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I finally wore out a rear derailleur too. |
This thread got way more response than I thought! I ride a $200 beater 12 miles/ day, year round, and take supreme enjoyment from it. I like my old Schwinn Mesa with fenders, rack, cheap panniers, radbot tail light, and two cree flashlights more than my full suspension mtn bike or roadie. The thread title was sarcasm; based on some of the threads where $3000 was not too an abnormal #. I drink the biking Kool-Aid, and have over-priced stuff, and love it, but I do love my simple, cheap, reliable commuter. I would love a dynamo light, but it's just not necessary- my lights are adequate both on the MUP and on the road, I only need them in the morning, the batteries last all season. Nothing against people who buy expensive commuters and use them at all- it's fun to have a pricey ride- after all, no registration, insurance, etc, I just get a satisfaction from riding a cheap bike. Post on!
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Plus, I'm guessing you're pretty healthy too... just as a side-effect of those 27,000 miles. :) |
Any mid-90s hybrid would make a creditable commuter. Case in point: Mine.
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...e/DSC00308.jpg Bought the bike for $100, slowly upgraded on the cheap. It would probably cost about $1000 to replace it with something comparable, although I probably paid roughly half that. |
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$400 on my Trek 820 in 1993. Rack and trunk bag $120 in 2011. I ride a paved trail to work so I've been lucky with only 2 flats in the 2 years I've been commuting.
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The big bike is a Miyata Ridge Runner, Craigslist for $75, with commute additions (racks, bags, street tires, lights and a 105 crank bringing the total up to about $400. The small bike is a Dahon Speed 8, Craigslist for $150. Perfect the way it came. Why spend any more?
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Nice Poll! It came in handy... - Slim :) |
When reaching the point where I'd tired of wrenching on my bikes I decided to finally get a new one. So, I bought a Motobecane Fantom CX w/a compact double and rack bosses for 500.00 from Bikes Direct. Love it. Already had all the accessories. Swapped out the cx tires for some SMPs after 2 weeks and have been riding the same rig for well over 3 years now. 16,000+ miles on the same drivetrain, tires and brake-pads w/regular maintenance cleaning/lubing and 2 minor rear wheel re-truings. The front's been fine.
My other commuter is an old Fuji Del-Rey I've converted to fg. It's equipped w/SMPs as well and is used as a 'unloaded days' commuter. W/all my gear and bikes I may have a total of 3000.00 invested over the years, but as it'll be 25 years in February since starting I'd say I've gotten my money's worth. Most of my accessories and gear was purchased 2nd hand or on close-out. Have found many things at thriftstores, pawnshops, yardsales, rummage sales and auctions. Don't have any particular feelings re someone commuting on a 3000.00 bike. Hell if I could afford it I'd be riding a Quitmann Speed w/a Rohloff. http://www.quitmann-ms.de/eng/speed.html Or if I lived urban I'd have this one: http://www.quitmann-ms.de/eng/big_apple.html They're both well over 3 grand US and there's no shame in my game. I'd ride the daylights out of either of them. As long as people are riding bikes they aren't in cars and attitudes aside isn't that a good thing? Seems an easy answer. |
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- Slim :) |
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I bought an 86 Nishiki Olympic in average condition just to use as a beater, or in case I need to park it somewhere questionable which I rarely do anyways. But if the weather is foul and want to ride in rain then off I go with the Nishiki. Or if I commuting and the weather report says chance of rain by the end of the work day. I also take it on camping trips so I don't care if gets banged around. The bike cost $100.
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Hey there Rekmeyata!
