16 mile one way commute, need advice
 

I just started commuting this year on my bike and have a hilly 16 mile one way commute. Currently I am using my Jamis Xenith Comp which is great for getting me there fast but doesn't have any eyelets for racks or fenders. I have been using backpacks but am sick of the pain in the back and neck. I also have a trek 7300 hybrid with rack and fenders but it is a pig of a bike. I am not sure of the weight but it is at least 15lbs heavier than the Jamis and it drops my average speed from 17-18mph on the Jamis to about 13 mph. Part of that difference is from the gearing. I don't have enough time in the day to go that slow unfortunately.

Does anyone have a recommendation for a fast commuter that weighs not much more than 20lbs and has rack and fender eyelets? I prefer drop bars and I don't do any heavy hauling so I don't really need a super strong touring bike. I am 5'10" 190, race mountain bikes and I like long walks on the beach but you don't really need to know that. Price range is flexible but would say my limit is $2000 although I don't want to spend that much if I don't need to. I want at least decent quality components (not less than 105's). My bike is parked in my private office so I don't really worry about parts being stripped or the bike stolen. Local LBS's cover Jamis, Trek, Cannondale, Giant, Fisher, and Specialized.

I have asked around at some of my LBS but the high school kids working there don't really help much and they would have to order just about anything I would want.

I would appreciate any advice.

Trek Portland... dunno about weight, but they're fast.

You could maybe build up a Soma or Gunnar of some kind.

I get to say it first. Surly Cross Check is what you need. It has rack outlets on the back and it can any punishment your commute has to offer. Just yesterday, I bunnyhopped the largest pothole I have ever seen and it handled like old my Team Murray bmx bike with red Lester mags.

I bought the Cross Check frame and put 105 cranks and Ultegra everything else and ended up under $2000. Included in that price was the topeak trunk bag and rack combo. I recommend buying the frame and getting the parts you want first instead of a put together bike and upgrading.

Used steel tour or cross bike. With racks and fenders it will be mid 20's.

16 miles @ 13 mph = 1.23 hours
16 miles @ 17 mph = .94 hours

74 minutes v. 56 minutes, approximately

I'm a card-carrying cheapskate, but I'd save the $2000, ride the Trek and smell the roses for 18 minutes.

I unfortunately can't afford the extra 40 minutes of commute per day. I work 10 hours a day and have 3 kids that I only get to see for a few hours at night. I need that 40 more minutes with them. It's the difference between eating dinner with them or eating leftovers. I also like to spend money on bikes:)

I won't proselytize on time, money, job, etc., and will instead just defer to those suggesting possible bikes for you. Good luck.

If you like your Jamis and wouldn't mind another, consider the Aurora.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3095/...c57f88af_o.jpg

What about using your Jamis road bike with a Topeak beam rack and trunk bag http://www.topeak.com/products/Racks/MTXBeamRackE-Type? That will get the weight off your back. For fenders, you can get speed fenders (http://www.rei.com/product/723111) which don't need eyelets. So, for about $200, you could turn your current bike into a light, fast commuter.

If you still want a new bike, though, I'd recommend the Trek Portland which has the braze ons you want, drop bars, disk brakes, under $2k, and is pretty light at 22-23 lbs.

Now that Jeff mentions it, for my Colnago roadie a friend hipped me to an Axiom Streamliner which turned that into a great commuter over my slower Marin mtb. $25 or so.

http://www.treefortbikes.com/141_333...ack-Black.html

I bought a K2 Enemy from Performance last October for my commute (37 miles RT, 2200 feet of ascent), and I have been happy with it.

I've mounted a Topeak rack and Planet Bike Cascadia fenders on it. It has plenty of clearance for whatever fender you want to put on it.

Except for changing the tires from the Vittoria's that it came with to Conti Gatorskins, I am running it just as it was delivered to me. I've currently got a little more than 1800 miles on it, and it has been a reliable runner.

http://www.performancebike.com/shop/...tegory_ID=3040

Keep an eye out for the Performance 10% off sales, I got mine for $820+tax, which I thought was a pretty good deal for this bike.

Wow, lots of ideas. I need to look at all of these options. I really had my mind set on getting another bike for the stable but maybe I can just and the racks and fenders to my Jamis which would make my wife happy. I would probably go with the axiom rack and the REI fenders. Could I fit both on my bike?

BHOP, that is a sweet Jamis, and I will check it out as well as the Portland. Too bad neither dealer has those bikes on the floor. The surly is a nice bike but no local dealer and I am too strapped for time right now to build up a bike from frame.

Thanks to everyone for your replies, keep the ideas coming.

