Dreaming about a new commuter.....
 

Hey all,

I'm a Nursing Student (And a MAN! :p). I graduate in May (PLEASE GOD, LET ME GRADUATE!!!) I have been doing some long range thinking about a new commuter. There is nothing wrong with my TREK 750, but I can't bring it into work. The neighborhood where the Hospital is located is sketchy at best (St. Margaret's, Hammond IN). I really don't want to get out at 11pm and have to walk seven miles home (the wife will NOT come get me.... under ANY circumstances! :D). So I have been thinking....

I live in the very flat mid-west. I really only use four of my 21 possible gear combo's. I plan on riding in the snow next year (since I'll be working and can afford to buy the right gear). They salt the roads around here. This makes me think that an internally geared hub would be the way to go... It's sealed from the snow and salt, and I only need 7-8 gears anyways, right?

I'm also thinking that Disk Brakes would be a good idea.... I have heard that Disk brakes are much better at stopping in cold/ wet conditions (right?)......

And since I can't be pushing a bike into the hospital and taking it on the elevator to the seventh floor, I think a folder might just be the trick. Could/ would they really say anything about a semi-large bag that is just leaned up in the corner? Who would know its a bike, unless I told them?

So with these criteria in mind, I went a searching..... And came up with the Dahon Cadenza 8 (http://www.dahon.com/us/cadenza8.htm). It's a regular style bike that folds, has an 8 speed internally geared hub, disk brakes and 26” rims (I figure getting studded snow tires is easier for 26” rims than the little 16” or 20” that most folders come with).

Does anyone see a fault in my thinking? I really wanted a LHT or Cross Check, but the whole folding thing is really starting to tickle the back of my brain...... I was thinking about a Travelers Check, but the Surly site said that it's kinda time consuming to re-assemble.... I take it that it's not designed to be a daily folder.....

ARGH!!!! Mental ************ at it's best! :D

The only fault I found is that you figure since you only use 4/21 gears on a derailer bike you'd be fine with only 7 or 8 on an IGH. IGH have about the same span of gearing top to bottom as your 21 speed or a 27 speed, it's just that the individual gears are farther apart and don't overlap like they do on a derailer system.

So it's possible that an 8-9 spd derailer bike (no front derailer) might do the same job and weigh less than an IGH bike. If weight is an issue as you're running up the stairs with this thing. Although conversely the straight chainline of a gearhub bike might make some other logistics easier.

And, fwiw, you can definitely get 20" studdeds.

I think that Dahon sounds like a great solution to the problem. You're right about the T'Check not being a daily disassembly bike. The S&S couplers are meant for travel breakdown, rather than daily storage.

When I first read about the T'Check, I thought "GREAT, MY NEW COMMUTER!" Then I read up on it, and I figured it probably wouldn't work like that...... HEY SURLY, FIX IT AND I'LL BUY ONE! :D

You might consider a single speed, Hammond Indiana is purty flat.

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/uno.htm

And just remove the front wheel when in the building.

Michael

While Indiana is FLAT I'm rather FAT and need the gears to get up the few hills there are around here and to compensate for my being tired after a double shift.....

and If I'm worried about locking up a beat up fifteen year old TREK, why would I want to lock up a Racy looking Motobecane....... Unless that's a folder.....

Have you actually seen that bike folded? I think it would still be pretty big. The Dahon site says it's 3 feet by 3 feet folded.

Nope. I haven't seen it except on line... The pics don't look that bad..... There is a shop up in the City that sells them. I figure I'll make a day of it (if the wife will let me go) and pedal up there and take a look. They make bags for the bike, so I figure it'll be ok.....


I just re-read my last post.... It came across as kinda snarky.... Sorry. Didn't mean to.... need some more sleep.