StalkerZERO

It seems rather expensive for a commuter road bike to me. I mean, $1600 plus bucks? Can someone tell me if this bike is worth the money? Is there a cheaper alternative out there that would be just as good? I own a specialized roubaix carbon road bike and a hardrock. But now I want something in the middle. A good road bike for commuting.
Can someone recommend me something similar to the portland.......thats cheaper?

Banzai

This should spark off a good debate. I'd say just about any road/cross/touring bike with any kind of utility value...just throw some fenders and a rack on it and you're good to go. Since you'd obviously be replacing the fenders on the Portland anyway, it's not like you're out too much, especially if you get the other bike cheaper.

So. Let's see...

Surly Cross-check or LHT
Fuji Newest in a few iterations
Specialized Sequoia
Even a Trek Pilot...slap some fenders on that bad johnny.

And that's just for starters.

StalkerZERO

Ok, lets see........
First off, why would I be replacing the fenders on the portland?
Second, I went to my lbs yesterday I took a look at the sequoia.......looked liked an old lady's bike. lol
Nope.
Third, don't like the look of the pilots either even though I'm sure they are good bikes. What do you think of the Trek 1000 or the 1500?? I like em but not a big fan of the traditional geometry. I sorta like compact geometries myself.

But I will take a look at all of them in the list you gave anyway.

flipped4bikes

Expensive? I don't think it's worth it even with disc brakes, and those fenders, yuck, they don't work. If you're digging your Roubaix, check out the Specialized Tricross- about a grand for the Sport, $1500 for the Comp. And, semi-compact geometry. Still pimpin'...

StalkerZERO

LOL! Ya I agree. And that massive fork! Man that oughta eat up potholes as good as a suspension almost. But still, $1100.00 big ones. I was hoping for a ceiling of about $800.00 bucks. But why are those fenders on the portland ugly? Which ones would you go with then?

2mtr

i wouldn't be parking those paired-spoke wheels anywhere else but in my office if i was commuting. and the fenders... fi they keep the crap off your butt, fine. but they're gonna let your bike get filthy. and unless you live IN portland or Deluth some other horribly wet place, or you're truly fat, you won't need the disc brakes.

flipped4bikes

If you want to spend $800 bucks, look into a Surly. And as for the fenders, well go full coverage, or might as well go naked. Search up the forums, plenty of opinions on fenders and mudflaps...

Banzai

I've never used them, but from the pic, those fenders look next to worthless. They MAY protect you from the "turkey feather" back spray, but that's it.

As far as the other recommendations...you said you were looking for a commuter, or something more "in between." Therefore I picked some more casual geometry road bikes, ones that looked like they also had the appropriate mount points. I could have also recommended something that didn't look like an "old lady bike."

The Trek 1000 is also a good alternative.

That Portland just strikes me as...I don't know...gimmicky, I guess. I could very well be wrong.

Jarery

Did you finish designing the Ultimate Super Cool Commuter and are now looking for a second ?

flipped4bikes

Found out from another thread that the Trek 1000 was named Bicycling Mags 2006 Best Buy Something or Other. It's got 25c tires, but dunno if you can get anything bigger vs. a touring or CX bike (and fenders? who knows?)...but hey, it's only seven Benjies...

StalkerZERO

Whatever commuting bike I get will be parked like 5 inches from my desk.

StalkerZERO

No,
I have the design in my head but it would turn out to be too expensive. Right now I'm thinking about a design that could save me as much money as possible while remaining as cool as possible. What do you guys think of the flyte1.com bikes? Their entry level frame and carbon fork would be a cool basis for a inexpensive bike.
Anyway, back on topic....how about a few portland owners put their 2 cents in?
So you guys are saying forget about the fenders? What are some decent fenders?

StalkerZERO

It looks like a cool alternative. But, hate the orange color and the standard geometry isn't that attractive to me.

jomconra

I really like my 2004 Trek 1000. That being said, I immediatly added a rack, bought a carbon fiber seat post (the frame is not forgiving), and added SPD peddals. I am now in the process of collecting 105 comp. off of ebay to upgrade form the Sora...don't really know why.

Banzai

Carbon? Not necessary for a commuter...I think it just serves to drive the price up. You're commuting, what do you care if your bike is carbon feather light?

And forgetting about the fenders? Quite the opposite! I'm saying that you could spend $700-$1000 on a good road bike, get fenders for about $25 that are better than the Portland stock ones (SKS or Planet Bike come to mind), and a rear rack for another $25 or so.

StalkerZERO

No I would think at least....a carbon fork. Aluminum frame is good enough for commuting I think. But I didn't know enough about fenders to realize the portland stocks ones suck. I wish a portland owner would comment here.

Anyways, how about specialized allez enty level with the grey color versus a jamis ventura sport black model.
How would those compare to each other and the portland in terms for bang for the buck?

slvoid

Listen, you want my giant OCR touring or not?

StalkerZERO

LOL no thank you!
Practical or not I still have my cool factor to consider.

Jarery

Bang for the buck ?
This is your what, 3rd thread asking the same thing now?

Youve received about 100 replies in the various threads with great suggestions from pretty much everyone who posts in this forum at one point or other. Nothing appeals to your taste. And it appears that the 'cool factor' appearance of the bike is your key factor, not practicality or function.

So just go buy the prettiest bike you can afford and be done with it

Banzai

I guess I should have followed as closely as Jarery. The replies to all the suggestions fit the pattern he's stating though.

If you're that concerned about "cool factor", the commuting forum probably isn't the place to get the advice you're looking for. I think what passes for "cool" here may be different than your concept.

StalkerZERO

Geez.....so like....you've been keeping track of me? Thats........ok thats kinda disturbing.

StalkerZERO

The perfect commuter is a balance between form and function in my view. Not only does it have to be functional but pleasing to the eye as well. And don't even try to say that you don't like a nice looking bike.
Why does a commuter have to look like a dorkmobile?

Banzai

My bike is very pleasing to the eye, in my opinion.

All of the things that people have suggested here are likewise pleasing to the eye. None of them are dorkmobiles.

I'm going to leave it at that. I believe Jarery summed up everything else nicely.

531phile 

it's folks like you who encourage the bike industry to design bikes that look nice, but are are not entirely functional.

HiYoSilver

Forget the glass, buy the sizzle.
Step 1: buy an good looking bike
Step 2: add basic commuting needs
Step 3: replace wheels with Hed 3 alum
Step 4: pick up girls
Step 5: ah, you have to figure something out by yourself.