Howdy all. This is my first post, but I've been reading these forums for a long time.



So...I commute 25 miles round trip per day in Sacramento, CA - from Carmichael to downtown Sac and back. I recently started this commute, as I recently moved to Carmichael. And...here's the fun part...b/c my commuter bike was stolen the night before I moved here, I'm now commuting on a Huffy Highlander 3 3-speed. Yup...fun times...

I know pretty much what I want, and I'm wondering if anyone has any suggestions for brands/places to find it? I'm looking at staying below the $2k range, possibly up to $2.5k...but hopefully not... Wow...I'm willing to spend more on a bike than on a car...but I digress...

Ideally, I'd like a bike that breaks down/folds using S&S couplers (so the fiance and I can go out after work and we can break the bike down to fit in her Mini, and so I can take this with me on my annual east coast trips) and that has an internal rear hub, preferably an Alfine 11 or a Rohloff speedhub (if only it weren't over $1k for just the Rohloff...ah well...), with a Gates center-track belt setup, a dyno hub, and juice disc brakes. And...to top it all off...b/c I'm thinking of spending such a large chunk of change...I want the bike to look the way I like, meaning it needs to have a horizontal non-sloping top tube. Also, I don't like drop bars and instead want bars kinda like the ones on this bike - https://www.skullbikeclub.com/news/?cat=29 - or BMX bars so that I can sit pretty much fully upright. I almost forgot - I'd like internal cabling/wiring too...

I like the Charge Mixer (2012) which is on Performance Bike's website, and there's one available in my size (medium, around a 54) that I can get shipped to me from the east coast. But...no couplers and no belt drive... The Spot Acme is pretty nice too, but literally a grand over the Charge Mixer's cost. It has the belt drive, but no couplers...and looking at the frame I don't know if it can be retrofitted with couplers? Heck - speaking of retrofitting - any thoughts on retrofitting the Charge Mixer with a belt drive - basically, having a bike shop cut the rear triangle to install a mini-coupler or whatever a removable piece would be called? There's also the Surly LHT Deluxe, but it's not setup for disc brakes or for a belt drive...

Any thoughts on a bike that anybody makes currently that fits this description? Does anybody make anything off-the-shelf like this, basically a dutch-style townie bike that can also be used for long distance commuting and light touring (I also plan on doing some centuries on this bike...not going to be fast, but am going to finish...)?

Thank you in advance for your thoughts/comments/opinions!!

Couplers usually are a $400-800.00 option on custom bikes, so you'll probably have a hard time finding a good quality commuter w/a decent internal hub and couplers in the 2K range. Take out the couplers and the options open up. Maybe a rack on the Mini?

Yup, a rack is an option, but the problem is that I don't want to leave a bike on the roof of the car while we're doing stuff - bike theft is a big problem in Sacramento, unfortunately...

I think Travelers check is a Surly Cross checK with S&S couplers

Richey Break away is another approach to the same end..

Bike Friday Tikit is able to be configured like a Road Bike , If you wish,
they are made to fold up quickly, [not a fearture S&S can claim]
and the 16" wheels take up less room.. Schwalbe Kojacks are a fast little tire.

You just gear it higher so the little wheels turn over faster to maintain the same speed..

Yea Belt drive , Alfine 11 IGH is an option..
but since the belt system adds $500 to the bottom line
that may make the price point target go Up.

Breaking windows to steal bikes in locked cars is non Unknown.

Have you tried just taking the wheels off to fit a bike in the Mini? If you can fold the seats down, I would expect it to fit. Alternatively, I think most quality racks have locking ability, though I'm not sure how secure they are.

Everything I've heard about S&S couplers seems to indicate that they're designed to be used for the occasional airplane ride, not for breaking down after work and throwing in the car. They're not super fast (I've read reports of a full breakdown taking upwards of an hour), and the components are not designed for frequent decoupling/coupling.

If rapid disassembly is a priority, I would take a look at a quality folder like a Bike Friday. If, on the other hand, you can live without the collapsibility, I would look at belt drive bikes. Handlebars can always be changed, and disc brakes can often be added later, but I think belt drives are trickier to retrofit.

This website seems to have a pretty comprehensive listing of belt-driven bikes. Now you've got me drooling over some of them

I've never used a bike with S&S couplers, but my impression is they're designed primarily for plane/train/long distance travel and not really practical if you just want to throw your bike in your wife's car for dinner, although it would be good for your east coast trip. Might still be worth it, but you might not use it the way you envision. If you really want this usage scenario, an actual folding bike is more in order. If this is a serious priority I suspect that Bike Friday could build you something that fits a lot of your requirements. You can also get a hitch rack that can lock to the hitch mount, then use a heavy chain lock to lock your bike to the rack.

