Hello Karina,

I really like your bike. What would you estimate the cost to put that together? Are the tires you have good commuter tires? They look pretty sturdy, but not mountain tires? I also like the rear cargo rack and fenders

Did you purchase it used?

Hi Steph. I got the Princess in 2019 for $75; it looked like someone had ridden her hard and put her away wet in the garage, 25 years before. Everything was original, including the lubricants. I put too much money into her, partly because I took her straight to my local bike mechanic (I have a bad habit of flailing and saying "make it go!" rather than doing anything myself) and partly fumbling my way into the right fit for me; I think that's the third handlebar she's had. I'll admit it, it was over $800, but as I say to others, it's a better bike than I can buy new for the price. You can probably do better if you're willing to do some work yourself (and don't need new wheels).

The tires are Maxxis DTHs, which were originally for dirt jumpers, but they've become very popular with old mtb. enthusiasts. They have enough tread to handle some light dirt, but they're not knobby so they work really well on pavement.

The rack means she can carry all my stuff, and the fenders do a wonderful job of keeping my backside, feet, and drive train clean when going through puddles or mud.

The best thing, IMO, is the 26" wheels. I'm 5'4" and they make the bike feel proportional to me. I've ridden bikes with standard size wheels, and I always felt like a chihuahua on stilts. The smaller wheels also mean the mfr. didn't have to get weird with the geometry to get wheels in the small size frame.

Get some 1.50 or 1.75 26" Schwalbe Marathons. Get the Plus model for the rear. Also, muguards, too. Planet Bike 65mm are perfect. I rode a Specialized Hardrock for years. Keep it maintained and it'll be ridden by your gr grandchildren.

I have weird neck problems and for some reason personally find it easier to look behind me on the drop bars. Looking down and back puts less strain and twist on the part of my neck that doesnt work. When i try to look behind me on my flat bar bike i end up turning my shoulders too much and the bike goes with them causing me too shorten the amount of glancing time as well as having to recover from having accidently ridden into the center of the road. 😆😆

Fair enough. But with any kind of bars, I recommend practicing that move. Look backwards and keep a straight line. I can never be perfect at it, so I practice it frequently. Speaking of practice, I also practice falling off the bike at least once a year. It pays off.

You need to practice? I'm trying to imagine the scenario. Maybe a bean bag chair?

Well, I do fall, and I believe many others do, too. So I want the fall to injure me as little as possible. I do a "stage fall" which actors learn: ankle, knee, hip, elbow, shoulder. And when I do fall, I get up, and then I realize that it went pretty much according to my rehearsals, and it doesn't hurt much.

that is smart to practice. We spent the 1st week of DT in the LEO academy just learning how to fall. People think its weird but ive never hit my head duting a fall because of it.

I also practice driving a car with ABS: I find a snowy spot where I can afford for the car to slip in any direction. I slam on the brakes. The pedal vibrates, and I fight my reflex to let off the pedal, and I keep my foot down. I didn't get a chance to do it this past winter because the climate changed, and we barely had snow.

Isn't there a word for that? I think they call it tomballay..

I googled that and got weird results.

I think the word I would choose is "weirdo"

Well, we are all weirdo in our own way. I always have to check to see if I have my "Jerk" shirt on when I'm riding, lol.

Just here to say welcome from a fellow female commuter! (there's only a few of us on this board I think)
I combine riding the train with my biking for now since there's no easy path to my workplace...until the powers that be finish the trail network that's in planning.

Practicing falling? Where do you guys come up with this stuff? Are you trying to drive off customers?

I am 69 years old. My bike is 50 years old.
I need new spd shoes and the tires need air.
Last year, I had three surgeries, thatś both hips and a pacemaker.
I expect to get back on the bike after a two-year layoff.

For a time, my average daily commute was 28 miles/day. 4500 miles in 10 months (in my 50ś)
For a 12 mile roundtrip commute, any bike will do.

Find a local bike shop (LBS) that makes you feel welcome and takes your questions seriously.
Explain what you plan to do with the bike and go from there.

fat biker

this is fairly recent in my experience... I normally do errands / commute on a drop bar and it was comfortable and I tended to stay on the hoods or the top of the bar and felt no problems seeing around me (however, I do cheat by using a helmet mirror).

I acquired a used trek 7000 hybrid and I like riding that as well, with one caveat: because the handlbars are wider, I actually noticed that I have to concentrate on keeping them straight whild using hand signals... I guess in using drops the bar is shorter, leverage is different, and I got used to that.

I don't think using a mirror is cheating in any way. I think it's a good idea. I've convinced at least two people to use mirrors, and they now use them regularly.

Time for a new bike. Triple crank 26ers are dinosaurs now.

If your HR has front suspension, which some years did, then I'd be looking for something lighter. Otherwise IMO it's a fabulous commuter platform. Fender and rack mounts, unlimited tire options, rugged, not super attractive to bike thrives. I commuted on one for years and it was solid. I even did a century on it, super comfortably.

Having said that, a hardcore bike commuter needs two bikes. Sometimes one is down for maintenance, and it would be a crying shame to drive a car for lack of a bike.
So do both

Disc brakes are awful nice for all weather commuting. If the second bike is different, it gives you some variety.

If you like the bike you currently have, ride it. Learning to maintain a bike will be a valuable money saving skillset as you aren't spending on labor costs. I would ride the HR and learn to regularly maintain it (essentially like you would with a car).

Investing in Mr Tuffy tire liners will save you so many flats, especially if you ride near major roads or construction sites where there would be fine metal shavings on the ground.

I think new bike are the best for you, and city bike with 6 x 2 gear will also help if you need speed or inclining road

Old specialized MTBs make great commuters. It's easy enough finding stout 26 inch tires and the bike is set up for upright riding even though the OP may wish to change the handlebars on his HR. Plus replacement parts tend to be inexpensive since it's old school technology. This is my 1988 Specialized Stumpjumper Comp:

Looks like Steph's never come back. I hope she's riding.

Been reading this thread with some interest. I never really gave commuting by bike a ton of thought. I hate traffic with a passion, which is why I commute by motorcycle. We can lane split in CA, which cuts my freeway time by more than half. But as I've been riding more, I've explored routes that avoid street traffic. I knew that there were two river trails that led toward my office from home, but did not connect, requiring a lengthy street ride to go from one trail to the other. Through experimentation, I found a route to connect the two trails largely through a residential area, making it a lot more appealing. I've been playing around with the ride on weekends on my different bikes to see how long it would take so I can figure out how early I need to leave and am ready to give it a shot on a regular weekday. Among my newer Trek FX3, Electra Ticino 8-speed and my old '94 Trek 930 mountain bike, oddly enough the 930 is the bike I've found most appealing for the ride.

Here's how she looks after being lowered down from the garage rafters for the first time in about ten years, cleaned up and lubed. Since then, I've replaced the old, dry knobbies with Michelin Protek tires, replaced the old brake pads and she flies. I don't think I'll change much, if anything. The old bar-ends give some different hand positions, and I don't plan to ride in bad weather, so no need for fenders.