My ultimate commuter bike
 

I have been commuting on a Giant Cypress Hybrid that I've modified quite a bit. I like it, but I got to thinking lately what the ultimate bike would be and I don't think it exists. At least, I haven't found it yet.

I'd like an internally geared hub with a single chainring up front (that's the only way they work, right?). I'd like disc brakes for occasional wet conditions. I'd like to be able to run 32 mm wide tires normally, and maybe wider in winter. The ability to add fenders would be nice. I've stopped using my rack and panniers, they're just too heavy and slow me down too much. Even so, the ability to have a rear rack would be nice. Here's the kicker, personally I absolutely need multiple hand positions. Straight or riser bars just don't work for me. I added trekking bars to my bike, which are nice, but I prefer drop bars. I could settle for trekking bars, bullhorn bars, or drop bars. I've never used mustache bars, they don't look like they'd do it for me. It seems most internally geared hubs have shifters that only work on straight bars, is that correct? One last thing, this is assumed in the tire width, but I'm a tall guy so I'd like 700 wheels, not 26".

I'm not sure about the frame. I hear steel is nice, but I want this bike to be low maintenance and I don't want to have to worry about rust. It may have to be an aluminum frame. Titanium is just too expensive for a commuter.

So, does such a beast exist? Will I just have to build it myself someday?

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=471351
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=472062

Thanks for the links.

For reference, the first one is a Salsa Casseroll that someone built up. It looks nice, except the shifting is an ugly kludge that I just wouldn't be happy with. However, someone did suggest a two-piece handlebar that might work. This thread scores one for the "build it myself" camp.

The second one is also about building up a bike using a Cyclocross frame. Two points for build it myself.

Does anyone know of an existing bike that has the attributes I mentioned?

Everyone’s "Ultimate" bike is a little different. Yours could be a Cyclocross bike. This is mine: http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=470912

You're asking for the mythical "perfect" BF commuter bike. It doesn't exist.

the Trek Portland is a cross bike (or is it straight road?) that comes with discs. Short of building it up, i can't think of any other bike that comes close. I'm don't know too much about bikes with internal hubs (the portland is derailleur equipped).

what about getting a more road-ish bike for most times, and a wider tire foul weather beater?

LIKE THIS?

Edit to add...oh darn. it's not IGH. my bad.

How close to what you're looking for is the Trek Soho?
http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/urban/soho/soho/

Looks like all it would need is a handlebar swap and any decent shop should be able to get that done if you don't want to do it yourself.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=237685

The above link gave me the idea for mine

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=374221

Sounds like my '07 Brodie Romax crossed with a Brodie Ocho.

Total custom, that's the only way you get what you want and be happy with it. No bike on the market with derailleur will be able to handle single speed without a chain tensioner.

You could try to build a bike out of a Surly Karate Monkey or Surly Pugsley

I'd stay away from the Ocho, the EBB on the Ocho is absolute crap, as confirmed by shop owners, mechanics, and actual owners of the bicycle. Shimano Alfine is the bomb though, absolutely awesome internal gear transmission. Romax is also not available in disc for 2008.

Then again, I'm generally very unimpressed by Brodie's bikes in general, they are not even a good deal for what they are. Very basic typical 7005/6061 aluminum used by almost everyone else.

Here's my ultimate commuter
Discs + Shimano Alfine 8 speed internal http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=349866

At the time it was amazing, seems like commercial offerings are just now catching up ;)



I switched the Scott bars for Nitto Dove:

http://www.bikemandan.com/stuff/IMG_2250-3.JPG

That's fine, that's just what I wanted to know. I realize "perfect" is different for everyone, that's why I said "my" perfect bike. I just didn't want to go to the effort and probably extra cost of building one if it already exists. This won't be for a while, mind you, I just thought I'd do a survey of what's out there.

Good call. Looks like that would meet most of the criteria. I put the trekking bars on my current bike, not a problem. Of course, I would prefer drop bars, which the shifter wouldn't work with. But I could settle for trekking bars. Thanks.

I wonder if you could just swap to a different shifter system so you can use drop bars...

Good question. I've investigated it a bit, and I think the internally geared hubs are very finicky as far as shifters. I've only seen them come with twist shifters, but maybe I'm wrong.

Sheldon brown shoes the Alfine has RapidFire twisters too, but that won't help. He does have the HubBub Bar End Adpaptor, which might be reasonable if I cut the end off of the drop bars.

Is there any chance of sliding a twist shifter onto drop bars, all the way to by the stem? I swear I've seen that on cheap Walmart road bikes. I could live with that. Or would I have to get that two section handlebar?

My ultimate commuter would have a three-speed fixed-gear hub.

You could make it a two speed fixie with any one of Schlumpf drive, Nicolai B-Boxx and Truvativ Hammerschmidt.

Swobo Dixon with trekking bar would also fit the bill. I really like mine. I also have a Surly 1x1 with an older Nexus 7. Any frame with full or semi horizontal dropouts and disc tabs could be used for the build. You could even get away with vertical dropouts if you went with an eccentric BB or chain tensioner.

My ultimate commuter is simple. A fairly lightweight touring or cyclocross bike with drop bars, easy to access shifters, braze-ons for a rear rack, and clearance for fenders. 700x28 slick tires would be my preference. I can't find one for much less then $1,000 at this point, but I'm not in a hurry since my current hybrid works fine for me.

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...m_cross_cx.htm
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...ntom_cross.htm
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...ane/outlaw.htm

My hang up is I'd like an internally geared hub for reduced maintenance.

Sorry, I suck at links, but check out my Darth Pugsley post for a few ideas. I stole a lot of my ideas from a guy's blog called stankertanker. Google him, it sounds like he built almost exactly what you are thinking of on a Surly Karate Monkey frame.

I can't speak to the Ocho, as my local shop hasn't had one in, but everybody has been very impressed with all the cyclocross "Speed" series bikes they've gotten in. I mean, if you know of another line (besides Bikes Direct) that has a CX disc bike for $1250 MSRP and an entry level CX bike for $750 (have you seen the welds on the CX bikes? build quality far and above Fuji/Trek/Motobecane/whatever), by all means let me know! There are probably a dozen CX bikes running around town, and I doubt those guys get stopped as much as I do by bikers and non-bikers to give love to the baby blue commuter. That's just my experience...

Last I checked, Romax disc was going for $1499 at my LBS. 7005 and 6061 aluminum used by Brodie is available dirtcheap to everyone else, and there are not that special. Aesthetically, the seatstay joining the seattube above the top tube is hideous.

Schwinn DBX MSRP $1100, can be had on the 'bay for $700. Chain stay disc mount.

http://www.paulscyclingfitness.com/C..._world_dbx.jpg

Opus Sentiero $1100.

If my Trek 7500 had horizontal drops or track ends I could install an internal gear hub without having to use a tensioner and that would make this bike pretty much perfect as a geared commuter and I am already looking at changing the front fork so I can run a disc brake.

The bike is already pretty awesome.

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikep...500tourer2.jpg

I already have the perfect fixed gear commuter although it will probably be getting an SX3 internal gear hub when they come out which will give it three fixed gearings instead of the two it currently has.

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikep...whitedoor2.jpg