I want a commuter, but I have no idea where to start

After my crash on the Dolce last week I decided that I needed a dedicated commuter bike. Something where my tires won't fall into the train tracks :p I've been pouring through the threads here, seeing what everyone else is using, and it's all over the place. There seem to be some true road bikes that were converted to commuters, and then there are more touring style bikes. I think I'm leaning towards that. I know I want wider tires, I wouldn't mind being more upright, but I don't want the frame to weigh a ton.

I've always owned Specialized bikes, I like the way they seem to fit me. I've tried out Treks and was never crazy about them. I know I see Jamis and Kona mentioned a lot, but I've never riden either. There's a shop a few towns over that carries them, but I kind of feel bad about leaving my local LBS. They're good to me, and if you buy from them you get lifetime tune-ups. Plus they're around the corner so if I needed to drop it off I wouldn't have to go that far. I'm also not sure if I want a new bike or a used one. I don't want to spend a ton of money, probably $500-600, less if I can.

Obviously I know I should try out as many bikes as possible and choose the one that feels best. But what do you think about the LBS issue, or used vs new?

There's nothing sinful about going to a different LBS to try out bikes!

Walk in, say "I'm not buying a bike today, but I'd like to test ride some Jamis and Kona bikes. Do you have time to help me?"

Then they know right off the bat that you are not an instant sell, and their feelings won't be hurt if you walk out the door without buying anything.

You might like going to a second LBS, sharing the love is ok! I have a couple favorite LBS's, it's all good. If your favorite LBS is under obligation to Specialized or Trek, they might not be able to get you the bikes an independent shop would have, but you could always ask them to try.

If I needed a commuter, I would go for a cyclocross bike for sure. They seem to be the best if you want drop bars (which I would). Of the cyclocross bikes I've seen around the city, the Kona Jake looks marvellous and like it has an excellent component package for the price. A new one is in the $700 neighborhood, but maybe you can find an '07 or a lightly used one for less.

I don't think Specialized makes a tourer, and their cyclocross bike is way more expensive. Don't feel bad about trying another shop if your regular one just doesn't carry the brand you need.

I have no qualms about patronizing LBSs as long as I'm sharing the love. I suppose it does help that the place I like to take my bikes for work only sells special purpose bikes so unless I'm buying a recumbie or a tandem or something along those lines I'll never really buy a bike from them. I wouldn't feel too bad about seeing what other lines have to offer. Nothing says you always have to buy Specialized but you are kinda stuck if your LBS only has that line and you don't shop elsewhere. Consider branching out. Like KY said, tell them you're not going to buy anything today but definitely try a bunch of bikes.

I am a Kona owner. I tried the Jake but ended up with an '06 Kona Sutra which is their touring bike for about the price of a new Jake. I use this bike for everything, my metric centuries, my 15-mile one-way commute, rides on the crushed gravel towpath nearby. It has drops and wider tires and is everything I need. Kona's commuter is the Smoke and it looks like a beaut too!

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Originally Posted by KnottedYet

There's nothing sinful about going to a different LBS to try out bikes!

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Yep, there are lots of us who love one LBS yet whether for pure bike lust, or we're on vacation and "hey, the shop was there and nobody would ever know I went to another LBS" we try bikes at other shops.

I even bought a cheap used bike at another shop and brought it back to my main LBS for regular upgrades, upkeep. I picked another downtrodden bike up off the street and brought it in.

My regular shop has forgiven me. ;) :p :rolleyes: Right, Chris?

Hi - I also have been researching commuters for awhile now. For me, I think I'll go with the Surly Cross Check. Here's why: it comes in smallish frames, but maintains the 700cc tires. A complete brand new bike is around $850 (I know that's a bit more than you mentioned, but...). It's tough as nails that bike. It is a great commuter, and you can use it for touring too. The only thing I'm not really crazy about is that the shifters are down on the drops, but I figure I'll get used to it. It is a cyclocross bike with wider rims than the road bikes and a double in front. The gearing ratios are good for me - I live in the rockys and (needless to say), there are TONS of hills. Nonetheless the gearing is pretty good. It's a chromolly frame which I like better than aluminum for commuting (dampens the bumps), as do the beefier tires. So, that's my opinion... the bikes are a bit hard to come by. You need to go to the Surly web page and look up your state and they have the LBS listed that sell them... Good luck!

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Originally Posted by NoNo

There's a shop a few towns over that carries them, but I kind of feel bad about leaving my local LBS. They're good to me, and if you buy from them you get lifetime tune-ups.

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Your LBS may be able to order in other brands. Try the other brands and if you find something other than a Specialized, check and see if they can get it for you. That way you can stay with them and continue to get excellent service.

