Very long commute club: week 3
 

When we ride the long miles of the VLC, we gravitate towards equipment that provides the most reliability and efficiency. Obviously, cost is a factor for most of us and we have to carefully choose what we purchase because we can't just go out and buy a new one in many cases. So, I thought it woud be helpful and interesting to compile a database of the equipment we use on the VLC, both for our own sakes but also to assist newbies who might have questions about what we use.

The first and most obvious question is what kind of bike do you ride? :)

I start my first 'real' job tomorrow after 7 months of TEMP agency sufferage...
I guess Im OK to VLC again ??? 12.1 each way for a total of 24.2 each day :D

Back to the subject at hand....I checked 'Fixie'. I still remain blown away by
this type of riding and wonder why I never considered it before I did. It
gets easier and easier as muscles and mind meld .......I just celebrated my first
jump in chainring size from 44 to 46. A monumental occasion in a Fixers comupance...
:roflmao: :roflmao:

I'm starting my 4th season on a Giant Sedona DX, which I got for under $400. I'm in Center City Philadelphia so I wanted something that could handle all the potholes, glass, gravel recreation paths (Wissahickon and Manayunk Towpath), and not be so expensive that I would be insanely upset if it ever got stolen/damaged.

It's been perfectly fine for VLC (32 miles one-way), and I even ride it on the Lancaster County Covered Bridge Metric (100km / 63 miles) last August.

Maybe at some point I'll convince myself I "need" a road bike as well.

I 'split' my time between two bikes--a roadie and a fixie. The fixie gets more use aroung 60% of the time...

train safe-

I split my time with a Spectrum Ti, Lemond Propad and a Spectrum Fixie.

Today, I spent 95 miles chasing buelito, so commuting tomorrow should be fun.

I commute mainly on my Jamis Coda Comp, which I consider more of a flat bar road bike than a comfort bike. My road bike does not have dropouts for a rack, and it seems just a bit too nice to take through the mean streets of DC, but I do ride it on the weekends, and today's ride on it was just dreamy!

You left out 2 types of bikes from your pole that are popular with commuters - tourer and CX. I have a Peugeot hybrid on which I have put drop bars to cope with the headwinds that I encounter both ways on my 17 mile commute.

It's a low end Fuji Supreme for me. After 4K+ miles I've replaced many stock parts as they wore out but no real upgrades except for the rear wheel and pedals. Due to my size I had to go to a double wall rim with a sturdier hub and spokes. After busting two sets of plastic pedals I'm now using an all metal set of Wellgo platforms. The bike suits my needs well and I've ridden everything from pavement to single track through the woods. Also the price was right so that if disaster were to strike I would not be devastated over its loss. At this point it might be more of a sentimental loss than monetary.

Looking forward to the ride tomorrow although I fear a building head cold is going to greatly reduce my biking efficiency.

Mars, I'm surprised you left out 'Tourer' as an option.

I do my 300+ commuting miles a week on my Surly LHT which I built myself, here's the details....

Deore LX 9 speed groupset, Dura-Ace barend shifters on Profile cowhorn bars with Profile Airwing aerobar, Dia-Compe 287V road levers pulling V-brakes, wheels are 32-hole LX hubs laced to Mavic A319 rims with DT Swiss Alpine III forged stainless spokes, 700X37 Schwalbe Marathons, SKS full fenders, SPD pedals, Topeak rack & trunk bag, homebrew halogen MR16 20watt 7.2ah light and xenon strobe 'blinkie'.

Ususal ride is my roadie, but started last week using my MTB for 1 day a week, when I take all my "luggage" home - I ride the roadie with a small, light backpack.

Considering a SS/ FG for the Winter so that I don't get so fussy when it rains - I don't like getting my roadie too wet!!!!!!!

Hard rubbish collection this month, so I'll be looking for a frame :)

Cyclocross. I do a 64mi round trip of which 48 are on a dirt/crushed limestone path with the rest on the road. 2-3 days a week.

Trek 520. Stock except Nitto M-bar & PlanetBike fenders. 700x32 Panaracer Urban Max. 22 miles average round trip. I used the roadie for a couple years but like the ability to have paniers and extra flat protection. Plus the "medicine ball" is great training for when I do get on the 19 pounder.

I wanted to take the road bike today, having had a fantastic ride on it yesterday. But alas, I don't do messenger bags very well, and there's no rack on my road bike (I would not want to put one on even if I could). So I took the usual commuter, Jamis Coda, which is also fantastic. I have very fabulous bikes.

