Spoiled!

[bikerHen]

My wonderful Ruby went flat on me this morning as I was leaving for work. So I pulled out my mtb bike/winter commuter for the ride to work. Now this bike is not the ideal commuter but has been good enough. But oh my gosh how I suffered through the ride. I know the Ruby is a much MUCH nicer ride but now I know how spoiled I have become.

I'm looking for a second bike. Primarily as a winter commuter and have settled on a cyclocross type bike. I also have the need for a "cheaper" ride to take places I would have to lock the bike up unattened. I won't period, lock the Ruby up any place I can't keep an eye on it!

I was thinking about going kinda custom with a cross bike, but then I'd have two pricey bike I would be very uneasy about locking up. So I've decided to go stock, but do I go low end thinking it may well be stolen at some point or have a more positive attitude and go middle of the road.

So am I just totally spoiled and want a good ride or do I just get the minimum and deal with it? bikerHen

[Starfish]

My thought is that if you spend a lot of time on the winter commuter, go as decent as your budget allows. You probably have an instinct for what amount of money you could lose to a theft and still be OK with it, deep down.

There is probably some number at which those two considerations meet (overall budget & the ceiling on what you could really stomach losing).

Maybe there is some decent quality, used bike that fits the bill.

[bikerHen]

Ride time is part of the problem. I don't spend as much time riding in the winter. It really depends on the weather. This last winter I only rode to work once or twice a week and no long weekend rides because of snow and ice. The winter before was very mild and I was able to do a lot of outdoor riding. I'm looking at a difference of about $400. between the low end and middle of the road. A more errand friendly bike would be a real bonus too.

"sigh" I don't know what to do!!!!! bikerHen

[Jiffer]

I know what you mean about being spoiled. I just got my first single. The first "real" one anyways. I had a basic cruiser for a little while for riding around with the kids, but the first time I tried to go on any sort of real ride to get real exercise .... was pretty much the last time. That was a couple of years ago.

DH and I got a tandem road bike last year and eventually I decided I was ready for my own real road bike. I feel completely spoiled with my beautiful Cannondale CAAD 9 with Dura Ace components, weighing in at 16.60. I LOVE IT!!! Part of me thinks I don't even know how great I have it since I've never had to struggle with anything else, but then again, there was that cruiser! And the 10 speed I had in high school in the 80's! So, maybe I DID pay my dues!

In regards to your question about your winter bike, I agree with Starfish in that you should spend as much as your budget allows. You know how wonderful it is to ride a really nice bike and you'll be more likely to get on it and enjoy it if you get the nicest one you can reasonably afford. The problem is, nobody can tell you what you can reasonably afford. I have no idea how big of a deal that extra $400 is to you right now. I don't want to tell you to spend that extra money and then find yourself without electricity because you couldn't afford your bill!

Well, I hope that was somehow helpful.

[KnottedYet]

I just traded my $400 Kona Dew (aluminum cyclocross geometry frame with flat bars) for a $900 Surly Cross Check (steel cyclocross with drop bars).

It was WAAAAAY beyond what I would normally even consider, but I just got a new job for a huge wage increase, and I fell in love with the Surly. Can't argue with bike love, eh?

Cyclocross geometry really seems to suit my bod and my riding style. (my other bike is a Waterford X-12 cyclocross) I'm very impressed with the quality of the Surly. But I was also impressed with the Kona Dew. I much prefer the feel of steel, and the bar end shifters are lovely, etc etc, and the Surly just feels right. Though in some ways I do miss the flat bars and the convenience of having all the controls right in one spot. (but if I really need to it's easy enough to switch bars with the bar-end shifters and such of the Surly) My hands and neck prefer drop bars over all.

If you have the chance to try either the $400 Kona Dew or the $900 Surly Cross Check, I highly recommend both. The price difference is pretty large, but I felt just fine on both of them. If I hadn't fallen madly in love with the Surly, I'd still be joyfully riding the Kona.