Comments on: What matters to you on a commuter bike? http://www.bikecommuters.com/2007/08/01/what-matters-to-you-on-a-commuter-bike/ Bike Your Drive! Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:39:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: Biking Circle - Today’s Top Blog Posts on Motorcycle - Powered by SocialRank http://www.bikecommuters.com/2007/08/01/what-matters-to-you-on-a-commuter-bike/#comment-1611 Biking Circle - Today’s Top Blog Posts on Motorcycle - Powered by SocialRank Mon, 01 Oct 2007 09:04:16 +0000 http://www.bikecommuters.com/2007/08/01/what-matters-to-you-on-a-commuter-bike/#comment-1611 [...] What matters to you on a commuter bike? [...] [...] What matters to you on a commuter bike? [...]

]]> By: Shanyn http://www.bikecommuters.com/2007/08/01/what-matters-to-you-on-a-commuter-bike/#comment-1335 Shanyn Thu, 02 Aug 2007 18:05:42 +0000 http://www.bikecommuters.com/2007/08/01/what-matters-to-you-on-a-commuter-bike/#comment-1335 For a commuter who needs to dress professionally for work: a step-through frame, fenders, chain-guard. For reliability: puncture resistant city tires and an internally geared hub. For safety: reflective side-walls, headlight and rear light (dynohub), bell. For transporting stuff: rear rack and basket. For easy parking: kickstand and built-in lock And it has to be light enough to load on the front rack of the city bus! My ride is a Breezer Uptown 8. It has all of the above options. I added the basket, but it came with everything else, and weighs in at about 33lbs. I love this bike so much- it does it all! For a commuter who needs to dress professionally for work: a step-through frame, fenders, chain-guard.
For reliability: puncture resistant city tires and an internally geared hub.
For safety: reflective side-walls, headlight and rear light (dynohub), bell.
For transporting stuff: rear rack and basket.
For easy parking: kickstand and built-in lock
And it has to be light enough to load on the front rack of the city bus! My ride is a Breezer Uptown 8. It has all of the above options. I added the basket, but it came with everything else, and weighs in at about 33lbs. I love this bike so much- it does it all!

]]> By: Moe http://www.bikecommuters.com/2007/08/01/what-matters-to-you-on-a-commuter-bike/#comment-1333 Moe Thu, 02 Aug 2007 16:40:36 +0000 http://www.bikecommuters.com/2007/08/01/what-matters-to-you-on-a-commuter-bike/#comment-1333 Hey Val, can you submit a picture of your 98lb monster??? I would love to see what it looks like. Hey Val, can you submit a picture of your 98lb monster??? I would love to see what it looks like.

]]> By: Val http://www.bikecommuters.com/2007/08/01/what-matters-to-you-on-a-commuter-bike/#comment-1331 Val Thu, 02 Aug 2007 16:34:51 +0000 http://www.bikecommuters.com/2007/08/01/what-matters-to-you-on-a-commuter-bike/#comment-1331 Tanks?!? You think you ride tanks? My favorite bike, the one that gets me everywhere, even on Sundays when my commute is 20 miles one way, is the Dreadnought. It's a severely customized XtraCycle/Cycle Truck conversion, with pretty much every accessory imaginable built in, and many pieces of standard equipment that I somehow can't seem to stand to leave behind (tool kit, first aid kit, rain gear, extra cargo tie downs, etc.). I frequently load it up with groceries, furniture, boxes of books, or other transportables, but without any extraneous cargo load, carrying only the paraphernalia that I always bring, it tips the scales at (ready?) 98lbs. The secret is in the gearing and the Big Apple Tires. It rolls nice; not all that fast, but nice and steady, if a bit sluggish up the hills around Seattle. It seems to be good excercise, too. Ride on! Tanks?!? You think you ride tanks? My favorite bike, the one that gets me everywhere, even on Sundays when my commute is 20 miles one way, is the Dreadnought. It’s a severely customized XtraCycle/Cycle Truck conversion, with pretty much every accessory imaginable built in, and many pieces of standard equipment that I somehow can’t seem to stand to leave behind (tool kit, first aid kit, rain gear, extra cargo tie downs, etc.). I frequently load it up with groceries, furniture, boxes of books, or other transportables, but without any extraneous cargo load, carrying only the paraphernalia that I always bring, it tips the scales at (ready?) 98lbs. The secret is in the gearing and the Big Apple Tires. It rolls nice; not all that fast, but nice and steady, if a bit sluggish up the hills around Seattle. It seems to be good excercise, too. Ride on!

]]> By: enrique http://www.bikecommuters.com/2007/08/01/what-matters-to-you-on-a-commuter-bike/#comment-1320 enrique Thu, 02 Aug 2007 11:31:57 +0000 http://www.bikecommuters.com/2007/08/01/what-matters-to-you-on-a-commuter-bike/#comment-1320 For me, it's (1) portability and (2) reliability. My ride is a Dahon Speed P8. For me, it’s (1) portability and (2) reliability. My ride is a Dahon Speed P8.

