Buying a commuter in Houston...
 

Hey folks,
I'll be headed up to College Station this fall for grad school, and am in the market for a commuter. I'd like to find either one of two things:
1) A singlespeed road bike that could be converted to fixed gear, used or new with front and rear brakes.
2) A touring bike that I can put racks on for picking up groceries/bringing books home... again, new or used.

Can anyone point me to the best bike shops in H-town to find something along these lines? The only bike-stuff I've ever shopped for is for my Trek 1500, which I don't want to use to commute.

thanks for any help you can offer.

Perfomance on Westhiemer has a fuji touring for 699

It sounds like you are watching your budget. Go to Craigslist. Lots of appropriate bikes there at bargain prices occasionally.

http://houston.craigslist.org/bik/591703138.html

http://houston.craigslist.org/bik/570346806.html

Some ideas ;)

1) A singlespeed road bike that could be converted to fixed gear, used or new with front and rear brakes.
2) A touring bike that I can put racks on for picking up groceries/bringing books home... again, new or used.

Surly Cross-Check, though I can't remember who sells them though.

Bicycle World & Fitness here in Houston sells them. Greg, you remember Will's bike right? Thats a Surly Steam Roller with a flip flop hub...but it isn't cheap...I think he has around a grand in it.

-Nate

If the Surly is what you want, ask the LBS if they order form Quality. If they do, they can get Surly bikes, frames, and parts... granted Quality has it in stock.

I actually think I've fallen in love with the Raleigh One-Way, pictured below. I'll be test-riding one at my local shop here in Humble... I'd also love to give them the business, it's a good group of folks working/running the place. Here's the One-Way:

http://www.raleighusa.com/wp-content...ay_Greenlg.jpg

It comes stock with a Brooks Aged B-17, Brooks Bar tape, the fenders, and a flip flop hub, and it's steel. Plus it's pretty handsome, I think.

I came across the Ralieigh website the other day and have to admit that the One Way and the Sojourn are both really sharp looking. I am really curious to see what you think of it after the test ride.

That is a drool-worthy bike.

If the test ride doesn't do it for you, check out Blue Line Bike Labs in the Heights. They can order the Surly, they have a small stock of older road bikes that would make good commuters (though they are priced higher than a diamond in the rough on Craigslist), and they carry the Bianchi San Jose and Volpe, either of which would be a good bike as well. They are also way into the fixie, single speed thing and could help you out there too. Nice group of guys who have never scoffed at decidely uncool me and my 80's bike boom commuting bike.

Edited to add: West End Bicycles in Rice Military carries Konas - their Paddy Wagon has a flip/flop hub and would make a nice commuter for around $600 or so.

The Raleigh guy didn't bring the 2008 model, which is the one in the picture, but the 2007... it was nice. I put an order in for a 55cm; they are on backorder by about 2.5 weeks, so in about a month I should have more to report.

The place I'm buying it from: BetterBikes of Humble/Atascocita on FM1960. The best shop on the Northeast Side!

That could be fun.... imagine the comments as you blow past guys on a single speed with full fenders :D

I know you already bought, but just in case others are searching the threads, West End and Daniel Boone's both have about 10 SS/FG bikes. They both have some Langsters, and West end has a few nice bikes (I really drool over the black Pake on the floor now and they have some interesting FG 29'ers too)

BTW - I think that Raleigh is a really nice looking bike. Looking forward to your review.

Here's the new bike:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2321/...b353a2e2_b.jpg

I've only ridden it around the block once last night... I'm going to take it for a longer spin around the neighborhood today, so I'll let you know how it feels after that. I'm also bringing my camera with me, so hopefully I'll find some nice places to take a better picture of it.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2253/...eb939fae_b.jpg

Here's a picture outside my house... it rides great, I've got to move the seat down a hair and forward a hair. The front brake pads squeak when I brake hard, so I think i'm going to order some Kool-Stops for it.

The other thing that is bothering me is the fenders... the back one isn't really centered, and the front one pops up in the air in the front. I'll be working on fixing that.

Sweet! That outdoor shot really brings out the green color on the frame and the brown leather.

Have you tried toeing in the brake pads? That usually stops the squeal on my cross bike. Looks great, how does it ride?

I will give that a try with the pads... It rides like a charm, but the 700x35 tires are a lot different than my 21s on my road bike... I'd compare the 21s to cutting a sharp turn on hockey skates, and the 35s to, well, big fat tires. Either way, I love it, and I'm loving the Brooks saddle and bar tape.

very nice.