People who commute via Bike

[isekii]

What kind of bike would you recommend ?
Thinking about going over the GWB to commute back and forth on a bike.

Mountain ? Road ? Hybrid ?

Suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[Ns1]

i like my bike

http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/thebikes/hardtails/trailx/09_trailx1.html

slapped some hybrid city wheels on it.

 

[Numenorean]

Road or Hybrid. You probably don't want a true MTB as on the road you lose power for one if it has dual shocks, etc. Nice for trails, not so much for the road.

 

[dquan97]

i like my bike

http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/thebikes/hardtails/trailx/09_trailx1.html

slapped some hybrid city wheels on it.

I have almost the same bike. It's yellow w/ road tires.

http://www.bikepedia.com/Images/ima...lename=2003-Specialized-Hardrock.jpg&f=Photos

 

[Nik]

There are several folks who commute to work via bicycle here. Most say they avoid mountain bikes because of how heavy and slow they are. Every single one of them have road bikes.

 

[Ns1]

There are several folks who commute to work via bicycle here. Most say they avoid mountain bikes because of how heavy and slow they are. Every single one of them have road bikes.

I commute to work on the bike mentioned above...

i think it's quite nice esp. with the amount of potholes on my daily commute.

 

[Ken g6]

You're in New Jersey? Since I assume you get ice and snow there, I'd suggest either a hybrid or a mountain bike with a central ridge on its tires. (So it acts like a road bike on a straightaway.)

You probably don't need a suspension, particularly in back; it would just take away power from your pedaling. I would suggest a better seat than the standard ones. That's where your suspension should be, so you can sit on your bum in meetings too.

 

[Numenorean]

I commute to work on the bike mentioned above...

i think it's quite nice esp. with the amount of potholes on my daily commute.

Yup. I happen to ride a mountain bike but that's just because that's what I have and I don't need to buy another one. It gives a decent workout too.

Hybrid would be nice for the potholes and stuff....I don't like the pizza cutter tires for stuff like that.

 

[Nik]

I commute to work on the bike mentioned above...

i think it's quite nice esp. with the amount of potholes on my daily commute.

Handlebars turn left and right, you know.

You don't have to ride through the pothole.

 

[scott916]

Definitely one like Ns1 posted. I've ridden mountain bikes and hybrids to work before, and it's WAY easier to get through town on a hybrid with light wheels and skinny tires. If you do get a MTB, they're not so bad as long as you have the aforementioned wheels and tires. They make all the difference on pavement.

 

[metalmania]

Ten years ago there was a Russian guy here riding bike to work everyday. He was so sweaty that he used the company bathroom for shower every morning. So he got fired in the end.

 

[MiniDoom]

I use a cyclocross bike with disc brakes. it has wide tire clearance so I can run 23mm tires and put 45mm tires on in the winter. got a rack and bags too.

 

[Ns1]

Handlebars turn left and right, you know.

You don't have to ride through the pothole.

I sure as fuck aint gonna turn right into the curb and left into the street.

 

[cirrrocco]

This is what I ride
http://www.walmart.com/ip/700C-GMC-D...-Bike/12080282

 

[Nik]

I sure as fuck aint gonna turn right into the curb and left into the street.

Potholes are THAT big there?

You're already on the street, so just pull left and merge into traffic. You're not a pedestrian, anyway.

Or ride on the sidewalk.

Or ride on the grass.

 

[Ns1]

Potholes are THAT big there?

You're already on the street, so just pull left and merge into traffic. You're not a pedestrian, anyway.

Or ride on the sidewalk.

Or ride on the grass.

#2 worst roads in the US

http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_16145463

LA: the good, the bad, the ugly.

 

[Mike Gayner]

I commute 2x 10km every day on one of these. Anyone who says that it's too slow or heavy needs less girly legs. Speed has much more to do with the rider than with the bike. Also, because I don't ride a road bike I'm not required by law to dress like Lance Armstrong.

 

[isekii]

I was looking at a used Trek 7.1 FX or a new diamondback Insight 1 (on sale).
Looking to stay in the 300-350's range.

 

[dfuze]

Coworker in my old department rides a road bike in, very light frame made out of carbon, I think he said it weights only 13 pounds.

 

[Dirigible]

I use a cyclocross bike with disc brakes. it has wide tire clearance so I can run 23mm tires and put 45mm tires on in the winter. got a rack and bags too.

Nice bike! My next purchase will almost certainly be a Vaya. Love the frame geo with disc and rack mounts and room for some volume on the tires.




For commuting I ride a mountain bike with smoothish tires. My current commute is only about 3 miles though. If I were riding 10+ miles I would definitely get something more road-ey. On the shorter commutes, just about anything works fine.

If you carry stuff back and forth, I recommend a rack and panniers - avoiding backpacks makes me much less sweaty.



(Nik: Just stop. You clearly are not a bike commuter. )

 

[MiniDoom]

Thanks Dirigible! I love the vaya too. it's nice the uci now allows disc brakes in cyclocross too. I can race it this winter...

 

[blinblue]

My wife bikes to work fairly often (its only about a mile away), she uses a mountain bike (got a good deal on a used one for $300, its actually quite lightweight). But then again, a mountain bike is kinda needed for her commute as it involves a dirt path.

If you are doing lots of hills then make sure whatever you get is fairly light. Also, if you have to carry it up stairs, either at home or at work, then really make sure its lightweight. But if its all flat ground and its isn't too far, then just get a fairly cheap bike (especially if there is risk that it will get vandalized/stolen)

 

[CraigRT]

Road bike.
I've commuted on them all and the road bike by far feels the best.. It rolls fantastic and gets you where you need to go, quicker.

MTB's are for trails.

PSA: wearing spandex is not required to commute on a road bike.

 

[*kjm]

I would go Cyclocross for sure in your case. There are a ton of great companies out there to buy from. I have looked at the Specialized and liked them a lot.
http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=32208

I ended up going MB because my ride is only 4 miles (WI) and my parents live by one of the best MB trails in the midwest and I ride that a lot.

A good example of what a Cyclocross will give you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEDSKClp1eM

Edit... sorry didn't see your $300-350.

 

[alphatarget1]

I commute 2x 10km every day on one of these. Anyone who says that it's too slow or heavy needs less girly legs. Speed has much more to do with the rider than with the bike. Also, because I don't ride a road bike I'm not required by law to dress like Lance Armstrong.

Why do you need a full suspension bike to commute? Are the roads in Kiwiland really that bad?