Today's Forum Topics
Set as homepage
|
View
New Forum Topics Today's Forum Topics Set as homepage |
 |
|
|||||||
Welcome to CyclingForums.com You are currently viewing our website as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions. You will have to register before you can post to this thread. By joining our free online community you will have access to post new topics, communicate privately with other cyclingforums.com members (PM), respond to polls, upload photos and access other special features like product reviews and classifieds. |
 |
|
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread | Display Modes |
27-12.-2003, 10:38 AM
|
#1 |
|
Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 12
|
commuting bike
Hi
What is the best type of commuting bike I need to get a new one as Ive had mone for 10 years Chris |
|
|
|
27-12.-2003, 06:24 PM
|
#2 | |
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 115
|
Re: commuting bike
Quote:
A cheap one? I've always had used bikes I bought from collage kids and yard sales-- both MT and road. It's so much an issue of personal choice. My advice is to buy used becuase used bikes aint worth crap unless the're high end and even then they are tough to sell. I think lots of guys get their friends into cycling becuase they want to sell them their $1200 bike for $800 and buy a new $2400 one. As long as you don't spend a ton of cash on a bike, you can always sell or give it away if you want a new one. |
|
|
|
|
|
10-01.-2004, 04:32 PM
|
#3 |
|
Member
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico
Posts: 84
|
Best commuting bike? Without question, a Gazelle. They have a full line of internally geared, fendered, chain-cased, racked, upright commuting bikes that have design and build quality comparable to the best racing bikes (but, of course, designed and built for commuting). Check out www.gazelle.nl
|
|
|
|
|
11-01.-2004, 01:01 AM
|
#4 | |
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 115
|
Quote:
I'd agree on the Gazelle (or a number of other hand built commuter bikes made in Europe) These bikes are pricey but are very good. Some of the trouble here in the USA is that bikes are geared almost totally towards sport. Don't get me wrong, I like racing and exstreme cycling in all its forms, but there's a heck of a lot more to cycling that that. Rich guys in Europe buy these big high-style commuting bikes with fenders, racks, dyno-hubs, everything-but the kitchen sink built in. Kind of like an $60,000 SUV type of bike. Rich guys here in the USA buy racing bikes-- even though they are 35 and over and fat! (like me) Guys come on this board weighing 220lbs +++ and worry about buying a light weight wheel set. Dude, you have an extra bike hanging from each cheek of your ass! Cutting 500 grams off the wheels of you bike it's a solution. A spendy light weight bike isn't going to change that and it makes you look like a dork. A bike like the Gazelle is perfect for any gentlemen or lady of wealth and taste. |
|
|
|
|
|
14-01.-2004, 03:21 PM
|
#5 |
|
Member
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico
Posts: 84
|
Just to add to the above post...
A high end Gazelle utility bike, something like a Davos or a Touche (with fenders, dynamo, chaincase, internal gears, hub brakes, aluminum frame etc), a bike that will last forever, require extremely little maintenance, and perform as a commuter as well as a Colnago performs as a racing bike sells for about US$800. In other words, not much. I'm not sure how the myth of the pricey European utility bicycle got started in the States, but it certainly isn't based on reality. Even the most basic, garden variety mountain bike sells for more than $800. Along with the previous poster, I am equally mystified that the American bicycle market supplies only mountain bikes and road racing bikes--even recreational road bikes and the so-called commuter/comfort bikes are basically performance road bikes or mountain bikes. Which totally misses the needs of most of the market. |
|
|
|
|
14-01.-2004, 11:17 PM
|
#6 | |
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 115
|
Quote:
Some of the trouble is that Americans have a really narrow view of what you could use a bike for, unlike places like India and China, were bikes are used for everything or even Europe, were cycling is an intergrated part of the overall transportation grid. Of course the suburban US isn't really built for bike riding either-- too many big feeder roads with too many cars all trying to merge on the freeway. And even at a thousand bucks, a bike is still dirt cheap transportation compared to a car-- driving costs 30 cents per mile plus (according to the IRS). So almost any bike pays for itself rather quicky if it replaces driving. |
|
|
|
|
|
15-01.-2004, 04:57 AM
|
#7 | |
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Salt Lake City
Posts: 116
|
Re: commuting bike
Quote:
Also, don't forget Breezer's line of town bikes. They have features similar to the Gazelle bikes. Check them out: www.breezerbikes.com
__________________
Don't go making snow cones at your local dog park. You will surely regret it. |
|
|
|
|
|
15-01.-2004, 07:32 PM
|
#8 |
|
Member
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico
Posts: 84
|
Breezers are not in the same league as Gazelles, although they do aim at the same to serve the same needs.
