View Poll Results: What type is your commuter? (in general, based on frame)
Voters: 328. You may not vote on this poll
POLL: What's your commuter?
11-06-08 | 10:49 PM
#51
SE Wis
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 11,549
Likes: 4,329
From: Milwaukee, WI
Bikes: '68 Raleigh Sprite, '02 Raleigh C500, '84 Raleigh Gran Prix, '91 Trek 400, 2013 Novara Randonee, 1990 Trek 970
I've got 3k plus on my road commuter this year. '88 Trek 1000 with rack, lights, pump, pannier. My rain, spring pot hole season, commuter is a '02 Raleigh c500 hybrid all set up. Ditched the shock seat post and comfort seat, front suspension adjusted as tight as it goes, 700 X 25 tires, and added rack, fenders, lights etc. That one has 800 miles this year, but will go up with winter like conditions coming.
11-06-08 | 10:51 PM
#52
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,226
Likes: 2
From: Metro Detroit
My commuter is a 1972 Schwinn Suburban with a front basket on the handlebars, and Schwinn generator headlamp/taillamp (which I don't use because I don't commute in the dark). Not MTB and not hybrid. Call it a road bike. I wear a backpack containing all my clothes and such. No tools or tubes. If it breaks, I'll walk and push it.
The other day I rode my 1988 Peugeot to work because I hadn't had the time to address some alignment problems on the Schwinn. The Peugeot has drop handlebars, which I am not accustomed to using. The heel of my hand was very sore when I got back home. And my commute is maybe 20 minutes each way. I think I don't like drop handlebars.
The other day I rode my 1988 Peugeot to work because I hadn't had the time to address some alignment problems on the Schwinn. The Peugeot has drop handlebars, which I am not accustomed to using. The heel of my hand was very sore when I got back home. And my commute is maybe 20 minutes each way. I think I don't like drop handlebars.
11-07-08 | 06:15 AM
#53
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 121
Likes: 0
From: Connecticut
Bikes: Trek XO1 (Commuter), Trek Madone 6.5, older Trek 850 hardtail MTB, crashed Kestrel 200SCi I can't toss
There should have been more categories in the poll for me. too.
I ride a cyclocross bike - Trek XO1 - so I picked "road bike with addons". It's got fenders, front and rear lights (NiteRider) and armadillo tires with reflective sidewalls. I use mountain bike clipless pedals and shoes (looking now at winter boots).
I don't have panniers or a rear rack - use a backpack for everything.
I ride a cyclocross bike - Trek XO1 - so I picked "road bike with addons". It's got fenders, front and rear lights (NiteRider) and armadillo tires with reflective sidewalls. I use mountain bike clipless pedals and shoes (looking now at winter boots).
I don't have panniers or a rear rack - use a backpack for everything.
11-07-08 | 12:14 PM
#54
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 5,551
Likes: 1,812
From: Southwestern Ontario
Voted 'mtb/no add-ons'. My commuter (only bike) is my Giant Rainier h/t (or more precisely, based on my
'05 Rainier -- all that's left is frame/headset), which I've built up over past 4 years to suit my needs. Frame fits me very well/is very comfortable but tough; bike is very light/quick as set up.
'05 Rainier -- all that's left is frame/headset), which I've built up over past 4 years to suit my needs. Frame fits me very well/is very comfortable but tough; bike is very light/quick as set up.
11-11-08 | 12:21 AM
#55
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 764
Likes: 0
From: GTA
Bikes: Dahon Mu SL 08 / Matrix 08
you are missing the option for NON of the Above.
Folding bike, with Commuter & MTB add ons.
Folding bike, with Commuter & MTB add ons.
I've got a couple different choices to make to build up my new commuter. I ride into work (~7 miles) in the early AM, ride 1.5 miles round trip at lunch to get to the gym, and then rack the bike on the front of the bus for the ride home (85% downhill into work means 85% uphill on the way home 
)
So I'm leaning towards a road-bike type commuter, but was interested in how many of you went the road bike frame route, and how many went the mountain bike frame route when it came to building up your commuter. It'll be interesting to see how this plays out. Oh, and if you don't mind sharing, post up your distance and reason like my example above (15 miles round trip to work? school? etc.) and spec out your ride!
NOTE: This is a general poll. If your bike is a cruiser with 26" tires, then I guess you can opt for MTB. A touring bike with 27", 700cc. or 650b wheels would fall under road for example. There's a ton of bike types, I just tried to make the poll pretty general.
