Do I have the right bike to commute?
 

Hi everyone! I'm a newbie to the site and am doing research on commuting to work. A few weeks ago, I bought an Electra Townie 21 to get around my neighborhood, pick up groceries, and get some exercise. Since then, I've fallen in love with biking and would love to begin commuting to work.

My commute would be 8.5 miles both ways. I live in Orlando, Florida, so the ground is pretty flat.

Do you guys think my Townie would be a good commuter or should I look into getting something else? I'm a 5'9" female weighing about 140 pounds. I bought the Townie to replace a cheapo mountain bike that made me ache every time I rode it. The Townie suits me much better because I don't have to hunch over.

Any advice or recommendations will be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,

Allison

A good commuter bike is one that you like riding every day, so it sounds like you're all set. Now, if you're displeased with your Electra in some way, then that's a different story.

keep the electra, what matters is that you are comfortable, and that you get to work on time.

Sounds like you have everything you need: the bike, the desire.

Try it out, see how you get on, and then have a think about things that you can/could improve to make things better for you. Comfort for you is very important, your visibility for everyone else is also very important - make sure you can be seen if you ride, other than that - you seem set! Good luck! :D :beer:

+zillions

The "right" bike is whatever you're comfortable on. For me it's a 17 year old rigid MTB with skinny road tires.

There are bikes that would possibly get you there faster, but if they're less comfortable to you, you're less likely to ride it.

I would recommend just getting some more time on the bike. You will begin to learn what you do an don't like about it.

Getting seat time on other bikes would be useful as well - preferably something more than a spin around the bike-shop parking lot.

No, you don't need to buy a different bike to commute though.

You got the bike! :beer:

Now how about accessories and clothing?

+1. Ride what you have until you know exactly what you don't like about it, and what you do want in your next bike.

The townie is just fine for your ride.

If you want to go way faster, then after a while buy a road bike, but it's definitely not necessary. The only real disadvantage of your townie might be on serious hills, and you don't have any on your commute.

Just watch those Orlando drivers.

Hi Allison,

Like everyone has said, the bike is fine. There are a few things that you'll need to consider before you head off.

Have you ever repaired a flat tire on your bike? if not I suggest you go through the exercise of doing so at home so when the time comes it won't be a showstopper, and be sure to pack all the tools you use in the operation for your commute. At the very least you'll need a pump (topeak road morph is the best), spare tube preferably two, puncture repair kit, and tire levers. A bicycle specific multi-tool can also be very handy but not critical.

The other consideration is the route you take to/from work. The best way to drive there is seldom the best cycling route. If you haven't done so already, I would suggest you grab a map and head off on a trial run on a weekend. Don't be shy about exploring the possibilities - back roads, bike paths, etc.

Will you be travelling after dark? a good set of lights will be indispensable, there's many options and a wealth of info in these forums.

One other thing - expect to be hungrier than normal and eat more that normal, more often than normal if you commute every day. Enjoy the extra food, you will have earned it! :D

By the 3rd commuting day you'll probably have about 6 thousand questions for us and we'll be right here waiting, eager and happy to help.:D Good luck and welcome to our ranks.

The bike seems fine, As others have stated, focus on other things,clothing, lighting. Many people would prefer to have a Townie. It has handy features and is an over-all well desighned bike .

There seems to be a consensus:

• Ride the bike you have as long as it works for you
• A bike with dropped bars (like a cross bike) would help you traverse the distance more quickly, but that means nothing if it's uncomfortable and you don't ride it.
• As you ride what you have, think about what you like and dislike about it. If the slower speed doesn't bug you, there's no reason to switch to drops. If you love a more upright position, don't switch. But if the time-length of the commute is making you think about quitting, look at a bike with drops.
• As you ride, think about what accessories would be most useful.

The Townie 21 is a GREAT bike. I just got mine two weeks ago and I've ridden it every day. I just LOVE the comfort. If I have a strong headwind, I just lean forward for a while.

Don't worry about getting drop bars for "speed". Who wants to get to the next stop light faster?!

Don't worry about hills. The Townie's lowest gear will cover them just fine.

Good luck commuting!

P.S.- See this thread for insightful thoughts about slowing down:
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=306704

You guys are so AWESOME and SUPPORTIVE! Thanks for all the advice.

I'm going to start "training" this weekend to build up my endurance so I'll be comfortable when I start commuting. It'll probably be a few weeks at least, but that will give me time to equip my bike and get some clothes.

I'm sure there are tons of posts on this site about accessories and clothes, so maybe you guys could point me to some of your favorite posts/resources.

Again, thanks so much. I'm glad to hear my Townie is suited for commuting. In addition to it being so comfortable, I look really cute on it and think it suits my personality. ;-)

See you guys around!

We'll be the judge of that, just as soon as you post pictures. :D :p

Jeff, where do you live in Raleigh?

I just moved to Orlando in March 2006 from Raleigh! :)

Before moving here, I lived in North Carolina my whole life.

The Townie is fine for you to start your commuting on. The real trick is to come up with reasons as to why you need more bikes for commuting, in addition to the Townie. Things like: a rainy day bike or a faster bike for the times you are starting out a little late or simply - you need a backup bike.

