Bring which bike?
02-17-08, 07:51 AM
#1
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Bring which bike?
Hello PDXers... I'm moving there in about a week and have a decision to make. I can only bring one bike and deciding between them is proving to be difficult. Since I don't know the area very well, I'm hoping I can get some suggestions from people here.
First bike is a 2004 Lemond Buenos Aires. No fenders or rack mounts. 700/23 tires. Triple. Love this bike. 12/27 cassette. Hate to ship it due to the carbon stuff.
Second bike is a 2006 Specialized Tricross Comp. Full fenders and rack. 700/25 tires. 52/39 double. Also love this bike. Use it for everything here, but don't take to the mountains due to the double. 12/27 cassette, but have a second wheelset with a 12/34 cassette, which I haven't had time to adjust the bike to. Wouldn't mind shipping as it's aluminum.
So, based off the weather and the terain, which bike would you bring?
Thanks!
First bike is a 2004 Lemond Buenos Aires. No fenders or rack mounts. 700/23 tires. Triple. Love this bike. 12/27 cassette. Hate to ship it due to the carbon stuff.
Second bike is a 2006 Specialized Tricross Comp. Full fenders and rack. 700/25 tires. 52/39 double. Also love this bike. Use it for everything here, but don't take to the mountains due to the double. 12/27 cassette, but have a second wheelset with a 12/34 cassette, which I haven't had time to adjust the bike to. Wouldn't mind shipping as it's aluminum.
So, based off the weather and the terain, which bike would you bring?
Thanks!
02-17-08, 08:44 AM
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Without a second thought the Tricross is the way to go. With the rain here fenders are a must not only for bike commuting, but also group rides. No one will want to ride behind you without fenders. There is a well established Cyclocross racing series here that is great fun. Larger 25c tires are better for commuting. Also you should be able to ride almost all the roads in Portland except the ultra steep with a 39 27. Except maybe this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbvQqssD_jI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbvQqssD_jI
02-17-08, 10:01 AM
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You need fenders in the Pacific Northwest unless you've decided never to ride a bike in the rain. If you commute (or do anything practical) by bike, you will need a rack. To me, the choice is clear. I ride my bike year-round. 
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02-17-08, 05:15 PM
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Thanks for the replies. That helped me make a decision on the two bikes, but made me think of yet another decision. I have another bike that I use primarily to commute on. It's an old Bianchi Grizzly MTB that I converted to be a road type of bike. It's got drop bars, bar end shifters, 26x1.4 tires, rack, fenders and what people call a "treking" triple. Which would you choose of the Tricross and the Grizzly? The other thing I'm kinda worried about is theft while we're driving. We're driving cross country and my wife is leaving her fancy bikes home and taking her Terry Classic. Nobody would want to steal a bike with a 700 rear and 24" front. 
02-17-08, 08:06 PM
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Can you bring the carbon and ship one of the others that can handle shipping?
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02-17-08, 09:00 PM
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I could and that's what I was planning on doing because I was worried the movers would bang it up too much. Problem with it is they (Lemond) doesn't make that type of frame anymore and I'd have a hard time replacing it. The other issue that I'm worried about is that my bike rack is top tube mount and I worry about a carbon top tube hanging for thousands of miles. Seems damned if I do, damned if I don't.