)So I'm leaning towards a road-bike type commuter, but was interested in how many of you went the road bike frame route, and how many went the mountain bike frame route when it came to building up your commuter. It'll be interesting to see how this plays out. Oh, and if you don't mind sharing, post up your distance and reason like my example above (15 miles round trip to work? school? etc.) and spec out your ride!
NOTE: This is a general poll. If your bike is a cruiser with 26" tires, then I guess you can opt for MTB. A touring bike with 27", 700cc. or 650b wheels would fall under road for example. There's a ton of bike types, I just tried to make the poll pretty general.
11-11-08 | 01:00 PM
#56
Raving looney
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,482
Likes: 0
From: Toronto, ON, Canada
Bikes: 70s Leader Precision w/Shimano 600 (road), IRO Rob Roy (Fixed)
I run an IRO Rob Roy with fenders, bottle cages and will likely mount a rack on it once I actually get one - I love riding my bike, and as clutter free as I prefer it, I need and want to carry stuff when I ride.
11-11-08 | 01:07 PM
#57
Drops small screws
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2,608
Likes: 9
From: NYC Metro Area
Bikes: Soma Grand Randonneur, modified Xootr Swift, Trek 1000SL with broken brifter from running it into a hotel porte-cochère
+1
11-11-08 | 01:29 PM
#58
down in the drops
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 216
Likes: 0
From: Wilmington, NC
Bikes: Miele Doral, Bianchi Boardwalk, Cannondale R300
I voted "Road with Extras" because I view my Bianchi Boardwalk as a road bike with flat bars. I've also got a rack, tail light, head light, trunk with fold-down panniers, and GPS. My work commute is an eleven mile round trip and my grocery runs are either nine or sixteen miles, depending on which store.
11-11-08 | 01:39 PM
#59
eight spokes
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 478
Likes: 1
From: Ruhr district, Germany
Bikes: merc, brompton, roadster, cheap every day bike
+2 for folders
A folding bike is my 1. choice for commuting:
A folding bike is my 1. choice for commuting:
- I hate to fix flats and such in the rain or alongside car traffic and if some damage is so severe that it could not be fixed right away, I dont have to leave the bike. With my folder I can call a taxi or hop on the bus to finish the commute.
- I love my bikes and hate to worry about theft. The folder sits under my desk or in my spind (depending which one) when I work.
- Sometimes I have to go to a meeting with colleges in some other part of the city, sometimes we then decide to have a drink somewhere. I can put my folder in the boot of some colleges car and so party.
11-11-08 | 07:39 PM
#60
Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
From: St. Augustine, FL
I have a '92 trek 990 mountainbike. I'm running 2" bontrager slicks with a rear rack and panniers. I have a valley between my house and work. I tried my road bike but couldn't make it up the grade without a granny gear. I don't need fenders, its only rained on me once this year.
11-11-08 | 08:51 PM
#61
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,453
Likes: 2
From: Brooklyn, NY
My main commuter is a Downtube Mini folding bike.
My backup commuter is a Euro-Commuter Trek L200 with dynamo lighting, drum brakes, internal gear hub, full chaincase, fenders, and coatguard. For the winter, or when I need to carry larger packages, this becomes my go-to bike.
My backup commuter is a Euro-Commuter Trek L200 with dynamo lighting, drum brakes, internal gear hub, full chaincase, fenders, and coatguard. For the winter, or when I need to carry larger packages, this becomes my go-to bike.
11-11-08 | 11:23 PM
#63
230lb Hill Climber
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 81
Likes: 0
From: Colorado
Bikes: Gaint TCR, Rincon/ Batavus/ Nishiki
I ride a Nashiki Custom Sport. I changed the wheels to 700c with 35 cyclocross tires. I have a DIY light system with a saddle bag holding the battery. I use a sks mtb strap-on fender. I have tired the MTB with slicks (ok but slow) panniers (heel strike and feels weird) Messenger Bag (slides around even with a stay-put strap) I ride 6 miles to work with hills but generally down hill in the am. I am a nurse so I work for 12-14 hrs per shift. I ride the hillier route home (safer) which is 7 miles and roughly 800 feet of elevation gain.
11-11-08 | 11:27 PM
#64
bulletproof tiger
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,934
Likes: 0
From: Portland, OR
Bikes: Waterford 2200, Litespeed Tuscany, Salsa La Cruz, Kona Fire Mountain
11-12-08 | 01:36 AM
#67
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 764
Likes: 0
From: GTA
Bikes: Dahon Mu SL 08 / Matrix 08
+2 for folders
A folding bike is my 1. choice for commuting:
A folding bike is my 1. choice for commuting:
- I hate to fix flats and such in the rain or alongside car traffic and if some damage is so severe that it could not be fixed right away, I dont have to leave the bike. With my folder I can call a taxi or hop on the bus to finish the commute.
