Yippeee!! I got a commuter

[Aggie_Ama]

DH and I went shopping for his dedicated commuter today but I found mine instead. The shop had a 2007 KHS Flite 300 on sale for $579. It was perfect price and bike, I wanted a low end road bike that would accept a rear rack and be under $600. Total with tax, new Crank Brothers Smart pedals and bottle cages was $670. Now I just have to decide which Basil panniers she gets.

[bounceswoosh]

Nice! Congrats!

[KnottedYet]

Congratulations! Very nice! And Basil panniers will look great on her!

[Tri Girl]

Congrats on your new commuter! Pretty bike. Those Basil's will look fab-u-lous on her! You must post pictures when you get them on.

[Melalvai]

Now I just have to decide which Basil panniers she gets.

Then you'll want fenders, and a brooks saddle, and lights, and a rain suit, and...
I've been wondering for the past year if I will ever make it through my list in my lifetime.

[F8th637]

I'm with Melalvai on this one. Congrats! She looks like a beauty!

[Aggie_Ama]

Then you'll want fenders, and a brooks saddle, and lights, and a rain suit, and...
I've been wondering for the past year if I will ever make it through my list in my lifetime.

Maybe fenders, but I will not be doing much rain commuting. Texas has terrible thunderstorms (think hail, funnel clouds, etc) plus the WORST drivers ever in the rain. I have lights and yes that saddle may be gone first week. It also has 42 cm handlebars and I normally ride 38 cm. The shop didn't have anything smaller than 42 so he said try them out and give him a call to order if I hate them and he will swap them. They feel different but I am not sure I will swap them, these actually have room for lights and a computer.

[Melalvai]

Maybe fenders, but I will not be doing much rain commuting.

Famous last words.
Right up there with "I will not ride if the temperature is below 25*F."
Did I say 25? I meant 20. Er, make that 10. Aw heck, who needs all 10 toes.

[Aggie_Ama]

I took her out for a spin today just to remind myself how to ride the Crank Brothers, I haven't been on my mountain bike (same cleat system) in ages. This bike does not have as good of components as my primary bike but the shifting was relatively good. Not as crisp but good enough.

I do have one problem with the front wheel rubbing. I just put the wheel from my Cannondale on it for now, I need to take it to the shop to have it checked out. I didn't notice when I test rode it since the shop is on a busy highway and I couldn't hear the rubbing noise.

I am not going to do the Basil Panniers at this time. My main reason is I hate not being able to see what I am getting and no bike shops have them here. I bought a rack and the Novara Daisy Rear Rack at REI today. The rack is pretty slick but once I loaded it my bike is HEAVY!!! I am a bit nervous about tomorrow's commute with a load.

[Aggie_Ama]

Her name is Hilda....



This morning's ride was not slow and it was nice not to have the fatigue of carrying a back pack. We also only hit one light out of ten!

[PscyclePath]

I did right about the same thing the week before last... I went for the Euro-style city bike, though...



Yehuda Moon ought to be proud... now all i need is one of those rain capes ;-)

Tom

[coyote]

Nice bike! Congrats on the commuter. I love having a rack. I'm not sure I can even ride a bike with a backpack on

[Aggie_Ama]

I did right about the same thing the week before last... I went for the Euro-style city bike, though...


Tom

I would rather have a bike like yours but thought my 12-28 mile commute would be better on a road bike. My co-worker wants to get a bike for a 2 mile commute, maybe I can live vicariously through her!

[sgtiger]

Congrats, Aggie_Ama and PscyclePath! Your commuters are lovely.

[withm]

I did right about the same thing the week before last... I went for the Euro-style city bike, though...



Yehuda Moon ought to be proud... now all i need is one of those rain capes ;-)

Tom

Beautiful bike Tom. What is it?

My commute is 14miles 1 way - I've been using my Portland (more road bike style but with rack, fenders, drop bars, and disc brakes) which seems to be the perfect bike for the job. Oh, and I really like riding it too.

Martha