jbushkey

I am considering purchasing a bike for a 6 mile commute to work. I haven't had a bike since I was a kid and it seems there are alot more choices now. Id like to spend $400 or less. Ill be riding mostly on pavement. I see some bikes have disc brakes. Are they worth the money for the upgrade? Whats the most important part of the bike? How do I know if a certain derailer is better than another? Im a total newbie so any advice would be appreciated. Thank You


Happy Holidays,
Joe

prestonjb

I originally bought a bike when I went back to school so I guess I started out as a light comutter. However as work got further away I switched to a car and rode the bike a few days just to get a thrill.

Eventually I got involved into "sport cycling" in 1995. Well I use to do that non-enviromental drive to the ride stuff... Over time I found that my miles went up to the point where I found it more fun to ride to the ride.

On another front I moved closer to work and considered a scooter just because it didn't make sense to drive... Parking was a big hassle. Then I got more concerned with my sport cycling and my lack of a proper training program, I thought that if I rode to work and take it slow <to not get sweaty> that I would also get my "slow miles" in...

Here it is three years now and I ride my bike to work every day... Except if it is raining when I would start... But if it is raining when I go home that is OK as long as there is no lightning.

jbushkey

prestonjb is responding to my poll. I had originally had it here as a mistake then I made a "real" poll and swiched this post to looking for advice. From what ive read it sounds like ill get sucked in and probably ride all the time and maybe even in the rain.

leilin

marin, LARKSPUR

https://www.marinbikes.com/html/spec_04_larkspur.html

PaulH

Disk brakes work well in rain and snow and require less frequent maintenance (especially where roads are salted/sanded). I'm not sure what advantage they would provide in a warm, dry place like Albuquerque.

Lights are a "must have." If there is rain/snow, fenders are important. It is good to have a rack/panniers. As for the best bike, it depends. How are the hills? Will you wear biking togs or a suit and tie?

Our Chief Engineer works at our Albuquerque office and does a 20 mile round trip commute on a road bike.

Not sure what the most important part of a bike is. That could be a good thread topic. I'd suggest the tires, since flats are the biggest reliability problem in my experience.

Paul

kurremkarm

If you are going to commute and spend 400 bucks or less on a bike then you will prolly need to think in terms of 150 or less on a bike and the rest for gear.

Rack, bag, lock, lights, fenders, tire repair kit, allen set, small crescent, helmet, water bottle, pump, slime for your tires-- do this ASAP. The good news is that for 150 bucks you can probably get a nice older used bike if you shop around. Make sure it has rear rack, front and rear fender eyelets, and will support 700x28c or 26x1.25 inch tires.

Get the bike, have them slime the tires, buy a cheap LED front/rear set and a helmet, then ride it for a week and see if you like it.

If you do then you can add things as you need em.

There's a place on yahoo shopping that sells breezer citizen for 450 shipped, that would also be a good buy-- comes with fenders, rack, and lights.

Mtn Mike

Yeah those Breezers looks like a really nice commuting bikes. Here are some other suggestions. If you're looking at a bike to use as basic transportation, you can do well in the $300-450 price range. I wouldn't worry about getting ALL the assecories right away. Just get the bike, good front and rear lights, a lock, helmet, and some comfortable clothes and you'll be on your way. People commute with even less.

Go try out several bikes for fit and comfort. There are variations in component groups out there. I wouldn't worry too much about the specifics because bikes in a similar price ranges tend to have similar components. Although I love my disc brakes, I don't think you need to spend the extra money on them for a commuter bike. Disc brakes are beneficial to riders seeking performance off-road in wet, snowy, muddy, and steep downhill conditions. If you get a mountain bike, many models that come stock with rim brakes are disc compatable, meaning the hubs and frame allow disc brakes, and you can upgrade later if you get more into mountain biking.

So in summery, find a local bike shop that you like and start trying out various bikes. Good luck.

marnan

I agree with Kurremkarm. Spend $150-200 on a bike and another $100 on accessories. There are alot of used (or near new bikes) out there from impluse buyers (buy on impluse, ride a few miles, then it sits in the garage the next 5-10 years gathering dust). Don't spend alot until you get the bug to keep riding, then you will want better equipment. As far as bikes, alot depends on your size and travel. If you are large and have tough city streets to commute in, then I would recommend a mountain bike (26" wheels with 1.5" slicks). The tire swap to slicks is worth the investment. If you are lighter and have fairly smooth streets, then a road or hybrid bike with 700c wheels (close to 28" wheels) with 25c or 28c tires (1.05" to 1.15"). Avoid the rookie mistake of not keeping your tires inflated. Buy a good pump and keep your tires inflated to the maximum psi and it will save you alot of flats and make your ride faster. I pump my tires almost every ride or at least once a week if I am commuting everyday. Best of luck

Michel Gagnon

There are a few considerations:
- is your $400 a total budget (i.e. including locks, rack, panniers, etc.)?
- do you park outside or do you have protected parking?
- how is your route like?


With your budget, I would look closely at the used bike market, etiher from garage sales (if you have time for that) or from bike shops (there are even a few LBS that specialise in repairs and sale of used bikes).

You should also look at your route and, if you already cycle, you should get the feeling of how your route can be ridden. For instance:
- is it on smooth pavement or do you face cracks and potholes?
- mostly flat or gently rolling or hilly terrain?
- what do you need to carry for work?
- need to bring the 3-piece suit at work?
- lunch?
- riding style or preference?

If you ride on flat or gently rolling terrain, any 6 to 9 speed bike (i.e. single chainring) would be OK., so models that used to be defined as "courrier", "city bikes" or that are now defined as "hybrids" would be OK. If you ride on hilly terrain, look for triple chainrings (unless you want to pump hard in hills).

Also, make sure your bike accepts a rack (at least a rear rack), fenders (they are useful even in Albukerque), and 700x37 (or 26x 1.75) tires.

As for drop bars vs straight bars, I prefer drop bars, but that's mostly a matter of personal preference. If you go with drop bars, make sure the bars can be installed as high as your saddle will be: it gives you most of the benefits of drop bars (fairly aero position, lots of hand positions...)but is better for your neck than the fully tucked "road racing" position. In most cases, a new stem ($25) is all you need to raise the bars high enough.

As for the rest of the equipment, I always commute with one pannier which holds the basic stuff: pump, spare tube, patch kit, cable and U-lock, lights, lunch. There is room for some extra stuff, but I also carry the second pannier if I plan to shop on my way home.

As for brakes, I would say that cantilevers and v-brakes work fine. Disk brakes are not better than the above rim brakes in dry weather, but they are equally effective in rain, and you don't wear the rims if you ride in wet mud. IOW, not a factor in Albukerque.

Regards,

jbushkey

just got back from the cycle shop and im gonna be test driving the larkspur this weekend!!! its funny that lelin mentioned the larkspur because it was recommended to me on monday but they didnt have it at that location at the time. thanks for all the help!! soon ill be able to tell the story of my first commute!

LittleBigMan

Fantastic!

Have you considered the skills necessary to ride in traffic yet? This is even more important than the bike. Not a criticism, mind you, nor a discouragement. But it's important!

Happy Riding!

Dchiefransom

In another thread here, Effective Cycling by John Forrester was mentioned as a good book for riding on the streets. There are also a lot of websites covering tips on safe cycling. The League of American Bicyclists website has a section on it also.

Juha

Welcome to the addiction!

--J