The IGH makes sense for what you want to do, but the Gates drive is a lot of cash, and you have to decide if it's worth it. It won't get things dirty, will be quiet, and won't need to be oiled. That said, how inconvenient do you actually find conventional chains? I don't particularly find this troublesome but it's your call. I don't really get the internal cable routing... just looks? It'll be slightly more inconvenient to route cables if anything. It seems like an unlikely option on this sort of bike, unless you build up a high end road race frame (that will almost certainly not be available with Gates). Gates recommends against retrofitting frames.

S&S couplers can't be added to Aluminum frames, so keep that in mind for the Spot.

I have no specific bike recommendations, though, as I'm not interested in what you are. Hope you find something that works for you.

Agree with the previous comments about the S&S coupler. Look at the price difference bretween a Sasla Vaya 2 (1900) and the Salsa Travel (3950)

Hi,

This is almost certainly not what you had in mind, but I recommend considering the Cruzbike Quest.



There are two versions of this bike. The version with 22" wheels (451) can be packed in a 31" Samsonite suitcase including wheels. (The 26' wheels won't fit in the suitcase). These bikes work well as commuters and tours (the heavier, cheaper sibling of this bike has been used to ride just shy of 30,000 miles around the world.

Cheers,
Charles

Surly Cross Check or Long Haul Trucker. Both bikes are exceedingly robust and extremely versatile. Both bikes offer all the eyelets to take racks and fenders and can accommodate as wide a tire as you want. The Cross Check is also an extremely comfortable bike for long periods of time in the saddle.

Forgot the couplers, internal hub and gates belt.

If you can find a frame in your size with couplers, for a decent price, the rest is easy. Imo, a rack with some good locks would be a "better of the two" solution. If you decide to spend the extra dough, just make sure the couplers will handle the frequent use.

The guy who mentioned the Bike Friday Tikit made me think of this:

https://bikefriday.com/bicycles/silk

I currently own a Bike Friday, and I remember receiving an e-mail from them about the new "Silk" model. It's got almost all the OP seems to be looking for: disc brakes, Internal Gear hub, Gates Carbon Belt Drive, and you can fold it down to throw into a car trunk. The lowest price model ($1998) is within the OP's price range, too. No dynohub, though.

+1^ Just get the Trucker Deluxe Frame and customize it!

PS.

The Trucker Deluxe comes with S&S couplings.

* It only comes as a 26er though...

Thanks for all the replies! And yeah...the Bike Friday Silk is really nice...!

True that S&S couplers may not be that fast to break down - didn't realize that.

A big reason for the Gates drive is that I need to stay clean - I can't have my pants getting greasy on rides when I'm at work - sometimes I need to go to meetings, and I ride there. Generally I take a shower at work before heading in and don't care about messing up my bicycling pants...so that's not a big deal...no spandex here...but going to meetings I need to be careful.

Decisions. I'm really leaning towards the '12 Charge Mixer and installing a SON dyno hub...no belt drive and can't break down...but...really nice otherwise...although I'll probably have to put on a stem extender to raise the bars...

Note I really like the Spot Acme, too...

My wallet is going to hurt...

Staying clean on a bike in pants is easy. Just use wax as your chain lube. There was a thread on here rather recently covering it. Or check it out here. https://www.ecovelo.info/2011/10/10/c...01/#more-30915

you would have a clean, low maintence chain and a lot more $ to spend on the other aspects of the bike you want.

I'll check that out - thanks!

Dude, Downtown Sacramento to Charmichael is a pretty long haul. I commute from the Pocket Area to Stockton Blvd. You may want to consider saving a ton of money and buy a quality used Road Bike with integrated shifters. You'll have enough cash left over for some good lighting, fenders, rack and panniers, clipless pedals, shoes and some specialized clothing like gloves, a jersey and some nice socks.

I looked at the charge bikes on the Performance website. The Juicer is good value for the price.

Don't worry about your pants getting dirty. I ride in khakis and hardly ever get a mark.

Speed should be the name of your game.

https://www.adrenalinebikes.com/store...oductid=112145

Surly Deluxe Trucker has S&S couplers. It replaced the Travelers Check. The above shop offers complete builds within your price range but not with a internal geared hub at least not what they are showing.

The Bike Friday would be much faster folding/stowing. I have a Model T Tikit & a fixed gear Pocket Rocket. Love both of them. Neither are as solid as a Surly frame however.

Velomobile, Aka a tadpole recumbent trike in a aero shaped bubble body..

I have seen somebody on the Friday Silk here in florida onetime and I can tell you that its worth every penny. The craftsmanship is really high and the guy broke it down super quick to fit in his GTI. I was amazed.

I ride 26 miles each way on my Bike Friday Pocket Rocket. It fits in my MINI. It's a bit older, has a Campy RD but also a Sachs 3x7 3-speed as a "front."

I ride centuries on it too.

Nice.

Definitely looking at a Bike Friday...good to hear good things! i've read about them online, but never seen one in person...

Check out a Brompton as well. https://www.brompton.co.uk/ The fold quickly and are great bikes.