Ultimate longer-distance commuter bike?

[Greenbelt]

So I was ruminating about how I’d design my ideal commuter bike. For daily commutes that are at least 10 or 15 miles each way, and have a variety of conditions: trails, streets, maybe even a little dirt. Both long flat stretches and some (not-too-steep) hills, straightaways and tight spots, different surfaces and traffic conditions. Ideally, it would need a combination of good durability, stability, comfort, speed, handling, traction and maneuverability, utility, and low-maintenance requirements in daily sloppy conditions.

It’s an important fact that I know virtually nothing about bike design and I’m generally mechanically inept. Very inept. But anyway, I figured I’d try to start a discussion with folks with more long-distance commuting experience and more engineering aptitude.

So anyway I think my ideal bike would be a newer CX-style setup (generally fast for racing, built for rugged use and fairly high bottom clearance and no cables along the downtube in the mud zone), but probably with a high-end steel frame (combination of not-too-expensive, durable and pretty good ride), and with disk brakes like a touring bike. The heavier frame and disk brakes would add a little weight compared with a racing CX bike, but that’s OK for commuting – we ride heavy anyways. Disk brakes just seem way better when it’s wet.

A road bike is not rugged enough I think for my commute – just too narrow tires for all the potholes, speedbumps and road creases, gravely spots, off-road sections. Ideal bike would have enough clearance to put a fairly wide range of tire sizes on. I usually use 35mm width tires, so I’m pretty used to fairly wider, lower compression tires, which roll a little slower than road tires, but are generally fast enough for commuting and have excellent traction and can go off road or through not-too-deep snow and slush. Also lower compression I think less likely to puncture and easier to change a tube. Plus a little more comfort I think. But others might want the flexibility for narrower tires for more speed or wider tires for rougher conditions.

As far as gearing, I think rear cassette on most CX racing bikes has too many gears for commuting – too high maintenance with those tight gear clearances. Maybe a double chainring in front and 7 or 8 gears in the back for a decent commuting range (speeds up to maybe 25 or 26 max when pedaling, and probably don’t need any extreme climbing granny gears just sitting there never used). Would need the integrated brake-shift levers, since I often downshift while braking for red lights or when standing up climbing and the legs aren’t there. And I think it’s just better in traffic to always have both hands on the brakes at all times. Drop handlebars helpful for when there’s that really strong headwind.

Agree or disagree? Would a bike like that work? Would it sell?

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[Supermau]

That’s a handsome bike.

[Slosurf]

My commute is 25 miles each way. Suburban roads, C&O canal towpath and downtown DC. I ride a Specialized CRUX and a Specialized AWOL. I love ’em both. Both great long distance commuters.

[gswim18]

I ride is a Fargo with Big Apples – approx 10.5 miles each way. New to bike commuting this year – really liked the Fargo during Freezing Saddles, still really liking it but it does get heavy on the ride up the CCT after work. Used to have a Kona Jake that got stolen, thinking about adding the new Kona Rove AL to the stable. GB, any idea how the Big Rove might compare to the AL version?

[Greenbelt]

@gswim18 94486 wrote:

I ride is a Fargo with Big Apples – approx 10.5 miles each way. New to bike commuting this year – really liked the Fargo during Freezing Saddles, still really liking it but it does get heavy on the ride up the CCT after work. Used to have a Kona Jake that got stolen, thinking about adding the new Kona Rove AL to the stable. GB, any idea how the Big Rove might compare to the AL version?

The AL looks like the same geometry as the steel Rove but I haven’t ridden it; the Big Rove appears to be more mountain bikey, although I found that it handled great on the roads too. Sort of like a Unit with gears, narrower bar etc.

[JorgeGortex]

I just picked up a Trek Crossrip LTD that I plan to commute and run errands on. My commute to work is just shy of 10 miles each way via FMR trail and Commonwealth Blvd to the King St. metro area. I got tired of lugging everything on my back since only my fat tire MTB had rack mounts. Now I’ll have rack mounts and panniers! Yippee! A report here soon after I get the bike fit to me and tuned. Cheers.

[Greenbelt]

Got my first look at the Jamis Nova Pro last night — there’s a demo that just happens to be my size, imagine that. This one might give the Big Rove a run on the “next commuter bike when the old one finally breaks” (which it probably never will, the old one’s a tank) but we can fantasize…
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