Specialized Globe
 

I'm looking into getting a "commuter bike," and the Specialized Globe series has caught my eye. Does anyone have any thoughts as to this line? Any suggestions of similar bicycles?

I want something to ride around the city: comfortable (I don't want to be leaned over into the handlebar), but not heavy as a tank. I'd like a rack for carrying stuff, and, though it isn't necessary, internal gearing seems like a wiser choice than derailleur.

Thanks much.

Hi, seeing this post is part of what made me decide to register after a few months lurking here, since I own a Specialized Globe Vienna 1--which would be part of the line you're inquiring about. I've been commuting on it every day for the past couple months, and it's carried me for about 500 miles. My commute's only 4 miles round-trip but I've been taking it everywhere--my longest trip on it so far has been almost 40 miles.

It was a bike I'd initially considered a non-option for me, since it looked like it'd need so much work to be completely viable for what I needed. However, after test riding a other similarly priced bikes at the store (I wanted something fairly cheap in case it got stolen), I found it to be by far the most comfortable for me. Since the series is designed for commuting, they have piles of places to attachs racks and bottle cages and fenders and my bike shop put all those on at relatively little cost. I guess the deluxe Viennas 1 or 3 come with most of this stuff already attached.

It's maybe not the lightest bike, but it's still not too bad. I always think it's heavier than it is becaues I always ride it with pretty well-loaded panniers--the few occaisions where I have them off I'm always surprised at how light it feels. I can also get it going pretty fast.

My only problem was that the stock wheels couldn't support my weight. After putting about 200 or so miles on it I started popping spokes. I'd get it repaired, then spokes'd pop again. Amazingly, my shop upgraded me to stronger double-walled rims at no charge. Seems to be doing the trick. A week or so after that my girlfriend decided she wanted to start biking too, went back to the shop, she test rode even more bikes than I did, found the Globe the most comfortable as well and got herself one too. We got her the Vienna 3, which comes with strong rims and better componentry in general. Oh, I guess I did have another problem, and that was that the pedals pretty much fell apart on me after two weeks, but I replaced 'em with some metal ones and it's much better.

You also note you prefer a more upright position--the Vienna offers that, although as my riding got strong and I wanted to go faster I found I was better off adjusting it to a higher-seat, lower-handlebar position than what the shop originally fitted me for.

I may not be any expert, but I think they're great bikes (the curving frame also gets a lot of compliments, I had a driver give me a scare once because he was trying to get a better look at it and ask me where I got it). If you're a heavier guy, I'd just not bother with the level 1s of the San Francisco or the Vienna--get something with stronger rims. I don't find the lower-end componentry on the Vienna 1 to be too much of a problem since I learned how to adjust it to where I like.

I don't know how directly similar all of these are, since I haven't gotten to know them in so much detail, but other ones we looked at were the Specialized Crosstrail and Carmel, the Giant Tran Send and the Kona Dew and Smoke.

Thanks so much, Quantumcycler. I, too, have been checking out Giant's TranSend series. I like it, but think I somewhat prefer Specialized Globe bikes -- at least in stores, they've somehow just felt a bit more comfortable.

What you say about the pedals, though, concerns me... I hope I don't send up walking the bike back on its third or fourth outing.

I carry most of my weight at the sides of my feet, and they are pretty wide (11.5 EEEE), so I was putting too much pressure right at the edge of the pedal. This just caused the plastic structure of the platform to crack. It remained affixed to the spindle (which was metal), but caused them to squeak as they flexed each revolution. It wasn't a total pedal failure. Good luck with your shopping.

I wish Specialized chose to use a metal skeleton underneath the plastic of their pedals. Anyway, thanks again for sharing your experience.

My wife and I chose the Vienna 3's after at first falling in love with the look of the Vienna Deluxe 1's. We decided we didn't need the fenders and lights since we don't ride at night or in the rain. The Vienna 3's had been components. I got the burgundy disc model and she got the regular grey model. So far we love them. I posted a picture in your other post about them.

I bought a Specialized Globe 2005. It is a fine bike, and it was nice buying a bike that came with all the necessary accessories -- fenders, front light, back light, and rack. However, the lights stopped working after about a year, and the shop claimed they were unable to repair them -- "we don't do electrics." Not a great loss, because the light was so weak that it was necessary to supplement it with a battery-powered headlight, anyway. The plastic chain guard got cracked and fell off about a month later. After a puncture flat I replaced the tires with kevlar beaded models. Mind you, this was from daily commuting, and I don't really baby my bikes much. But you can't fall in love with the accessories.

