Commuters! Opinions Please!

[Geonz]

I really prefer my hybrid with fatter tires for commuting. There are a lot of advantages to ahving a "beater" bike for commuting, including that when you get back on the light bike, it's FAST :-) I picked up my Schwinn Racer for $32 on e-bay (plus about that much for shipping, plus about $50 to overhaul it)... it's got about 8,000 more miles on it now.


The only way to get past the "oh, it's not that I don't want to!" stuff is to decide that you want to do it anyway, aiming, say, for *one* trip just to say you did it (to shut people like me up :-)) .
Have a friend who drives who'd let you stick your bike in his/her car? Or... find others who might want to too, pool together to buy a bike rack... or... cruise the whole building...pretend that on X date, well, you *have* to ride the bike (because the car is not available)... and make the necessary arrangements.
There is travel attire designed to help people be sharp and presentable despite challenges...
If you really *do* want to, you just m
ayh be able to find a way.

[vj_pdx]

I've been a fairweather commuter for the last two years, but in the last couple months, I've been more consistent, commuting every day. It makes a huge difference in my mood at work.

My problem is: it's downhill, mostly, going into work, so I get there reasonably unsweaty... and uphill on the way home. I hate the going home part.

The biggest part of the issue is that I'm 260#, but I can more easily change the bike (though I'm working on the weight. But I gotta be realistic about this).

I've been alternating between my Townie 3-speed, which is adorable but makes me hate the day I was born while riding up the hills, and my sweetheart's Townie 24-speed (which is better. But still). Rising up to hammer on the pedals feels icky. Neither of the Townies fit on our bus racks either.

I've heard great things about the Breezers, but I'm not ready to pay that kinda money for a commuter. And then at my LBS, I saw the Trek T80 Navigator. Actually, I wouldn't have noticed it except a Dutch woman had spotted it and very excitedly kept exclaiming that it was like a Dutch bike.

I did a test ride last night. It comes with everything you could need for commuting, it's tremendously light and feels very solid, I could stand on the pedals and hammer away and feel totally balanced. The price is right, and it has road tires, which makes me hopeful I won't be such a slow poke. But.... I feel like I have to totally lean the bike over to put my feet on the ground. I don't think I can even tippy-toe.

I am so spoiled by the Townie that I'm unsure now what I should do. Is this something that I'll just get used to? Or am I looking at the wrong bike? Help please!

[tulip]

How far is your commute?

[vj_pdx]

3.5 miles. It's nothing, really. Or would be if I were in better shape.

[tulip]

You should get whatever bike you want. You don't need another bike for your commute, but if it will keep you motivated, why not (budget permitting of course)?

Make sure that the bike fits you, and that you are comfortable riding it. If you end up getting a nicer bike, you might be motivated to ride more and longer. The weight will come off with longer rides (assuming the input is less than the output!)

I'm glad you enjoy riding. It's so much fun.

[Deborajen]

Yes, ride whatever is comfortable. Personally, I prefer commuting on my mountain bike vs. the road bike because it has the wide, knobby tires and isn't as susceptible to flats. A flat can make a big difference in the amount of time it takes to get to work.

Deb

[Triskeliongirl]

In my experience, tire width makes less diference than tire quality. For years I road my bike friday pocket rocket pro to work with 26mm primo comet kevlars. Even toured with them on packed dirt in chiapis. The tires were great, but the bike got stolen while locked in a bike rack (hence the reason to ride a beater). My beater is still a pretty good bike though, I fixed up my old terry classic touring bike, upgraded her to drop bars and an ultegra/XT mix. In the beginning I used panaracer pasela tires, 25mm wide, but not tourguard and flatted a lot, so switched out the rear only for the 32mm wide TG tire and have been fine. But, some days I have taken in my terry titanium Isis which has 23 mm shwalbe stelvios which also have a flat resistant compound built in, and have had no problems. I am now on cape cod, with sand and coastal roads, and have no problems with Isis and her skinny 23mm tires, but I do have pretty decent bike handling skills. In fact, I have yet to have a flat since I put the stelvios on her. They are really nice fast tires!

[mimitabby]

3.5 miles. It's nothing, really. Or would be if I were in better shape.

hey, my commute is a full half mile longer than yours. but going up that hill coming home IS hard. and you do it with a 3 speed!!! wow!!
your bikes sound like cruisers. (am i right?) You are really doing great!
put you on a hybrid or a road bike and you will be going up the hill a lot faster.

I just got a new road bike and uphill is one of the places that i've noticed the difference!
good luck.

[vj_pdx]

Thanks for all the encouragement, ya'all!

Yep, the Townies are cruisers. You sit in a semi-recumbent position, and so you can't stand on the pedals on hills, which to me just seems intolerable. They won't fit in the bike racks, and since I'm usually cycling alone, I'd like that option for getting home after dark. And it just feels so very slow. Very comfortable, but very slow.

(For some reason, I still think I'm a teenager and 140#, and that I should consistently be able to go that fast!)

I'm going back to my LBS this morning to try, try again! Thanks again!

[tulip]

Wow, I wouldn't want to ride a Townie up a hill, but they sure are fun along the beach.

Try lots of bikes out and see which one(s) you like best. Try going up a hill if you can, although that's not always possible in the bike shop parking lot. I bet you will enjoy riding more if the hill was more comfortable.