New Commuting Bike Suggestions?

[Velocivixen]

I have a 2011 Trek FX 7.3 that is a hybrid with flat handlebars. Their FX is their most popular platform and it can be used as a commuter bike, fitness bike, leisure bike, etc. I put on fenders, a kickstand and a rear rack, along with lights, a loud bell and a computer. It has 700 x 32 tires, so thin but not as thin as a formal road bike. I am in a bent over position, but not nearly as much as I would be on a true road bike. It cost around $750 without all the accessories. If you want disc brakes you can get those for $100 more.
Good luck and let us know what you decide.
Have you thought about 2010 close out models?

[alice]

I'm glad to be hearing good things about the Trek FX series. I rode the 7.3 yesterday, and I liked it quite a bit; a surprising number of people at the shop I was at have one and love it, so that sounds like good sign.

As to the future of my research, I have a LBS building a Jamis Coda for me that I'll be able to try next week, and I'm going out this weekend to look for a Specialized Sirrus or a Vita.

I mentioned in my first post the Giant Escape City W; it seems like it's a little bit out of the league of some of the bikes I'm trying out now, but does anyone have any experience with it?

I consider fenders/rack indispensable accessories as well (and not related to my price range). Everything else I already have.

Thanks everyone for the helpful advice! It's nice to find a community of people so willing to be nice/constructively helpful.

[muddysmudge]

I use my WS Scott hardtail mtb for commuting. I put road tyres and mudguards (fenders?) on it, and locked the front suspension 'off'. And spd pedals too. A set of good lights and I was ready to go. I don't like the idea of panniers as I'd only fill them with junk and make the bike even heavier, so I use a backpack.

I love it as it's bulletproof and as such ideally suited for commuting in London, as the roads aren't great and I can bump it up and down kerbs if I need to to get out of the traffic And...the brakes work!! You cant beat hydraulic brakes for commuting in traffic! I'm much happier on my mtb, thats my favourite type of bike.

I can't imagine using drop bars on a commute (although there are plenty that do, I'm in the minority on my mtb!) as I prefer the upright position with greater visibility and control of the bike. I'm pretty convinced that I'd ruin my road bike very quickly if I used it for commuting, and I simply don't have the confidence to use it in lots of traffic.

The specialized sirrus is a very popular commuter bike over here. A lot of people also use 'fixies', single speed gear bikes (low maintenance!), which are also pretty trendy too. I'd just hang one on the wall and stare at it all day...things of beauty for sure

Anyway, I'm rambling a bit here...flat bars for me for commuting, definately. Skinny tyres yes, but not too skinny and ones that have a small amount of tread for grip in the wet and are designed to resist punctures, it all helps! And as much as I love my hardtail, I am seriously considering getting a specific commuter bike, if only because the mtb is heavy!! Great for training purposes but I do get fedup with all the 'roadies' wizzing past me all the time

Hope some of that helps......!

[girlsubobscura]

I fell in love with the sirrus, and so I went in to have them order a vita in my size with the idea that I would purchase one of the two. While I was there, i rode the sirrus and a Raleigh alysa FT2, which felt almost identical to the sirrus except on steep hills, where it was just a little better for me. Since my commute is peppered with steep hills, I went with the alysa, which I have been riding in pretty much every weather since last october, and carried through my tiny townhouse and down to the basement every night all winter long.
Last weekend I went to the LBS for gear, and a woman who I recognize from a sister department in grad school came in with her Alysa which is identical to mine, except one size smaller, and when I started talking to her it turned out she bought it at the same time, after special ordering a vita, actually having it come in to test ride, and then deciding she liked the Alysa better. It was kind of funny that our stories were so similar.

[moderncyclista]

The Jamis Satellite Sport is worth a test-ride. Beautiful, inexpensive steel bike:

http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/thebik...itesportf.html

Steel isn't necessarily heavy. The Jamis is fairly light. Don't know if it would accomodate racks, but I believe it would. Ask anyway. For frequent transport, a road bike is nice just because the cover ground so easily. (To me, anyway).

I'd ride both the men's and women's versions and see which fits best. The difference is in proportion, could go either way. (Don't let a shop talk you into women-specific just because you are female, you may or may not need that.

My friend just fell in love with a Specialized Ariel, which is a hybrid. Not as good for longer rides, but such a pretty, comfortable bike! The good thing about a lot of hybrids with front suspension forks is that you can set them to remain ridgid for road, and suspended for off-road or rough terrain.

The Ariel we saw isn't pictured on the website, but it's the 'sport' version, retails for 610 dollars, and was a beautiful metallic red with scroll-work on the front end. Freakin georgous!

I have a Surly LHT that I was lucky to get, but the Jamis isn't a bad option. I like their bikes and they're steel which is so much better than aluminum, in my opinion.

[blackhillsbiker]

I thought I didn't care for the aluminum in my Dew, but I love everything else. It fits me like a glove. Then I got new tires, and it smoothed everything out wonderfully. I have really appreciated the disk brakes on my winter commute. I have a rack, fenders, lights, bell...

Deb