Commuting Bikes

[surgtech1956]

Question for the commuters, do you have a bike you just use for commuting? I want to start commuting to work in the spring and don't know if I want to ride a brand new bike to work and leave it locked to a bike rack.

[Tri Girl]

I use my road bike. It's not anything fancy (a 2005 Giant OCR1). I'm lucky that I can take it in my classroom and not have to leave it locked outside all alone. I'd be nervous taking a brand new bike and leaving it locked outside all day. Maybe you could snag an old steel frame or older aluminum bike on craigslist or eBay and use that as your commuter.
BUT... this advice is coming from someone who doesn't trust people to not mess with my things. I'm protective of my toys.

[Brandy]

I commute on a fixed gear bike that I also use for training. Thankfully I am able to bring it into the office.

[Dianyla]

Yes. I bought an old used bike and kitted it out fully with lights, fenders, and racks for panniers. Makes the whole thing a bit heavy, but I worry a lot less about theft and general wear & tear (especially in cruddy weather).

My fun racy bike is so amazingly light and fast when I take her out for a Sunday ride.

[7rider]

Question for the commuters, do you have a bike you just use for commuting? I want to start commuting to work in the spring and don't know if I want to ride a brand new bike to work and leave it locked to a bike rack.

I do have a bike that I bought new for commuting. It's a 2005 flat bar road bike, a Felt SR-81, outfitted with a rack, panniers, and lights (in season). I wanted something upright, comfortable, dependable, and speedy. I leave it locked to a rack in a (somewhat) guarded parking garage, so it's pretty safe, although I take computers, lights and stuff off the bike in the a.m. I didn't buy top-of-the-line for my commuter, but I bought mid-grade. I guess it really depends on how safe your parking area is and what your situation is for riding.

[KnottedYet]

I use my Surly Cross Check, and keep it in the staff room at work.

This bike gets used for everything, but it's main purpose is commuting. (Mustache bars, BMX pedals, rack, panniers, lights, fenders, etc)

[Jenerator]

I use one bike, fixed Surly Steamroller, for commuting and everything else. Cross tires in the winter and skinny tires in the summer. I'm lucky enough to park it in my cube, but wouldn't worry too much if I had to lock it up outside.
I used to commute on my old mtn bike. No qualms about leaving it outside.

[bikerHen]

My commuter is my Surly LHT that I bought last summer. It's perfect for commuting and just about everything else. I've got it weighed down with the usual lights, fenders and bags and studded tires as well. :eek: It seems like it weighs a ton. I haul it up a flight of stairs everyday to keep it safe and sound with me. It's also my errand bike that I do lock up outside and unattended from time to time. It replaces my fast, fancy and expensive road bike which I rarely let out of sight when I'm riding it. I have even been known to take it into the bathroom with me! :rolleyes: bikerHen

Of course commuting is only a distant memory. :( The snow is starting to be measured in feet, not inches, for the first time in at least three years. :eek: Even if I could find a bike lane, no way I'm going out there with the slipping and sliding cars!

[tulip]

I bought my Jamis Coda for commuting several years ago, but I was only commuting at the time. I bought a road bike later for longer rides, but I rarely used it for commuting. My tri-state commute took me through Maryland, Washington DC, and Virginia, 14 miles each way, with a mix of horrible pot-holed urban gritty streets and smooth MUPs. My Jamis took it all with grace, style, and elegance, although I was much less so in my hi-viz yellow and orange triangles!

EDIT: My office has an indoor bike rack in the lobby, which was fantastic. I work from home now, so I no longer commute, but I do use the Jamis for errands and exploring-the-city rides

[Trek420]

I have commuted with my road bike but now mostly use a GT Outpost trail.

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=8295

The GT has more lights, handlebar bag with convenient BART ticket pocket, fatter tires. Sure it's heavier but very fun and since it's heavy that's good for my training.

Either way I'd never leave my bike outside. There are bike racks outside the office but my bike stays next to my desk in a little slot safely away from office foot traffic. So it does not get in anyones way.

[RoadRaven]

I commute on my road race bikes (a choice of two).

I would like to get a "commute" bike and pop pannier bags on it so it can carry my diary, wallet etc - I really dislike biking with a back pack on.

