Commuting

[Brandy]

I have a friend who is interested in commuting to work, 14 miles each way. She's asking for tips on what kind of bike to buy (under $1000) and I know nothing about bikes except for my Trek 1000 WSD.

Is there a difference between a road bike and a commuter? Anything else I should tell her about commuting?

[KnottedYet]

All I can tell you is what I ride for commuting.

I have a Kona Dew (which I'm sure everyone is tired of hearing about by now!) with Speedplay Frog pedals and a Brooks B67 seat. It is (as the LBS described it) based on a cyclocross bike, but with upright bars.

I like it for my commute because it has sturdier tires than a road bike. I am a complete dingbat when I ride, and I routinely run over stuff I shouldn't. It has a HUGE granny gear (34 teeth) to get me through the hills. I've got a rack on it and el cheapo panniers. It's a bit faster than a mtn bike, with a bit more of a road geometry than a hybrid bike. With upright bars I can see around me well and feel like I can "hop" the bike if needed, but I'm starting to feel limited by the bars on my longer fun rides.

It cost $400. If it got stolen while I was in the grocery store, I'd be distraught, but not ruined. It has the same frame as the nicer Konas, but cheaper components. The folks at LBS told me the frame is "bombproof" and I can upgrade parts as needed.

It suits my needs and my commuting terrain and commute riding style.

Edit: oops, I forgot to plug my favorite commuter bike book! The Essential Bicycle Commuter by Trudy E. Bell. I repeatedly check this one out from the library. And I always return it late...

[Brandy]

Thanks KY, I'll steer her in the direction of that book! She lives up in Santa Rosa and said that a big chunk of her commute would be on this trail. http://www.sonoma-county.org/parks/pk_westc.htm

[HipGnosis6]

I spent about $600 last year on a Specialized Sirrus with the intent of commuting, which I did for five months. A change in my commute happened, and six months later I'm just now figuring out how to get my bike back on the commuter run.

It's a great bike for commuting, though. Narrow but not too narrow tires, flat bars, easy to shift and handles well. It's got a semi-upright position from the flat bars, which makes surveying the road for commuting more comfortable than when stretched out on a road bike (and may or may not make a body on a bike more visible to traffic) but still maintains an aggressive enough riding position to make it comfortable at moderate speeds. It's a little on the heavy side.

I'd highly reccomend fenders and lights for ANY commuter, no matter what bike they ride. And I've been glad of a rear rack and cargo net which has allowed me to shop and bring home my loot comfortably!

[DebW]

With a 14 mile ride each way, I'd say the lightest road bike she can get for the price she's willing to pay. Depends on whether it's city or rural or suburban riding and whether she really plans to ride through any weather. I have a 13 mile commute on suburban roads (the same roads the roadies take their weekend rides on), so my commute is more like a medium fast training ride with a fanny pack carrying my lunch and work essentials. Something that can take a rack for paniers is a plus, but only essential is she carries alot each day. Fenders only essential if she rides in rain regularly. Lights can be mounted on any bike. I wouldn't use upright bars for a this length commute unless it was mostly city riding. The faster she covers the 14 miles, the more likely the commute will be an acceptable ride, imo. Think of checking the clock every morning and saying "If I leave now by bike I get to work at x:xx, if I leave now by car I get to work at y:yy." It's a decision every morning that will favor biking more often if x:xx is not too much later than y:yy. And if the biking is FUN.

[Geonz]

What does she need? Does she need cargo space either for getting to & fro, or for other trips she might want to take? http://www.xtracycle.com/images/images_big/townie-7d.jpg

(Picture of the also you-must-be-tired-of-hearing-about Xtracycle :-)) http://www.xtracycle.com/complete-subs-c-5.html Where's she going to park it? How's the security?

Is she thinking of riding all the time or just when weather's fair?

I did a *lot* of fun commuting (but only 7 mi one way) on a Schwinn I got from e-bay that cost me less than $200 including shipping and getting it overhauled (winning bid was $32). It's not a lure for thieves (but if she can stick it in an office somewhere that's not an issue) and it's got big fenders and big tires and drivers feel sorry for me... I can put all kinds of stuff in the baskets (usually a beer can to rattle around to announce myself).

Will she be doing any other kinds of riding - does she already have something in her stable? Has she been riding already and is pre-addicted, or would a poor choice turn her off forever?

[tulip]

My commute is 14 miles each way. My bike is a Jamis Coda Comp. It's a flat-bar road bike, steel, and is very comfortable. I added bar ends on it, which adds options for hand positions.

I have a rear rack and I use panniers. I have used a backpack and messenger bag, but I find them very uncomfortable, especially for a ride 14 miles.

I have a rear blinkie light (Cateye T-1000, very bright) and a good headlight (Nite Rider Trail Rat). I wear obnoxiously-bright shirts from alertshirts.com. I have fenders installed on my bike, but I ride in the rain. That's a personal choice, and from my experience, not many folks ride in the rain. For snow and ice, I have studded tires (different bike that is my icebike)

I would consider the Coda because of it's smooth ride (steel is much smoother-riding than aluminum). The bike has been no trouble to me in the four years that I have been commuting on it.

I would also consider a cyclocross bike with a rack and lights and such. Cyclocross bikes have dropped bars, but beefier wheels and tires. I would not ride my light racing bike because there are too many potholes and bumps and I know I would get too many flats on my 700x23 wheels. The Coda has 700x28 wheels. Besides, it's the rider who makes the bike fast...not the bike.

For me, biking to work is fastest. Faster than Metro (subway) by about 20 minutes. Faster than the car by about 10 minutes, depending on traffic. Traffic is a problem in the car, but never on the bike. Parking is a problem with the car, but never with the bike. Gas prices...I was commuting on my bike long before the gas prices went up, and I'm oh-so-glad.

The last thing that makes a huge difference is having a shower and a secure indoor place to put my bike. My employer is just great for providing these amenities.

[Brandy]

Thanks everyone. She works at a firestation (lucky, lucky girl) so there is definitely room in there for her to secure her bike. I will direct her to this thread!

[Trek420]

Brandy "a big chunk of her commute would be on this trail...."

oooooh, lucky gal. I was just up there visiting my Mom and we drove by the trail. I was born and raised in Santa Rosa (well, ok born at Kaiser in Vallejo but went right home) and never rode that trail. It looks pretty, I have to do that sometime.

[betagirl]

Hi

I commute about 9-12 miles each way, depending if I have school or have to go to work. I use my '03 Trek 1200 road bike to commute, and it's fine. I do live in Chicago, so it's all street riding. I did have a string of 3 flats in a week, so I upgraded my rear tire to kevlar. I have a continental ultra gatorskin on the front. I also put on a fender so I don't get the mud streak when it rains. Other than that, I carry what I need for the bike and day in my freakin' sweet Timbuk2 medium messenger bag. I started commuting about 6 weeks ago, and love it. I ride rain or shine.

[Triskeliongirl]

I commute on an older terry classic touring bike with drop handlebars. I use a rear rack and have a briefcase pannier for my laptop, etc., and a handlebar bag for my lunch, purse, and flat kit. I used to use 25mm wide tires, but got too many flats on the rear wheel, so put a kevlar belted 32 mm wide tire on the rear only, and haven't flatted yet. She is not as light as my racing bike, but I worry less about theft and I like that she can carry stuff and handle road trash. I agree with the suggestion that she is better off with a drop bar road bike that is as light as possible, and still does what she needs it to. She should try to get a good road bike on ebay or craig's list to get more bang for her buck.