Entry level commuter bike?

13-02.-2007, 01:33 PM	#1
sideshowbob Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 15	Entry level commuter bike? I'm considering commuting the 24 miles each way to work, a few days a week. I've commutted 16 miles on a wornout Mongoose switchback a few times. The bike had 2.0 tires and was in bad shape! - I'm looking for a low budget commute bike for $600 or less. And i have considered adding an electric hub or honda gx31( chain drive) to get up the big hills. Do the low budget bikes have a higher maintence schedule? - Is the trek portland worth $1,600? - If i'm wanting internal hubs and a disk brake, would i be better off updating my Switchback?

13-02.-2007, 03:29 PM	#2
garage sale GT Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 1,114	Re: Entry level commuter bike? You can still get a Cadillac AV-8 for $229 on Amazon. I don't know why they are blowing them out like this. Buy the bike, take the wheels off, and put them on a mountain frame and you'll have an 8-speed internal hub and drum brakes front and rear. You may have to fabricate a simple reaction arm holder for the front disc brake, which you can bolt to disc brake mounts on a mountain fork. I got one but was a bit strapped for cash so thought I would just ride it as a comfort bike. The hub is quite smooth. It does seem a bit harder to pedal unless you control the bobbing of the suspension.

14-02.-2007, 11:53 AM	#3
sideshowbob Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 15	Re: Entry level commuter bike? Are the internal hubs going to survive the commute? Is this a low quality part? Any idea what the gear ratio is? Does everything bolt right on? How are the drum brakes in the rain? Any idea on maintence on the brakes? Sounds like it might work on my worn out mongoose switchback (hybrid).

14-02.-2007, 12:16 PM	#4
garage sale GT Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 1,114	Re: Entry level commuter bike? I have not actually converted a bike so I don't know. The drums are marvelous in the rain and after taking up the initial slack I have not had to touch them. The front hub has cartridge bearings. The bottom bracket is standard but you might need to use a crank from a derailleur bike in order to be able to change your chainline. The fork has some kind of oversize, threaded headset but looks like a standard 1" threaded steerer. You may need to buy a new headset. If you don't use the cadillac fork you will need to fabricate a sturdy attachment for the brake's reaction arm. It doesn't line up with the fork so you can't just use a simple strap like a coaster brake bike. The hub is spaced 131mm. You may need shim washers to get it to work with your spacing. It is a smooth working hub but shifter adjustment can be a bit finicky. I have basically put about 2-300 miles on mine without modifying it. Perhaps the hub would break if not for the suspension, but that would be out of character for Sturmey-Archer; their hubs are rugged. However, the 8-speed is new; I never saw one for sale until last year. Neither I nor I bet anyone else knows for sure how the 8-speed will hold up long term. Basically I think you could commute on the bike as-is, though the lack of fender mounts hinders its all-weather usability. I am sure Cadillac used the internal gear hubs and drum brakes because comfort users would find them clean and hassle-free. There's also not much room for a luggage rack. Other bikes with 8-speed hubs seem to sell for $800. I don't know why these are so cheap. There is certainly no reason yet apparent.

14-02.-2007, 12:32 PM	#5
garage sale GT Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 1,114	Re: Entry level commuter bike? The wheels are 26" MTB size, the sprocket is 25T, the chainring is 33T, first gear is 1:1, 8th gear is +205% (305% total range). I can spin up most hills with it pretty easy, although you have to learn to pedal in circles or else it will bob and eat up some of your energy.

17-02.-2007, 05:32 AM	#6
cyberpep Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Grafton, Ontario, Canada Posts: 6	Re: Entry level commuter bike? 3years ago I decided to commute to work to save buying an additional car. I bought a new Giant Cypress R. It has a high enough gearing for a pleasurable highway ride plus a granny gear for the steep hills.I put a cheap rack on it and got a set of small panniers to carry my stuff. 15,000 kilometers later carrying my 220 lbs. this bike is still running well, just keep it clean and lubricated. A pretty good purchase for $400 canadian.

17-02.-2007, 09:26 AM	#7
garage sale GT Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 1,114	Re: Entry level commuter bike? That's the route I went when I needed a commuter a few years ago: basic LBS machine. I got an MTB though, because the wide tires are better on gravel shoulders. It worked great. V-brakes are fine in the rain given good pads and aluminum rims. I got the Caddy last year because by then I had a couple of other working bikes and could afford to tinker around with it, leave it partially disassembled, etc.

20-02.-2007, 02:58 PM	#8
sideshowbob Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 15	Re: Entry level commuter bike? www.bicycling.com Bicycling magazine listed some commuter bikes in their buyer guide (april 2006). All of them are $500 or less. Any comments on the bikes listed below. It's strange that people spend $10,000 for velomobiles! khs ....urban-x raleigh ....passage 4.0 giant.... cypress lx scott usa ...sub30 I would consider a road bike with upright handlebars.

20-02.-2007, 03:14 PM	#9
gclark8 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Perth (Basso), West Australia Posts: 3,510	Re: Entry level commuter bike? Check out the Scott Sub 10, a cross town rocket! __________________ Cheers, George.

20-02.-2007, 04:19 PM	#10
sideshow_bob Registered User Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 478	Re: Entry level commuter bike? hey man this towns only big enough for one sideshowbob .. pistols at dawn should settle it --brett

21-02.-2007, 12:19 AM

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garage sale GT