I'm sure everyone here has seen enough "Which bike should I buy?" threads to last a lifetime, so please forgive me this exercise in self-indulgence. I've dumped enough money into my current commuter to know what type of bike I'd like to have for my year-round workhorse: I want an IGH, 700c wheels, disc brakes, and provisions for fenders and racks. Speed is not as important to me as overall riding comfort, durability, and user-friendliness. No matter which bike I choose I'm sure to make modifications to fit my desires but I'd like the base to be as close to perfect as possible. That being said I've compiled a list of bikes that fit my criteria. BTW I live in Canada and all of the bikes on my list are available at local bike shops (except the Breezer) and I'd like to budget $1500, +/- a few hundred. My question to you, my fellow commuters, is this: If you had to choose a year-round commuter from this list, which bike would you choose? Of course other suggestions that fit my criteria are welcome. Thanks for the input and ride safe!

Norco Ceres
MEC Hold Steady
Raleigh Alley Way
Brodie Ocho
Rocky Mountain Metropolis NRT
Giant Seek 0
Kona Dr. Fine
Trek Soho
Felt X-CITY 1
Civia Hyland
Breezer Finesse

I only have experience with the Felt and the Giant, and neither with the IGH.

I was pretty sold on the Giant Seek. I liked the understated graphics, the price (I think it was a Seek 2), and everything. But when I rode it, it just didn't do it for me. Didn't feel quite right, and I can't explain why. When I rode the Felt (2009 X City D) I had to buy it. If felt perfect, and it still does. So obviously, I personally think the X City 1 would be the cat's meow.

As many people have said before, it is amazing how seemingly similar bikes can feel so different when ridden. Many people love the Seek, and would have chosen it over the Felt, but not me.

How many of these bikes have you been able to ride? If you ride them, it will become much more clear to you.

^^ Funny you should ask because the only one I've ridden so far is the Seek. I found the ride very rough and the riding position uncomfortable. I chalked up the rough ride to the aluminum frame & fork and (relatively) skinny tires, but I thought the positioning could just be due to the frame being too small for me.

I rode a medium Seek, and they said I probably should just barely fit a large, but they didn't have one. Anyway, the riding position wasn't quite right for me either. Maybe due to size, I don't know. I know the Felt was just right for me. I also have a Trek 7.3 FX, and the position on that one fits me great as well. I'm not sure how that bike compares to the Soho, but I do like my 7.3 FX.

My advice on this matter is to avoid alu forks. The Giant page says the fork is steel so it's a bit strange that the ride was so stiff. Then again, tire pressure and geometry can also affect those. Just by looking at specs and geo alone, my recommendations are the Kona, Brodie, and Felt. Their geometries are relatively similar being performance oriented hybrids.

Out of the three, the Kona seems to be designed the most thoughtfully. All the components are excellent and the Kona P2 is a cromo fork which has been proven excellent on great bikes like Jake the Snake and their rigid 29ers. It(as well as the Felt) also has hydraulic discs if that's what you're looking for. Additionally, the adjustable dropouts on the Kona are an arguably better way to adjust chain tension than an eccentric BB. The Felt has a carbon fork if you're looking for that but honestly, it's probably more of a marketing thing than a function thing. Personally, I really like the Brodie but at the pricepoint, it fails to match up with its competitors as far as components go. However, it is an excellent bike and the only one I have ridden out of the three I have narrowmindedly chosen.

I immediately ruled out the belt drive models. Although this design offers a low maintenance drivetrain, it is also much less efficient mechanically. I mean, you've got an IGH hub which is already incredibly low maintenance, why sacrifice efficiency for a tad bit less maintenance? Of course, if you're really drawn to a belt drive, that opens your options up a bit but I tend to be a traditionalist.

I think just the steerer (which I understand to be the part that fits inside the frame) of the Seek's fork is cromo while the blades are aluminum. Riding the Seek made me think I should consider cromo or carbon forks if the frame is aluminum.

