eli

I am getting back into bike riding after a 27 year absence and am in need of a commuter for about 4-5 miles each way. I have been looking around a bit online and the Fuji looks like the bike I'd like. I can pick one up for about $415 here in town and while value for dollar is very important, I want to hear from riders who may have opinions on this bike and Fuji in general.

Opinions on other bikes in that price range are welcomed as well.

Cheers

Marylandnewbie

I have a Fuji Supreme that I bought about 2 years ago and am very happy with it. I ride a 24 mi. roundtrip almost everyday and it has almost 9,000 mile on it without defects. I have used it for errands as well as a few light tours and it has done it all easily -- more easily than the rider. I have worn out several rear cassetes and had to have the chainrings replaced once -- but that was mostly due to my inexperienced maintenance. As you start to put on the miles you will find that all sorts of parts just wear out. It is a fact of life I was unfamiliar with as an occasional recreational rider. I have made some other mods to suit my tastes, but they weren't essential.

The one suggestion I have is that if you are a heavier rider (over about 220 lbs.) you might want to consider a sturdier rear wheel. The stock wheel on my Fuji was not up to my starting weight of 295. Within about 2 months I started breaking spokes, but a new sturdier wheel has solved all those problems.

thdave

I know Fuji makes great bikes but I know nothing about them.

However, if your 4 mile ride isn't over mountains, I'd recommend a city/commuter style bike that has all the equipment you need for commuting--fenders, lights, bell, kickstand, chainguard, and the like. It is nice having all the equipment designed into the bike and makes the ride more enjoyable.

I've heard Fuji sells a model but I haven't seen it.

Other options are Breezer Citizen, Electra Amsterdam, and I think REI sells several models, too. Enjoy shopping and I hope you change your life for the better getting back into cycling!

https://www.breezerbikes.com/bikes.cfm

Sawtooth

For the distance you describe, I think any decent bike will work. I commute 9 miles each way year round on relatively flat terrain. I picked up a 1982 Peugeot road bike at a thrift store for $40 that still had serviceable bearings. Last winter the rear der. broke clean off so I converted it to a single speed. I did almost 5,000 miles on it this year with no other problems. I am a big fan of picking up serviceable older bikes for every day commuting. Another high value proposition would be to pick up an older fully rigid mountain bike such as a specialized rock hopper/hard rock for around $100. Those things will go forever and with slicks and the right bars could be almost as fast as a road bike. I picked up a Jamis explorer (before they were hybrid bikes) that fits this category. It has been a workhorse and I often find myself choosing it for trail riding over my Giant NRS1 just because it is so simple and reliable (and a crazy fast climber).
There really is a lot of value in the older bikes, but you have to know what you are looking for and how to fix minor things.

Saintly Loser

I've been commuting near-daily on a Fuji Crosstown 3.0 for just over a year now. It's been fine for me. I believe the Crosstown 1.0 shares a frame with the 3.0, but has higher-end components.

Really, it's been a fine commuter bike. I paid something like $280 for it, installed a rack, baskets and blinkies, and I was ready to go. I haven't had any problems with it, other than one flat tire, which can hardly be blamed on Fuji. If I were buying it again today, I'd probably go for the 4.0, because I don't think the suspension fork is all that helpful for commuting.

eli

Thanks for the replies. Marylandnewbie, I'll take a look at a stronger rear wheel, as I weigh a touch more than you did when you started out. Any suggestions to brand, spoke type/count are welcome.

thdave, the crosstown bikes are 'city' bikes and are nicely set-up, you should take a peek at the Fuji site.

Sawtooth, I picked up an older Huffy cruiser (USA build) not long ago, from a retiree who cleans up old bikes he saves from the city rubbish collectors, and sells them on the corner near his house. It's without fenders, and I replaced the wheels and tubes with some Bell mountain tires and tubes, thinking I might like to take it out to some of the local parks and ride some grass and easy trails from time to time, with my wife. I also added a Bell set of headlight and rear blinkie. I've been riding it in the late afternoon in the streets by my house, building up some muscles and endurance. The kids in the neighborhood are sort of in shock from the sight of me peddling back and forth, but it's every bit as much fun as when I was 12. I'm going to see if I can salvage a rear brake and fenders in the next few weeks. I do want to be able to use this for short trips to the store and may use it to get to school until I take a final decision on a bike.

I went to the VA today for an appointment and my blood pressure was down about 10+ points and I'm going to see how much more I can drop it in the next 12 months.

As far as my commute to school, I'll start out easy and ride the city bus about a mile uphill and then take a nice and easy ride to school on relatively flat blacktop, with a mile downhill at the end. The return home will be about the same and I can build into a stiffer routine as I am able.

