I've been a Junior Mens racer for nearly a year now but have been commuting for nearly a year and a half. My current bike is a 1972 Schwinn Sprint and my race bike is an upgraded Specialized Allez Elite. (I am the only person in my school who owns a road-bike) Next year I will be commuting to a different school. My current commute of 1 mile is not exactly difficult and primarily covers residential neighborhoods. However my commute will increase to 3.5 miles. This worries me for several reasons
1. I can't sustain more than 15 m.p.h. on this relatively short commute due to the weight of backpack and bike
2. I'm out-growing this bike
3. My back hurts like heck from the back-pack
4. Commute takes 3 minutes currently and I like arriving half an hour early. Arriving on a timely fashion would necessitate leaving at 7:00
5. This bike has had three serious mechanical failures thus far including loss of all brakes and 2 chain incidents one which caused me to crash and another leaving me stranded in traffic (I had to push amidst cars which was potentially dangerous)

I believe I need a quicker bike. Some constraints:
-Budget is $150
-Bike must be capable of 17 m.p.h. for the duration of the commute
-Must be a road bike
-Should Have provisions for rear panniers- about the panniers: Is it possible to purchase one which will accommadate a backpack and it contents as well as a change of clothes and the like (I'm fine transferring books back into pack if necessary)
-There is a fair sized hill; not a problem on my specialized but I'd prefer not to walk

Any recommendations for panniers and bike?

I'll wear a cycling jersey and Cutter-tech shorts and change at school to avoid sweat issues...
Should I purchase lights, reflective gear etc?

If it weren't for the fact that you say your current bike is too small, I'd say, why not just do some maintenance and keep using it. I commute on an old Schwinn and it's slow, heavy, and ugly, but it's fine for distances less than 5 miles or so. Call it resistance training if you'd like. If you're looking for something else, I'd consider a "newer old Schwinn"...maybe a World Sport of 1980's vintage. With your $150 budget I think you'd find plenty of bikes on Craigslist and still have enough left over to upgrade to new tires and get a rack for panniers.

As for lights and reflective gear...yes. Lot's of threads on this.

I commute three miles to work on a 1989 Peugeot P8 five-speed I bought used last year for $15 from Goodwill. It's HLE mangalloy, so it's not as heavy as my 1972 Schwinn Suburban, which I formerly used for commuting, but it is a little small for me. My experience is that if the bike is even a little too small, just three miles of pedalling will start hurting. Also, the Schwinn has a basket on the handlebars only, so I carried my backpack on my back -- not the best method. Throws you off-balance. My Peugeot has a rear rack with a twin-bungee-cord strap and hook to secure my backpack to the rack. Much better for balance. I think most commuters on this forum use panniers or racks to carry everything.

There are bikes out there on Craiglist; like this one. If you want to mount a rack you might be better off finding a used
MTB and converting it to road use with drop bars, etc. As for a backpack/pannier solution I personally love the Arkel Bug.
It's pricey, in fact it costs more than you're budgeting for a bike, but you could get many year's use out of it IMHO.

Holy cow! Anything decent inc the $50 range?
-Thanks

Definitely get lights; and reflective gear is good. Hit your Mom up for the latter. She'll be an easy sale on that part.

My recommendation would be to buy a shopping pannier such as the grocery getter by SunLite. They are meant to take a full grocery bag with no problem and should be able to hold your backpack.

yes, get some lights.

as for the bike, it really doesnt matter for ~3miles as long as it fits.

do some measuring and figure out what size frame would fit you well.

If size is the issue, then getting a used bike is the way to go. Since you want rack eyelets, something often lacking with true "road" bikes, consider something billed as a touring bike - these are bikes that are similar in geometry to a road bike, but have higher handlebars and are built for carrying a load. If you ride one of those every day then you'll find the racing bike feels like riding nothing at all. 3.5 miles isn't very far and commuting isn't a race, so I'd be less concerned about speed issues in a commuting bike. As someone said, think of it as resistance training.

If some adjustments to the bike would make it fit - raising the bars and seat, assuming the top tube is long enough - then it's mostly about maintenance and your money would be best spend on racks and panniers. Check around to see if there's a community bike shop in your area - they can teach you a fair bit about bike maintenance which will make your current bike a much nicer ride.

For a short commute where you're not likely hauling a lot of weight, the only thing that's particularly important in the racks and pannier department is waterproofness. Otherwise low end inexpensive components should do the trick, and it will save your back the workout.

The weight of a new bike may help you get to 17mph but really it is mainly down to the motor (you!). The specialized allez and giant scr range have eyelets for a rack however they may be out of your $150 price range. Maybe a touring bike will help, the geometry will be similar to the road bikes.
When you say you are outgrowing your bike, which one do you mean?

If you still fit the allez then you may be able to use p-clamps to put a rack on it

3.5miles is a short commute and shouldn't take more than 15mins even at 15mph so just get a bike that fits!

Daven

What is the size of your race bike versus the commuting bike you are using now?

Why does your back hurt? Is it because you ride in the drops with the book bag? Have you thought about keeping the road bike frame you have and changing the handlebars to give you a more upright position? You would have the benefits of the road bike but be able to ride in a possibly more comfortable position. New or different handlebars may temporarily help your fit issues too, which will give you more time to save $$$ to buy a nicer bike that you will have for a longer period of time.

If it is hurting because of the weight, can you leave some of the extra books at school or home and not bring them with you every day? If is hurting because of the way you pack the bag, try putting some padding between your back and the books.

You might want to take a look at the GMC Denali. I think there may even have been a thread on these boards about that bike.