Why do you think belt drives are less mechanically efficient? Harley-Davidson uses them throughout their line of motorcycles and they create a lot more horsepower than I do. I'm sure there is some loss due to stretching, but no more than with a chain. If it was significant we'd all be riding shaft-drive bikes like Dynamics. Thanks for your reply, though.

Interesting list of bikes.

Everyone has their own perception of what's important, and for me that includes a chain guard, as I like to ride with my everyday pants on and don't want them dirty.

So, that brings me to the Civia Hyland or the Trek. I love the looks of the Trek so I'd try that one first. But the Civia is better equipped for commuting. Still, I'd base my decision on the test rides. Little differences can make a big effect on comfort.

I hav owned a Giant Seek IGH for this year.

With that experience and being in Canada - I would buy a 2010 Giant Seek 0. Or, I would get a MEC Hold Steady.

The Hold Steady is WAY NICER.... Gorgeous.

Thdave, being a Breezer fan, reminded me of a bike that was conspicuously absent from my list; the Breezer Finesse. That rack would have to be replaced since I would need to carry panniers, but otherwise it's darn near perfect (on paper anyway.) The problem with the Finesse, and the Civia Hyland, is that they both retail for over $2K here in Canada. Plus I would have to travel to see the Finesse since no one carries Breezers around here. Nevertheless I want to keep my options open. Thanks for the replies so far!

I'd add the Jamis Commuter 4 to the list of possibles. IGH (plus a double ring crank) Dynohub, fenders and rack included.

Tires and rider position will make a much much much more substantial difference in ride quality than any kind of frame/fork material. Keep that in mind.

There's a review thread of the 2009 Trek Soho here:

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ight=trek+soho

I think I'd probably prefer disk brakes to the roller brakes on the Soho. Some (but not all) owners of the belt-drive version complained that the belt squeaked a fair bit, as I recall.

I have a Jamis Commuter 3.0 with IGH. I've had it 2 years and if I had to do it all over again, I would buy another one!

If you want disc brakes, take a look at their 4.0, a sweet commuter and you'll have money to spare! https://jamisbikes.com/usa/thebikes/s...commuter4.html

I know nothing about MEC bikes, but I agree. That bike is gorgeous.

Buy this one.

The Commuter 4 certainly looks like a competent machine. I like the idea of increasing the gear range with the double chainring up front, but that necessitates the use of a derailleur-like chain tensioner, and I prefer the clean look of not having one hanging from the dropout. Also it sort of defeats the purpose of going with an IGH in the first place; I want to minimize the number of components on the bike thereby reducing overall needed maintenance (ideally.) That being said I have heard nothing but praise for Jamis products throughout this forum and I wish there was a dealer here in town so that I could check one out in person. A quick Google search found this one for sale in Ottawa (about a 6-hour drive from where I live). It's marked down from $1379 CAD to $899. Quite a steal! I can only hope such a deal presents itself when the time comes to make my decision.

Cycle solutionsin Toronto has some 2009 Giant Seeks for a good deal.

I would stay away from an IGN that has a chain tensioner or derailler.

How about a Tweed? Made in your home country even. May be over $1500 CDN after buildup but a nice ride.
https://steelwoolbicycles.ca/bikes/tweed.html

That tweed is definitely gorgeous. I don't know if that colour is "British Racing Green" but it makes me drool nonetheless. Definitely a worthy contender but I would never subject that bike to SW Ontario winter weather - we use too much salt. Not that the bike wouldn't make a good year-round commuter with it's eccentric BB for IGH hubs and its ability to fit wider (ie. studded) tires. That's a bike that I would like to install a Rohloff on and use it for touring the countryside on beautiful days. Alas, that too is a dream for another day.

I just wanted to thank everyone for their responses so far; they have been very helpful. I have taken everyone's suggestions into consideration even if I haven't replied directly. Keep 'em coming! If anyone has actually ridden any of these bikes (like the aforementioned Seek owners) I would dearly love to hear from you.