New commuter bike

Pigeon Reaper

My old commuter bike died today. The rear derailer exploded somehow and parts went into the rear wheel locking it up. The wheel is also out of true and the chain seems to have mangled.

It made my trip more exciting than normal .

The old bike is an ancient steel frame with drops, panniers, mud guards and it was cheap. It was cobbled together from old bits and pieces meaning it always needed something tweaked but this latest breakage is step too far. While looking it over earlier I also noticed a cracked weld down by the bottom bracket and some deep rust on the underside of the toptube. I now have doubts about the stuctural integrity.

As a result I'm looking for a new commuter to prevent the same abuse being inflicted upon my road bike. The road bike wouldn't take full mud guards, panniers etc anyway.

Does anyone have suggestions on what bike to get? Would I be stupid to go for a hybrid with hydro brakes or should I stick with drops and go for a cyclocross with discs? Are hub gears worth the extra weight?

I have been toying with the idea of the on one from planet x but they don't have an XL frame which I'd probably need as I'm 6'2" but something similar might do the job. The upper limit is about €1000 and the cycle to work scheme isn't an option.

Lumen

Want



It's over budget, but that's your problem not mine. :pac:

lennymc

Lumen, that is fabulous!!

Holyboy

Buy it doesn't have an IGH, all commuter bikes should have one!:D

rp

Holyboy wrote: »

Buy it doesn't have an IGH, all commuter bikes should have one!:D

Gears on a commuter are just more bits to go wrong (and extra weight to schlepp in and out of work. Here's a nice budget beating option:

Lumen

rp wrote: »

Gears on a commuter are just more bits to go wrong (and extra weight to schlepp in and out of work. Here's a nice budget beating option

Or with drops...

http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/CBOOPOMPADV/on-one-pompino-green-advancer-fixie-bike

I should point out that combining fixed gear with the crazy toe overlap on my Pompetamine (with 35mm tyres and mudguards) might be deadly, and not in a good way.

Lumen

Or more from Genesis, although I hate cantis...

http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/cross/day-01/day-01-cross



...or with discs again...

http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/cross/vapour/vapour-disc

ednwireland

if i was building a new commuter planet-x kaffenback


just with drops

just sayin' (shame that wasnt out when i built mine)

Pigeon Reaper

The Genesis is nice. There are some good suggestions there. The common consensus appears to be that drops are the only thing to use.

http://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=32&idproduct=48128
This doesn't look bad but doesn't use drop bars.

HivemindXX

My rear derailer is acting up and I only get to use the bottom 4 gears in any chain ring. Not having the high gears sucks. Not having any gears at all would suck even more. Hey, that front wheel is just something to go wrong and extra weight on the way in to work! Unicycles for all!

As far as the initial problem with the commuter, that sounds like something that happened to me. Chain links froze and didn't go through the jockey wheels, the chain kept moving and dragged the derailer cage up and in to the wheel. First I know of it is a quick "that feels funny" followed by a loud crunch and the rear wheel locking. Net result, chain broken with multiple links twisted and destroyed, derailer twisted out of shape and smashed, about 10 spokes broken, rear hanger snapped off (seperate part luckily). It was an expensive lesson in keeping your drivetrain properly lubricated.

Lumen

Pigeon Reaper wrote: »

The common consensus appears to be that drops are the only thing to use.

The drop bars I have on my commuter have big reach and drop. This is really handy for an around-town bike, as I commute in lycra (which is comfortable when riding in an aggressive position) but use the bike for popping around town during the day when wearing normal clothes.

So it's drops for lycra, tops/hoods for normal clothes.

With flat bars you have no such option, unless you fit aerobars, but that's wrong.

Vélo

I like this bad boy

It is a bit dearer also.

Yi Harr

Damn you all and your sexy commuter bike porn. I was all set on getting the 8 speed pompetamine as a winter hack but then I opened this thread.

clod71

I have a Genesis myself. Beautiful bike, I love it so far

rp

Lumen wrote: »

So it's drops for lycra, tops/hoods for normal clothes.
With flat bars you have no such option, unless you fit aerobars, but that's wrong.

Drops or flats isn't the only choices: what about Mungo or Midge? I have Mungo's on the commuter and Midge's on the roadie, and wouldn't look at anything else (I might even put Mungo's on the MTB)

Lumen

rp wrote: »

Drops or flats isn't the only choices: what about Mungo or Midge? I have Mungo's on the commuter and Midge's on the roadie, and wouldn't look at anything else (I might even put Mungo's on the MTB)

I haven't tried either.

I guess Mungos are designed for when you don't want to use integrated shifters, which is fine, although I'd probably use bullhorns. Maybe better than bullhorns if the top tube is long (i.e. geometry designed for flats).

Midges are weird. On a drop bar bike the hoods and drops are spaced the same to put your arms in a more or less vertical plane, by selecting a bar width which matches your shoulder width. Moving the hood inboard or drops outboard would seem to compromise one or the other.

cdaly_

Lumen wrote: »

The drop bars I have on my commuter have big reach and drop. This is really handy for an around-town bike, as I commute in lycra (which is comfortable when riding in an aggressive position) but use the bike for popping around town during the day when wearing normal clothes.

So it's drops for lycra, tops/hoods for normal clothes.

With flat bars you have no such option, unless you fit aerobars, but that's wrong.

Especially for you lumen...

Lemag

I've seen the Giant Bowery in action. It looks pretty nice and were I in the market for a commuter I would definitely consider it. This is the cheapest my googling skills managed to find it for. I don't know what the additional shipping costs would be.

justo

Lumen wrote: »

Want



It's over budget, but that's your problem not mine. :pac:

are there any suppliers in dublin where you can look at one in the flesh?