Thank you for help.
Bike is a 49 I believe. My Allez is a 58 although it is a bit too big. I generally ride on the tops or hoods for this bike which puts me in a very upright position. Modifying the allez would not unfortunately be an option. Would something like this https://honolulu.craigslist.org/oah/bik/1473725691.html work? Any suggestions for uglifying it? I was more leaning toward an older bianchi. I do recall my back hurting less without my text-books so I'll try removing those. My dad is a bit opposed to a headlight because he believes I'll ride in pitch dark because I have lights... Any suggestions to win him over? And if so would this https://ecom1.planetbike.com/3028.html
suffice in conjunction with this https://ecom1.planetbike.com/3019.html and a few hipster cysts?

I ride with lights on during the day. Anything to make you more visible. To win him over just say "do you want me to be put at risk because drivers can't see me?".

Any particular reason you cannot modify the allez?

I use it for training and racing. Doing a tt with a rack is not particularly aero. Plus the risk of theft additional wear and the impracticality of the clipless pedals rule it out. Would this https://www.amazon.com/Sunlite-Traveler-Bicycle-Saddle-Pannier/dp/B000AO7EFA/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1258746945&sr=8-8 be considered acceptable in conjunction with a vintage Pletscher rear rack?

That's a toughie. My first bicycle at age 6 had a light. And my parents gave me another one for going to boy scout meetings at night at age 10.

Obviously, the problem is that he thinks that riding at night is dangerous.

The best argument I can think of is that if he doesn't get you a light, there is going to be a time where you will HAVE to ride in the dark because a school event ran overtime, and then you will be riding invisible to traffic. Now is a good time of year to ask.

And, most likely, in your state it is the law that a bicycle must have lights at night.

Go to the lighting forum. Find out about a good high-powered system, and a good more moderate system like a Cateye. Present the highpowered system first, then let sticker shock sell him on the reasonable one. If all else fails, bungee cord a flashlight to your bike.

Best of luck.

For a short commute of 1 mile, nothing special is required and who cares about speed? I'd think you could pick up a "clunker" for pretty cheap that would be adequate.

A fellow randonneur uses an old beast he found at the side of the road and built up into a cheap commuter. Put a rack on the back. There are pannier/backpacks available.

Make sure you can fit fenders if you're in less than desert weather. Check out the variety of commuting bikes these guys and gals use.

You definitely need to work on shortening. Mama's lil' baby got shortn'n bread! The shorter the commute, the faster you arrive! It's simple physics. Even Jeremy Clarkson will attest to this.

You should take the tires off and leave the inner tubes on the rims. Carry the bike to the nearest bus stop and ask for help to put the bike on the bus bike rack. Once at campus, you can reverse the process and have your bike handed back to you. Bus drivers are always willing to enlist their other customers in this task. Just walk your bike to the campus bike rack and lock it up, sort of.

Soon a crowd will gather to gawk at your new style of tires. Then, you can accrue much worship by informing the masses that your bike is a testbed for a new and ultra secret product to be released by Cheng Shen next year. The new hybrid puncture resistent inner tube/ balloon tire.

If you continuously shorten your commute, your race performance will increase proportionally. proven by the pros.

Lance Armstrong cured his cancer and won 22 consecutive Tours de France by ever decreasing his time on the bike. It's on the interwebs so, it must be factualable.

Craigslist might be your best bet for finding something in your price range. However, there is not much information provided in the link. Since you have two bikes have you ever thought of trying to sell both of them and get something that would double as a commuter and a racer since both of them don't fit you correctly?

Fair enough, I get taking it off every time you race is a bit pointless, however training with a rack on will make you faster with regards to the lights I think Artkansas is right, maybe you need to go for a drive with him at night - you in front without lights on and see if he can see you! Also do it during the day with and without lights and he should see that you are much easier to notice.

Get any bike that fits, learn to keep it in good working order, put a rack on it, and put a milk crate on the rack. With your budget panniers would be a waste of money.

A different bike will not get you to 17mph if you can't do 15mph on what you've got.

The bike weighs 38lbs... Unloaded. For comparison I can hit 31 m.p.h. in a sprint with my other bike in training configuration. I averaged 22 m.p.h. on another allez sport (not elite) for half an hour in considerably poorer fitness in a race. I believe the bike is the issue. In any event I think I'll have to consider all this. I just replaced the chain on the stupid thing and re-aligned the brakes so I'll see how it goes...

I mean this in the nicest way possible, but 22mph for 30 minutes is not an indicator of some superior level of fitness. The bike's not the issue. I'm not trying to bag on you or anything, but anything you get for $150 is not going to be a whole lot better other than actually fitting you. Effectively any road bike or rigid mtb is capable of 17mph for 3 miles if you've got the legs for it.

On the other hand, if your 3 mile commute is all climbing, you may gain a bit by getting a lighter bike.

[QUOTE=PorscheCritter;10055158]1. I can't sustain more than 15 m.p.h. on this relatively short commute due to the weight of backpack and bike
2. I'm out-growing this bike
3. My back hurts like heck from the back-pack
I believe I need a quicker bike. Some constraints:
-Budget is $150
QUOTE]

For 3.5 bikes, the bike won't make you quicker,that is on you. (I'm old and clyde and can do 15 mph on a flat commute without killing myself)

get a rack and put your backpack on there (I use wald folding baskets...my laptop in one, by son's school back pack in the other) this will get rid of the back pain.

Look for a used Japanese bike fom the late 70's early 80's (craigslist, garages sales) like a univega, bridgstone, niskhki, miyata, pansonic, fuji, azuki. Learn to use friction shifting..ie. get the used older bike, clean and lube but don't spend bucks upgrading

and of course..have fun