Gotta Get a new Commuter Bike — simple and clean

Our Community › Forums › Bikes & Equipment › Gotta Get a new Commuter Bike — simple and clean

Viewing 12 posts - 1 through 12 (of 12 total)
  • Author
    Posts
  • May 24, 2017 at 2:35 pm #1071271
    TwoWheelsDC
    Participant

    If you like your Giant, why not just pick up a Defy or maybe a Contend frame and move your existing components over from the old bike? Or are you looking to do a total upgrade? Also, what’s your budget?

    May 24, 2017 at 2:37 pm #1071272
    Crickey7
    Participant

    Why drop bar for commuting five miles? It’s a matter of preference, sure, but I find flat better for in-town quick course adjustments, heads up visibility and real estate for mounting accessories.

    May 24, 2017 at 2:56 pm #1071274
    vvill
    Participant

    Maybe shop for a used bike from a co-op or similar.

    Otherwise, any entry level road bike should fit your spec although you may be forced up into a 10/11 speed drivetrain if you buy a whole bike. Sounds like you may only need a frameset though.

    May 24, 2017 at 3:14 pm #1071280
    Crickey7
    Participant

    The range of options from manufacturers now is dizzying. There are whole categories that didn’t exist 5 years ago, much less 13. I’d suggest a visit to a shop to get a sense of what kind of bike fits your current needs, rather than deciding in advance what kind of bike does, then picking the best in that group. For example, the current move toward wider tires is counterintuitive to what people thought just a few years ago, that narrower was always faster.

    May 24, 2017 at 4:55 pm #1071289
    AFHokie
    Participant

    So you want brazen ons for a rack or fenders?

    Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930AZ using Tapatalk

    May 24, 2017 at 4:57 pm #1071290
    huskerdont
    Participant

    @TwoWheelsDC 160568 wrote:

    If you like your Giant, why not just pick up a Defy or maybe a Contend frame and move your existing components over from the old bike? Or are you looking to do a total upgrade? Also, what’s your budget?

    I second this. When I broke my old aluminum Felt, I picked up an $80 frame and moved everything over. It’s no longer my wonderful Felt, but it’s pretty nice and it reminds me of it every time I use it. You can do some/all of the work yourself, or have a shop do it if that’s not your thing.

    May 24, 2017 at 5:03 pm #1071291
    Birru
    Participant

    Maybe a Kona Tonk? Seems like a nice, honest steel bike. But yeah, if your components are good, a frameset sounds like a the way to go.

    May 24, 2017 at 5:20 pm #1071295
    Steve O
    Participant

    For commuting with drops a steel touring bike might be a good option. A bit heavier, but durable. Somewhat more relaxed than a straight road bike and happily takes fenders and rack, etc., so good for all your around-town needs like picking up some groceries on your home commute.
    My Fuji started as a 3×9, but when the FD broke I switched out to 1×9, which is all the gears you really need, if not a couple extra.

    May 24, 2017 at 5:21 pm #1071296
    EasyRider
    Participant

    @LooseFur 160566 wrote:

    So, what do you recommend to a guy who wants a straightforward and clean drop bar road bike for the commute?

    I’d recommend a steel road bike with clearance for at least 28mm tires with fenders. Depending on budget, I’d either look for 1980s Trek or the like, or have my LBS order a Surly Pacer or Soma ES frame+fork.
    As others have said, if you can take the components off your cracked frame and put them on a new or used frame, that’s a great way to go.

    May 26, 2017 at 7:13 pm #1071417
    ian74
    Participant

    Check out these, I agree with steve-o, something like a steel tourer/relaxed geometry road

    jamis aurora
    All city space horse
    Kona rove al

    May 26, 2017 at 7:49 pm #1071418
    FFX_Hinterlands
    Participant

    I’ll always put in a word for Handsome Devil. It’s a mix between touring and cyclocross, fits 35c tires with fenders or 45 without, canti brakes. GRAND RANDONNEUR from Soma is similar, but uses 650B wheels and canti brakes.

    May 27, 2017 at 7:50 pm #1071432
    ebubar
    Participant

    Selling my lightly used 2014 Giant Defy 1 (bought new last spring). Complete bike with 105’s. Size medium for a good price (listed for 600 but we can work on that) if you want a complete bike.

    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  • Author
    Posts
Viewing 12 posts - 1 through 12 (of 12 total)
  • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.