I think your best resource is the people at work who got you thinking about this ( That's not to downplay the already good advice that others have already given you. ) Ask them if they would be willing to look at some bikes on Craigslist with you, give you some pointers about routes, that sort of thing. We are generally more than willing to throw ideas your way, but we don't know you, we don't know your area, local knowledge and help is probably going to be more accurate.As far as budget is concerned, if you really get into it, and your situation permits, being able to sell your car can be a serious game changer.

I know if a co-worker wanted to get into bike commuting, I would be more than willing to go bike shopping, help fixing up a bike, even doing escort duty for the first couple of rides.

Time out-- Wife is pregnant--don't sell the car just yet! :)
Good luck with your bike purchase, hope you can find something suitable.

Oh yea don't forget about sweat. Plan on how your going to change and dry/wash yourself. I work at a hotel and I ride 4 miles. It takes me about 15 minutes to cooldown and change. There's a huge fan in the breakroom that I bring into the bathroom to air dry naked. Then I baby powder myself and dress up.

For a four mile ride? Anyways, 12-15 miles is gonna feel like a REALLY long commute after work when you first start riding. Just remember, it gets better. If you up your budget to $300 instead of $200 you would open alot of options for your bike. Especially on craigs list. Here there is a post a day for a motobecane with the downtube shifters and nice components for $200. Just troll these forums and craigs list and you will find something you like. Even for half-centuries I like to ride single-speed, maybe consider it - It really opens alot of opportunities for bikes like the Kilo TT or a Windsor Timeline which fits 42c tires, fenders, and a back rack all on a road bike.

Hey!

A local San Diegan! Good stuff. I've just started "hybrid-commuting" myself (I ride folding bikes). Which means that I'll either get dropped off some of the way or all the way to work. The ride home. I haven't done a full commute yet, since I work in labor and its 15-miles one-way! From College area to Pacific Beach. There are some mountainous hills on the way back. I did try it one day on my day off and it took about 4-hours. LOL!

Where exactly or approximately are you riding from-to?

I recently used Sports-Tracker to map out the way back home {http://www.sports-tracker.com/#/work...2ilnd145opkgev)

Since budget is an issue, if you can wait until October there will be another Police Auction October 29th. This is where I got one of my folding bikes for $80 bucks and I've seen others get a good bike for as low as $100.

I don't know what you're fitness level is. But if you're starting out take it easy, you really have to build up some fitness.

I'll be biking from Linda Vista(right outside Mission Valley), to the Broadway Pier, where I'll take the Ferry to Coronado, and ride onto NASNI where I work. My boss told me it's not a horrible ride.

Actually, I've definitely noticed that for another hundred, so many more options open up, so I'm just gonna have to start saving to up that limit. On the plus side, my boss is gonna let me borrow his Hybrid one weekend, to see how I like it. Then he mentioned a couple shops around town that will rent me a bike to try out and stuff like that, so I'm definitely going to get more experience into this.

Lol, selling the car was never an option, especially because of the upcoming baby :-D. As for a place to shower, our entire command PT's three days a week, and we have showers in our locker room, so that won't be an issue.

Like coyote said, the response and attention this thread has gotten, especially given it's from a newcomer, is absolutely amazing. Believe it or not, you guys are helping me JUST as much as sitting down and talking to my boss is. I really do appreciate the time ya'll are taking to explain things and give pointers. I hope one day to be able to pass that kindness along to someone else.

There are 2 types of hybrids. One is based on mtb configuration and one is based on rb geometry. For your commuting distance/height/weight I would recommend getting one that's based on a road geometry. 700 wheels. 28-32mm tires. 26" wheels will take you forever. :notamused: An early 90s Specialized Crossroads would be ideal. If you can find one they are very reasonablely priced. The 6 speeds have a 48tx14t top end and the 7 speeds have a 48tx12t top end.

