Commuter Road Bike?

Pcemkr · 02-23-2012, 10:33 AM

I currently metro to work daily. It's 3 stops, $2.15 each way. Simple commute, but I want to pick up a road bike to ride to work in Spring/Summer/Fall. It's ~2.5mi ride one way.

Budget: $3-400?
I want to pick up something with decent components and lightweight. I'm def willing to scope out Craigslist for something used. I've only had a Giant Rincon hard tail mountain bike and know nothing about road bikes, nor ever ridden one.

What should I look for? Brands/models, components, etc.

immiketoo · 02-24-2012, 06:03 AM

Get a fixie!

Buegie · 02-24-2012, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by immiketoo

Get a fixie!

that would probably be a good option...entry level road bikes start around $900

MisterSkiMask · 02-24-2012, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by immiketoo

Get a fixie!

Usually I am not a fixie guy, but in this case probably a good choice as long as you don't have big hills in your commute.

You could even put road biased tire on your hard tail, its only 2 1/2 miles.

Pcemkr · 02-24-2012, 10:50 AM

There is next to no elevation change.
I ditched my mountain bike, so I no longer have it.
I'll probably up my budget to $5-600 if it helps. I know a decent Craigslist road bike can be had for under that.

Red Bread · 02-24-2012, 11:01 AM

I use an older Schwinn Madison single speed for a similar commute. I've got 28c tires on it, so it can do minor curbs and such. Perfect solution.

Pcemkr · 02-24-2012, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red Bread

I use an older Schwinn Madison single speed for a similar commute. I've got 28c tires on it, so it can do minor curbs and such. Perfect solution.

Red Bread · 02-24-2012, 01:01 PM

It's a shame the current Madison looks ridiculous, with a flat bar and a dime store fork. I'm sure someone must make a good, cheap single speed/fixie. The Specialized Langster still looks reasonable, for $720. I got my Madison for $325 when Performance was having a sale, it's as much or more fun than my other bikes, none of which cost less than about fifteen times what I paid for the Schwinn.

immiketoo · 02-24-2012, 02:02 PM

Go old school like I did> Way cheaper and cool too!

Pcemkr · 02-24-2012, 02:44 PM

That's all I'm really looking for ^

Buegie · 02-24-2012, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pcemkr

That's all I'm really looking for ^

that's a single speed, it sounds like what you're looking for. A traditional road bike would have drop bars and more gears than you would actually use.

There are a lot of companies that make single speeds so you should have a pretty good selection. This is a friend of a friend's company, if my campus was more spread out I would have picked one up:

http://straycatbicycles.com/

Pcemkr · 02-24-2012, 03:12 PM

Pretty cool, thanks for the link!

ejheverest · 02-26-2012, 01:19 AM

For a commuter bike that might get stolen or vandalized, go single speed/fix gear. Buy used on craigslist and the less decals you have on your bike the less of a chance that someone will steal it.

Feyd · 02-26-2012, 09:23 AM

There are a ton of companies that build custom steel frame fixies for $399 and up..

Here are just a few...

http://www.republicbike.com/
http://www.red2fixedgear.com/
http://store.citygrounds.com/store/c...d-Singlespeed/

r0wr · 02-26-2012, 07:57 PM

http://bikesdirect.com/

bought my fixie from here. cheapest, most reliable bikes for the price

txz4 · 02-26-2012, 10:32 PM

craigslist. Best bang for your buck.

iBoost · 02-26-2012, 11:46 PM

Bikesdirect.com they're all really good beginner bikes and decently priced! I got a single speed from there a while ago.

Pcemkr · 02-27-2012, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by r0wr

http://bikesdirect.com/

bought my fixie from here. cheapest, most reliable bikes for the price

Pcemkr · 02-27-2012, 10:54 AM

Is a fixie ok for urban/suburban commute? I don't know how I feel about not having handle brakes...

Wait nm, I see a lot of them with brakes.

Thoughts on this?
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...ift2_track.htm

MisterSkiMask · 02-27-2012, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pcemkr

Is a fixie ok for urban/suburban commute? I don't know how I feel about not having handle brakes...

Wait nm, I see a lot of them with brakes.

Thoughts on this?
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...ift2_track.htm

I wouldn't get a true fixie for commute, I would want brakes and freewheel hub or a flip flop so you can try both.

Pcemkr · 02-27-2012, 12:25 PM

Thoughts on this one? http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...ift2_track.htm

It's low stock, and I might just pull the trigger.

