What's your commuter of choice?

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Currently I'm switching back and forth between Specialized Allez and a Giant XTC. The Allez was my first choice, but after a summer accident that left me with a broken wrist, it still leaves me sore after the ride home. The Giant is comfortable, but slow.

I order a Specialized Sequoia Elite. Should arrive in another 10 days. I traded off the Allez and plan on making it my full time commuter.

I am using a giant fcr, which i've greatly enjoyed. I'm looking at converting it to drop-bars now. ( Initially I found them off-putting, but now with more experience I see the point )

Logically I suppose an audax or tourer type bike would have been a better choice, however (i) the sportier type of bike was more appealing (ii) doing things the hard way & changing bits round seems to be more my nature.

I did contemplate 2 bikes but know i'd just use whichever was my favourite all the time. ( since getting the fcr my original mountainbike hasn't been touched )

I have a custom made bike with a geometry inspired by the Rivendell all rounder frame. (In aluminum)
700C wheel w/ 28mm tyres
Shimano nexus 7 speed hub, with the thumb shifter.
a drop bar (that's why I needed a thumb shifter!)
Dia Compe V brakes & 287V levers
Brooks saddle
Spanninga "the bird" front light (but I don't recommend it, the batteries and charger are not good enough for the price they ask)
carrier and mudguard.

I use to have a similar bike (Diamondback WCF road modified for 7 speed internal hub). with the Sachs hub.
I liked the sachs hub better, less friction, wider range than the Shimano Nexus.
But my new frame is better for commuter use.

I have been riding with epicyclic hubs all my life and currently own the 7 speed commuter and a 3 speed sturmey-archer city bike.
The ease of use and lack of maintenance made them the best choice for everyday, all weather bikes!

Patrick.

Well, not neccesarily by choice -- it's the only thing I have. I use a Trek 830 XC rigid MTB. I've only been cycling for a few months (even though I've had the bike for years), but I'm pretty comfortable on it. I just rode in the MS 150 Bike to the Beach on it, and for that one I removed the rack and mounted Fat Boys. It did the job, but I'm sure a true road bike would have been faster and way more comfortable. Once I recovered from the 150, I remounted the rack, homemade panniers and some inverted tread 1.9" tires. After training for such a while with a 'clean' setup, the commuter config really makes me realize how much the extra weight makes me pay.

I figure I'll continue using the 35+lb wonder for the commute, and through the cooler weather to keep in shape. Then maybe in the spring I'd like to get a road bike and hopefully I'll cook on the road. I got a little taste of a shop owner's Specialized Sequoia, and the weight difference is making me drool just thinking about it. There are so many available, I'll just have to pick and choose from what the LBS's have at the time. The most popular LBS bikes around here seem to be Felt, Giant, Trek, and Specialized (in my "entry-leve-reasonbly-priced" range, anyway).

Currently riding an old mt bike. I have it setup with a rack, fenders and slicks and works quite well. It's also ugly as hell so nobody wants to steal it.

However I think the ideal commuter would be a 'cross' bike.

Was riding a 1968 Schwinn Racer but now that I'm riding in the dark on the return trip I prefer my Giant with hand brakes (and gears, too).

Forgot to add, elderly Giant Nutra -- do like the slightly wider tires (28's) on the pothholes of life, and have a fierce light so I can see them and dodge them usually

Specialized Allez Comp Cr-Mo.

I've got custom mounted fenders and a rear rack held on with vinly coated P-clips. Mounting the front fender was a bit of a hassle because of the limited clearance. Due to clearance issues between my size 12 shoes and the front tire, I had to keep the front fender pretty short. Fortunately, my tires don't have any tread, so they don't kick up much water. I wear shoe covers to keep my feet dry.

The cr-mo frame is so comfortable on rough roads. It has an incredible amount of vertical compliance with very little laterial movement thanks to the compact geometry frame. When I first got it, I thought it was a bit twitchy, but now I think it's just plain responsive and zippy! I love it!

I can't think of anything else I'd rather ride more. Although, the Litespeed Blue Ridge looks like it would be a good foul weather commuter. Anyone have one?

Hi Patrick

Can you tell me about your experience of Nexus hub, what about efficiency. I had the impression that hub gear gives you best efficiency around 90% while it is at direct gear and gives your efficiency around 75% when it is not in direct gear posiition. While compared with derailleure which gives you 98% efficiency.

lei lin


Originally posted by Patrick SH
I have a custom made bike with a geometry inspired by the Rivendell all rounder frame. (In aluminum)
700C wheel w/ 28mm tyres
Shimano nexus 7 speed hub, with the thumb shifter.
a drop bar (that's why I needed a thumb shifter!)
Dia Compe V brakes & 287V levers
Brooks saddle
Spanninga "the bird" front light (but I don't recommend it, the batteries and charger are not good enough for the price they ask)
carrier and mudguard.

I use to have a similar bike (Diamondback WCF road modified for 7 speed internal hub). with the Sachs hub.
I liked the sachs hub better, less friction, wider range than the Shimano Nexus.
But my new frame is better for commuter use.

I have been riding with epicyclic hubs all my life and currently own the 7 speed commuter and a 3 speed sturmey-archer city bike.
The ease of use and lack of maintenance made them the best choice for everyday, all weather bikes!