Saintly Loser, how do you find the saddle on your Fuji? That is something I would like to get right from the start. The cruiser saddle has a generous seat, but the forward narrow, is just a bit too narrow for my taste.

Any other feedback, thoughts, etc. are welcomed.

Cheers

Marylandnewbie

Eli -- My rear wheel is 36 spokes using 14-15 ga double butted spokes. I'm pretty sure its a Shimano hub. The rim I believe is a Salsa Delgado Cross Check, but I'd have to look to get the specifics. I would talk with your LBS about wheels since there are probably several good choices and since they are not cheap you'll want to make a wise choice.

On saddles, be wary of the wider cruiser seats. They look comfy, but ultimately they rob you of some power and will prove to be uncomfortable. Fortunately, there are many saddle choices available without spending a bundle -- and the process is pretty simple.

Sounds like you've developed a good plan to work up to your commute as your strength and endurance increase. That is the best way so that you enjoy your commute. Congrats on dropping your BP, keep up the good work.

Saintly Loser

The saddle is fine for me, but then I'm pretty narrow myself.

deputyjones

The Fuji seems like a great bike, but to be a nit-picky devils advocate a suspension fork on a commuter is not usually a real good thing, especially for big guys like you and me. It also would be nice, i think, to get a more complete commuter with lights like the Specialized Globe CIty. I have no experience with the Specialized just one that I found that came with rigid fork and lights. Just my .02

eli

deputyjones, what are the consequences of a suspension fork vs a ridged fork? There is so much to learn and while the previous threads are very helpful, direct feedback to direct questions are always a plus.

I suppose I should ask for recommendations for other bikes in the $400 and lower range. I also might as well ask; can you buy a quality bike, of this type, for that sort of money?

What are the most popular commuter bikes among experienced riders here on this forum?

Marylandnewbie, Thanks for the tip about the cruiser seats.

Cheers

deputyjones

I don't fall into the category of the more "experienced" riders on this board for sure, but to address the question you asked me:

Conventional wisdom says suspension forks will tend to rob power as they flex while you pedal hard although a little more research shows the fork used on that bike appears to have a lockout which prevents the fork from flexing if you don't want it to. Also, suspension forks are heavy and generally, in my experience, not meant to be used for clydes as our weight kind of overcomes the preload on the suspension so it is flexing the whole time you are on the bike (or bottoming out). As a fellow clyde I would not recommend buying any bike with any suspension without giving it some serious ride time first to see if the suspension will workout ok with the additional weight.

But, that said, it is not a HUGE deal, and if you decide you don't like the suspension fork you can always switch it out later.

thdave

In my opinion, there's no doubt you can get a quality bike for $400, new or used. Be careful, though, because on some you'll have to add commuter equipment, which will sneakily add cost to that $400.

Wow--your "most popular" question is a doosie! There is no Toyota Camry out here, in my opinion! The bikes used here are a good mix of new and old and come in all styles. Fixies, roadies, mountain, hybrids, utility, trikes, folders and so on and so forth. From being active here for a couple of years, I'd give the nod to hybrids 1st, and roadies second. Hybrids encompass a lot of makes.

A lot of us love our own bikes so much (including me) that you might not get an unbiased answer on this one!

Tom Bombadil

I've ridden the Fuji Crosstown 1.0 a number of times and really liked the bike. Nice components for its price range. If you decide that you want a hybrid w/front suspension then it would be hard to beat it for that price. It is pretty similar to the Trek 7500, which lists at $660. The 7500 is a bit better but not by a lot. And the Crosstown 1.0 is nicer than the Trek 7300, which lists around $460 or so. I also liked it better than the Giant Cypress DX, which is also in the upper $400s.

eli

Thanks guys, this is all very helpful. I think I'll try and live with the bike as it comes, and see where I'm at 3-4 months down the line. Right now this bike represents about the best value for the dollar (for a new bike) in this area. At least one area shop has their last in stock Fuji Crosstowns on sale, as the "styling" is not to the liking of their customers.

Just a couple of hours ago, I was talking to a fellow student, she's from Japan, about her experiences commuting here in Charlotte, when she mentioned that she did not care for the mountain bike she has been using. I told her what I know about the Crosstown and I think from her reaction, she is ready to make the switch. She really liked the fact that it was a Japanese bike. I also let her know about this forum and she may join us here.

Keep the info coming, any other thoughts on bikes and commuting are welcomed.

Cheers

eli

This weekend I was given a 1988 Peugeot Cadre Allege and so I am putting my purchase of a Fuji on hold, as I try to get this bike into commuting shape.

Thanks to everyone for the feedback, it has been very helpful and if this 10 speed doesn't work out, I'm sure a Fuji will give me everything I need.

Cheers