Digital_Cowboy

If money and weight weren't an issue, what would your dream commuter/utility bike look like?

What material would the frame be, aluminum, steel, CF, titanium, bamboo? What pedals clipless, toe clips, platforms? What style handlebars, flat bar, drops? What accessories/customization? Front and rear pannier racks? What style pannier bag/boxes, top bag or trunk? Lights, computer, horns/bells? Would you add an Xtracycle kit and/or trailer? What brake system would you use, disc or rim? How many speeds? Fixed/SS, multiple, IGH or derailleur, dynohub? Chain or belt drive? Manual or automatic shift? Narrow road tires or wide mountain bike tires?

Sorry I forgot the wheels. What wheelset would you use? What material for the wheels?

modernjess

As a four season commuter, in a place that has 4 seasons. I already have it: it's my is a custom build Cross Check. I change wheels and controls for the seasons and it's just perfect. I've been commuting for a long time and I've thought this out. I have other bikes for other things. My cross check gets a vast majority of my miles.

But, if I could magically turn the cross check frame into a custom built to my size titanium frame with all the same features as the CC then that would be the dream realized. Lighter with a stiffer bottom bracket area, and no worries about corrosion and winter.

tsl

I already own my dream commuter.


A 2006 Trek Portland, shown here wearing its studded snow tires and old winter fenders. Since then I've switched to the silvery SKS-P45 fenders to keep the same look as the SKS-P35 fenders it wears in the three seasons.

It's an aluminum frame, carbon fork, drop bars, 105 triple with a splash of Ultregra, Avid BB7 brakes and G3 rotors. Pedals are Shimano A-520 SPD road/touring clipless.

The wheels are handbuilt on Velocity disc-specific hoops, Shimano Alfine dynohub in front, Velocity 130mm disc hub in the back, and 32 DT competition spokes laced 3X holding each one together. The dyno hub powers a Schmidt Edelux in the front and a B&M Dtoplight in the rear. It rides on Continental GrandPrix 4-Seasons tires in 28mm in the three-seasons, and Nokian Hakkapeliitta W106 (35/38mm) in the winter.

Battery lights are a DiNotte 300R in the rear, a DiNotte 200L for a front blinky, and a MagicShine 1000 lumen headlight.

Rack is a Tubus Cosmo in stainless steel. The bottle cages are also stainless. Other accessories are a Topeak RoadMorph G pump, I use a Topeak Aero Wedge seat bag for tools and keys, Ortleib Sport Packer Plus panniers (front panniers used in the rear that are just the right size for commuting) and when needed, an Arkel Tailrider trunk bag. Cyclometer is a Blackburn Neuro 6.0. Mirror in the pic is the Mirrycle Road Mirror for STI. When I changed to 5700 levers, I had to change mirrors. It now runs the Blackburn road mirror. My preferred lock is a Kryptonite New York Standard.

Unfortunately, Trek has discontinued the bike. Everything works so well for me that when I wear it out (or heaven forbid, it's crashed or stolen) I'll commission a replacement frame in either titanium or stainless steel and go with the genuine WoundUp fork.

DVC45

I'm in the process of building mine.

MichaelW

My Dahon Cadenza 8 (Alfine) serves me pretty well as an all-weather commuter but if I wanted a dream commuter bike, it would have Gates carbon belt drive and Alfine 11 or Rohloff. I'm happy with Aluminium as a material for everyday use. I would like to loose some weight and integrate the lighting a bit better so I dont have to tape wires from the hub generator to the lamp. I need a stronger rack , so disc brakes on the chainstay so I can fit a Tubus.

co_rog

I'm having my local shop build this for me right now. A Surly Ogre frame with a dyno hub on the front, Alfine 8 on the back, j-tek shifter, disk brakes, drop bars, and front/rear lights. It's the first time I've had a custom build and am really psyched.

pityr

That was nearly my dream but I went with the similarly outfitted Kona ***** Inc and its steel frame. A little heavier but is easier on the bones on the longer commutes (I roll 14 miles each way).

roashru

if there was not a worry about cost my bicycle would be cyclo-cross or touring titanium with as many titanium parts and components i could find. titanium is way better than aluminum or chromoly for the same duty service.

im still not convinced on carbon fiber. way too many adhesive junctions.

nashcommguy

https://www.quitmann-ms.de/eng/big_apple.html for urban.

https://www.quitmann-ms.de/eng/speed.html for rural.

Both w/a Rohloff option.

thirdgenbird

i saw a titanium cross bike built up with super record solely for commuting.

i cant lie, money no option i would consider doing the same.

Digital_Cowboy

Both are very nice.

alan s 

Something like this: https://sheldonbrown.com/pedicab-pix.html#oslo

FunkyStickman

If money wasn't an issue? My commuter would be a titanium 'cross bike with disks. My utility bike would be a Big Dummy, Cetma cargo, or a Larry Vs. Harry Bullitt. Maybe a tricked out Kona Ute. Probably with a Rholoff hub.

Schwinnrider

Dream commuter bike? I would have a custom builder duplicate a Rivendell Atlantis in titanium. I almost said I'd have my Bridgestone XO-2 duplicated, but the two are fairly similar, and the Atlantis geometry would be a better loaded tourer. Drop bars, Brooks B17 saddle, titanium fenders(custom, of course), fat 26 inch tires, and a set of Carradice Super C panniers. Instead of discs and all their modernity, I'd spec this bike with Paul touring cantilevers. Wheels would be hand built by Peter White, with a Schmitt SON dynohub. Lighting would be Supernova dynamo lights front and rear. Tubus titanium racks front and rear, with a quick release basket on the front. Baskets are extremely useful, but having one mounted with zip ties means you're stuck with a basket unless you want to break out the snips.

