Commuter Bike Recommendation

[jhcakilmer]

I'd like to start riding to school, or hospital....both of which are less than 6 miles away.

I might need to carry things at times (books, laptop, scrubs, etc), so I would probably need the ability to to attach some bags.

Also, unfortunately I have a small budget so keep that in mind when making suggestions. I like the style and looks of the Electra Amsterdam Classic, but I have never ridden one, and don't know how practical they really are.

Other suggestions??

[johnnymossville]

Here's one I've been considering for my 8 or so mile commute. Currently I'm riding my race bike and the rough roads, lack of fenders gets annoying sometimes.

http://jamisbikes.com/usa/bikes/08_bikes/08commuter3.html

Good luck with your search and commuting. It's a great way to start and end a day of work/school.

[gdw]

Buy a used MTB, a rack, and some slicks if you're on a tight budget.

[rwsaunders]

Buy a used MTB, a rack, and some slicks if you're on a tight budget.

+1.

[Kevan]

and build from there.

[fiamme red]

eBay.

[Fixed]

+1.
+2

[Bradford]

pick up a Cannondale touring bike on ebay (anything in th T series).

As a touring bike it is set up perfectly for commuting (fenders, big tires, rack mounts, etc), and as a Cannondale you won't mind getting caught in the rain.

[john va]

The Gary Fisher Nirvana is inexpensive, has a bullet proof frame and time-tested design, reliable components, and can easily be upgraded if you want to emphasize greater performance or go for longer distances. Plenty of room for fenders, eyelets for racks, etc. etc.

see: http://mikesbikes.com/itemdetails.cfm?id=1424

[mschol17]

For 1K the Raleigh Sojourn is complete and ready to commute/tour. It's a bit of a tank, but it will certainly hold up to the daily wear and tear.

[musgravecycles]

J--I used to commute down to the shop on an old 70's Trek frame I built up as a fixed with stuff I had kicking around. I loved that bike. Long reach brakes, fenders, a rear rack, and bombproof wheels (I had DeepV's)... I don't think I had $20 in that thing but it was awesome...

[sbornia]

I think Kona is kool...

http://www.konaworld.com/08_smoke29.htm (steel!)

Some of the "Dew" series are nice, too, if you want disc brakes.

[dwightskin]

The Sky Yaeger spec'd Bianchi's are great bikes.

Bianchi Volpe (has short horizontal dropouts)
Bianchi Milano
Bianchi Castro Valley
Bianchi San Jose

The Volpe is a great bike and can often be found used for $300 - $400.

[michael white]

it's a great time to buy a commuter; there are so many nice ones coming out. so much creativity going into this niche. Breezer seems to me like the main innovator here, though there's lots of energy going into the brands mentioned and lots of others.

a year or so ago, I looked at Cannondale UK's site, and was simultaneously blown away and dismayed at all the really wonderful commuters and urban bikes that are sold overseas, even by US companies, which we never see. The US offerings have been almost purely recreational/competitive, which frankly just isn't as cool to me--Europe, uh, gets it as far as bikes in daily life.

Maybe now with the gas and all that situation will change.

[ergott]

I will be redoing my old Trek 7000 mtb bike for the very same thing. The plan is a rack, a waterproof pannier set, slick tires, and some fenders.

[CaptStash]

I think Kona is kool...

http://www.konaworld.com/08_smoke29.htm (steel!)

Some of the "Dew" series are nice, too, if you want disc brakes.


+1

I've been trying to talk my brother into buying a Jake. Pretty good deal for <$800

CaptStash....

[jhcakilmer]

J--I used to commute down to the shop on an old 70's Trek frame I built up as a fixed with stuff I had kicking around. I loved that bike. Long reach brakes, fenders, a rear rack, and bombproof wheels (I had DeepV's)... I don't think I had $20 in that thing but it was awesome...


Yeah, I remember that ride, it was perfect. I wouldn't mind something like that, but I need to be able to install some bags on it.

[musgravecycles]

That's what the rear rack was for doofus...
;)

[jbl]

For 1K the Raleigh Sojourn is complete and ready to commute/tour. It's a bit of a tank, but it will certainly hold up to the daily wear and tear.

I'm torn between the Raleigh One Way and the Masi Speciale Commuter. All very pretty bikes!

[Kevan]

http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/bik/734719006.html
http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/bik/734706875.html
http://newyork.craigslist.org/brk/bik/734705089.html
http://newyork.craigslist.org/lgi/bik/734574866.html
http://newyork.craigslist.org/que/bik/734558939.html

and these are the cheap ones.


and lastly, this one,two, three, four:

http://newyork.craigslist.org/brk/bik/734556179.html

I can't stop!

http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/bik/734476006.html

[michael white]

I'm torn between the Raleigh One Way and the Masi Speciale Commuter. All very pretty bikes!


I know, these bikes are really fun! I love it. The Masi has more of a roadbike geometry, btw; the Raleigh is based on cross geo from what I can see, if that matters. (BB height, etc.)

[Fixed]

this mrs fixed 's bike she carries a lot stuff art prof ,http://forums.thepaceline.net/showpost.php?p=552394&postcount=19

cheers :beer:

[Oirad]

IMHO, either get the rig off of Craigslist or go out and make the handsomest, bestest, coolest ride possible because if you're serious about commuting whether it is a few miles or 50 (round trip), it'll be the bike that you use most often. Now, if you have to leave it lying around chained to a fence post ... then a mechanically functioning beater will do the trick.

Oirad

[jhcakilmer]

That's what the rear rack was for doofus...
;)

yeah, but I never saw racks on it, or atleast I don't remember......I've had to reset my "hardrive" to free up space, I'm like an early desktop with 500 megs... :p

[paczki]

Spend the cash and have ANT make you a bike. He rules.

http://www.antbikemike.com/

[musgravecycles]

yeah, but I never saw racks on it, or atleast I don't remember......I've had to reset my "hardrive" to free up space, I'm like an early desktop with 500 megs... :p

Racks and fenders came after you skipped town...

[StefanZ]

I have been riding a Jamis Aurora for several years now. It is a great bike for the price. The frame is absolutely sweet. The chainstays are long so that you can put panniers on a rack. I can highly recommend the bike. PM with questions.
Best,
Stefan

[jbl]

I know, these bikes are really fun! I love it. The Masi has more of a roadbike geometry, btw; the Raleigh is based on cross geo from what I can see, if that matters. (BB height, etc.)

Yeah. The One-Way also has canti-posts. On the flip side, the Masi has all the requisite braze-ons if you eventually want to run it geared.

[caleb]

I like the style and looks of the Electra Amsterdam Classic, but I have never ridden one, and don't know how practical they really are.


Electra basically makes good looking crap. They work fine for someone who rides to the farmers' market a few times each summer, but they aren't for serious mileage or loads.

Someone mentioned the Jamis Aurora, and another mentioned the Kona Jake: both are very nice bikes for the money.

You'll be best served by a touring or cyclocross bike. If you keep an eye out, you'll be able to pick one up pretty reasonably.

Lots of good info to get you started here: http://www.bikeforums.net/forumdisplay.php?f=20

[bigman]

Sal :beer: sa Casseroll

[maunahaole]

I have a one way, but it has been modified with an albatross bar. Nice riding slow kind bike, it is a bit of a tank. It has rack bosses on the seat stays, if you want to mount a rack. I'm pretty sure the one way is a cross geo, the raleigh rush has more of the track/road geo.