commuter bicycle

Let's say that I wanted to bike to work and back. Google says 12.5 miles back roads and around 1:15.

All I have ever done is mountain biking, and have a decent aluminum frame Specialized for that which did pretty well.

Do I:

-Forget the idea as impractical (which means you'd agree with my wife)

-Buy something (this is where you guys come in) decently priced and yet capable and efficient enough to get me back and forth without trauma. An older used racer from 20 years ago that is durable would be an idea - my Dad used a Schwinn something for a while that was pretty neat, made in 1978 if I remember correctly.

-Learn how to make a frame from carbon fiber (please don't suggest this)

Any ideas?

I'd say go for it! I regret never having done it when I lived quite close to work.

I'm 50 years old. I just finished my ride today, which is more or less exactly 12 miles. I time myself just to see how I'm doing. Today I made the trip in just under 51 minutes. Somewhat hilly terrain, but it's a round trip, so I go up, I go down.

My "road bike" is a 1988-ish Schwinn Probe ATB with road slicks on it. True there are times I wish I had a taller top gear, and I never use any but the largest chainwheel, but the point is, it works, and none too badly.

Cycling nuts may ridicule me, but I've been on some expensive bikes. The difference does not justify the cost, IMO. Any bike in good repair that fits the rider will make a fine commuter.

An older racer would be cool, but you've got to contend with all the dopey hipsters that are converting them all to fixies/singlespeed bikes, because making something more useless is totally ironic or something. Personally, I'd find a nice soft-roader/hybrid and go that route. You don't want to be all bent over for your commute to work... I'd try and sit a little more upright.

MtBike with narrower (like 1.5-ish) slicks is a great commuter bike for starters. carry a spare tube and the CO2 inflator kit in an under-seat bag, get a flashing LED for the back end, and call it good.

AngryCorvair wrote: MtBike with narrower (like 1.5-ish) slicks is a great commuter bike for starters. carry a spare tube and the CO2 inflator kit in an under-seat bag, get a flashing LED for the back end, and call it good.

I don't know man, I top that thing out pretty quickly and the front suspension would really get old.

tuna55 wrote:

AngryCorvair wrote: MtBike with narrower (like 1.5-ish) slicks is a great commuter bike for starters. carry a spare tube and the CO2 inflator kit in an under-seat bag, get a flashing LED for the back end, and call it good.

I don't know man, I top that thing out pretty quickly and the front suspension would really get old.

Maybe true, but a way to try it without spending much money. I do the same distance every day on a Trek hybrid with no problems. I say go for it!

AngryCorvair wrote: MtBike with narrower (like 1.5-ish) slicks is a great commuter bike for starters. carry a spare tube and the CO2 inflator kit in an under-seat bag, get a flashing LED for the back end, and call it good.

I rode a rig like this from Flint MI to Salem MA. It was 12 days and 6 flat tires. I would do it again. The only place that I topped out my gearing was going down the tallest pass in Mass.

tuna55 wrote:

AngryCorvair wrote: MtBike with narrower (like 1.5-ish) slicks is a great commuter bike for starters. carry a spare tube and the CO2 inflator kit in an under-seat bag, get a flashing LED for the back end, and call it good.

I don't know man, I top that thing out pretty quickly and the front suspension would really get old.

oh yeah, if you're in reasonably good physical condition you can run out of gear on a MtBike pretty easily. maybe start looking on CL or check out your LBS to find the bike forums in your area, and buy someone else's used road or cross bike. i still like fat tires on the street, so i wouldn't go narrower than a 28 on a 700c or a 1-1/4 on a 27".

Check the local thrift stores if you want to try it out for cheap. I think I paid like $20 for my last bike, gave it a little mechanical TLC adjusting gears and brakes and that was it. If it turns out the ride is too long you can always give the bike to family / friends or just donate it back.

12.5 miles? I dream of a distance like that...

I agree with the 1.5 slick idea... or get a set of Small-Block 8's and pump them up to 60 psi... then air them down when you want to go on trails.

Years ago, I built up a commuter bike out of my old mtn bike with 1.5" tires. I toured on it from Harrisburg to WV to D.C. and it was fine. You just tend to spend a bit more time on the big ring. If you're spinning out, you're probably sweating more than you want to when riding to work. I had an original Manitou on that bike and the extra cushion was welcome.

Of course, if you feel the need to spend $, Salsa offers a couple of nice commuter bikes:

http://salsacycles.com/bikes/vaya/

and http://salsacycles.com/bikes/fargo/

As others have suggested, I'd say try it on your existing bike as-is, with the tires pumped up. It's sub-optimal, but if you just want to try it out, why spend anything you don't have to up front?

If you dig it, add slicks. That speeds you up quite a bit for just a little money.

Not sure why you're running out of gear... I don't run out of gear on my old Klein ATB til ~30mph, and I'm sure as heck not hitting that anywhere but downhill...

I commuted on that for quite a while (5.5 mi to work, 11.5 home taking the long way), replete with spongy suspension fork with no real ills. I was stoked when I picked up a cyclocross bike and put skinny tires on it, but fundamentally, a mountain bike is a more than serviceable way to give it a try.

I have cross-tires on my Cannondale. solid center for concrete with knobs for gravel. 70miles is pretty easy to do.

But, yes. Rigid frame. gel grips. High PSI KEVLAR tires with slime. bars/seat per you.

tuna55 wrote:

AngryCorvair wrote: MtBike with narrower (like 1.5-ish) slicks is a great commuter bike for starters. carry a spare tube and the CO2 inflator kit in an under-seat bag, get a flashing LED for the back end, and call it good.

