City Commuter

[obie]

I commute on a Specialized Hard Rock from 1994, with rack and fenders and slicks. It has front shocks which I like. It's a really bombproof bike for city-riding, and I see a lot of others around and they have a good reputation for being indestructible. So if you're going used, look for early/mid 90s Specialized bikes - they were still steel then.

For new bikes, I've been recommending the Specialized Sirrus a lotfor urban commuting. It's light in case you have to bring it upstairs!

I have a cross bike which I've considered commuting on, but I'm too lazy to add fenders to it SDER

[MuttNut]

Yes- I will definitely be hauling this bike upstairs! Thanks for bringing that up, a very good point. I'm excited, as soon as I get my bonus from work I'll begin bike shopping/scouring craigslist in earnest.

[kfergos]

I commute on a Specialized Hard Rock from 1994, with rack and fenders and slicks. It has front shocks which I like. It's a really bombproof bike for city-riding, and I see a lot of others around and they have a good reputation for being indestructible. So if you're going used, look for early/mid 90s Specialized bikes - they were still steel then.

I have a cross bike which I've considered commuting on, but I'm too lazy to add fenders to it SDER

Ohmygoodness, you just described almost my exact commuting bike situation, only my Hard Rock is from like 2000, and it's an aluminum frame. That thing is a beast to haul up stairs, though. I even have the cross bike, but I did put fenders on it and use it in the summer.

Let me contribute my own anecdotal evidence the indestructible thing. I rode my Hard Rock all winter last winter in Massachusetts, never once wiping off the road crud, cleaning the chain, or otherwise maintaining it. I left it outside (covered) every day. It has a few little corrosion spots, but otherwise, it's in great shape. Amazing.

[bruiser]

My BF has the Globe and loved it (he has since switched to a fixed gear for his commutes). If you have to lug stuff around and aren't interested in it being attached to your body, the Globe is a great set-up for a rear rack.

I switched from a traditional road bike with drops to one with arc bars. I like that it retains the lightness of a road bike, but isn't quite as aggressive. I can still go super fast, but I have slightly better traffic awareness since I'm more vertical.

If you want to go fast and are used to a road bike, a mtb might not make you happy. I feel like a sluuuuug when I ride one on the streets, and you might benefit from thinner wheels. Try looking at some different bar combos on your road frame, And maybe some cyclocross tires if you want the knobbies.

[MuttNut]

After weeks of test riding, checking reviews online, etc. I finally ordered a Breezer Villager! It should get in sometime next week. I can't wait- thanks for all the help and advice!

[Geonz]

If you can, pictures when it gets here

I'm gonig to be testing a folder soon. Three (working) bikes is not enough!

[Crankin]

I must be a weakling; after riding my Jamis Coda twice (the last time for 20 miles), I have determined that I will not use it to commute this spring. It just feels SO heavy. I love the fit, but I am afraid it will add an extra half hour onto my commute that is about 14 and half miles. Last spring the ride took me about 56-58 minutes at a decent pace on my road bike (but not super fast). I don't average much over 12 on the Coda. It's perfect for toodling around town and it will get good use for that.

[Geonz]

Hmmm.... make sure it's not somethign you can adjust for - like tire pressure. But I know what you mean!

[tulip]

I must be a weakling; after riding my Jamis Coda twice (the last time for 20 miles), I have determined that I will not use it to commute this spring. It just feels SO heavy. I love the fit, but I am afraid it will add an extra half hour onto my commute that is about 14 and half miles. Last spring the ride took me about 56-58 minutes at a decent pace on my road bike (but not super fast). I don't average much over 12 on the Coda. It's perfect for toodling around town and it will get good use for that.

This is very surprising. The Coda is not a heavy bike. Check tire pressure as suggested, and for rubbing brake pads.

When you did the ride on your road bike, did you actually do the commute during the week (with traffic, etc.) or on a weekend with no traffic? Are you in the same strong shape now as you were last spring? My overall speed on commutes is lower than when I'm riding my road bike on back country roads. There are lights and traffic and all sorts of urban happenings on the commute.

I don't know how urban your commute is, but I had a commute of the same distance as you for five years through Washington, DC. When I first started, I was slow, then I got stronger and faster, then I got a new bike (the Coda--upgraded from 1980s mountain bike) and got faster still. I got it down to about 1 hour 10 minutes, which doesn't look good on the computer but I can't synchro the traffic lights. There's only so much speed to be gained on an urban commute. It was still faster than the Metro, and often faster than the car (when I take into account the 4 times a day I had to move the car to avoid getting a parking ticket).