Best commuter!
 

My sister will be getting a new commuter, she is interested in a rigid, road-focused, performance orientated flat bar cycle. Budget is $1000 and under. She will be living in the Pacific NW, riding approximately 4 miles a day.

Here are her options so far.

DISCUSS...



COMMUTERS

1) Giant FCR 1 $800

http://www.giant-bicycles.com/images...ite%20copy.jpg

http://www.giant-bicycles.com/us/030...06&model=11327

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2) kona dew deluxe $600


http://www.konaworld.com/Prod/000000...EWDLX_1300.jpg

http://www.konaworld.com/shopping_ca...7&parentid=253

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3) Trek Soho $1259

http://www2.trekbikes.com/images/bik...ge/soho_ti.jpg

http://www2.trekbikes.com/bikes/bike...d=1036000&f=22

Trek SU200 $459

http://www2.trekbikes.com/images/bik...su200_navy.jpg

http://www2.trekbikes.com/bikes/bike...d=1034000&f=23
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4) Specialized SirrusComp $880

http://www.specialized.com/OA_MEDIA/...Comp_Nav_l.jpg

http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=13178

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5) Cannondale Bad Boy $750

http://www.cannondale.com/bikes/06/C...rge/6brbbq.jpg

http://www.cannondale.com/bikes/06/CUSA/model-6BR.html
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6) Rocky Mountain RC 30 $700

http://www.bikes.com/bikes/2006/zoom/z-06-rc30.jpg

http://www.bikes.com/bikes/2006/city/rc-30.aspx
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8) Diamondback Century 06 $700

http://www.diamondback.com/images/it...e06-DB06-f.jpg

http://www.diamondback.com/items.asp...d=4&itemid=185
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9) Raleigh Route 24 $700

http://www.raleighusa.com/images/ite...24-Ral06-f.jpg

http://www.raleighusa.com/items.asp?deptid=5&itemid=303
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10) Jamis Coda Comp $825

http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/bikes/...06codacomp.jpg

http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/bikes/06_codacomp.html
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A $1000 bike for riding 4 miles a day?
A cheap used mountain or hybrid would work for that distance.
Anyhow, for $1000 I would not pick any of those choices due to the fact I am addicted to drop bars.
I would either pick a touring bike or a cyclocross bike for commuting. That being said, when I add a racing bike to my stable it will also ride the commute every once in a while.

if she has the money and wants to bike then i say get it. i ride a kona smoke to and from work and like it a lot. im looking into changing the brakes from V to L but thats a personal issue.

i also looked into the sirrus and a giant ocr. both were good bikes but what sold me on the kona was their reputation for hard core bikes that you could basically beat the crap out of. i didnt need flashy colors either and the inculded fenders were key.

Before I made the decision to go back to drops (after about 10 years with a MTB) with a Kona Jake, I was seriously considering a Jamis Coda or Specialized Sirrus; even though I was biased towards a steel frame (the Jamis), I think the Sirrus was better value for the money. The Raleigh Route 24 would have been on my list too, if it was available in Canada.

The Trek Soho is overkill (I doubt she'll need disc brakes on an 8 mile RT commute). My vote is with the Cannondale, Specialized, or Rocky. They all make good frames and the geometry looks aggressive enough to catch my attention. Also, the tires are still skinny, making them more like road bikes but without the drops. Good luck.

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Reza Fakhrai

I ride a specialized sequoia elite, which from the photos looks pretty similar to the sirrus except with drop bars. I love the bike. great ride, super-comfortable and fast once i fix the motor. The only things i don't like about it are no front rack mounts (not a big deal yet, i could always buy a steel touring fork), and little clearance for fenders. The sirrus looks like it's got V brakes so the clearance wouldn't be as much of an issue it doesn't look like.

also look at the novarra big buzz. I've never ridden one, but it looks similar to the other bikes you've posted and I've heard good things about them.

What's an L brake?

This is an oxymoron if you ask me. I honestly don't understand the "flat bar road bike" thing at all. Making a modern drop bar bike comfortable and more upright is much cheaper and easier than than converting a modern flat bar bike to drop bars. With a 4 mile daily ride, having multiple hand positions is probably not important, but if the bike is going to be used for longer distances at any point it will be.

Interrupter brake levers are cheap to add and a few drop bar bikes (The Kona Jake for example) come with them.

If it hasto be a flat bar bike, something with 700c wheels definitely.

The rocky mountain is the coolest looking one, I think. If she's concerned with cool looks, then that one. Otherwise I'd always lean toward a steel frame if I had the choice.

The Soho LOOKS cool, but that's about it. For the price it doesn't seem worth it. I agree that for four miles anything would be fine, but having a nice bike always feel really good :). I ride the Trek SU200, although I'd probably go with the SU100 if I had to do it all over again. Just because it has normal brakes and thus most racks fit it, but also because it has a cooler color.

