Commuter Purchase Dillema

[Melalvai]

1) How do you keep your commuting bike in good shape? I might be able to keep my bike inside while I work, but what about commuting to other places?

I am lucky that when the hospital (including the med school where my lab is) went no smoking, they converted the old smoking shelters into covered bike racks. At home I keep the bike in the garage.

Going places besides work, she just gets left out wherever the bike rack is. If it is raining, I tie a plastic grocery sack over the seat, protects the brooks leather saddle and also keeps my butt dry when I get back on the bike.

But in the winter, with the salt and sand on the roads, the drivetrain (chain & gears) requires a LOT of attention. My chain was constantly rusty this winter, sometimes I was cleaning it every night.

2) Did you replace the stock saddle on your commuter bike?

She's an old bike, 15 years, and I have replaced everything over the past two years except the frame, the fork and the stem. The saddle is one thing I'd strongly recommend spending money on. I begged my parents to give me a brooks saddle last year ($84).

3) Do you use clipless pedals on your commuter? I'm considering an spd/platform pedal (spd on one side, platform on the other).

I wanted to, but it was a low priority, and eventually I decided I'm glad I didn't get them. Maybe if some day I have 2 bikes, one for recreation and one for commuting, the road bike could have spd pedals. But the commuter bike just has toe straps, which means I only have to worry about one pair of shoes. Otherwise, I'd have to bring an extra pair of shoes to work, or keep a pair, and only wear clothes that matched the pair that lives at work, or something else complicated.

4) Is the maintenance cost for a commuter bike comparable to that of a road bike?

Like everyone else said so far, I don't know. I hope someone knows, I'm curious too.

I have learned to do a fair bit of the maintenance myself. Get yourself a good friend in the bike shop. I think most of the mechanics are really happy you take an interest and don't mind letting you use their stuff and showing you how to do it if they're not busy. Some places you might have to pay a fee but it would be worth it.

It is certainly far less than maintenance costs on a car.