The main thing is to get a bike, get out there, ride and live w/your choice for a while. Accessories you may want to add over a period of time are a rack, panniers, lights, a good saddle(Brooks B-72 if you can find one on the cheap), full coverage fenders...oh wait you live in San Diego, nevermind. :p

For your toolkit a Topeak Road Morph w/gauge framepump, Park MTB-3 Multi-tool(has a chaintool included), tire levers, tube(s), patchkit, wb cage(s). All are available from http://www.bikeisland.com w/no shipping charges.

When you get 'running lights' http://www.pricepoint.com has blinkies and dual-mode headlights for 9.00 per. The brand name is Sette. They're just as good as lights costing 3x as much. Good luck and have fun putting your rig together! :thumb:

If you look around $200 will get you a good bike in any mnarket if you take your time and be willing to move on deals fast. If you aren't mechanical or non of your co-workers can help you fixing something up you might want to look in craigslist for a flipper rehabber that will get you something thats ready to ride. Hybrids can be a great deal becasue it seems alot of people buy them never really ride them and then sell them for half what they paid for them and easily in your price range. I wouldn't eliminate mountain bikes from your search either. I would say the limiting factor there for a long commute is gearing. You would want a crank with a 48 tooth chainring. You probably have some used bike shops in your area that might fix you up with a nice bike as well. There are tons of option in the market you are in even for just $200. Hopefully you will be able to find something you like soon.

I really want to thank EVERYONE who replied to this thread and gave me tips, and put up with me and my noobish questions. I bought my first bike today! I'm so freaking excited to get the gear I need and finally start commuting to work! I bought a 2009 Giant FCR 3, with Pannier already installed, for only 220 bucks. The guy said I might wanna take it in to a shop to have the gears and stuff looked at, cause there's some adjustment he said he didn't know how to make, but I got on it and rode it around the block a few times, and man it was pretty comfy, and rode really smooth! I'm sure it'll feel different after a 15 mile ride, but hey, thems the breaks huh?

Again, thanks to everyone for your help and support!

Reliable entry level manufacturer, hybrid bike with gears. Looks pretty much perfect for what you're looking for. Just let us know if you have any questions.

Oh, one big tip. BUY A GOOD LOCK. Not a cable lock. A big freaking tugboat anchor chain lock or a U-lock (looks like a huge padlock). Don't skimp on the lock. Don't get a cable lock. Lock the bike up to either the frame or through the back wheel inside the frame (so-called "Sheldon method") to things that won't go anywhere that people can't just lift the bike off of. GET A GOOD LOCK!! I use two, myself, mostly because some of the racks are really awkward and I need to use one of the locks just to get something to lock up to.

Fortunately for me, I can bring the bike right into the office with me. Not a big deal. But I'll definitely not skimp on the lock if I happen to ride anywhere else :-D

I think you got a pretty good deal there. Post some pics or it didn't happen. =)

+1 on the pics! Get yourself one of the free Flickr accounts. Lots of people on here have them including myself to show off their stuff.

I suggest you spend the money on a decent bike, say $1000. If you're commuting to work you'll pay it off in 6 months or less with the money you'll save. If you buy some old POS you'll be unhappy and wind up driving your car anyways.

I am seriously still wondering how it went.

I used to live down in SD for college, but went back up north after graduation.
I couldn't help but google map the two points, since I remember that San Diego terrain can be tricky to navigate. It is typically more hilly closer to the coast, and more flat going inland. I also know for a fact there are a lot of cyclists in the area, and that's because I see them all the time over the weekend riding through campus in groups rides.

Google map guesstimate

Overall it looks like a pretty smooth ride, but it will be a battle going up grade when going hope to the wife and expecting child :D I wouldn't worry too much about speed, and make sure to budget plenty of time to travel. Your pace will start picking up in a month after your legs are stronger, and your weight starts dropping.

Lol alright, I'll have to take a picture of it tonight when I get home! First thing I did was remove the pannier(sorry, I know they're useful, but I can't stand the way they look, and I wouldn't be carrying that much anyways), and put some new lights on it. As for the ride to work, I believe it's all mostly downhill, which is great. The ride home however is another story, but I don't get off work so late that it's a huge deal. That and most times my wife gets home a few hours after I do.

rent a bike and get some perspective

welcome!

http://i560.photobucket.com/albums/s...se/NewBike.jpg

Here's the new bike. Iphone picture is kinda low quality, but it's a decent bike for $220, I swear!