Utility bike? I think a Surly Big Dummy clone but with porteur geometry on the front(to facilitate a huge basket), equipped with a Stokemonkey electric assist, drop bars(Nitto Noodle 46cm) would do nicely. Frame material on this one would be steel, maybe True Temper OX Platinum. Better yet, Reynolds 953 stainless steel. Made by Bilenky or Waterford, don't you know? How about a lugged steel Waterford Big Dummy clone, with a pinstripe paint job and the lug windows painted a different color than the frame? Nah, I'd have them polish the steel to a mirror finish, then clearcoat over it.

downtube42

IGH, 700 wheels, hub generator, front & rear dynolights, disc brakes, steel frame, North Road bars, fenders, chain guard, platform pedals, rear rack. Two wheelsets - summer set and studded tire set.

Although money is no object, it's still going to sit outside unguarded for long periods, so it needs to look like nothing special

Andy_K 

If money were no object I'd probably start with a bigger garage to store more bikes. The five I have just don't suit every condition perfectly.

My Kona Jake with front disc brake is pretty close to perfect for year round commuting. When Kona comes out with a disc version (which I expect within two years) I'll definitely consider that.

abergdc

Would your ***** Inc fit those 35/38 tires? I was thinking about getting one but the LBS (which didn't have any in stock) said it wouldn't.

I went with a Tricross Sport Disc.

amckimmey

Steel
MKS GR-9 with plastic clips/nylon straps
Drop Bars
Surly Front Nice Rack Silver/Ortlieb Front-Rollers White
Surly Rear Nice Rack Silver/Ortlieb Back-Rollers White
Large light couple small ones, Battery powered
Simple wireless computer
Bell and horn
No xtracycle kit/dual wheeled trailer(if I want a xtracycle that would be a separate bike)
Wide rim brakes/cantilevers
Wide range gearing triple, built for loads and climbing
Nice 26in wheels for loads and touring

Oh wait I have the bike. more then a year ago I happily got my beautiful Long Haul Trucker. I still have not gotten the front rack and panniers(that will be its birth day present this year). but I love this bike, and find my self thinking that I don't even think I could replace it with a custom built frame. It would just end up being basicly the same.


Untitled by amckimmey, on Flickr


Untitled by amckimmey, on Flickr

Steely Dan

If money and storage space were no consideration, I'd have 3 dedicated comuting bikes:

1. Fairweather ride - higher end titanium road bike.

2. Rain bike - titanium cyclocross with discs, fenders, and wide tires for better traction in the wet.

3. Winter bike - titanium hybrid with alfine 11, belt drive, discs, fenders, and studded tires.

I already have number 1, and I have an aluminum hybrid which approximates number 3 with the exception of belt drive. I just need a titanium cyclocross as my next bike purchase.

BarracksSi

Going down the list in the original post:
Frame: titanium
Pedals: clipless, but wide like a platform
Handlebars: drops
Accessories -
Front/rear panniers/racks: Only really want rear panniers so far, but also the option for a trunk bag and a basket
Lights: dynohub-powered, all the way
Xtracycle: no
Brakes: discs
How many speeds: I'm fine with 2x10
Chain or belt: chain
Manual or auto: are you kidding? Manual, of course
Tires: between 28 and 32 mm
Wheels: Zipp 808 tubies, yo!

Given different terrain, I'd change some things. But this is what I want to build, and my current commuter is already there apart from the frame material and brakes.

wolfchild

Surly has some frames which I consider to be perfect for commuter/utility bikes. Salsa makes some nice bikes too.

gear

Here you go:


Seven Ti frame with S&S couplings and sliding dropouts. Shimano 11 IGH. Phil wood hub. Campy record cranks. Avid discs Dinotte tail light and Lupine head light.

dynodonn 

Dream commuter, that's a tough question for me to answer since my commuters seem to keep evolving over the years due to my ever changing requirements and knowledge of newer technology or products.

BarracksSi

So close, yet Phil Wood doesn't make a generator hub that I've heard of.

cyccommute 

For most every day commuting this one is my dream commuter



Aluminum frame, Phil Wood hubs laced with DT Alpine III spokes to Salsa Delgado rims. Ultegra shifters, XT rear derailer, Ultegra front derailer, Ultegra 50/39/30 crank, Paul cantilever brakes.

For crappy snowy days this one does the job



(It's been reconfigured a little since this picture was taken with disc brakes because of the fork choice)

Aluminum frame, Famous NoName wheels, RaceFace crank, Sram XO drivetrain, Fox F100 RC fork and BB7 discs (because the fork doesn't have brake studs).

If I want to play around on the way home, I use this one


(the fork from this one has been swapped to the Specialized since the picture.)

Titanium frame, XT crank, XTR hubs, XTR crank, Avid Arch Rival linear brakes, Fox F80 RLC fork, XO drivetrain.

But if I want to do the job in style, this is the bike of choice



White Industry hubs laced with DT Alpine III forks to Velocity Aeroheat rims. XT/LX/X9 drivetrain XT crankset.

All of the above are 3x9 drivetrains.

For lights I use 3 Magicshine LED lights and several Planet Bike Superflash rear lights. Cargo duty is handled either by an Ortlieb Bike Box or Cannondale bag (depending on bike).