Don't listen to the drop-bar roadies. They'll have your sister staring at the ground most of her ride, rather than traffic.

i don't care how few miles she is going...if it is the pacific northwest i remember disc brakes will be a plus at stopping time! (btw...my commute there was hilly)

i am a flat bar girl as well...i road ride & mtbike so i know the difference and i prefered a flat bar (surly 1x1 torsion bar) on my monkey. wanting to try a midge just for kicks tho!

does she have a hilly commute? which one is lightest? does she show an interest in any other kind of riding? (MTBing**********?) which one would help that transition? test ride, test ride, test ride, test ride!!!!!!

good luck...and happy commuting to your sis (you are being a great bros helping her out!!!!!)



***oh...did i mention test ride**********

While I've nothing against a short commute on a kilobuckbike - and in fact do this occasionally - I gotta note that I haven't seen a rack or a fender in the bunch! I can see disc brakes being a good thing in rainy country, but not critical, unless there's a lot of climbing and some dirt involved.

I wouldn't mess with those low spoke count wheels given a choice. If you have to park it near someone else's bike, someone else will most assuredly swap some paint with your ride, knock it over, or otherwise attempt to pringle something.

Lately, for short (2-3 mi each way, up to 12 miles tot), I've found a lot of satisfaction in yard sale bikes. You know, an old Raleigh here, a dreadnaught Schwinn there. Some new tires, put about 500 miles on it, turn it over to someone else. ("how many bikes do you own?" they ask. I answer: "I dunno, 3 maybe 4, they come, they go, it doesn't matter much").

For a grand you could do a Breezer with racks, fenders, and lights, or who knows what else.

My prefernce would be to 'do the Dew', (great bike, great spec, great price) but based on your selections, all the contenders look pretty evenly matched, so it comes down to matters of personal taste and fit. For a bike that won't be ridden much, (4 miles/day isn't much), the ease of attaching quality fenders, and a rack might make rim brakes more attractive than discs, even in wet climates. I ride my current commuter (mid-80's junker with flat bars and rim brakes) 12 miles/day rain or shine, and I have yet to wear-out a rim, or wish hard for more stopping power. I've since had the pleasure of discs on my MTB however, so my next roadie (tourer) will have them too. Disc brakes and rear racks can result in some conflict, but there are a couple of manufacturers who appear to have solved the problem.

If it were me, I'd avoid those radial-spoked wheels (too flimsy and high-maintenance) but you'll note that I'm firmly ensconced in the Clydesdale class, so I worry about these sorts of things. I also think that disc brakes are more thief-friendly, too.

Good luck with your choice

Lots of test rides, and pick the one that fits and she likes the best.

I think the Jamis, at least the model with steel fork comes with tons-o-brazeons. Nice & comfy too. I have the predecessor to the Giant FCR series (Cypress SX) and it has all the braze-ons. Too bad, but I think they removed all of them when they went to FCR.

As for low spoke count wheels, mine have 20/24 and I've never trued them in 5k miles. Unless you weigh over 175, I wouldn't worry about them.

I rode the Jamis, Felt, Specialized, Giant, Raleigh, Fuji and ended up with the Giant. Even though I'm a fan of steel and wanted to like the Jamis, the Giant just felt better. It's been a good choice. Not a single problem in all those miles. I'm not a fan of the Shimano flat bar trigger shifters. They feel cheap, especially as compared to SRAM grip shifters. And it's a fast bike on it's own. Of course, adding fenders, rack, panniers slows things down a bit. But as outfitted, it can be ridden every day, rain or shine.

In the end, whichever bike feels the best is the best choice. If they all feel the same, then choose the best value (best component mix for the $).

4 miles !

http://www1.siteem.com/29/11/buy-nik...n/DSC04439.JPG

Fenders.
Rack.
Definitely some lighting, if she's going to be out and about around dark time.

Other than that, I'd say go for the local co-op used bike. For a ride that short, I'd go for comfort over speed. Something that would do double duty for grocery runs or just tooling around aimlessly. Then blow the rest of the cash on a fast bike to bomb around on when she feels like bombing around. That way the fast bike doesn't get all heavied up with commuter equipment, or bumped up by whoever feels like bumping into it, or worried about while it's sitting outside work all day.

I'm just thinking, if you put the hammer down on that ride, it's over in 15 minutes or less. My 44 pound Varsity would cover the same distance in a lazy 25 minutes or less, waving to the people on the street, smelling flowers, watching birds, whistling a bit... They're both a lot of fun in their own ways, and either one is going to wear thin sometimes. It's good to have options.

Of the bikes shown I'm partial to the Jamis. I've test ridden this steel bike bike and like the ride. But really, why the waste? Her commute is very short for the price being considered. I ride 12 miles one-way on a $425 Marin Larkspur. I'm just getting warming up after 4 miles and 15 minutes.

Does your sister plan to ride beyond the commute?
If the answer is on most days - no - then she can get a decent and comfortable new bike for her short commute between $400 and $500. I'm mean - who pays for super performance for a 15 minute ride to work?

I think Knho's advice on the above thread is good if she truly plans on riding alot beyond the commute, but my intuition tells me that if you are getting advice for her then she is a relative newbie and that one modest comfort bike will serve her well for years. Also all the bikes shown are fine bikes but for some reason I am wondering if your sister has test ridden them. That direct comparison of 20 to 30 minute test rides on each over a weekend will tell her more than recommendations on this thread.