Commuting Bikes

[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....

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.

[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:

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.