You may not believe me now, but you will see.

Have you checked out the Advice for New Commuters Thread?

Ditto what everyone else said. That particular bike isn't really my style...but that's not what matters. It's YOURS, and you love it...so it's the right bike for you. It looks really neat, incidentally.

Like everyone else has already said, what actually matters right now is gear. For starters:

Lights: At least a decent 1watt LED headlight, and a good blinkie. (Planet Bike Superflash is good). This is all if you are commuting in the dark ever.

A rear rack: I'm a big fan of the Axiom journey series. Whatever one you get, it will enable you to mount...

Panniers: To carry your stuff in. Gets the load off your back, and eliminates nasty backpack sweat buildup. When I switched to panniers many moons ago, I felt twice as light an three times as fast.

Basic tool kit: This varies by needs, but you'll need to be able to deal with minor emergencies and still make it on time, rather than walk your bike in for the last third of your commute.

I believe that bike already has fenders, so you're set there.

Good luck, and welcome to the club!

Cheers!

+1 Exactly!!!
I think a Townie makes an excellent commuter for a lot of people in alot of situations. Its not for everyone and neither is my fixed Cross Check.

Craig

BTW, most of us here buy from internet shops regarding accessories and clothing, even bikes. So, If you need some internet shops assistance let us know.

What parts of NC? - I've lived in Henderson, Morehead City, Charlotte, Fayetteville, Raleigh ... I'm in Marietta/Roswell GA now - just north of Atlanta.

Many congrats, Allison! I second the comment about fenders, rear rack, and a pannier. Those are great to have, especially in the Florida heat (if your using a backpack, your back will get too sweaty). You probably won't need a blinkie until fall.

Have fun commuting. 8 miles is not bad. I found that the first few weeks I was going pretty slow and I could realy feel my legs. After about 2 months I noticed that I was averaging much higher speeds without any extra effort. Your body will get stronger.

Since are comfortable on your bike you will have fun. Most of the world does not commute on hybrids, mountain bikes, or road bikes. If you look at Europe or Asia, most bikes used for commuting will be more like what you ride (except they have 1 to 3 gears and you have 21). Enjoy the ride. I've had so much fun commuting on my bike, my co worker talked me into doing a 33 mile ride for the local Cancer Hospital later this month. Next year my goal is to get from my house in a Northern suburb of Buffalo and follow the Erie canal to Pittsford NY (subrub of Rochester) to visit my sister. That will be about 70 miles. This is something I'd never even contemplated before. Getting out there and enjoying the ride has been very rewarding.

Take it easy at first so you don't get burned out. Here are some things I think you realy don't want to be without:

Fenders - It DOES rain in Florida. Even if the rain has passed, you don't want the front wheel straying water and grit up at you and the bike, nor do you want a stripe up your back from the rear tire. You can get these for under $20 for a set of Planet Bike Freddy, or spluge $35 for the SKS.

Rack - I don't like carrying things on my back, especially is it is hot. I want to enjoy the ride. I also carry food, drink, and some basic tools, spare tube and mini pump with me. A nice rack is about $30.

Panier bags - I got a cheap set, the Axiom Appalachian for $29. The bags are nice and hold plenty of stuff. I sprayed them with some extra water proofing stray and did fine during a recent thunderstorm. I've used them for some light grocery shopping we well.

Front and rear lights - I got a set of Pyramid Pro Led light set for $20. I use them in flashing mode during the day to provide maximum possible visibility. So far I've used them for nearly 3 months and the batteries are holding out just fine. I find the extra visability duing the day comforting, but if you are ever caught out in the dark, lights are an absolute necessity. I don't understand how a bike can legally be sold without lights. Ever night I see people out there on bikes. Reflectors help a little, but modern LED lights do wonders for making you visible to motorists.

Breathable shirt to ride in - I love the modern fabrics. If I wear cotton, I am soaked when I get to my destination on a hot day. With the "coolmax" style shirts I stay much cooler and don't get all wet. I am also a cheap skate so I don't buy anything unless it is on sale. I have not paid more than $19 for a nice riding shirt. I also like bright colors, yellow or that "nasty" hi-viz yellow/green. I want to be seen on the road!

Rain coat or poncho - You are in Florida sooner or later you'll be caught in one of those afternoon monsoon rainstorms. I have an old Agu Sport rain gear set that I bought in the Netherlands back in the 1980's, but it is dark blue. It still fits and works fine, but don't like that I can't be seen well. This week Nashbar had a one day sale and got a H-Viz rain coat for $12, and no cost shipping. You don't have to spend a fortune to properly equiped.

I ride in my work pants when it is cool. If it is hot I ride in normal shorts. I only use bike shorts if I know I'll be riding more than 16 miles at a time.

For shoes, I bought a set of breathable athletic shoes. I needed casual summer shoes anyways and came accross a set of Merrell Moab Ventilators. These shoes vent much better than normal sneakers, and do an excellent good job of keeping my feet from getting steamy.

Enjoy the ride,
André

I grew up in a tiny town called Elizabethtown. It's between Wilmington and Fayetteville. Then I went to college in Buies Creek (near Dunn) and lived in Raleigh from 1997 until 2006.