New Commuter Bike

[WindingRoad]

So I've decided to take the plunge and get myself a different commuter bike. I can't stand the flat bars anymore they are absolutely killing me! Since it's a hybrid bike its not really too easy to just switch the bars around and it doesn't have mounts to add disk brakes, not to mention the thing weighs a TON. Soooooo..... here's what I have been thinking, feel free to make suggestions if you have seen something cool. This is the bike I'm thinking about though:

http://www.redlinebicycles.com/bikes...nquest-classic

I definitely want disk brakes. Hilly commutes have been eating my brake pads alive so those have got to go!

[indysteel]

Sweet, WR! Brian just got a Redline 29er from Indy Cycle Specialist on the eastside of Indy and is loving it. Comparably speced bikes were a lot more, so he's thrilled all the way around.

[Catrin]

Sweet! Of course you know I've a sweet spot for steel anyway, but that is a cool bike!

Are you commuting from 46th or elsewhere? I was just picturing the commute to myself and wasn't sure where you are starting from.

[indysteel]

I assume the "hilly" commute she's referring to is in Philly.

[Owlie]

Very nice!

[WindingRoad]

LOL yeah Indy, the Philly commute is the hilly one

Catrin, been taking 56th street trail to Lafayette road then through the neighborhoods to cross Michigan Rd. Its about a 17 mile commute each direction.

[Velocivixen]

I'm likely getting a Kona Honky Inc, which has mounts for fenders, racks. Has Avid BB7 disc brakes, steel chro-moly steel frame with carbon forks, Shimano 105 groupset with Ultegra rear derailleur. Runs about $1679 MSRP, but my local shop sells it for $1575. Not only that-it's pretty.

Good luck and have a great time. Let us know.

[WindingRoad]

I'm likely getting a Kona Honky Inc, which has mounts for fenders, racks. Has Avid BB7 disc brakes, steel chro-moly steel frame with carbon forks, Shimano 105 groupset with Ultegra rear derailleur. Runs about $1679 MSRP, but my local shop sells it for $1575. Not only that-it's pretty.

Good luck and have a great time. Let us know.

Oh my Velo, that bike is really awesome! I like the BB7 brakes and better components. Nice!

[Bike Chick]

Sweet! That's a great bike. I wish it came in my size

Does it have braze-ons for a rear rack and room for fenders? I can't tell from the pics.

[Melalvai]

I can't stand the flat bars anymore they are absolutely killing me!

You can get different kinds of handlebars. I put a trekking bar on mine. But I like the disc brakes--envy!

[Chicken Little]

That is beautiful. Get two!

[WindingRoad]

It does have all the requirements for rear and front rack and fenders :-) I was thinking of those polycarbonate fenders in silver for it. I'd like to keep the weight down in the case of stairs again. A guy I know has last years model and he said I could ride it. He really loves the one he has. He does lots of rain commuting too.

[Catrin]

I have SKS fenders on my LHT and they are quite light & quiet. They come in several colors I think. The version on my LHT are close to transparent which I like.

[WindingRoad]

So I opted to build up my own bike instead of going with the Redline. Gonna get a Civia Bryant frame; steel, accepts disk brakes, racks, fenders etc. My biggest dilemma has been what type of drivetrain to go with. Many people I know who commute say absolutely go with a triple, others swear by a compact. Some are saying use a mountain bike crank etc. So many combos it makes my head spin. I tried using some of the SRAM road components and I don't particularly care for that big hand movement you have to do to downshift. That doesn't seem like something I want to do in traffic or while loaded up with cargo. Maybe I'm just used to Shimano stuff and its just what I'm comfortable with. I am told SRAM shifts better under load which sounds good on paper but honestly by now I've learned to shift ahead of time so shifting under load hasn't been a problem. The shifters on my commuter now are pretty dumpster and I've made them work just fine so it would seem that if I did a 105 triple I would think I'm in heaven. I hope I don't drive myself insane obsessing over components to put on this thing. Its kinda driving me crazy but in a good way I am super excited about getting this thing built up. Anyone have any suggestions of rims??? I'm gonna go with Deore XT mountain hubs, been looking at DT Swiss tandem rims and Stan's ZTRs. I wasn't sure about how the Stan's were b/c they say they were for tubeless tires but that they could do tubes? I was wondering how bad they would be to get a tire on and off of that rim, anyone have insight into that one?