Which bike should I buy for winter commuting, weekend rides, and Freezing Saddles?

[Sarah Dots]

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/gravity/liberty_cx.htm

or

http://bikeshopwarehouse.com/cgi-bin/BSW_STOR20.cgi?Action=Details&ProdID=63

I’m leaning toward the second one because it seems like more bike for the money. But I don’t know much. Am I missing anything?

I’ll ride about 70-100 miles per week

Thanks all!

Topic

[DismalScientist]

That is a no-brainer. Although clearly, previous model components (10 speed 105), I would expect the second bike to cost a minimum of $700. I can’t tell if it has rear rack mounts. (And you would would want to remove the interuptor levers.)

[Crickey7]

Agreed, the second bike seems steeply discounted, the first seems cheap.

[culimerc]

My dad actually owns one of the gravity bikes. Its’ nice enough for the price. It’s just your basic bike. Nicer than Cosco/Walmart mart, not as nice as Trek/Specialized.

[Anonymous]

@DismalScientist 96574 wrote:

(And you would would want to remove the interuptor levers.)

Because…?

(not that I’m buying this bike, just curious of the reasoning?)

[cyclingfool]

Piling on in support of bike number two. And don’t go tearing the interrupter levers off right away. You might like them.

[jrenaut]

Your experience may vary, but I hated the interrupter levers. They took up too much space on the bars that I would rather use for bell/light/computer, and I never ever used them. And they’re ugly.

[Sarah Dots]

I think the interrupter comment is because I was asking about bikes in August and said I didn’t like interrupters. The bikes I’ve ridden with them had more stopping power on the interrupters than the brifter brakes–or however you’re supposed to say that–but I ride on the hoods even in the city, so I’ve not been fond of the idea.

Anyway, TA DA! I bought it before it’s gone. It has everything except disc brakes, so I snapped it up. I needed your expert opinions because I only knew 1/2 of the components. So thank you for confirming what I guessed was true.

Of course, I’m buying this when I’m injured and haven’t been able to ride–or move much–since August (nerve damage in my leg) and may not be able to ride for another month or two (so I’ve realized that my stated mileage values in my original question are more end-of-winter than beginning-of-winter numbers–take note, RCannon, the lower values I report when I register for FS15 won’t be sandbagging!). But by Nov/Dec, the weather will be crappy and I’ll need something so I don’t trash my road bike any more. Spending money on this now is called being hopeful not being foolish, right?

[cyclingfool]

@Sarah Dots 96601 wrote:

But by Nov/Dec, the weather will be crappy and I’ll need something so I don’t trash my road bike any more. Spending money on this now is called being hopeful not being foolish, right?

Right! :thumbsup:

[Phatboing]

@jrenaut 96593 wrote:

Your experience may vary, but I hated the interrupter levers. They took up too much space on the bars that I would rather use for bell/light/computer, and I never ever used them. And they’re ugly.

And they never let you finish your sentences, even.

[mstone]

@Phatboing 96609 wrote:

And they never let you finish your sentences, even.

knock knock
who’s there?
interrupting cow
interrup…
MOO!

[DismalScientist]

This might be an informative link: http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/windsor/cyclo.htm

There do appear to be rear rack mounts.

My guess is that bikeshopwarehouse.com (or whatever) is just another cog in the vast bikesdirect network through which it sells its closeouts.

[Subby]

Interrupters are great and I still have room for a light and a k-edge mount (and a bell if I ever wanted to do that).

INTERRUPTERS 4 LYFE

[mstone]

@DismalScientist 96615 wrote:

My guess is that bikeshopwarehouse.com (or whatever) is just another cog in the vast bikesdirect network through which it sells its closeouts.

well, yeah, since windsor is a bikesdirect house brand.

[Sarah Dots]

It isn’t in the specs, but there’s a mention of throwing racks and fenders on it in the text, so I’d call it false advertising if that wasn’t possible. Not that advertising is honest (ever), but still.

@DismalScientist 96615 wrote:

This might be an informative link: http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/windsor/cyclo.htm

There do appear to be rear rack mounts.

My guess is that bikeshopwarehouse.com (or whatever) is just another cog in the vast bikesdirect network through which it sells its closeouts.

[ebubar]

Let us know how it goes! I’d like a winter drop bar commuter myself and BIKESDIRECT seems a potential route to go.

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