Lamplight

My brother commutes every day on a Surly LHT, and he loves it. I ride my 83 Univega whenever it's not just really nasty outside, and it's the best bike I've ever owned. Occasionally I ride an 85 Miyata 210, which is good but I'm not quite as fond of it as the Univega. Touring bikes can make perfect coommuters.

jdcii

I'll be starting this week on a touring bike, Jamis Aurora. I specifically bought a touring bike for commuting because of the stability and gearing the bike offers. Whether I'll like it compared to my old Myiata may be another story.

tarwheel 

Also check out the Salsa Casseroll and Soma Smoothie ES. Both of these frames have eyelets and braze-ons for fenders and racks as well as clearance for larger tires. They are both much lighter than the typical touring frame and would handle quicker. They don't have super long chain stays or stout tubing so wouldn't be suited for loaded touring, but would work fine for commuting and light touring.

neilfein

Thanks everybody! I'm probably gonna get either a Surly LHT or a Trek 520, since they're easily available, but keep the bike pr0n coming!

cooker

1984 Trek 520.

mandovoodoo

Factors:

1. Terrain & road surface. Some commutes are smooth sailing, so are rougher than normal touring roads. Some might work fine on a track bike, some might need a full suspension mountain bike.

2. Traffic & associated handling needs. Heavy traffic, a tendency to ride too fast for conditions, and complete disrespect of traffic laws calls for a nimble mount. A mellower environment doesn't.

3. Carrying capacity. If you're not carrying anything, much of what a dedicated touring machine does isn't needed.

I'll commute on a rather decent CF Italian go-fast bike. And the same route on a 3x9 steel monstrosity. Depends on the day and my needs.

Just some factors to consider. I used to use my touring bike as a utility / commuting bike. Unless I took a fixie for fun. Just different compromises.

eastvanbike

Yes a Trek 520 is my main bike and commuting bike. And a Marinoni Special - sport touring bike I use as my backup. I love touring bikes they are very versatile and I own two!

TheatreME

I recently bought a LHT complete which now has fenders, a rear rack, and wald black wire frame grocery getters. Its my one and only and does a great job. Its not the fastest thing around but its smooth as silk. There is a pic of it in the commuter pic thread around page 107

neilfein

I've called around about the Trek 520 and the Surly LHT - nobody I can find in NJ stocks them. Int he case of the LHT, it's because they're all pretty much special-ordered when you get the complete bike. Trek has stopped makign the 520s, I assume because next year's model is coming out soon.

Help! Need to get this ASAP for a tour coming up.

jwbnyc

JensonUSA

Make SURE to get the right size. They tend to size big.

Size by top tube length.

jdcii

Look into the jamis line. I think you might be pleased.

m_yates

I commute on a Windsor Tourist from bikesdirect.com. It is a great deal for $600 if you plan on doing a lot of the mechanical work yourself. The frame and components appear to be the same as that on the Fuji Touring that retails for $950.

I've put about 500 miles on mine so far. I've done a lot of tinkering, including switching to bar end shifters, Nitto Noddle handlebars, Nitto Technomic stem, E3 Form Gel saddle, new platform pedals, Campagnolo front derailleur, and new panniers. I love the way it is set up now. It hauls a lot of stuff easily and is plenty fast enough for me.

Marylandnewbie

Check out the Fuji Touring. Its about the same price range as the Surly LHT (maybe even a little cheaper). I've been riding its vintage predecessor for over 6 months now on a 24 mile RT commute and I love it. About 6 miles of my commute are dirt bike trail and the rest is paved roads or bike path and its great all around. Great for the loaded panniers and various stuff picked up on errands, nice smooth ride and just so comfortable.

Based on my experience switching from a hybrid to a touring bike, there will be an adjustment period. For about a week my touring bike seemd really twitchy and overly reactive to my steering. After that I learned that she needed a more delicate touch, so now we ride along quite peacefully.

HiYoSilver

I think the Trek Portland is still available.

chucko58

I've had my new LHT for two weeks. It was bought specifically as a commuter, with the intent of doing some touring later. It's been a real joy! I got mine from webcyclery.com.

Chuck G

I commute on a Novara Randonee I bought new last year. I commute 2 days a week (20mi round trip), and occasionally do 20-25 mile rides on the weekend, I have about 1600 miles on the bike. It's been a good bike and is a great value if you can get it during a 20% off sale.

When I got my Randonee I thought I would be riding with panniers more than I do, and also envisioned pulling my kid's bike trailer with it. I discovered a rack trunk is all I need most days (I bring lunches and clothes in when I drive in), and I prefer using an MTB to pull the kid trailer.

For my present commute a touring bike is a bit of overkill, and sometimes I wish I had a sportier road bike to commute on. Eventually I would like to get a go-fast roadie for weekend rides and commuting in nice weather.

sauerwald

I commute on a bike which started life as a touring bike - Bianchi San Remo. I have changed the gearing around a bit (went to bar end shifters for the rder, and a downtube shifter for the fder), and have fenders and beefier tires than the bike came with (Schwalbe Marathon Plus). It works great - I usually commute with one pannier, but when I have extra stuff, I can add more - this morning I had a large rear pannier and a briefcase, in addition to the usual junk that I haul. My commute is 30 miles RT.

chipcom 

Most of my commuting is done on my touring bike (2005 Fuji World). On nice summer days I like to take the road bike and on replenish days I no longer have to drive everything in, I just use the Big Dummy!

MNBiker

I just purchased a 1980's Miyata 615 touring bike for the express purpose of using it as my 16 mile round trip daily commuter. I'm really looking forward to getting it fully set up.

Ashen

My wife and I both do, every day. I'm on a 1994 Bridgestone RB-T, she's on a 2001-ish Novara Randonee. Someone else said it perfectly, 700x32 is enough to smooth things out without slowing you down. We've got about a 15-16 mile round trip.

georgiaboy

Surly's are a Quality Bike Products build. Most bike shops do not stock them, but order them just like any bicycle component.

https://aebike.com/page.cfm?PageID=30...and=405&type=T

I prefer a steel ride. Yes, it's a little heavier. But you need a workhorse of a bike. Especially when toting 50lbs of groceries.

Jacobi

Ricohman, That is a beautiful bike!

KLW2

88 Schwinn Voyageur does double duty.

bkrownd

Sadly, even a lot of "touring" bikes still have racing cranksets with chainrings that are much too large.

eofelis 

I've commuted on a variety of bikes and so far my favorite is my Surly Cross Check. It's set up as a touring bike with a build kit pulled off of a 2003 Trek 520. Compared to the 520, the Surly is much more agile and has a better ride, although it doesn't have as much heel clearance when using good sized panniers (which make sense considering that the Surly is intended to be a cylcocross bike).

One word of advice when shopping for a Surly, be it a LHT or Cross Check: size by the top tube length, not the frame size! Surlys tend to run long for their stated height. I typical take a 56cm, and I've even fit on an occasion 58cm, but my Cross Check (with a 56cm top tube) is a 54cm! So be careful, I've seen more than a couple of people end up buying a second Surly frame after making a sizing mistake.