I've driven my wife to the brink. She doesn't know anything about bikes and that in itself is disturbing. After 13 years of marriage and at least 10 of those with me commuting, looking at bike porn, racing on road bikes and doing some light mountain biking - you'd assume she would have assimilated some knowledge.

I digress, I love my wife and am grateful for her existence daily.

If you've followed anything I've said over the last couple years, I'm a grad student - and have been one for a freaking long time. I'm also prone to fits of stupidity. The combination has created a bizarre past, present and future for me.

I have had to sell all my bikes to make ends meet. Tight finances are what they are, and frankly selling my beloved bikes hasn't made me happy or better off financially.

In the meantime, I have found that my family vehicle is not saving me money and my wife and I have agreed that instead of me finding "side solutions," I need to get back on a bike.

A lot of words to get to the point - I'm shopping (or pre-shopping). I recently approached the local bike shop owner and convinced him that I will use my ability to write to his advantage. I will write stories about his customers, about cycling and cycling etiquette and all things cycling for his website and facebook page. In essence, I've agreed to be his public relations guru for the last year I am here while I finish up grad school. In exchange for that, I asked for the one thing that is worth more than a measly hourly rate -- I asked for the employee discounted rate. He agreed and here we are.

With all that said, if you're still reading, I'm down to 4 potential candidate bikes. No, I will not buy used. I'm a broke grad student but I still refuse to buy crap down here. People don't take care of their stuff and cheap is cheap - no matter what flavor you call it (Adding the word French does not make vanilla more vanilla - imho).

2012 CAAD10-4 Rival - Sexy bike. I can't put a rack on it, the wheels won't put up with much luggage (English professors always want you to have books - I know, odd) and in general its a race bike. But I so lament selling my CAAD9-5 and this is one amazingly beautiful bike that is right in my financial sweetspot and is just porn worthy.

2012 Salsa Spearfish - Not even close to the same category of bike. But I could get a bit of universal usage out of one bike. Combined with my intentions to move my family to Colorado after I graduate next year - it seems like the perfect "compromise."

2012 Surly Special Ops Pugsley - Yet another versatility bike. Snow bike, check. ****ty road bike, check. Wanna go ride over the levy and see how many Border Patrol agents I can get stirring trying to figure out why this "anglo" is messing with their river and fence, check. So much potential - really big tires.

2012 Surly Ogre - Same as above, more economical if something blows up and I have to replace it? I don't know - I love the Surly Ogre and Pug for what they are, what they are capable of and what they mean for my wife and kids (slower riding that they can actually keep up with on family rides).

2012 Raleigh Roper. This bike has so much potential. Raleigh hasn't made a name for itself being the shining star of anything. But if there is one thing I know, its that components compliment a frame. This thing looks bulletproof. Add in a 105 complete drivetrain and mechanical disc brakes on a steel framed "touring" bike and it seems like the ultimate commuter. Bonus: It has longevity in Colorado through snow, sleet and other crap combined with the CX ability of riding a bit of gravel road.

So what are your thoughts?

FS MB? Rigid 29er. Road bike of my dreams or the versatility of the roper? I know there have been a plethora of "what bike" threads in BF history. Hell, I've been a contributor, naysayer and even heckler of many of them in years past. But in this one, know that I'm asking you - my fellow bike enthusiasts what you would do if you had a budget capable of buying just one of these bikes and you were not willing to compromise or look outside of this four horsemen set?

I don't have a suggestion for a particular bike though I think the CAAD isn't the best choice if you can have only one bike and want to ride year round.

Though this probably will fall on deaf ears, I feel obligated to say it. If things are tight financially, and getting a new bike means going further in debt, you OWE it to your wife to take a serious look at the used market. It doesn't mean you have to buy crap. I'm sure the bikes you owned before were decent bikes and they're still decent bikes even though whoever you sold them to bought them used.

Actually the bikes I sold were in prime condition. I worked part time for the bike shop and did it more for the experience and knowledge gained than finances.

Unfortunately, If you take a quick glance at craigslist you'll find (I'm paraphrasing)
1 Cannondale F5 for $800 used. That bike sells for less than that new. It's not a bike I would ride and would have buyer's remorse non-stop after I spent $800 on something questionable.
2009 Tarmac for $1900 used. The person linked information that indicates it is a 105 equipped carbon bike, yet the photos show it has an Ultrega front DR. I'm going to go out on a limb, but it appears to be either a scam, or a scam. I'm going to wager it's a scam.
There are some 13 Walmart bikes in the $150-250 range.

Compared to Minneapolis - which had at least 15 bikes, many in my size for under $500 that seem like they would be worth looking at, just at a glance.

The bigger problem with the used market here is that people think they're pulling one over on the general population of the RGV. While my bikes should never have been sold the way they were, they were significantly beyond the normal quality of what is available. Point in fact, all my bikes are with new owners who know me - and refuse to even consider selling them back to me because they got them for a steal. My Karate Monkey sold for less than $300 (2009 model) - with less than 3000 miles on it at the time.

