martianone

IMO, commuter bike is the "serious one"; commute on what you want to.
The other bikes are more like toys, than tools.

Raleigh531

I do my commutes on a road bike, although they're short. And my road bike is nothing expensive. If I lived in a city with crappier streets, I'd consider something with beefier tires.

TampaCommuter

I ride three days a week, forty miles a day on a 07 Trek 5000. I have a rack and panniers. There are few bikes that you cannot ride as a commuter and I can't think of a reason right now why any bike wouldn't work. We get too caught up in equipment; just ride.

Spookykinkajou

For the past few months I've been riding this bike to work. I even park it outside in Manhattan although it's set off the road some and very near the entrance/security guys. Today I'm picking up a new Redline 925 though because I'm tired of worrying about theft and I've also ruined two expensive tires thus far on glass and screws.

MCODave

Guilty - since my regular commuter bike has needed some work and I'm too lazy to do it (or get it done), I've been commuting on my "other" bike.

My other bike is a Trek 5500 Team Postal (2004 version), 9-speed Dura-Ace, carbon FSA crank, King headset, White Industries hubs, 3T, Thompson, Look, etc. Seems to handle the commute (16 miles each way) just fine.

Hardcore roadies (like me a few years ago) put in hundreds of training miles, do centuries, etc. on bikes just like this, so a 16 mile commute should be no problem!!!

RazorWind

I commute to work on my Cervelo sometimes. Being itself a bicycle, it gets me and my backpack there no problem just the same as my considerably less racy but otherwise serious road bike does the other 75% of the time.

capolover

1. Why can't you lock it? I use a U bar on mine in the city, but at work I keep it at my desk.
2. I plan on getting a brooks saddle for comfort and I'm not sure what you mean about not seeing well.
3. That's why you plan out a route with good pavement, learn your roads and avoid them. Road bikes move quickly and you can make up for skinny tires with speed.
4. Eh fenders are ok, but I don't mind getting dirty and I can clean my bike.



I'm basically going to make mine a commuter/road hybrid. I'm not obsessed with speed or being as light as possible, though my bike is very light and fast. A few tweaks on the seat or adding some commuter gear won't add that much weight and at any rate I'm not racing to work, I'm commuting.

I love riding single speed as well, and on the weekends I can strip the extra commuter stuff and ride in style.

I work for a game company and changing clothes isn't an issue. I can sit there in my sweaty shorts all day if I want. I try to take as little with me as possible, and If I need to bring lunch or anything I use a chrome back for that day.

timdoug

I suppose everyone's environment is quite different:
Some people's think locks first, some think roads first, some think weather first.

Where I am in the midwest, I don't worry too much about the lock-up, the roads are good with rolling hills, and the weather's fairly predictable (windy though). Thus the road bike is almost perfect. I do think for in-the-city riding 28's are a great tire choice. Try wider tires you may be surprised at how little difference in speed there is. Although if your bike is too serious it may balk at anything wider than 23s.

For me that means 2 bikes are used to commute: road bike, fixed-fendered old road bike for the weather days.

tjspiel

1. If I had a few grand invested in a road bike I'd be reluctant to park it outside but truth be told, it would probably be fine where I work as long I left at a reasonable hour. I'm lucky in that I can bring my bike inside.

2. They can be expensive, but let's be honest, there's people who've spent well over $1000 on "commuter" bikes.

3. Varies per person. When I'm riding on the tops or hoods, my body position isn't all that much different from the one on my mountain bike and I don't think having my head a few inches higher or lower makes that much difference in terms of vision. I'm up higher than most people in their cars.

4. If you keep your tire pressure up, you'll survive most potholes. Obviously there's a wide variety of rims and tires used on road bikes so YMMV.

5. Contrary to popular belief, you can put fenders on almost all road bikes, - even serious ones.

gtd

You mean like this? It was "serious" when I bought it in 1996.

I use 25c tires instead of 23c, and I changed the freewheel to add one larger cog for steep hills. I commute at least once a week on this regardless of weather, carrying a suit and tie and sometimes paper files in the suitbag pannier. In the smaller bags I have complete rain gear. It doesn't have lugs to attach racks, so I bought a rear rack from Old Man Mountain that attaches to the frame with their adapters.

