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-   -   POLL: What's your commuter? (https://www.bikeforums.net/commuting/483746-poll-whats-your-commuter.html)

squirtdad 11-05-08 01:22 PM


Originally Posted by TheSojourner (Post 7796147)
So I'm leaning towards a road-bike type commuter(15 miles round trip to work? school? etc.) and spec out your ride!.

Despite hoopla over details...despite your disclaimer of genral poll.....(.and I am guilty in earlier reply :rolleyes: ) I like roadbikes in general for commuting use.

I use my Japanese 8-spd (looks like a english 3 spd.) for my 11-12 mile round trip commute. This one is currently outfitted full fenders rack etc.

For longer commutes, especially if wind is involved I prefer having drop bars. Currentl;y my drop bar bike does not have fendes/racks.....but it did when I was using it for commuting.

both are posted on the 20 year old clunker thread if you want to take a look

but in general for 15 mile round trip I think you have a lot of flexiibiliyt.....longer warrants more efficiency

svtmike 11-05-08 01:27 PM

I prefer my cyclocross bike for commuting -- because my shortest/safest path to work involves gravel trails. It's what I use most of the time because it's got the best balance of riding surface versatility and speed.

I will occasionally use my road bike but avoiding the gravel trails extends my commute by 2.5 miles each way (not a big deal).

I use my MTB when the weather is sloppy.

All have 27.2" seatposts, so I just transfer a Topeak MTX beam rack between them and voila! instant commuter bike stable.

uke 11-05-08 02:26 PM

Two road bikes, stock besides lights and computers. I'll never buy fenders, racks, or panniers.

stevemtbr 11-05-08 02:27 PM

For the winter commute I'm riding an MTB with fenders, lights for bar and helmut with two blinkes in the rear. I also have a Camelback Cloud Walker to carry my stuff. My winter route home is about 70% trail which is much safer than the road. When the weather gets warmer I'll take the road bike or the racing MTB.

dipy911 11-05-08 02:36 PM

Hybrid! Trek 7500fx. Definitively neither road or mountain.

mattm 11-05-08 02:37 PM

surly pacer, honjo fenders, dynohub, carradice baggage

GV27 11-05-08 02:38 PM


Originally Posted by pgoat (Post 7796286)
mtb (rigid, with 1" slicks, 12-23 cassette). Bell and light on the handlebars, red blinkie on bag. Reflective tape on various things

I tried the rack & pannier thing. so nice to not have a sweaty back but I got tired of the ponderous weight and poor handling. Back to a bag for now.....

Just curious - why did your panniers weigh so much more than your backpack?

caloso 11-05-08 02:42 PM

Fixed gear road bike with fenders.

KrisPistofferson 11-05-08 02:47 PM

I voted road bike with add-ons, but it's a 26" wheel LHT, so there are a lot of similarities to old MTB geometry. Best bike ever, man. :thumb:

rcummings1 11-05-08 02:55 PM

Started with a MTB, added fenders, slicks, rack, and Wald fold up baskets, and it turned it into a tank. Then moved to a Tricross and added fenders and a rear rack, much happier and much faster now.

DanKMTB 11-05-08 03:21 PM

I went w/ MTB w/ no commuter ad-ons, but my commute is 90% off-road until the snow sets in. Then it gets studs and fenders.

Have you considered a 29er that you can run fat slicks on? Do you encounter snow & ice?

DanKMTB 11-05-08 03:22 PM

Should mention that when road commuting outside of the winter weather, I ride a full-blown road bike. I keep clothes 7 whatnot @ work and exchange them once a week, so I don't need to carry anything besides my normal roadside repair stuff & lights, which are mounted and not carried, so I guess I don't carry them either. If I had to carry stuff to & from I'd be using panniers.

roadie66 11-05-08 03:25 PM

13 miles commute 1 way I usually commute on a 1998 Klein Navigator with rear rack and pannnier. If i'm not carrying alot I ride my 2004 Klein Q Carbon Team with Messanger Bag. During winter I use a converted MTB with Internal gear hub, studded tires, rear rack with hardcase pannier I made from old stormcase

madcalicojack 11-05-08 03:40 PM

Cyclocross bike with:
-Rack and grocery bag style panniers.
-Computer
-PB superflash in back
-P7 flashlight up front

My ride: 7.6 miles each way 3 days a week.
The other two days I have a different destination. I ride 15 miles in the morning and take the bus home for all but 4 miles. Total weekly mileage ~83 miles.

FreddyV 11-05-08 03:47 PM

At first I rode with a road bike, all loaded up with rack, panniers, plastic fenders, you name it. Didn't take me long to start stripping the bike again.
The panniers were too much of a wind drag, so I decided to take it off again and leave my gear at work and stick with a backpack. Till now I've been commuting on that very road bike and haven't commuterized it in any way. I did decide to put on a rear clipon fender though, saves me a wet shirt quite occasionally.

Celos 11-05-08 03:49 PM

My commute is typically bike one-way (17 miles), multimodal (bike-train-bike, 5 miles on the bike) three days a week. Depending on my work requirements, the weather and my mood, I use the train more.

I use a 2004 Specialized Sirrus comp with racks, panniers, lights and fenders. It's great, and a huge improvement over doing it on a MTB, which I did for years and years.

Heathenix 11-05-08 09:25 PM

Road bike winterized with cyclocross tires and fenders & I also have panniers. My ride is 22 km RT with lots of elevation gain in both directions.

downtube42 11-05-08 09:32 PM

My commute is only 0.75 miles so I probably shouldn't have voted, but I did. Mtn with fenders, slicks, and rack.
A guy in my building rides a unicycle in sometimes. He's my commuter hero.

rugerben 11-06-08 03:05 PM

I use my TranSend. It's a hybrid style bike, set up with trekking bars, rack, front and rear fenders, and 700cx32 tires, etc...

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/i...s/101_0800.jpg

I can't vote. It's neither an MTB, nor a road bike.

resipsa 11-06-08 03:31 PM

Fixed-gear track frame (with a brake) and strap-on fenders and lights when necessary. I guess that's the second option, but not entirely.

somedood 11-06-08 04:52 PM

Cyclocross bike with slicks, fenders, rack and pannier. I put road w/commuter addons since that's mostly what it is. This is also complimented by a P7 flashlight headlight and blinky in back.

bikinpolitico 11-06-08 06:02 PM

Don't see an option for Dutch bike or long tail!

Lurch 11-06-08 07:17 PM

Bianchi Bergamo with a tail pack on the stock rack. It doesn't fit any of the categories either.

ghettocruiser 11-06-08 09:55 PM

No multiple choice.

Most days my XC hardtail with the 700s

MrCowGod15 11-06-08 10:27 PM

I voted mountain bike w/ add-ons, but she's really a hybrid (Marin Muirwoods)


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