[DirtDiva]

You could get a seatpost-mounted rack. Or you could pick something up off Trade Me and fix it up a bit. :)

[Geonz]

I have two bikes for commuting; a Dutch Gazelle and the ultimate Sport Utility Bicycle: http://probicycle.com/uticyclist/sj_xtracycle_s.jpg
(yes, that's me ) .

I would not want to ride somethign nice and new and leave it out, even here where I've accidentally forgotten to lock my bike a time or two, much less most places where it's just too easy to vandalize or make off wtih it (at the University here bike vandalism is rampant :( :( )

[Jenerator]

I have all sorts of good intentions to convert the old mtn bike/commuter into the ultimate SUB, but I'd probably only commute on it when I had some other hauling errand to accomplish. I'd have to lock it up outside too, as my cube is too small for the extended wheelbase....:mad:

[farrellcollie]

I use my raleigh hybrid to commute - it has lights, rack fenders and is the bike I like to use on city streets with a lot of debris and potholes. I keep it in my office. I sometimes ride my roadbike to work but only if I have nothing to carry and am not biking after dark.

[indigoiis]

You could get a seatpost-mounted rack. Or you could pick something up off Trade Me and fix it up a bit. :)

I have a seatpost rack I will not be using, brand new (well, I bought it in October) that I am willing to trade or sell for less than I got it for, not including shipping.

[lauren.warnecke]

On where you live, I guess. I use a nice bike for commuting because it's the only bike I have right now and I like to be comfortable even when commuting. You could get a crappy bike to ride and be safe and in pain, or not. If you have some place indoors near you that you can store it go for it. If not, don't. I can't stand seeing those guys rolling shopping carts of nice bikes down the road that you know they ripped off at a college campus bike rack...

[northstar]

When I commute to work out in the burbs, I take my road bike, which I keep locked up in my classroom all day.

When I commute to appointments or meetings downtown (about a 5 mile trip) I take my 1978 Schwinn Suburban. It's a 10 speed with skinny tires and fenders, and I have a rack and panniers on it.

I don't like riding with a backpack, either. LOOOVE my panniers. My next bike will likely be steel with more of a touring setup. (But I'm sure it will be too darn pretty for me to feel comfortable just locking it up downtown...the Schwinn will still have its place!)

[Geonz]

I have all sorts of good intentions to convert the old mtn bike/commuter into the ultimate SUB, but I'd probably only commute on it when I had some other hauling errand to accomplish. I'd have to lock it up outside too, as my cube is too small for the extended wheelbase....:mad:

are you sure? It's not *that* much longer...

[Melalvai]

My next bike will be a commuter bike. I'll keep my old one around for really nasty roads and as a backup bike.

My next bike after that will be two racing bikes--one for me and one for my husband.

My next bike after that will be a Rhoades car. :D

[Jenerator]

are you sure? It's not *that* much longer...

With all the other stuff I have in it, it's a small cube. Regular bike barely fits. An Xtracycle would be overkill for my commute anyway. I don't need to haul much to or from work. I'd use the xtracycle more for shopping & errands on weekends.

[Crankin]

Anyone here ride a Jamis Coda? I am thinking of getting one for commuting/errands. Right now I have a Voodoo mountain bike for commuting and it is just too heavy and slow. Actually, I only use it for errands or trips of not more than 10 miles. When I commuted to work last spring, I used my road bike and I hate riding with a backpack. I will be working at the same place temporarily this spring and I really want to commute at least one day a week. The Jamis is the only thing I can find that's woman specific and has really low gearing (I live on a big hill), and has sizes for small people.

[KnottedYet]

Trek420 was having a lovely time riding around on a 42 cm Surly Long Haul Trucker. She's little, and so was the bike. You can load those critters up and they are *steel* too. www.surlybikes.com/lht_comp.html Nice triple.

[Trek420]

Full report here: :D

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=17451

[Crankin]

I read the thread on the LHT. I had been looking at Surly, but was thinking more along the lines of the Cross Check. But the LHT looks good. How much do these suckers cost? I can't easily f ind the price for the whole bike, only the frame.
I will have to go over to Harris Cyclery and see if they can get one of these. It seems like it would take a long time, and I probably wouldn't have it for the end of April.