Patrick. :) :( :) :)

Originally posted by lei lin
Hi Patrick

Can you tell me about your experience of Nexus hub, what about efficiency. I had the impression that hub gear gives you best efficiency around 90% while it is at direct gear and gives your efficiency around 75% when it is not in direct gear posiition. While compared with derailleure which gives you 98% efficiency.

lei lin


:) :( :) :)

The Shimano Nexus 7 speed has no direct drive (the 4th speed has a ratio of 0.989 to 1.)
Like every epicyclic gear, the efficency increases with the speed (the faster you pedal, the better it works).
The friction loss a very noticable in 1st gear at low speed and seems higher in the 3th and 5th gear than in the 2d and 6th.
Again, once you pedal a little bit faster it gets better!

To go up-hill, i would like to have a shorter gear than what I have now, but when I try to go very fast, i am spinning a little bit too much. My old Sachs 7 speed with the greater overall ratio suited me better.

I think that 98% efficency is for a new (or not too old and WELL maintained deraileur system) If you use your bike every day, I doubt you maintain the drive train as much as you should!

Patrick

Raleigh R300
I bought this as an inexpensive commuter to save mileage on my higher end road bike. It is the traditional touring geometry. It had long chainstays (45cm) for a rack and pannier. I even put on a kickstand which is very handy, but I do get a lot of jokes from fellow roadies. After my first commuting season (2,700 miles), I got the bug to upgrade the Shimano Sora components (triple crank) to Ultegra (double crank with 12/27 rear cassette). I really like the double crank and have all the same gear inches except 2 rear cogs which I never used. I also switched the wheels to Mavic MA3 with 28mm tires (contis). So I basically turned this heavy touring bike into an audax bike, faster, yet heavy enough for commuter duties carrying a light pannier.

Cannondale CAAD5 Road w/ 105. I, uh, travel light. ;)

I can keep my bike securely locked in my office at work, and have excellent shower/locker facilities, so there's no trouble in commuting on a 'good' bike.

BikeE CT, 1996. After 25 years of fine upright commuting machines, including a touring Kurahawra I modified and an excellent Rocky Mountain Hybrid City Bike, I am now a dedicated 'Bent head. The comfort and relaxed pleasures of my BikeE are now leading me to start eyeing some more refined commuting 'bents such as the Mararya or the Bachetta Giro. No more crushed privates, no more tension, every day I look for an excuse to go further.

1993 Univega Via DeOro Hybrid

Tange Ovalized Cro-Mo frame, Cro-Mo fork
Wheels: Shimano 400CX hubs, Araya Double-butted 700C rims Bontraker SelectK 700x35 tires
Shimano 700CX Cranks and Derailleurs--21 speed, Grip Shifts
Flat handlebars w/ CaneCreek Ergo Bar Ends
Terry Liberator Y Saddle
Blackburn Rack with VistaLite tail-lite
NiteRider TrailRat 2.0 headlight.

Steel is real, baby!

A Lemond Zurich. I ride 2-3 days a week and carry my clothes in the days I drive so I don't need a load on my bike. Sometimes I ride my Trek 4500 mountian bike. My commute is 18 miles one way.

After a nasty accident that left me with a bent frame (and a titanium plate in place of my right clavicle, it's now the only Ti accessory I have) I found an old Trek 520 frame, put a flat bar, Shimano 105 triple front/XT rear and v-brakes on it and it's the perfect commuter.

I alternate between my beater bike which is an old english cruiser...(I think it is called a denault) and my road bike-a colnago w/chorus groupo. I use the colnago when I am going to tack on a training ride in after work.
I travel light-usually just a messenger bag w/my clothes on the days I ride in.
For the most part, my commute is flat so the cruiser is just fine.

hedgehog: I think a 'cross bike could be the perfect commuter as well. I'm thinking of a kona jake the snake or something from redline.

Right now is my Hybrid Crmoly Univega "Via Montega" , will quickly upgrade this week to Armadillos 700x25C, currently using 35Cs.
Liberator saddle and suspended seatpost. Mavic wheels.
By new years I'm getting a road bike which will use with the armadillos.
Corsaire

Hi All,

Im doing my commute 5 days a week and have been using a choice of 3 of my cycles..

1, Dawes "Synthesis" Hybrid only changes have been to slightly wider Continental tyres which have helped comfort a lot. I like this machine a great deal. It has Deore kit, Mavic 700cc wheels and spectacle style bars on it which are very useful for allround use.

2, Moulton APB 20" wheeled cycle. standard front and rear supension and fornt and rear racks.. a fast,fun and amazingly versatile workhorse. This has flat bars and a 7-speed sturmey rear hub gears.

3, My little "Brompton" folder. this is used if Im going to be meeting people at either end of my commute or if my itinerary is likely to change as I can take it with me anywhere.

between these three I can use a cycle any day.

Although from the use of all and any insight gained from such use I would say that the best compromise would be a bike with 20" wheels the ability to fold similar to the brompton, carrying capacity of the Moulton and with hub gears...

perhaps I should build one :0)


Paul V.

:) :)

I have a Gazelle Touche that I use for commuting. 7 speed internal hub, drum brakes, full chain case, bottle generator for lighting, fenders, great rear rack, aluminum frame etc. These are impossible to buy in the U.S., but in my experience, are the best general commuting bikes that exist. The URL in English is www.cycleheaven.co.uk. Look under their "Dutch bikes" section.