- I love my bikes and hate to worry about theft. The folder sits under my desk or in my spind (depending which one) when I work.
- Sometimes I have to go to a meeting with colleges in some other part of the city, sometimes we then decide to have a drink somewhere. I can put my folder in the boot of some colleges car and so party.
11-12-08 | 01:54 AM
#68
Man about town
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 105
Likes: 0
From: Portland, OR
Bikes: '04 Giant OCR1, '85 Team Fuji
Please. I once rode my old cross bike 6 miles on gravel, cobbles, and asphalt with a completely flat rear tire. It was slow and terrifying, but I still use that wheel on my commuter, and I never even had to true it. Push your bike as far as you want - the only risk you're running is getting a kink in your back.
11-12-08 | 07:38 AM
#69
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,522
Likes: 0
From: Madison, WI
Picked mountain bike with commuter extras which is an insult to my poor bike.
It really is a low step through frame bike, with internal gears, a rack, a front basket, and bottle generator lights. Basically, a standard cheapish Dutch/English/Danish grandma bike. The thing can haul a fair bit of cargo, and goes fast enough to suit me. And the frame means that even on a bad arthritis day, I can still ride... which means I hurt less. It works for up to 30 mile days with no discomfort, so I know I can get to 40.
I'm not really able to use a standard diamond frame. Hurts too often, so this bike is a real lifesaver.
It really is a low step through frame bike, with internal gears, a rack, a front basket, and bottle generator lights. Basically, a standard cheapish Dutch/English/Danish grandma bike. The thing can haul a fair bit of cargo, and goes fast enough to suit me. And the frame means that even on a bad arthritis day, I can still ride... which means I hurt less. It works for up to 30 mile days with no discomfort, so I know I can get to 40.
I'm not really able to use a standard diamond frame. Hurts too often, so this bike is a real lifesaver.
11-12-08 | 01:43 PM
#70
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 187
Likes: 0
I just purchased a 2009 Kona Dr. Dew hybrid cyclocross/commuter bike. Basically a cross bike with a flatbar and a very gently sloping top tube. Geared the same as the Kona Jake, disc brakes, the works. Lovely and versatile setup.
ms
ms
11-12-08 | 10:38 PM
#72
invisible friend
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 955
Likes: 0
From: Decatur, Alabama
Bikes: Gary Fisher Tassajara hardtail mtb, '01 Rans Wave, '98 Raleigh R700, Mid-80's Takara Professional, '91 Bianchi Alfana
I have been alternating between my mtb (older hardtail with michelin country rock tires) and my road bike. Mainly because I haven't found a seat I'm comfortable with on the mtb yet. I love the relaxed ride of the mtb, but I've been getting off on the speed of the road bike lately. I use a backpack with either. My commute is 16 miles round trip, and I work 12 hour swing shifts, so the ride home is ALWAYS longer than the ride in!
11-12-08 | 10:44 PM
#73
Raptobike Rider
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 400
Likes: 0
From: Chicago, IL
Bikes: Raptobike Lowracer, Redline Conquest CX, Cruzbike Vendetta
Current commuter. - Recumbent hi-racer (corsa)
Alternate commuter. - Recumbent trike (TT tour)
Past commuter. - Cyclecross - Fuji Cross
None of my commuters fit in to the categories.
__________________
My stable:
2013 Redline Conquest CX
2010 EasyRacer GRR
2015 Cruzbike Vendetta
2009 Raptobike Lowracer #0067
My blog
My bike pictures
My stable:
2013 Redline Conquest CX
2010 EasyRacer GRR
2015 Cruzbike Vendetta
2009 Raptobike Lowracer #0067
My blog
My bike pictures
11-12-08 | 11:55 PM
#74
dia por dia
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 300
Likes: 0
From: San Diego
Bikes: hand built fixie, Lightspeed Sienna D/A
Surly LHT for the commute. Occasionally I will take the Litespeed . . . if I didn't have to bring work home the night before and my clean clothes are already at the office, but not often enough for my liking.
11-13-08 | 11:08 PM
#75
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,569
Likes: 6
If that's the case, I would of never sold my '07 Bianchi Bay City hybrid for "another" 'cross bike.