[KnottedYet]

My Cross Check was about $900. (complete bike)
The LHT we took out for a test ride was about $1200. (complete bike)

My two favorite LBS keep Surlies in stock. They don't do big model switches at the end of the year, so I'd be surprised if you couldn't get one before April. And since Surly *is* QBP, I'm sure Harris could get a complete CC or LHT as easily and quickly as my LBS. Look at those beauties... http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/surly.html Remind me I don't need another bike, please!

These are the complete Surlies: http://www.surlybikes.com/bikes.html My LBSs carry the CC and the LHT. I haven't seen a Steamroller at either yet, but I think the market here is more for bikes with a wide range of gears.

[7rider]

Anyone here ride a Jamis Coda? I am thinking of getting one for commuting/errands. Right now I have a Voodoo mountain bike for commuting and it is just too heavy and slow. Actually, I only use it for errands or trips of not more than 10 miles. When I commuted to work last spring, I used my road bike and I hate riding with a backpack. I will be working at the same place temporarily this spring and I really want to commute at least one day a week. The Jamis is the only thing I can find that's woman specific and has really low gearing (I live on a big hill), and has sizes for small people.

MDHillSlug has a Jamis Coda. Don't know if she's monitoring this thread, but I believe she's quite happy with it for fit and function. She'd been knocked out of bike commuting due to a knee issue, but you could PM her for some specifics.

[tulip]

Anyone here ride a Jamis Coda? I am thinking of getting one for commuting/errands. Right now I have a Voodoo mountain bike for commuting and it is just too heavy and slow. Actually, I only use it for errands or trips of not more than 10 miles. When I commuted to work last spring, I used my road bike and I hate riding with a backpack. I will be working at the same place temporarily this spring and I really want to commute at least one day a week. The Jamis is the only thing I can find that's woman specific and has really low gearing (I live on a big hill), and has sizes for small people.

Yes, I LOVE my Jamis Coda Comp (I bought it in 2003). It's so comfortable, a steel frame, and very nimble and quick. When I bought my Coda, I cut 10 minutes off my commute from my 1986 Specialized Stumpjumper the first day!

Has Jamis introduced a WSD Coda in the last year or so? It would be good for smaller folks, or folks with shorter torsos (like me). The top tube of my Jamis is longer than my Luna road bike; it's noticable but not uncomfortable.

[HillSlugger]

Hi, I just found this thread!

I bought a Jamis Coda Comp in June and sprained my ankle in a 5k race two days later. I've used it sparingly so far and haven't yet commuted on it, but I've ridden it through downtown DC on two biking tours and also on some of my typical road rides (and one mtb ride). It's an excellent value with do-anything gearing. I can't wait for the weather to warm up so that I can actually commute on it!

[Crankin]

Thanks! While the Surly is nice, it's more than my budget will allow. After all, I already have 3 bikes (though I am going to give the Voodoo to my son). Perhaps this weekend I will look at the Jamis.

[mountainchick]

I commute on my road bike (Specialized Allez) but that's because my commute is 30 miles each way and very hilly.

I drive/train it one day a week to take clothes to work, and carry a mini backpack when I ride.

[kfergos]

In the summer I commute on a LeMond Poprad disc with fenders and front/rear lights on it. Nice and tough but also light and speedy enough for longer rides.

In the winter, when I don't want my pretty bike splattered with salt/sand/gunk, I ride a modified Specialized Hardrock with studded tires, fenders, a rack, and of course, my Down Low Glow (plus other front and rear lights). I put drop handlebars on it since I don't like to mtb. It's like a very big, slow road bike now.

[Crankin]

I bought the Jamis Coda Femme bike today; it will arrive in the shop in 3 days. A very easy decision. I got some cool fenders and a rack, too. My husband got the Coda Sport, which has a little better components (his commute is longer). They gave us $50.00 off of the price of both.
I also will be riding this during the winter, when the streets are full of sand. Well, in the winter when it is above 38-40 degrees. I am a weather wimp.

[HillSlugger]

Congrats on the new Coda! We want pictures!

[Crankin]

Will post the pictures sometime next week; I'm leaving for a x country ski vacation in northern Vermont on Monday and won't pick up the bike until the 28t or 29th.