Or this one: http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...r/timeline.htm

Final candidate (24-speed): http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...ington3_IX.htm

02-23-2012, 10:33 AM	#1
Pcemkr Pro Hater 49 Rep 1,717 Posts Drives: Low and slow Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: DC iTrader: (1)	Commuter Road Bike? I currently metro to work daily. It's 3 stops, $2.15 each way. Simple commute, but I want to pick up a road bike to ride to work in Spring/Summer/Fall. It's ~2.5mi ride one way. Budget: $3-400? I want to pick up something with decent components and lightweight. I'm def willing to scope out Craigslist for something used. I've only had a Giant Rincon hard tail mountain bike and know nothing about road bikes, nor ever ridden one. What should I look for? Brands/models, components, etc.
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

02-24-2012, 10:50 AM	#5
Pcemkr Pro Hater 49 Rep 1,717 Posts Drives: Low and slow Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: DC iTrader: (1)	There is next to no elevation change. I ditched my mountain bike, so I no longer have it. I'll probably up my budget to $5-600 if it helps. I know a decent Craigslist road bike can be had for under that.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

02-24-2012, 11:01 AM	#6
Red Bread Major General 4463 Rep 9,160 Posts Drives: Smog machines Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Austin, TX iTrader: (0)	I use an older Schwinn Madison single speed for a similar commute. I've got 28c tires on it, so it can do minor curbs and such. Perfect solution.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

02-24-2012, 01:01 PM	#8
Red Bread Major General 4463 Rep 9,160 Posts Drives: Smog machines Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Austin, TX iTrader: (0)	It's a shame the current Madison looks ridiculous, with a flat bar and a dime store fork. I'm sure someone must make a good, cheap single speed/fixie. The Specialized Langster still looks reasonable, for $720. I got my Madison for $325 when Performance was having a sale, it's as much or more fun than my other bikes, none of which cost less than about fifteen times what I paid for the Schwinn.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

02-24-2012, 02:44 PM	#10
Pcemkr Pro Hater 49 Rep 1,717 Posts Drives: Low and slow Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: DC iTrader: (1)	That's all I'm really looking for ^
	Appreciate 0 Quote

02-24-2012, 03:12 PM	#12
Pcemkr Pro Hater 49 Rep 1,717 Posts Drives: Low and slow Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: DC iTrader: (1)	Pretty cool, thanks for the link!
	Appreciate 0 Quote

02-26-2012, 01:19 AM	#13
ejheverest First Lieutenant 25 Rep 395 Posts Drives: E90 SG 330i Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Mass, NH, Maine, Virginia iTrader: (0)	For a commuter bike that might get stolen or vandalized, go single speed/fix gear. Buy used on craigslist and the less decals you have on your bike the less of a chance that someone will steal it. __________________ SOLD......E90 SG, ColdWeather Pckg, Sport Pckg, Logic7,H R Sports, Rogue Ikon, M sport shift knob/boot
	Appreciate 0 Quote

02-26-2012, 09:23 AM	#14
Feyd Major 346 Rep 1,288 Posts Drives: a DEEZZULL Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Chicago, IL iTrader: (2)	There are a ton of companies that build custom steel frame fixies for $399 and up.. Here are just a few... http://www.republicbike.com/ http://www.red2fixedgear.com/ http://store.citygrounds.com/store/c...d-Singlespeed/
	Appreciate 0 Quote

02-26-2012, 07:57 PM	#15
r0wr Lieutenant 589 Rep 526 Posts Drives: Beater Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (0)	http://bikesdirect.com/ bought my fixie from here. cheapest, most reliable bikes for the price
	Appreciate 0 Quote

02-26-2012, 10:32 PM	#16
txz4 Major 59 Rep 1,097 Posts Drives: 2006 M coupe Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: san antonio, texas iTrader: (3)	craigslist. Best bang for your buck.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

02-26-2012, 11:46 PM	#17
iBoost Retired e90post Member 135 Rep 3,038 Posts Drives: real slow Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Las Vegas iTrader: (13)	Bikesdirect.com they're all really good beginner bikes and decently priced! I got a single speed from there a while ago.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

02-27-2012, 10:54 AM	#19
Pcemkr Pro Hater 49 Rep 1,717 Posts Drives: Low and slow Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: DC iTrader: (1)	Is a fixie ok for urban/suburban commute? I don't know how I feel about not having handle brakes... Wait nm, I see a lot of them with brakes. Thoughts on this? http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...ift2_track.htm Last edited by Pcemkr; 02-27-2012 at 11:00 AM..
	Appreciate 0 Quote

02-27-2012, 12:25 PM	#21
Pcemkr Pro Hater 49 Rep 1,717 Posts Drives: Low and slow Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: DC iTrader: (1)	Thoughts on this one? http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...ift2_track.htm It's low stock, and I might just pull the trigger. Or this one: http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...r/timeline.htm Final candidate (24-speed): http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...ington3_IX.htm Last edited by Pcemkr; 02-27-2012 at 01:12 PM..
	Appreciate 0 Quote