Hmm, I'm not sure where my new bike fits in this poll. It's a Franken-Cross bike...a CX bike made from a MTB frame. So...I'll just be satisfied to defy definition! :)

I plan on starting a 25m RT commute in May...I've done it for a few days every other week last summer, but this year, I'm giving up the bus pass, and riding into work every day...My main bike's a hybrid (mtn bike w/slicks basically) Get some good speed on it, and is pretty good w/ the potholes & etc in the city. Plus it's good training for the 50mile weekend rides!

hmmm... mostly a frankenstein fix for the usual thing and, for the occasional longer commutes (biking all the way versus to a shuttle/bus stop), my roadie. Been itching to take the fix (converted 'vega touring bike with practically everything switched out) on the longer version--just got a new wheel at a swap meet and tuned her up. d__n. makes a lot of difference. she's ready to go. I love them both though. the roadie is classy, nice. an 80's italian ride. the kind of bike you take to meet your parents. the fix... not so much.

Hybridcyclotourer
 

I too would be one of the Frankenbike crowd. I ride a Mongoose hybrid frame with cx forks, suntour derailleurs w/bar ends, Mungo bars, and a Persons (close to a brooks b-17) saddle. My commute is about 11 miles each way, with roads. dirt, and MUT trails on the way. The bike was built for about $350.00 with help from old garage stock, ebay, and the local LBS. It works great for what I do with it. It's the do all bike I always wanted.

Hybrid Commute
 

I'm wondering if I now qualify for VLC. My commute is 14 miles each way. I start next week, although I have done the commute three times for practice. Since I am trying to get ride of my second car, I bought a a pretty serious bike (at least for me it is). I am now riding a Specialized Crossroad XR-Pro. It seems like a great bike so far. All of my riding before has been single track and pleasure riding on a 12-yr old Cannondale, so I would be interested in advice, tips and pointers.

The XR has selectable front suspension, hydralic disc braks, a flat bar and mid-size tires (700 x 38)
I ride with the bare minimum of gear:

patch kit
multi-tool
lights
cell phone
paniers with my work clothes

the ride a mix, about 10 miles on shared-use path / 4 miles city.

Anyway: advice, pitfalls, pointers?

jerryscott, welcome to the VLC. You might want to ride 32mm tires instead of the 38mm tires, as they will roll better. The only item that you left of your list was tire irons. Good luck on your commute and hopefully you can share some good stories. Also, where do you live?

Another uneventful commute in this morning. Had a nice pink sunrise. Supposed to get wet this afternoon, let's hope for the best. After 20 miles of rain this sunday, I am still drying out.

Tibikefor2 - I'm in DC metro - ride along the Mount Vernon Trail through Alexandria into town. I'll see about the tire irons, but with the 38s I can fix a flat without them, the tire goes on and off pretty easy. Oh, and I do ride with a pump of course.

I ride a bianchi campione road bike. If I continue to regularly commute the 50 miles I am doing now I will look into getting a touring or cross bike. Something that can handle dirt and gravel and accomodate a rack. Carrying a messenger back 25 miles kind of blows.

I bought a new Giant hybrid for my 42 km commute. I've taped it up to make it look less interesting. This is my first set of front shocks in many years. They seem to have made many improvements. After a month (1,000 kms) The bike needed some work, so I rode my tourer. I hate to admit it, but I think my $400 Giant is more comfortable than my custom built tourer. There is one stretch of road that is down hill and very rough. The Giants shocks really smoothed that out. On my tourer, it was very uncomfortable, especially sitting on the rock-solid Brooks saddle.

Jerryscott -- welcome aboard, always nice to see a new VLC member.

Well no riding yesterday since I was down with a cold and didn't go to work. I wimped out today and caught a ride since my lung capacity seems greatly diminished. Hopefully I'll be back in the saddle tomorrow. I did a little bike maintenance & cleaning yesterday, but it took me forever since I got wiped out after just a little bit of work. Seems like great days for riding, I'm sorry I'm missing out.

Another nice commute today. Jerryscott, welcome. I'm sure we'll pass each other on the trail (we go in opposite directions). Lots of commuters these days. I even caught up with one right at North Capitol and First NW. I usually don't see any until I get towards the Mall.

JugglerDave and C-Bass,
How did you get started doing a commute of that length? I also have a 64 mi. round trip that I'd like to start doing. I've been on the rollers all winter in preparation, but i haven't actually made the commute yet. Did you drive part way at first? Did you start out only doing it for 1-2 day(s) a week? How long did it take when you first did it? How long does it take you now? I'm planning for 2 hours when I start, but my goal would be 1.5 hours. Maybe that will change after I actually do it. :) Any words of wisdom would be appreciated.

Dave

edit: That's 2 hours *each way*, obviously.