It looks like since 2005 Specialized has greatly expanded the "Globe" series to include a lot of bikes that are not as useful for daily commuting. Basically, if it doesn't have fenders, it's crap. I don't care if you don't want to ride in the rain; riding the day after rain, when there are still puddles lying around, requires either (1) fenders or (2) a willingness to have a rooster tail of mud on your back. So, the Vienna Deluxe looks decent.

2008 Specialized Globe IG8 owner here.... It's a good bike. Not the best, most expensive, exclusive, lightest or fastest.... but a good bike. I ride to work 4 to 5 days per week. 18 miles round trip.

In short:
I've got 3,700 miles on my Globe. I've had the rear wheel re-spoked once, front wheel had no broken spoke issues. (I weigh over 200lbs and I use a trunk bag) The Internal Gear 8 speed hub is an expensive option, but works very well for commuting starts and stops, heavy traffic situations. The upright position works for commuting. The dyno hub puts out a good deal of light forward and a very bright constant LED rear light, but I also use small flashers for safety sake. Never used the factory pedals, went right to M324 Shimano SPD/regular shoe combo pedals, very happy with them. FENDERS ARE A GOOD THING. Every day I ride through water from sprinkler run-offs or road repair. The specialized plastic fenders are quiet and good looking. Nimbus 700x38 Tires are very good... might change the rear tire at 4000+ miles... I'll see.

For the money... it's a very good bike. No regrets having bought one. Some minor troubles over time, but basicly a dependable, solid, real commuter. Get compliments on it all the time.
My bike weighs in at 33 pounds, with 7 more pounds of stuff on it. (bike lock, trunk bag, tools, etc.)

The model for 2009 is nice, the new frame geometry looks good. Use your best judgement and look into all the commuter bikes on the market before buying... there is going to be one that calls your name.

I have a 2008 Globe "City 7" that I've used for the past year. It's been a good, reliable bike. Nice acceleration from stops, good visibility in traffic, and a smooth ride. No real problem yet save with the plug where the hub generator connects on the fork; they use a real delicate thin wire there, so I have re-wired that connector 2 or 3 times, and am real, real careful whwn I have to remove the front wheel.

The lights are very nice to drive by, and my routes go through some pretty dark places. They do tend to go out when you get caught at a long stoplight, so I supplement them, especially the tail light, with a battery-powered backup.

Handles very nicely under load, and has the braze-ons for front panniers. I could go touring with it if I really wanted to...

My main commuter these days is a Surly Cross-Check, but the Globe is a good backup and "cruiser" bike when I need one...

That's exactly the bike I thought I'd get -- my local bike shop advertises it as on sale for a great price. Unfortunately, it's sold-out (won't be getting any more, as it's an old model, now), and the "current-year" version costs an arm and a leg (and I need my legs to pedal).

Thanks.

Yes, I looked up the price for 2009. $1100. list, (2008 was $910 list). You know the cost, plus tax, plus pedals, shoes, additional gadgets like wireless odometer, flashing lights, your choice of trunk bag or panniers.... it all adds up ($$$!) Seeing the new frame geometry, I could understand a slight price increase (perhaps not $200 worth).

-3bikes

I have a 2007 Globe Comp IG8 with carbon fork blades, and the weight is listed on this site: http://www.thebicycleescape.com , as around 27 lbs. That seems about right. I'd go along with the opinions above about ride and durability. I'm not a fan of front suspensions for commuter bikes, and I like the combination of carbon forks and fat (42mm) tires along with light weight.

Does anyone know if it would be possible to buy a derailleur-geared bike (such as a Globe [not the Vienna Deluxe 3]), and have it built with internal gearing instead of the external? That is, I could buy a hub-gearing system (such as the Shimano Nexus), and ask the bike shop to install it instead of the derailleurs. Can this be done?

Thank you.

Maybe - easier to adapt a single speed bike to IGH. Generally an IGH will want to have a horizontal dropout, and most derailleur bikes have vertical dropouts. One example that is put together at a bike shop in Boston is this