Finances are not a problem now, because I've forced changes in the household budget. One of the biggest issues in my house was the eating habits of my family. Because I work full time and go to school full time they spent a great deal of money eating out when I wasn't around. While I may be a vegetarian - they are not. So having my children convince my wife to order pizza some 3-4 nights a week adds up quickly. Combine that with the fact that we are a single income family and you have the potential for the perfect financial storm.

To fix that, I've taken more work on the side, including working at the university. It has afforded me the ability to save up close to $2,500. That safely gets me into something I consider ridable. While it would be nice to just go down to the pawn shop and buy something for $50 that's not something I'm willing to do.

Out of those 4, Roper. I'd prefer something with an IGH though instead of a fragile 10 speed.

I'd opt for either the Ogre or the Roper.

FWIW, I counted 5, not 4, candidates in the OP...

One bike? Ogre.

Take my opinion with a grain of salt. 1) I'm a surly fan (I have an LHT and a Big Dummy) 2) I don't (yet) own a typical road bike.

A multi-purpose bike is the ticket.

If you're willing to vary from those you listed:
Surly Crosscheck
Surly LHT
Salsa Vaya
etc...

On second thought, as I'm in a somewhat similar boat, none of the above. Suffer with a entry level hybrid and save the extra coin for either rainy days or moving day.

Since you're working full time, going to school full time, and doing side jobs for the school and the LBS, you aren't going to have too much extra time to spend in the saddle to warrant a truly nice rig.

I disagree. This means he's constantly going from place to place, and has no time for a broken part or popped tire. His bike needs to be bulletproof and reliable (which is why I'd recommend looking for an IGH bike)

Maybe not what you want to hear, but you asked for opinions... If I was still in grad school, in debt, working extra to make ends meet, I would quit the extra job and spend more time with my family and lower my budget on a bike. You don't need to spend upwards of $2,000 to get a more than adequate commuting bicycle. You cite making less than favorable decisions in the past, being "broke", having to work for the bike shop in order to get the employee discount, etc, etc. So if that's really true, I would go with something much cheaper but still usable. When I was a poor grad student I made due with a second hand bike I maintained by myself and it was just fine. Just my 2 cents.

P.S. If the beginning of your original post means your wife doesn't understand why you need to spend $2,000 on a commuter bicycle, she may have a point. Maybe she's noticed a pattern. I'm such a spoilsport, aren't I.

The only logical choices you have listed are at the bottom of your list. The Pugsley is not versatile enough, it's clumsy-looking, and will give both your peers and professors, the wrong impression of you....Well, let's just say, that you don't want them to have that impression of you!

You don't want the Cannondale, because it's not ultilitarian enough. The Spearfish is a fully suspended MTB. C'mon, seriously! That's just far too impractical! You would actually entertain the idea of commuting with a FS MTB. Where do you go the school? ..On Mt. Everest or something! Ok, let's put it this way....Nope!

The Roper I absolutely love! ...However, I'd own the Ogre in Derore XT/105, some disc brakes, and a set of Panaracer Rampages!


Good Luck in grad school!

Happy Trails, friend...

- Slim

PS.

That's funny! My initial thoughts were exactly the same as Matimeo's...

You actually sound as though, you've graduated and have landed that first job in your desired profession.

Unless you have enough in savings for your family to live on for 6 months, and ON TOP OF THAT, whatever you intend to spend on this bike then you have no business shopping for a new bike.

I got this for $7.50 + tax. I had to put one tire on it - $10 at Performance. This is the price range you should be shopping in unless you meet the criterion above.


1991 GT Outpost. by Lester Of Puppets, on Flickr

You wrote more about the bike and not enough about what kind of riding you anticipate doing so it's hard for me to make a recommendation. I'm a used bike guy unless I'm going custom frame- I see no sense in anyone with sound mechanical skills buying new unless they have the money or lack the time/resources to search for and or do an overhaul of a used bike. Or they get an amazing deal on a bike. (which I did on one of my commuting bikes)

I also didn't catch in the conversation where you live. How long is your commute? Will you do things like grocery shop on this bike? Will you commute in rain, snow, ice...? Will you use it for longer transport- to visit friends 20+ miles away? Do you want to go off for a tour? Do you like occasionally getting some hard fast rides in?

How old are your kids? Will you be transporting them on a bike? To school? In a trailer? Riding with them?

I think the answers you're getting from people are good but I think they're basing it on which bike they like and guessing on the details.

I was exactly in your shoes last year, sold all my bikes to pay rent while finishing senior year. I regret it, but I bought a bikesdirect bike and it was awesome for me while going to college. I now have a sweet bike and making great money. I am gonna sell the vent noir for 300 + shipping, it's all yours if ya want it, it'll take a rack too! comes with look pedals, ISM saddle and cateye computer! This time in your life will soon pass and it will pay off, I promise!