Lumen

justo wrote: »

are there any suppliers in dublin where you can look at one in the flesh?

Not AFAIK, but BikeDock in Belfast do them.

justo

what about this?

good commuter although the components are not as good as some other examples given above

http://www.discovercycling.com/bikes/bikes-sports-trekking/dawes-clubman-audax-bike-2011-.html

clod71

Lumen wrote: »

Not AFAIK, but BikeDock in Belfast do them.

or Victoria Cross Cycles in Cork

Civilian_Target

I have the Honky Tonk - the frame is great, as are the brakes and saddle, but some of the other parts weren't up to scratch. Both the wheels and the sora rear deraileur got replaced in the first year. I tried a Surly Long Haul Trucker since, and can't help but wonder if it would have been a better buy...

Good news is, I'm 6'4", and the 23" Honky Tonk frame is still a little small, but not by much.

Vélo wrote: »

I like this bad boy

It is a bit dearer also.

p

Seriously guys, thin wheels, dropped handle bars, no mud-guards, no carrier, what kind of commuting are you doing?

Unless you're cycling a long distance, I'd go for a nice hybrid, or a Dutch style Bike for more relaxed commuting. Keep the road bike for the weekend.

http://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=32&idproduct=44442


http://www.bear-bicycles.com/bike-shop/62-bear-bicycle-matte-gold.html

rp

p wrote: »

Unless you're cycling a long distance, I'd go for a nice hybrid, or a Dutch style Bike for more relaxed commuting.

Seriously guy : did you ever try one of these yokes? They weigh about the same as a small SUV, I'd need to get up a couple of hours earlier to get to work on time, with one of them. Relaxing commuting ain't.

Coronal

p wrote: »

Seriously guys, thin wheels, dropped handle bars, no mud-guards, no carrier, what kind of commuting are you doing?

Unless you're cycling a long distance, I'd go for a nice hybrid, or a Dutch style Bike for more relaxed commuting. Keep the road bike for the weekend.

You've been in Munich (and Copenhagen, IIRC) for too long :P

Seriously, though, those bikes are lovely (well, the Dutch style one anyway) and great for getting around in a city, but it's not really good for doing the kind of commutes many on here are known for. Even mine is only 17 km, and I wouldn't want to attempt that with anything other than a road bike/something with a bit of an aggressive position.

It can be done, I see it a lot, but right now my commute is as short as taking the train. Also, I've considered panniers, but I don't really feel comfortable putting my nice laptop in one...

Vélo

p wrote: »

Seriously guys, thin wheels, dropped handle bars, no mud-guards, no carrier, what kind of commuting are you doing?

Unless you're cycling a long distance, I'd go for a nice hybrid, or a Dutch style Bike for more relaxed commuting. Keep the road bike for the weekend.

Who ever said anything about no mudguards and a rack? I'm thinking of pulling the trigger on the Kona but I would also be sticking mudguards and a rack on it. Part of the reason I like the Kona so much is it will take a full set of mudguards and a rack, the other reason being I already have 2 Kona bikes and I really like them.

The Kona also comes with 28mm tyres, so they're not that thin.

My commute is a 50km round trip.

rp

Vélo wrote: »

Who ever said anything about no mudguards and a rack? I'm thinking of pulling the trigger on the Kona but I would also be sticking mudguards and a rack on it. Part of the reason I like the Kona so much is it will take a full set of mudguards and a rack, the other reason being I already have 2 Kona bikes and I really like them.

Exactly, and that's why I have a shed-full of On-Ones (well, two), plenty braze-ons, plus mudguards, hub dynamo, nitto rack.

My commute is a 50km round trip.

mine too, a Goldilocks commute.

Yi Harr

rp wrote: »

A Goldilocks commute.

Neither too big nor too small? Just right?

Lumen

Yi Harr wrote: »

Neither too big nor too small? Just right?

Or just eat some porridge and go back to bed.

clod71

Vélo wrote: »

Who ever said anything about no mudguards and a rack? I'm thinking of pulling the trigger on the Kona but I would also be sticking mudguards and a rack on it. Part of the reason I like the Kona so much is it will take a full set of mudguards and a rack, the other reason being I already have 2 Kona bikes and I really like them.

The Kona also comes with 28mm tyres, so they're not that thin.

My commute is a 50km round trip.

my one too... 52km to be precise. I don't have mudguards for the simple reason that if it rains the bike stays in the shed

monkeyslayer

Lumen wrote: »

Want



It's over budget, but that's your problem not mine. :pac:

Nice! I want one too, but isn't it kinda pricey considering its tiagra and mechanical brakes??

Lumen

monkeyslayer wrote: »

Nice! I want one too, but isn't it kinda pricey considering its tiagra and mechanical brakes??

Tiagra is 10sp now, which in my mind has made 105 a bit redundant.

If you think that's expensive, work out how much it would cost to build one with STIs and hydraulic brakes. :pac:

blorg

Lumen wrote: »

Or with drops...

http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/CBOOPOMPADV/on-one-pompino-green-advancer-fixie-bike

I should point out that combining fixed gear with the crazy toe overlap on my Pompetamine (with 35mm tyres and mudguards) might be deadly, and not in a good way.

I had toe overlap on my fixed commuter (Specialized Tricross) and it wasn't a major problem. Remember toe overlap only affects very sharp turns at very slow speed.

Lumen

blorg wrote: »

Remember toe overlap only affects very sharp turns at very slow speed.

I've never had toe overlap like this before. It is bad enough to be a problem.