Durable Road Bike for Commuting?
 

I'm looking to build (or maybe buy, but rather build) a new bike for getting around the city. I really want to get a super light aluminium road bike frame, but I'm kind of afraid of the durability. I'm sure it'll be fine when on the road, but I sometimes go off road and up/down curbs especially when taking short cuts around campus.

I've been asking around and reading some posts here and people have suggested a cyclocross bike would work well for this purpose, but I can't seem to find a decent frame that'll fit into my budget. Most frames I've found are $200+, and I don't want to exceed $300 total if possible.

Do you guys think a road bike frame would be durable enough to take a good beating?

What city? What kind of weather do you expect to be running into? Road conditions? How fast will you be going?

Don't worry about the durability: most reputable manufacturers carry a lifetime warranty (excluding accidents that would destroy your frame anyway) on their frames so it's not like your road bike will break because of a bunny hop or two - the double diamond is more durable than you think. (You're more likely to destroy a wheel that way, but that's neither here nor there.)

For instance, I ride a Bianchi Via Nirone as my primary commuting bike: it's an "endurance bike," which means a taller head tube and a less aero rider position. At 22 pounds, it's also heavier than most bikes and feels it: I don't feel road buzz too often, the bottom bracket area feels a stone weight, and it's more sluggish and less responsive than my old 1997 C'Dale CAAD2. It also feels indestructible.

Get a used MTB and put some slicks on it!

That'll be less expensive and even more durable than a road bike.

Besides, you don't wanna go thru the trouble of building a nice bike while on campus, just to have some sleaze ball steal it from under your nose...

BTW

You can get a brand new 29er MTB from bikesdirect.com for right around $300. It'll be just perfect for a college campus...

+1 to all of this.
Go with a singlespeed 29er or used MTB / 29er. And learn to bunny hop / rear wheel hop for curbs. Even mountain bike wheels have their limits on how much they can take. Put Schwalbe "big apple" 2.35 slicks on there, and I guarantee you'll be grinning from ear to ear when you ride it.
Here's the cheapest one BD offers. http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/gravity/g29ss.htm
For cx, here's BD's singlespeed offering, though outside your price limit: http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/uno.htm

+2. Out of all the bikes i own (up to $2000 price tag) my favorite to commute on is my 26er Diamondback that I got on craigslist for $45. I converted it to singlespeed and haven't touched it with oil or a wrench for a year and it runs flawlessly (even with a minnesota salty winter). I dont worry about banging it up or people scratching it cuz it was only $45.

+3

With the dedicated bike lanes/paths what they are in Frankfurt, an MTB is essential (or at least wider tires are essential). I haven't migrated to slicks yet because my knobbies still have tread on them and I want to wear them out before replacing them. Almost no one I know commutes on a road bike or a bike with drop bars over here.

here's what a typical separated and segregated (bike/pedestrian) bike path rides like when it's not busy:



when it's in a congested area it's much harder:


however, the city does a good job of keeping the paths clear in the winter

consider a Surly Pacer frameset, build it up as a 1x9 ? Get a good fit and wheel set.

I don't think the frame is what you need to worry about from a durability perspective. You should put more emphasis on the wheels. Road bike-ish geometry frames that accommodate wider tires (at least 28mm, preferably 32mm or wider). There is a reason people have suggested a cyclocross frames. Here is an inexpensive option.

http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...97_-1___203559

thanks for the input!

I wish I could spend enough to build a bike with some of those nicer frames you guys recommended, but can't as of now. I really like that nashbar frame, but I feel like that may drive me over budget unless I skimped on the rest of the components. I think the nice cyclocross based bike may have to wait till after college.

I'm going to buy a old frame from a local bike shop and just build it with as many used parts I can. And being in Pittsburgh and riding in the rain and snow, I think it'd be nice to have a bike that I don't have to worry about as much. Thanks for the input again!

sounds like you should just get a budget like Nashbar frame, and not be attached to it,
or your wheels..
road bike and curb hopping will do some damage
every time the 2 wheel bunny hop is not well done .

maybe a MTB with big tires is better, if planning abuse.

I would not worry too much about the frame (as long as it is sturdy), but worry more about the wheels. If using a road bike, I would use fattest tyres you safely can, but keep the pressure up and use the smoothest tread you can get. For commuting I don't care about looks, but reliabitity. I use an old cheap road bike with Hybrid wheels. Although there is not much clearence with these wheels, it means that I can get puncture resistant tyres (which are greatly needed where I ride). The difference in performance is not really that much unless you have a long ride and/or some steep hills.

A road bike that has clearance for 28/32mm tyres should be fine. You will need long drop calliper brakes . CX style cantilevers have more clearance but mine never work as well as callipers. Disk brakes are good but not available in lower prices.
Use strong wheels, 32 or 36 spoke std training grade will do.
The frame is rarely the point of failure. Every factory frame is strong enough, you have to go to high-end, ultralight custom frames to sacrifice strength for weight.
Forks are more often failure points. Carbon is strong but if you are going to bash the bike around, maybe steel will be for forgiving. In a frontal impact, steel will bend rather than break. You dont want the forks so much stronger than the frame, or else the forks will survive an impact but the frame will be buckled.

Redline Metro Sport! :)
A factory made drop bar commuter.
I love mine.

You might be underestimating what bike parts cost - even used ones. Then there's labor at the LBS or money to buy special tools. I wouldn't try to build up a bike on a $300 budget unless there really aren't any Craig's List complete bikes that meet your needs. You might be able to find a used bike with condition problems, where a few parts could make it complete/reliable, and still stay under $300.

Yeah. I'm in the middle of a bike build myself. It's fun, and you get a bike that you can truly say is yours, but it is not a good way to save money.

Here is a $199 cyclocross frameset with headseat (free shipping) http://bikeisland.com/cgi-bin/BKTK_S...ls&ProdID=1238

I've been commuting the last 2 years (11500 kms so far) with a cheap road bike (Nakamura elite) with an aluminum frame that sell for 400$ cdn with no problem. I may be ding a bit more maintenance than on a more expensive bike but it's quite reliable.

I've been talking to friends who have built decent bikes for around $300 and they said it's doable. Especially since we have this amazing bike shop close by that has a shop with all the equipment we need to use for free and people to help out. Part of the reason I want to build one is really just to build one and understand how it's done. I've read about how to put a bike together, but won't know until I do it.

I think a solid road bike frame will be as endurable as a cyclocross frame. The cx frame gets you higher off the ground, more clearance for tires, and ways to mount accessories.

All of the Nashbar road, touring and 'cross frames are a great value. They will certainly be lighter, more corrosion resistant and stronger than a steel frame, vintage or otherwise. I have build 2 of these Nashbar alu frames up to great success. I own high-end vintage steel frames (including a Pinarello Montello) and in every way that matters (except nostalgia and bragging rights - if that matters to you), the $99 Nashbar alu road frame is better.

If you are commuting you'll want excellent brakes. Dual-pivots or disks if you are riding with loads in the rain. If you are building up a bike from parts, do not scrimp on brakes (or lights), and resist any temptation to use vintage brakesets, particularly anything labelled: 'Dia Compe' or Weinmann or Mafac or worse. Brakes and lights are like consumer electronics, it makes no sense to buy used or old stuff.

Don't convert a mountain bike, particularly one with a suspension fork or knobby tires. The heavy frame and wheels, and energy-sapping suspension bob will kill your speed and riding enjoyment on pavement.