classic 1st post bike question . . .

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02-05-07 | 12:29 PM

#26

vik

cyclopath

Joined: Apr 2006

Posts: 5,264

Likes: 6

From: Victoria, BC

Bikes: Surly Krampus, Surly Straggler, Pivot Mach 6, Bike Friday Tikit, Bike Friday Tandem, Santa Cruz Nomad

Quote:

Originally Posted by tch

Hello all. I'm moving in a few months and will have the opportunity to commute to work for the first time. I will have a 30 mile round trip, all of it on a beautiful paved greenway trail . . . . pretty stoked on that

. The greenway is relatively level with only small undulations - no significant climbs on the valley floor.

My background is solely based in obsessive mtbing as I'm not a big fan of riding on the roads with cars. I'm a fairly big boy, 6'2/210 and currently ride a 2005 Giant Reign II as much as I possibly can.

I am going to need to get a dedicated paved road bike and have been researching here and other sites. I've decided I want drop bars, rear rack capability, fenders, and soild construction (frame-wheels-gearing). What I don't want is a slug or something heavy. It will need to be an all season build that will eventually include lights.

What I've looked at, but want more ideas . . . .
Trek Portland (the town I'm moving from)
Trek 520
Bianchi Volpe
Specialized Sirrus
Surry LHT or CC

I will test ride a ton of bikes, but I don't know what I'm missing or if I'm off base on the current ideas. I've never riden a single speed.

All those bikes will work for your commute. Get the one that you find most comfortable AND that you are excited about.

BTW - your commute sounds perfect. I like my 50km commute because I get two really decent rides in each day. You'll feel good and it will make any other biking you do better because of your increased fitness levels.

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safe riding - Vik
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02-06-07 | 12:55 PM

#27

SDRider

Cat None

Joined: Aug 2005

Posts: 4,508

Likes: 0

From: San Diego

Bikes: LOOK KG 461, LeMond Zurich, Giant Talon 29er 0

Quote:

Originally Posted by tch

Greenstork -The bike will be a dedicated commuter as all of my free-time riding is dedicated to single-track joy. The smaller town I'm moving to is easily bike assessable and I will probably do some fair weather grocery shopping with it or short rides to visit family. I'm not big on riding in traffic.

Riding in traffic is no big deal. You get used to it.

02-06-07 | 01:21 PM

#28

rocks in head

...addicted...

Joined: Apr 2006

Posts: 886

Likes: 58

From: East of the River, Washington DC

Bikes: 1985 Alpine, 2007 IRO Rob Roy, 1985 Ross Mt. Whitney, 1991 Diamondback Master TG

I got a volpe recently and am in the process of "fix"ing it. (the brifters were broken when I aquired it) it's a little too early to write a review on it, but from riding it singlespeed for a while I really like the bike. LOTS of clearance for big tires and full fenders, LOTS of bottle mounts, front rack mounts, and rear-rack capability. I like the canti's, but from what I've heard discs are even better.

edit: I'm used to riding bullhorns, and the drops that came on my volpe ('98) aren't comfortable for me. I haven't yet switched but I have some ergo drops that Fuji put on thier 'cross bike and hopefully that will be a good in-between.

02-06-07 | 01:40 PM

#29

Quickbeam

Beer is delicious!

Joined: Mar 2005

Posts: 549

Likes: 0

Okay, I've gotta throw this out there. If you're buying the bike solely to do the flat commute that you described, a single-speed makes a lot of sense. Less complexity, less maintenance and all that. You want to ride with racks, fenders and fattish tires. One really nice single-speed comes right to mind that would fit the bill perfectly. The same one that I use for my commute interestingly enough. The Rivendell Quickbeam. I'm biased because I really love the bike but it would be an excellent choice for your commute.

Last edited by Quickbeam; 02-06-07 at 02:12 PM.

02-06-07 | 02:06 PM

#30

newbojeff

Commuter First

Joined: Mar 2006

Posts: 1,286

Likes: 0

From: Boston, MA

Quickbeam, good considerations and the, er, Quickbeam looks good. I have a hilly commute and don't have a SS/FG bike in my stable. I've been hoping a Redline 925 with drop bars falls on me.

02-06-07 | 02:25 PM

#31

Daily Commute

Ride the Road

Joined: Jan 2004

Posts: 4,058

Likes: 5

From: Columbus, Ohio

Bikes: Surly Cross-Check; hard tail MTB

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Ratliff

. . . That said, I am conservative with my money too. If I were in your shoes, I'd get some slicks for the mountain bike and ride your commute route for a couple months before shelling out for a new bike. I consider any (one way) distance less than 20 miles over reasonably flat terrain to be doable on any bike in the stable. I'd get the slicks though, rather than suffer with knobbies.
. . . . .

I agree. I commuted for a long time on a hard tail MTB, then stopped for a year or so. Before I shelled out for a Surly Cross Check, I commuted evey day on that MTB for six months or so.

I think a cyclocross bike like the Surly CC is the best compromise. You get near road bike geometry with the versitility to put on fat tires with fenders. Those drops a re certainly nice in the wind, and I put 35 Nokkian studded tires under fenders with plenty of room to spare. I usually ride on 32's. I put most of my thoughts on the subject in the first few posts of the Advice for New Commuters thread.

I can't speak to the quality of the other bikes on your list because I just don't know them.

02-06-07 | 04:06 PM

#32

Brian Sorrell

My bicycle is fixed

Joined: Apr 2006

Posts: 1,026

Likes: 2

From: Auckland, NZ

Bikes: '08 Surly Steamroller, '07 Surly Cross Check

Not to add to the confusion, but I wouldn't rule out the Fuji Touring. I got mine when I was looking for a Volpe -- the shop had last year's Fuji Touring model in my size and my lovely wife batted her big brown eyes and got me 1/2 price. 800 miles later, no problems, rides like a dream, and - don't tell anyone -- but, yesterday I outpaced the local bike club on the MUP with it. Could hardly see their yellow jerseys

02-06-07 | 04:39 PM

#33

JohnBrooking

Commuter

Joined: Dec 2004

Posts: 2,568

Likes: 0

From: Southern Maine

Bikes: 2006 Giant Cypress EX (7-speed internal hub)

Quote:

Originally Posted by tch

I'll have solid secure parking for the bike - theft at work is not a concern.

But if you get an expensive bike, will you be less likely to take it to the grocey store and lock it to the outside rack?

02-06-07 | 09:18 PM

#34

M_S

Senior Member

Joined: Dec 2006

Posts: 3,693

Likes: 0

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnBrooking

But if you get an expensive bike, will you be less likely to take it to the grocey store and lock it to the outside rack?

I wouldn't usually have any qualms about locking up an expensive bike under those circumstances. It's schools that get a lot of bike thefts, because of the massive congregations of bikes. I've learned the hard way. There are some precautions. I like to have a quick release on the seat post, so I just take it in with me, and I don't want a quick release wheel. Or if I do have them, then I'll take off the front heel, and lock it to the frame and back wheel. Nothing is completely secure, but for a shortish period of time, you should be okay. I'm also a big fan of the uglification factor. Thiefs tend to be attracted to aluminum frames over steel (bigger, newer looking) and carbon looks good too, naturally. Some well placed mud, racks, and stickers can help draw attention away from the bike and towards some shinier models, perhaps.

Then again, did any Portlanders read this article in the Willamette Week?

https://www.wweek.com/editorial/3242/7923

It's a bit disturbing (I'm sure it's been posted on these boards before, gimme a break, I'm new here