I can totally relate. You shouldn't have to justify wanting a 16 mile commute to take less time. Plus, for me at least, going faster is more fun.

Short of new bike, you could get a rack like this that mounts on your rear axle instead of needing eyelets. Instead of full fenders, get SKS raceblades and add a nice long mud flap to the front one.

If you want a new bike the Allez line from Specialized had eyelets for a rear rack as of 2005 and maybe they still do. Full fenders are still probably out though. The weight is right around 20 lbs.

This may sound like a red-neck resolution to your problem, but I've used a rack/panniers w/cable ties where rack braze-ons are non-existqnt on the seat stays just above the calipers. Get heavy duty cable ties and use some sort of non-paint damaging tape to protect your seat stays from damage and your rack/bags combo will hold up just fine. Use blue loctite on the rack support bolts. Used this set up for years. There are adaptors available for this type of set up,too.

Another alternative depending on how much you have to haul everyday is a seatpost rack w/trunkbag. The trunkbags can be an expandable type w/as much room as one would need.

what about a saddlebag, something like a carradice. You can use raceblades for mudguards and everyone is happy :)

light commuter
 

Salsa Casseroll or Soma Smoothie or ES would be good options. Drop the backpack and get something like a Carradice Barley seatbag. It gets the weight off your back and centers it on your bike. You could easily build a reasonable light-weight Casseroll or Smoothie that would weigh 20-22 lbs. BTW, with a Carradice bag you could continue riding your current bike, although fenders would still be an issue. Here are photos of several of my road bikes set up for commuting with my Carradice bag. The Merckx Corsa and De Bernardi are racing frames, and the Bob Jackson is a touring frame. All of them weighed about 21-22 lbs. built up with DA/Ultegra parts, Open Pro wheels (not including the seatbag and lights).

The problem with seatpost racks is that unless you have a sloping top tube, they ride up quite high under the seat and leave little room for your stuff. Mine broke after about a year, probably because I had to mount the load so far back to clear the seat that it suffered excess stress from the leverage.

If I had that budget ... Salsa Casseroll or Cross Check, aluminum fenders (if applicable), and a narrow rear rack.

Attach a rack to the Jamis using P clips from your local hardware store. Use a trunk bag and keep more of your stuff at work. If you must get a new bike, take a look at the Specialized Tricross.

I also have a 15 mile one way commute, over rolling hills.
I ride a bike which is built on a touring bike frame. I have fenders, generator powered lights, rack etc. The bike, when loaded weighs more than 20lbs, but it is pretty quick. I make my commute in about an hour without really pushing it.
In your shoes, bikes that I would be looking at would be things like the Surly LHT, and the Trek 520 (do they still make those). Drop bars put you in a lower position which will help your speed.
I carry my clothes, lunch etc in a pannier. When I am bringing work to/from the office, I use an arkel briefcase to carry the laptop and paperwork.

I also have a 16 mi, (15.947 according to the cycle computer, but who's counting) one way commute over some hills, through some urban areas, mid-hi traffic. I currently ride a Trek 7200 I bought last year and started commuting with it about a month after I picked it up and my local LBS. At first, I used a back pack and used the stock platform pedals. I've since added a rear rack, trunk bag, cage pedals with toe clips/straps, and bar ends. I can make my commute in a little over an hour, depending on the route I take. I also have kids at home I like to spend time with in the evening so I make sure to start my commute early (between 6-6:30 AM) and leave work by 4-4:30PM. When I have the budget, I am definitely looking into a CX bike for my commute. The Cross Check is at the top of my list.

Happy trails!

What do you haul in your backpack? When my commutes were 20-35 miles each way, I'd take one day a week to either drive in or ride the 'pack mule' bike with 4-5 days worth of clothing and lunches, then ride the roadie with a minimal load the other 4-5* days of the week.

Adapt, improvise, overcome... ;)


* - you can always stage your food and clothing on the weekend too.

+1 My commute is 17.5 each way and this is what I do. On Mondays I carry a 'load'...probably 45-50 lbs worth on my CX w/rack panniers. The rest of the week I use my 1x8 roadie or my singlespeed w/a seatpost rack/trunkbag combo which hauls just enough. Each night I take home my shift work clothes. Uniforms aren't available to GM suppliers' employees just GM employees. Never thought of hauling enough food in for the week, but I'm going to try that starting next week.

AFA the seatpost rack snapping off I've got small frames on the rb & ss, so the rack rides pretty low, but that's a good tip...I'll keep my ears and eyes open for any cracks developing. Thanks for that.

I cheat a little. I drive in on Mondays with my clothe/supplies for the week and leave them at the office. But yeah, same concept. Sort of.