Specialized Globe anyone?
 

I saw a bike called the Globe on Specialized's site. Does anyone have it? I live close enough to work that commuting by bike makes sense. I don't think my road bike would make a good commuter. My MTB would probably do fine, but maybe I'm just looking for an excuse to buy a new bike.

The globe is one of the only bikes I've found with fenders, rack, lights, generator hub, etc... and a regular gear set.

Anyway, If someone does have one, I'd like to hear your impression of:

1: The overall quality.

2: Ride comfort.

3: Whether or not it is a good commuter.

4: What, if anything you would change.

Here is a link to the bike: http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkM...sp?sid=05Globe

Thanks,
Brad

I do think it's funny, that it is a "niche" bike. That is what they all looked like in 1970.

I have a 2005 Globe, though it appears they have been discontinued in 2006.

1) The Generator light is great. The resistance from the hub generator is minimal. (I've ridden in to work in the morning and only realized I had it on once I got there.) The standby light also glows for a few minutes after the wheel stops moving. Sure beats worrying about batteries or fussing with resistance of the tire-rubbing generators.

2) Gearing is adequate. I tried a number of other flat-bar roadbikes and hybrids that seemed to either lack the high gears or the low gears. The Globe had high gears that worked fine for 30mph rides down Northern CA 'expressways', while also having the low gears needed for the steep climb up the hill at the end of my commute.

3) Bell and lock. I've actually found the bell to be useful, though I would have never added one on my own. The integrated lock is useful for quick stops. It's more heavy duty than the old Japanese/European models I have seen. It also can serve as a compliment to another more heavy duty rack.

4) The front fender has worked great. The rear fender has a support integrated with the lock. However, I have had trouble with it getting banged out of its support and rubbing on the rear tire. It is easy to through it back in, though it is annoying.

5) rack. The rack is functional, though not ideal. It has holes at the bottom for hooking in paniers. However, these are somewhat difficult to mess with, and my two grocery sacks have essentially become permanently mounted. The rack itself has the spring mount on it, and I used it on its own with bungie cords for the first month.

6) Suspension. I had no desire for the suspension. However, with the horrible condition of the local roads here I have learned to appreciate it. After taking my old bike on some of the roads here, I really began to appreciate the suspension.

7) Chain guard - mine was mounted in a way that it would initially rub on the gears. An annoyance that was somewhat fixed by letting the derailer smash in to it.

8) General riding. It wasn't as smooth as a bare $1000 Carbon-fiber bike flat-bar road I tested. However, it handled better than just about every <$600 hybdrid or flat-bar road I could find. (And these would take a few hudred more to get the lights, rack, and fenders that I needed.) However, I never tried out the Breezer bikes.