To all those who regret getting a hybrid for commuting... what did you move on to?
07-22-09, 02:29 PM
#151
cyclist/gearhead/cycli...
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: DC / Maryland suburbs
Posts: 4,166
Bikes: Homebuilt tourer/commuter, modified-beyond-recognition 1990 Trek 1100, reasonably stock 2002-ish Gary Fisher Hoo Koo E Koo
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I actually prefer plain friction bar-end shifters for commuter road bikes. Extremely low-maintenance, lasts forever, and they shift with any cassette/derailer/chainring combination. They're cheap too if you can find some used!
Some people even prefer downtube shifters, which are basically the same as bar-ends except mounted on your downtube. I don't like leaning over that far.
07-22-09, 02:31 PM
#152
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
07-22-09, 02:32 PM
#153
stringbreaker
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: wa. State
Posts: 4,463
Bikes: specialized crossroads hybrid 2006 Raleigh Cadent 2 1971 Schwinn Varsity, 1972 Schwinn Continental, 1977 Schwinn Volare (frame)
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I don't regret a hybrid for commuting at all. I ride my Specialized Expedition (not as much as I should) in addition to my Schwinn Volare and Schwinn Continental but the Volare is my main ride cause its really cool
__________________
(Life is too short to play crappy guitars) 2006 Raleigh Cadent 3.0, 1977 Schwinn Volare, 2010 Windsor tourist. ( I didn't fall , I attacked the floor)
(Life is too short to play crappy guitars) 2006 Raleigh Cadent 3.0, 1977 Schwinn Volare, 2010 Windsor tourist. ( I didn't fall , I attacked the floor)
07-22-09, 02:49 PM
#154
always rides with luggage
I went from a Trek 4500 with slicks (1.9's, I think) to a Novara Randonee. While commuting with the Randonee, I picked up a Giant Rainier. I rode that Randonee until the rims cracked and the frame was dented in a collision with some office furniture and eventually realized that I was happier on the MTB with slicks. So I craigslisted the Randonee and rode the Rainier to work for a while. Around this time, I purchased a Xootr Swift... just for fun, I guess, as I've never really needed a folder.
So I alternated commuting duties between the Swift and the Rainier for a year or so, all the while complaining that I couldn't get a decent rack for panniers on either bike. My wife obviously got tired of this and said "Why don't you build your own bike?" So I did. While I was amassing parts for this bike, the Swift got stolen. In the end it didn't matter, because the insurance $$ from the Swift paid for the parts for the bike I was building. So I rolled my own... but it's still a 1x8 MTB with slicks. I've been commuting on it for over 2 years now and it's a fun bike. Very useful and just fast enough, without too much complexity.
In the end, I could have saved a lot of time and $$$ by rebuilding the 4500 as a 1x8 with rigid forks and slapping 1.5's on it in 2003. But I learned a lot on the journey.
So I alternated commuting duties between the Swift and the Rainier for a year or so, all the while complaining that I couldn't get a decent rack for panniers on either bike. My wife obviously got tired of this and said "Why don't you build your own bike?" So I did. While I was amassing parts for this bike, the Swift got stolen. In the end it didn't matter, because the insurance $$ from the Swift paid for the parts for the bike I was building. So I rolled my own... but it's still a 1x8 MTB with slicks. I've been commuting on it for over 2 years now and it's a fun bike. Very useful and just fast enough, without too much complexity.
In the end, I could have saved a lot of time and $$$ by rebuilding the 4500 as a 1x8 with rigid forks and slapping 1.5's on it in 2003. But I learned a lot on the journey.
__________________
--Ben
2006 Trek SU100, 2009 Motobecane Fantom CX, 2011 Motobecane Fantom Cross Uno, and a Bakfiets
Previously: 2000 Trek 4500 (2000-2003), 2003 Novara Randonee (2003-2006), 2003 Giant Rainier (2003-2008), 2005 Xootr Swift (2005-2007), 2007 Nashbar 1x9 (2007-2011), 2011 Windsor Shetland (2011-2014), 2008 Citizen Folder (2015)
Non-Bike hardware: MX Linux / BunsenLabs Linux / Raspbian / Mac OS 10.6 / Android 7
--Ben
2006 Trek SU100, 2009 Motobecane Fantom CX, 2011 Motobecane Fantom Cross Uno, and a Bakfiets
Previously: 2000 Trek 4500 (2000-2003), 2003 Novara Randonee (2003-2006), 2003 Giant Rainier (2003-2008), 2005 Xootr Swift (2005-2007), 2007 Nashbar 1x9 (2007-2011), 2011 Windsor Shetland (2011-2014), 2008 Citizen Folder (2015)
Non-Bike hardware: MX Linux / BunsenLabs Linux / Raspbian / Mac OS 10.6 / Android 7