I bought my Nishiki Sebring over twenty-five years ago. She's old and has a few scratches from parking next to other bikes on racks, but I consider her to be my baby. I would never call her a beater. As I'm certain she wouldn't like that! However, I do park her in questionable areas and if the weather is slightly inclement, she's my only candidate of choice. I truly do love her. She's been so good to me throughout these many years... One day, while on the Bart, another gentleman boarded with his bike. It was a fairly new Specialized bike. He allowed his bike to occasionally touch mine, after only about 5 minutes into the train ride. I felt compelled to remind him about his carlessness in allowing this event to occur. He apologized and moved his bike away from my Nishiki. I then felt relieved... - Slim :) |
When I told my boss that I was riding an old Trek, he had an old beater in mind until he saw it. I ride a 1993 Trek 8000 with slicks and it doesn't have a scratch on it. It is anything but an old beater. I have maybe $1000 in it. The bike cost $800 back then, and I've put the slicks on it, and the rack is actually my child seat carrier from when my kids were little enough for that. (My son now rides my classic steel Davidson when he's not flying.) Planet bike lights and a Kryptonite chain, oh, and the Knog Pig Dog bag. I use the bag as my regular computer bag too though, so it is mostly off the bike.
My bike looks expensive, but I can't imagine spending all that much money for a commuter. |
My $150.00 Schwinn picked it up in June, its the first bike i have owned and rode in 30years.:thumb:
http://i.imgur.com/V5GEll.jpg http://i.imgur.com/w48ahl.jpg |
Justtom says:
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Hey there Justtom! That's a nice bike! You should feel fortunate. Some of us only wish we could commute, but lack the ability to make just a simple purchase. - Slim :) |
Commuting under $3000 ??. That's very easy, just go to Hellmart and buy one.
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Bought my Trex 7.3 Fx this July for just under $700 with the rack and other accessories I would say I am at just about $1100 or so including clothing and shoes.
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Too expensive, all of you!
My Sanuk's cost me $30 on clearance. They're approved by weight-weenies and have limited slip differentials; when I'm feeling especially "slow" and need to speed up the race.... I switch to http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...11265297_n.jpg :p |
I'm in the low end camp too. I paid $125 for my bike about 6 years ago, and spent way more than that on upgrading some parts, adding lights, luggage etc and clothes.
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my commuter is 2010 specialized secteur, and I am at just about 3000 into it. including everything for the last year, profile designs aero bars
racks, panniers, top bag, gps(that also gets transfered over to the tarmac so really shouldnt count),tubes tires chains cygo lite, rear blinky, spd pedals, shoes clothes |
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My most used commuter in the last six months is a Rivendell Simple One, about 1500 using some parts out of the bin. Number two is a 1986 stumpjumper. Real cheap and is a very ridable bike.
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The ideal commuting bike is a light touring bike, and an ideal light touring bike can be had for much less than $3,000. $1,000 would do it. For that you could get a respectable 18-20 lbs cro-mo steel frame with quality components and add fenders, a rack and a Brooks saddle. A commuter bike can be fast, but it's not a racer. It needs to be all-weather with flat-resistant tires, a comfortable saddle, and room to carry a few things.
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i commute on a fast race bike with backpack when weather allows because it's super wicked fun to ride! i also have a foul-weather bike that makes some speed compromises for improved safety/reliability. i ride that bike when the weather is bad. |
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I bought a Raleigh Sojourn that I use most of the time. Not just for commuting, but for everything. It replaced my truck. I spent 1300 including taxes, and the thing takes a beating. It's been loaded on the work truck, dropped once, and I ride it everywhere. Love the thing. I also have a 90 something Gary Fisher Mamba I paid 150 for that I use when I feel like getting stupid...lol.
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I live in an area that you would think would be filled with cheap good used bikes. See, I live in a retirement area of Florida, and I thought the seniors would be selling off old bikes like crazy. It's not the case. Add to that my short stature, and there are no used bikes locally that fit me.
I did find my favorite bike on Craigslist. It was Oklahoma City Craigslist. I did a Google search for "Bridgestone XO-2" and found it. I believe I paid $400 plus shipping. I've put a few bucks into it but I'm under $800 total, I think. http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=225396 It's not difficult to get a decent commuter bike for not a lot of cash. Heck, even buying brand new I'm sure I'd be happy on a $300 bike. I owned a cheap Ibex for years, rode the heck out of it, and had no problems. |
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