Oh, my wife also does not get the whole bike thing either, SUCKS!!!!!

+1

I'd offer advice, but I only buy "cheap" used bikes (with one notable exception). Of course they aren't made in Taiwan and will be worth double what the new bike will be worth in 5 years.

Kids are 12, 6, 4 and 2. Three of them are riding already, two will be riding to school again with me again starting in January. My daughter will be back in the trailer I have. My wife has a bike I bought her that she is happy with and attached to.

I live in Brownsville, TX. There isn't a large bicycle community here - and there isn't a lot of quality bikes in the used category available within probably 100 miles. I will be using the bike for my own purposes - but my wife will continue to use the van for grocery shopping, etc. while we are down here. When we move to Colorado next year, we intend to become much less vehicle dependent. It comes with the territory of having four children. There is no rain here, no snow and ice is a 1/64th of a day possibility some time in February at best. I only have to commute about 6 miles round trip between my home, work and school. I do, however, like to go on 100 mile rides on the weekends. I intend to use the bike I purchase to do charity riding, potentially some offroading (if I buy a MB) and or club rides (I'm still good friends with all the club riders because of the writing I do, and my love for the sport). Yes, I've been known to ride hard and lead a pace line (when I had my CAAD9).

My problem with hybrid bikes, and used bikes is that I typically don't grow attached to them. I'm not riding because I have to, I'm riding for the love of riding. So if I have no passion for the steed under me, I tend to find excuses not to ride. That is why my selection is very specific. I will probably never have the $45k in the bank I would need to survive unemployed for half a year, that's not in the cards anytime soon for me. What I do have is a solid career track, a dedication to my family and a desire to enjoy my life (and theirs). It's why I want to be back on a bike - not to make some old, beat-up bike "usable" again. I don't have that kind of time, ultimately, nor am I a dedicated wrench. I want something that is going to put up with my mileage, without fail. I have really been thinking the Ogre too - it seems like it would last me at least the rest of my lifetime with proper maintenance.

Don't have any more kids.

But seriously, selective poking around of the used market, and you being someone who worked in a shop and knows what he is doing, means you won't buy crap. It might take a little longer, but you'll find something--something you really like and will be excited about. Just take some time. The process is part of the fun.

$90K/year lowest possible living expenditures sounds pretty extravagant for Brownsville, even for a family of 6. Yeow!

When I get cheap bikes I find it hard to let them go. Once I get them dialed in they're fun to ride. I try to only keep the mid-range and up bikes, however. I actually like mid-range MTBs from the mid-late 90s better than the current ones and they usually go for 1/100 - 1/10th the cost. I like 'em steel and light (24-25 lbs). That GT was a tad portly for my tastes but was still a sweet ride after a tire replacement. Practically like new. Although a saddle replacement woulda been nice if it were a keeper.

I like mid-80s to early 90s road bikes the best. More steel and fairly light ones can be had for cheap. Plastic stuff does not excite me much.

Stop counting your chickens before they hatch.

What kind of bikes did you grow up riding? If you're only going to have one bike and you place the joy of riding of practicality, perhaps an inexpensive adult version of what you grew up on would be a good choice. For example, I grew up riding BMX bikes (well, BMX bike shaped objects, to be precise). Right now my only bike is a fully rigid singlespeed 29er. It's adequate, though not necessarily great, for a lot of different uses; I do a pretty good job of making it work. But, more importantly, it is the most fun to ride bike that I've ever pedaled. No other bike, no matter how nice or expensive, has reproduced the simple joy of riding I experienced as a kid as well as my 29er. I'm reasonably sure that its similarity to a BMX bike has a lot to do with that.

I'm not saying a singlespeed 29er is right for you, only that you should consider a bike similar to what you had back when you had to have one bike to do it all and enjoyed it.

I feel terrible for you only being able to afford a $2500 bike. Was this a stealth bragging topic? Your wife sounds like she might be the smarter one if you can't justify the cost to her. Still value my input?

Couple of decent hybrids. Asking $100 apiece. Schwinn Cross Cut, Trek 720.

https://brownsville.en.craigslist.org...688219384.html

Lester those will never do, he's a got a 7 mile commute for god's sake.

Here's one in Corpus that might fit the bill, if you find yourself heading that area.

https://corpuschristi.craigslist.org/bik/2688657837.html

Off of your list, I will pick the Roper. Is the most versatile, IMO.

That CAAD 2 Saeco edition for $850 is pretty hot too. See if you can grab that for $750.
https://brownsville.en.craigslist.org...590604767.html

Then buy your Pugs used from some college kid after you move to Colorado.

So exactly what's the problem with those bikes?... They'll do 7 miles with ease...What's seven miles? That's only about 25-35 minutes, depending upon conditions and conditioning.

- Slim