I don't know man, I top that thing out pretty quickly and the front suspension would really get old.

i must be crazy for riding a full suspension to work then. But yeah, gas will soon be over $4, the weather is getting nice and we all probably have a few extra winter pounds to lose so I say go for it. Get or build the commuter bike of your dreams and have fun. See how fast you can make that 12 miles go by, I bet it will be easily under 1 hr.

There no such thing as an impractical bicycle commute--especially when gas skyrockets.

Is your bike going to be safely indoors? That would dictate just how nice you make it.

That said, I'd go with what everyone's saying. Slick tires on your current MTB. I'd get bar ends, too--I hate how my hands fall asleep with only one bar position.

Drop bar road bikes with modern integrated shift brake levers get very pricey very quickly. An older frame-shifter-equipped bike is a great alternative. There are tons of them still out there.

My budget resto-mod added up quickly: http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/off-topic-discussion/84-trek-400-restomod-road-bike/29370/page1/

I'd kill to be able to commute by bike. My 40-mile (one way) makes it a wee bit difficult.

During the summer, I commute to the body shop (11 miles each way) on my bike a few times a week.

I usually ride my fixie, it's a Bridgestone steel frame from the '70s, Sram cranks, 48/14 gearing, Vuelta track wheels, 18 mm wide tires, Look Keo Sprint pedals, one little brake up front, drop bars with a negative rise stem. It's a little aggressive for casual commuting, but it doesn't matter if I get to work sweaty. I average about 19 mph taking it fairly easy with a messenger bag. I love commuting on this thing.

Sometimes I ride a mid '50s Raleigh tourister. It's got gigantic 1.5" tires, a stupid long wheelbase, rod brakes, etc. It's slow (15 mph average) but it looks really cool and it's stupid comfortable.

I'd recommend throwing some slicks on your mountain bike. If you like commuting, then pick up a used road bike and have fun.

You could even take the MTB a step further with a cheap rigid fork, (in steel, aluminium or carbon.) Just be sure to get a fork that's "suspension corrected", so as not to screw up your frame geometry. (Eg: ~440mm axel to crown length to compensate for a 100mm sus fork.)

I've been thinking about one of these with an 8-speed Sturmey-Archer.

If you want to try it out, start with something cheap like a rigid 26" MTB with 26x1.5" slicks as has been suggested. Get a rear rack if you have to carry anything at all as it will make your life much better than using a backpack. I would also recommend a rigid fork.

My number one tip though is to use full fenders. Seriously, it will make your life so much better - 90% of the wetness from riding a bike even in the rain comes from road spray. Even on dry days gunk and crud will splash up on you from time to time and ruin your day. Fenders are less than $30 and add a ton of practicality to any bike.

Number two is carry the tools and know how to change a tube. A flat with no way to fix it is another quick way to ruin your day. Number three is carry a good U-lock.

I commuted to work and school by bike for quite a while. It's great fun no matter what bike you ride. Start cheap and when you decide you like it, spring for something a little nicer. I like the new Raleigh Detour Deluxe - internal hub, drum brakes, generator hub and lighting, steel frame, built-in rack and fenders for $800.

I was contemplating throwing some slicks on my old Trek mountain bike but have been riding a cross bike with road tires on it for the last year or so and haven't looked back. I think they are a pretty decent do it all type of bike. I have never bought anything from them but I have heard nothing but good things about Bikes Direct (Bikesdirect.com). They sell brand new bikes that are nearly identical to some you would find in bike shops but without the brand names.

Personally, I don't spend anything over $500 for a bike. I ride with a group from time to time and my jaw drops sometimes when some people say how much they dropped on their bike $$$ wise.

I have a full carbonfibre Trek... when I bought it new... I do not want to think about what I paid for it.. It's probably worthless now.

I agree on commuting by bike. I am hoping to move closer to work so I can do it. I could do it now, but I would be a statistic to judge by the roads I would be on

Commuter bike means plenty of seat time... so if you can I would spring for something enjoyable.

For riding paved surfaces, mnt bikes just cant compare with road bikes.

Depends on your area but for ~$300 you can get a newish road bike of craigs list that will be 90% of anything you could every ask for from a bike.

bit of a simplified version, but with no other starting point you could probably come out ok shopping craigslist in the $200-$300 range looking for aluminum bikes (possibly with a carbon fiber fork) with at least Sora components (shifters, brakes, ect...), tiagra would be better and 105 better still... but Sora is damn good when well adjusted (compared to random mountain bikes most people are used to). Most newer bikes with integrated shifters (shifting combined into brake lever) and decent components from one of the main road groups will be significantly better to ride then old random mountain bikes.

Something else to keep in mind when you decide on a bike. How are the roads/bike paths in your area? If they are pretty smooth with easily avoidable potholes/dirt/drainage problems.. I would go with a skinny tyres road bike. If you are dealing with broken pavement/dirt in the corners and shoulders/standing water.. go with a light duty Mountain Bike or a cross tour bike.

Skinny tyres do not do well against big hits and slippery surfaces

Do you have locker room/ shower access at work? I sure wouldn't want work next to you all day if not...

Hasbro wrote: Do you have locker room/ shower access at work? I sure wouldn't want work next to you all day if not...

That's the big hurdle for the first few tries. There is one, but you have to pay a gym membership to use it.

It's amazing what they can do with deodorant these days!