]]> By: Eric http://www.bikecommuters.com/2007/08/01/what-matters-to-you-on-a-commuter-bike/#comment-1314 Eric Thu, 02 Aug 2007 01:24:55 +0000 http://www.bikecommuters.com/2007/08/01/what-matters-to-you-on-a-commuter-bike/#comment-1314 I have a Gary Fisher Tiburon. I too bought the bike before ever considering commuting. I bought it for exercise - and I have never been able to get an accurate measure of its weight. But seeing as I have at least 30 I should shed, I am not going to worry about 5 or 6 pounds on a bike. My main concern is it is sturdy and reliable... I have a Gary Fisher Tiburon. I too bought the bike before ever considering commuting. I bought it for exercise – and I have never been able to get an accurate measure of its weight. But seeing as I have at least 30 I should shed, I am not going to worry about 5 or 6 pounds on a bike. My main concern is it is sturdy and reliable…

]]> By: Nick http://www.bikecommuters.com/2007/08/01/what-matters-to-you-on-a-commuter-bike/#comment-1313 Nick Thu, 02 Aug 2007 01:20:27 +0000 http://www.bikecommuters.com/2007/08/01/what-matters-to-you-on-a-commuter-bike/#comment-1313 Light, fast, simple, and reliable. My commute is only five miles each way, and I'm too fast to concern myself with comfort, hehehe. Light, fast, simple, and reliable. My commute is only five miles each way, and I’m too fast to concern myself with comfort, hehehe.

]]> By: Drew http://www.bikecommuters.com/2007/08/01/what-matters-to-you-on-a-commuter-bike/#comment-1312 Drew Thu, 02 Aug 2007 00:58:31 +0000 http://www.bikecommuters.com/2007/08/01/what-matters-to-you-on-a-commuter-bike/#comment-1312 I selected comfort, but only because you made me choose. I would hate to begin and end my day uncomfortably. But why can't we have it all? I have come to expect reliability from my bicycles... I must be spoiled or blessed. On these steamy 80 degree days, I would definitely prefer a lighter bicycle with components to match. It doesn't necessarily have to come with all of the accessories, but it absolutely must have rack, fender and water bottle mounts. The only thing listed in the poll which I could care less about is style, but if it looks cool that is a bonus! What about safety? The first thing I do to any commuter bike that I will be riding after dark or before sunrise is add reflective tape and striping. I don't see many bikes coming stock with more than the minimum reflectors required in most states. For me, factory equipped lighting and reflective striping would be a big selling point on the right bicycle. I selected comfort, but only because you made me choose. I would hate to begin and end my day uncomfortably. But why can’t we have it all? I have come to expect reliability from my bicycles… I must be spoiled or blessed. On these steamy 80 degree days, I would definitely prefer a lighter bicycle with components to match. It doesn’t necessarily have to come with all of the accessories, but it absolutely must have rack, fender and water bottle mounts. The only thing listed in the poll which I could care less about is style, but if it looks cool that is a bonus!

What about safety? The first thing I do to any commuter bike that I will be riding after dark or before sunrise is add reflective tape and striping. I don’t see many bikes coming stock with more than the minimum reflectors required in most states. For me, factory equipped lighting and reflective striping would be a big selling point on the right bicycle.

]]> By: Dan http://www.bikecommuters.com/2007/08/01/what-matters-to-you-on-a-commuter-bike/#comment-1311 Dan Thu, 02 Aug 2007 00:30:14 +0000 http://www.bikecommuters.com/2007/08/01/what-matters-to-you-on-a-commuter-bike/#comment-1311 Something else I look for is the ability to carry stuff. I always seem to be carrying something to work or to home, and I need a place to hang panniers or stow items. Something else I look for is the ability to carry stuff. I always seem to be carrying something to work or to home, and I need a place to hang panniers or stow items.

]]> By: fixedgearcommuter http://www.bikecommuters.com/2007/08/01/what-matters-to-you-on-a-commuter-bike/#comment-1310 fixedgearcommuter Wed, 01 Aug 2007 23:36:35 +0000 http://www.bikecommuters.com/2007/08/01/what-matters-to-you-on-a-commuter-bike/#comment-1310 Simplicity, comfort and reliability. Nothing else matters. Fat tires, skinny tires, shocks, rigid, whatever. I currently ride a fat tired 1987 Rock Hopper that I converted to fixed gear. I run cross tires on it and two racks (front/back) and a flipped nashbar trekking bar with a brooks saddle. The thing is functional. I love it. Simplicity, comfort and reliability. Nothing else matters. Fat tires, skinny tires, shocks, rigid, whatever.

I currently ride a fat tired 1987 Rock Hopper that I converted to fixed gear. I run cross tires on it and two racks (front/back) and a flipped nashbar trekking bar with a brooks saddle. The thing is functional. I love it.

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