I've had no trouble at all using it as a commuter.

Buglady

Isn't the first step admitting you are powerless in the face of your addiction?

I am starting to be tempted by "serious" road bikes. Although my "serious" is a hand-built lugged steel frame (Luna Cycles) and is more toward ultra long distance than racing as such.

I have: 1 "geezer" bike, 1 touring/commuting bike, 1 mountain bike that needs a lot of work, and as of yesterday, 1 folding bike. Yup, I definitely need more bikes

Raleigh531

I ride on 23's myself, not really for any particular reason. I could put 25's on it just as well.

My rain gear consists of two words: "Aw, f***"

Longfemur

The best all-round commuter is a road bike. But if you have a Madone, Tarmac or whatever piece of expensive moulded plastic bike you want, leave it at home. What you want to commute on is a beater road bike you don't have to worry about. These bikes aren't that fragile. Roads bad? Use a 28 mm wide tire and don't inflate it any harder than you need to.

MedLine

Commuter Bike:

[/QUOTE]

hey what kind of fenders are those, where did you get them?

pinkrobe

The bike room at work has some nice rides in it, including a Cervelo R3, some new Madones, a sprinkiling of Ti bikes. I would ride my Cervelo, but the pedals suck for my stop and go commute, and it has gears. I really enjoy singlespeeding to work and back - gears would take some of the fun out of it. I leave my clothes at work, and I'm sure most of the other roadies do as well. The guys with panniers don't seem to carry much in them - lunch on one side, a book on the other.

lil brown bat

Plenty of people use road bikes as their daily commuters. I see them every day. I wouldn't use a "serious", skinniest-possible-tires roadie on my commute because I've got potholes, broken and grooved pavement, trolley tracks, metal plates, up-heaved sewer grates, and who knows what all aplenty to deal with, and I don't want to get any skinnier than my trek 7.5.

Oh, by the way, I commuted this morning wearing a yellow bike jersey, lycra/spandex shorts and so-called "special" shoes. Put that in your pipe and smoke it.

Mr23779

Lots of great responses and stories here. I think that's what makes the sharing of ideas so awesome. I get to see, hear, and learn about many different folks from different parts of the world making things work for them and doing what they see fit b/c it matches their circumstance. Love it!

I've also seen some really beautiful road bikes posted so far. Makes for some great eye candy but further enhances my desire for another bike. Like I needed any help...

The choices seem to be overwhelming. I've been scratching little notes and have come up with these manufacturers to look at, in no particular order:

Orbea
Look
Cervelo
Masi
Schwinn
Scott
Trek
Cannondale
Seven
Fuji
Lemond
Specialized
Bianchi
Litespeed
Giant
Raleigh
Colnago
Felt

I'm sure there are TONS more...

nick burns

Wow, no offense to those who posted them, but some of the road bikes pictured here have been seriously beaten by the ugly stick.

Anyway...for many years I commuted on a Reynolds 531 road bike, but switched to a beater fixed gear a couple years ago. My commute is flat roads with moon-like pavement, so one gear and a frame I don't care too much about just seemed like a better choice.

ZG2NYC

Hi Tampa-

Can you show us pics of your rack and panniers? I would also like to stick with my road bike for my commuter, but I don't have braze ons and I would like to use this bag below (see attachments...no that's not me on the bike)

I'm just worried that a seat tube only mount won't handle the weight. The bag will weigh about 15-20 pounds I suppose. On the other side, I'd like to put another pannier.

theWolf

Allez Double is my daily commuter, love it. I park it right behind me in my office and it sleeps in my closet.

Raleigh531

I ride a raleigh 531 reyolds steel frame built up as a fixed gear. Love it.

fordfasterr

10 speed chains stretch so damn fast.

capolover

You only need one speed.

icedmocha 

I ride a road bike (05 f70). I have used it in all weather etc. No fenders. I end up at work with a wet butt. The only thing I dislike is the seriously uncomfortable ride when I am not wearing padded shorts. I may pick up a crosscheck soon.

fordfasterr

I do ride a 1 speed, ONCE in a while.... lolcatgoeshere.