I have a cross check and LOVE it! If I were starting from scratch and buying a commuter, I would probably either buy a cross bike or a touring bike (also made to carry stuff, and has wider rims, etc.). I love my Trek 520.

Another bike to look at (since you have a Jamis dealer) is the Aurora. It's "MSRP" is $865, but you may be able to find one for less. Not sure if your preferred shop could get it or not. I do know that all shops can get Surly bikes, so that may be a consideration - the Long Haul Trucker is nice too:)

Good luck!

CA

Thanks for all the great advice. Good to know I'm not the only person who's thought of "cheating" on their LBS :p Ideally, I'd be able to try out bikes at other shops and my place would order something if I really wanted it, but I haven't checked with them yet.

Wider tires and lots of gears are definitely pluses :D

parallel train tracks can get almost any bike though. I am riding on 25mm tires, i want wider ones, but i have never fallen on train tracks, and i pass over them every single day. You just have to be careful. I know that Dolce is a sweet bike. Although I applaud your choice of a Surly Crosscheck, I don't want you to think it will be "traintrack proof"

Really good point, Mimi. And one that even the most experienced cyclists seem to occasionally forget:cool:

um... there is a 52 cm cross check frame on ebay right now... it actually looks REALLY nice (I'm drooling), but I haven't saved appropriately yet. I thought I would pass the super nice frame on to you all in case anyone is interested...http://cgi.ebay.com/Surly-Cross-Chec...QQcmdZViewItem

Too large for me (I'm 5'1") and I'd have to get all the components still. Very pretty, though:cool:

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Originally Posted by ginny

It is a cyclocross bike with wider rims than the road bikes and a double in front. The gearing ratios are good for me - I live in the rockys and (needless to say), there are TONS of hills. Nonetheless the gearing is pretty good. It's a chromolly frame which I like better than aluminum for commuting (dampens the bumps), as do the beefier tires. So, that's my opinion... the bikes are a bit hard to come by. You need to go to the Surly web page and look up your state and they have the LBS listed that sell them... Good luck!

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For $19 I added a third chainring to my Cross Check. Now she's a triple. If you find the gearing isn't working for you on your hills, consider adding a ring up front. (the spider has recievers, and the bar-cons can take the 3rd ring no problem!)

If the problem is mostly that the tires on your Dolce are too skinny, why not just get another set of wheels and mount fatter commuter tires? Should be a heck of a lot cheaper than a whole 'nother bike.

That being said, I bought a 'cross frameset (LeMond Poprad) & built it up for commuting. I didn't want a slow bike with a long wheelbase, but something that was snappy like my road bike, but that had mounts for a rack & that I would put more gears on vs. my regular road bike.

I have some serious holes and gravel on my commute and I found the TranSend by Giant to be a good commuter. It's technically a hybrid but it doesn't have the heavy shock on the front. Comes with rack, fenders and ergo grips which really rock. Only drawback is the components aren't the best but you could upgrade them. I'm a roadie and surprisingly I really like this bike, it's fun to ride. :)

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Originally Posted by ilima

If the problem is mostly that the tires on your Dolce are too skinny, why not just get another set of wheels and mount fatter commuter tires? Should be a heck of a lot cheaper than a whole 'nother bike.

That being said, I bought a 'cross frameset (LeMond Poprad) & built it up for commuting. I didn't want a slow bike with a long wheelbase, but something that was snappy like my road bike, but that had mounts for a rack & that I would put more gears on vs. my regular road bike.

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Well the skinny tires led to the crash which led to me thinking maybe I shouldn't be using my nice road bike for commuting:p I want something that I'm not afraid of beating up a little and has a better set up for commuting. Wider tires are just a part of that equation. Your bike sounds like a good solution and a lot like what I'm looking for. I don't want a big, heavy bike, it needs to take racks, and I need to be able to get up hills while I'm carrying stuff. I'll have to look that one up, thanks!

Oooh, this looks nice!
2001 Bianchi Eros Donna

Only problem is it ends Sunday and a) I'm going to a picnic that day, and b) I don't even have internet at home. It would drive me nuts if the winning bid was only like $50 over my max.

If you're 5' the Poprad won't come small enough. Another poster mentioned the Surly CrossCheck, which does come in smaller sizes. Steel, like a commuter should be!

Cyclocross bikes come with frames & forks that allow clearance for bigger tires & fenders. Some, like the CrossCheck have eyelets for racks, etc.

I put a bid on that Bianchi. It's steel and has eyelets, which is good enough for me. I could get some wider tires to throw on it, and be good to go, hopefully without too much damage to my pocketbook:rolleyes:

Edit: it would also appear to be in my size, which helps, too. Plus it gives me that "Ooooooooooh!" feeling when I look at it :D