It looks like a solid choice for commuting.

sweet ride!

Agreed. I bought my bike for $160; I never even intended it to be a commuter but honestly, if it a bike works that's the only requisite for it to be a commuter (my commute is 3.3 miles, and I'm car free so I do all other transport with the beast too). If I were you, I wouldn't let the comments of "$500 isn't a lot of money for a bike" discourage you; while it is true I'm happy my "first" bike is cheap. In the 4 or so months since I bought el-cheapo bike, I've bounced around bike brands and models looking for my REAL dream bike. Deciding what's right for you is no easy, or fast, process. And you can still upgrade a few parts with the intention of switching them over to a better bike later (brooks saddle, for example).

Also since I haven't biked in a few years it's good to have a cheap one in case you run into fences, cars, drop the bike, and learn things the hard way like yes, people will walk their dogs in the middle of the road on a long leash even if said dog is totally untrained and will lunge at bikers.

I can't give you any advice on what kind of bike to get (you already got lots anyway), but some local bike shops deal in used bikes. I felt a lot better knowing I got a ride that had been checked out & tuned up by a bike mechanic, and it didn't even cost me that much more than buying off of craigslist. I even talked to one LBS dude who told me if I ever wanted to buy a random craigslist bike, he does free evaluations to tell you if it's a good deal or a rip off. So that was cool and unexpected.

Good luck!
And I do like the suggestion of a 90's mt bike too. I'm thinking of getting one as a beater winter commuter. Steel or nothing + fenders + rack. Instant commuter.

Great bike! Welcome to the forums, Supernose, and just wanted to say THANKS for serving in our military!

Now that you and your wife are expecting a baby, guess your next purchase could be a little wagon for the baby to tow along behind? ;)

Have fun riding!

My first commute is gonna be tomorrow. I was going to wait until Monday, take the weekend to learn the route and all, but I figured what the heck. Just jump on in and try it!

When I first started commuting, I would ride in 1 way and drive the other way. That way, your legs aren't so beat

Especially after a 15 miles commute, you're going to be damn tired if you're not used to it (a sore rear). Also, water, water, water. and maybe an extra energy bar or something if you aren't used to using that much energy usage early in the day. Otherwise, you'll be starving.

Good luck.

Ok, round 1 of my first day commuting down. It was definitely a special experience lol. Coming into work wasn't TOO bad. Mostly downhill, a couple of scary spots if a car isn't paying attention(that my novice eyes saw). My legs feel like jello right now(a good jello, not bad at all), and my butt is some kind of sore haha. My next purchase might be some loose fitting bike shorts. It was a really good ride for my first time, and it's only gonna get better!

The only downside is the ride home, almost all uphill. Not looking forward to that!

Don't try to be 'tough' by going up those hills mashing a high gear. Put your bike in a low comfortable gear and just spin at a good cadence.

Well, looks like the ride home isn't gonna happen. Was letting my boss take a look at it, cause the gears were acting funny on the ride in this morning, he took it out of the office, and first push off he noticed it wasn't shifting. Looked down and the rear derailleur was dangling. Thank God he has his truck today. We're gonna head to the bike shop he uses and get it fixed. Doesn't seem like it's gonna be too hard to fix. The piece of metal that holds the derailleur just snapped, he called it a hanger, and it looks like a pretty simple fix(even to me, who has the mechanical ability of a rock). But, definitely gonna go for a ride as soon as I get this thing fixed!

Sounds like the derailer hanger just has to be replaced. It's an easy fix. A new hanger costs about $7.50 or so. A lot of cyclo-tourists carry spare derailer hangers because that is often considered the most fragile part of a bike, especially when traveling.

Awesome, that's great news to my ears :-)

Good timing, breaking the hanger BEFORE the uphill part! ;-)

While you are at it, practice changing tires. Sooner or later you are going to get a flat. Its no problem if you are prepared (and have the tools), but 15 miles is a long, long walk - even if you only have to walk part of it.