Though I proposed a fast hybrid, I gotta say that I just recently built a commuter out of my old road bike. (I like the Jamis Coda, Specialized Sirrus and Felt speed bikes, but it's been an expensive year.) It's an '87 Raleigh Grand Prix, a steel classic with 12-speed 105 and 700x23 tires. Replaced the drops with a used Specialized flat bar ($5), employed the same brakes, though I had to cut off part of the levers ($3 for a metal file), bought rubbery grips ($10), 25cc tires ($50), a beaver-tail rear fender ($15) and flat pedals that light up as they move (weird, I know; $20). So the whole thing cost me about $100. The result: It's super fast and pretty comfortable. I'm assuming no one will steal it at the train station. I've seen lots of older road bikes (Raleigh, Peugeot and the like) that could be had for about $100-$150, meaning $200 could get you started on a very good commuter.

I just did it. :) :) :) After worrying about it too much adn then just basically dropping the idea of getting a new bike I ran into a mechanic from a bike shop at a coffee shop and began shooting the s***.

Turns out that there is more than one Surly dealer in town and the Crosscheck complete is available at his shop for $860. He also showed me a couple other choices based on my needs. We considered everythig from using a cheap Trek 1200 with clip on fenders and usig a trailer for times that I want to go camping; to the Fuji Touring, to a couple used beaters he had around.

I really liked the fuji touring bike but decided on the Surly Crosscheck complete. The Fuji touring was very tempting because it works better while heavily loaded but for the way I ride the Surly would be a better fit (perhaps someday Ill be able to afford two bikes: a racer and a tourer but that is way beyond my means for now).

I honestly do spend more time sprinting around curves in downtown parks than I do going on two day camping trips on my current bike.

I'm going to buy a rack, panniers, and fenders for it first. That should get me set for the handfull of miles to work and my little recreational trips around the city on weekends, as well as getting groceries and such. (I cant wait til the weather cools down, 90% humidity and near 100 deg temps have made me grab the car keys a little too often lately.

After spending an hour or so BSing with the guys at the bike shop I think I may also pick up a trailer and some extra wheels. The trailer for multi day vacation trips and the extra wheels will be a stupid-light set with stupid-skiny tires to make my cross bike feel like more of a racer.

*sigh* My only problem now... Surly is between model years and is not shipping right away. Surly told the LBS guy it could be between 2days and 2 weeks :( Oh well. Gives me somthing to look forward to :) My old Trek 1200 is still in good working shape so it isn't like I'm bike-less.

This is my first new bike over $300 and let me tell ya peeps. I'm EXCITED.

Thanks everyone here for the great advice left on this thread!

Cheers!
Jeff

May my GD car and its tank o terror collect a lot of dust

Congrats on the new ride!!! Ive been eyeballing the Surley frames, and I dont think you can beat them for the price!

Not all of us are riding on pavement.
Not all of us care that much how fast we are.
Road bikes don't do so well in the winter ice and slush.
If I only have one bike, it's got to be a hybrid, or at least a cross.
All that said, I am planning on getting more of a road-ish bike, either a cross or a steel touring bike. REI or Surly is what I'm currently thinking about. But I still need to keep the hybrid so I can mount the 34 studded tires for winter.

I do. SOMA. Better steel, same price. Less likely to get stolen as well, since it's not a Surly.

http://www.somafab.com

Oh please...

On Saturday I got a Specialized Sirrus for $499 new, I did my first morning commute with it today, it's a dream.

I just transfered my rack, bottle cages, speedometer over from the old bike, then gave the old bike to a friend for $50.

No sub $1000 bikes... huh ???

Funny thing is today I clocked 31 mins door to door, 10.2 miles on my 04' Specialized Sirrus (hybrid) whereas typically takes me 36 mins on my 05' Trek Road.

I have to say there was a 10 mph tail wind which allowed me to maintain about 24 mph for most of the trip.
So much fun so little effort :D