The Breezer people are aware that their bikes don't make use of some of the more useful design features of European utility bikes, for example, hub brakes, chain cases, and if memory serves, internal gearing. When last I spoke to Breezer they told me that although they know that these things would enhance the utility of their bikes, U.S. dealers were largely against gearing, braking systems and other features that were significantly different from other bikes in their inventory. If this is true, it represents a breathtaking misreading of the latent and unfulfilled needs of their market. |
|
|
|
|
15-01.-2004, 11:16 PM
|
#9 | |
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 115
|
Quote:
I don't know msrw, Breezers do have most of everything a good city bike should have, like built in lighting, chain guard, internal hub gearing, great racks, fenders.... overall they are a pretty sweet bike. You're right about bike re-sellers, however, most ofthe good ones are rather small and don't like to take risks with new product lines. Also bike shops are filled with guys who have way to much testosterone to every be caught dead riding a bike with a bell on it, or even a bike over 30 lbs.... |
|
|
|
|
|
16-01.-2004, 07:54 AM
|
#10 | |
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Salt Lake City
Posts: 116
|
Quote:
Disagree on that figure. Usually it's something like 25 lbs  .Checked out the Gazelle website, and was duly impressed. They have thought of everything (even the skirt guards). Wish US urban planners had thought about the design of communities. We'd have alot less pollution, congestion, road rage, big f*#@ing single-occupancy sport utes, and retards that drive jacked-up pick ups with their requisite US flag sticker that shows how great they think America is and that they support our troops, even though they use the greatest amount of natural resources, and perpetuate US dependence on oil from the Middle East because our auto manufacturers can't seem to get it through their stupid heads that bigger is not better, so we send those US troops to war to sustain an unsustainable American standard of living. Oh, but we're liberating Iraq. Yes, it's Operation Iraqi Liberation (OIL). Sorry for the rant. Belongs in "my bloody soapbox," but we're all commuters here, aren't we? But anyway, where can I get a Gazelle in the US, and how much am I going to pay for one? Breezer dealers can be found in nearly every state and prices for their town bikes start at $400. Sure you may be able to order one, but who's going to fix it. Better to buy from a local bike shop and help the local economy.
__________________
Don't go making snow cones at your local dog park. You will surely regret it. |
|
|
|
|
|
16-01.-2004, 01:59 PM
|
#11 |
|
Member
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico
Posts: 84
|
Gazelles aren't distributed in the States. I've discussed this with their export manager--Gazelle is concerned about the overly aggressive litigatory environment in the U.S.
I bought two of them from Cycle Heaven in York, England. It was relatively easy. The owner of Cycle Heaven is Andy Shrimpton--very nice guy. If you're interested, his web site is www.cycle-heaven.co.uk. If you're used to standard high end, high maintenance bikes, it may seem like a significant issue that these bikes aren't sold in the States. However, in the two years I've had these things (both bikes have been ridden daily), I haven't had any major problem, and have not had to perform anything other than the most minimal maintenance. The coat guard on one of the bike broke--Cycle Heaven sent me a new one. Small parts that aren't available in the U.S. (like drum brake shoes) can be ordered from the UK with no great difficulty. Breezers are good bikes, but the difference between a Breezer and the better Gazelle utility bikes is the difference between the best execution of the utility bike design, and an average execution thereof. I've ridden both--the Gazelle is worth the relatively modest extra cost. |
|
|
|
|
17-01.-2004, 12:03 AM
|
#12 | |
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 115
|
Quote:
You may be right to go with the Gazelle-- The Breezer Villager is around $650 US wich isn't cheap. I've always thought that when I person is spending big money on a bike they should try yo get exactly what they want, becuase you can get some old bike a a garage sale for cheap if you wish to settle for less. I'm quite sure you can get hub brake shoes here in the US-- it's Shimano parts, right? I've also heard that Shimano is working a the next generation of Nexis hub-- with 21 speeds!?! This will mean that the derailer is toast in my book. |
|
|
|
|
|
18-01.-2004, 09:41 AM
|
#13 |
|
Member
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico
Posts: 84
|
Re drum brake shoes in the States.....
One of the Gazelles has a Sram internal hub with Sram drum brake--easier to find parts for that in the UK. The other Gazelle has Shimano roller brakes, which are now being sold in the States. Great brakes, by the way. Have the stopping power of disks with MUCH less maintenance. The newest Nexis internal hub I've heard of has 8 gears. I'd be curious to see what a hub with 21 gears would cost. The Rohloff with 14 gears (which, by the way, is an exceptional piece of equipment) sells for about US$ 800. |
|
|
|
|
25-01.-2004, 03:29 PM
|
#14 | |
|
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: California, USA
Posts: 25
|
Quote:
I hear yah tacomee. To most people in the U.S., the bicycle is a children's toy (every child learns, right?), or used for weekend jaunts around the neighborhood park. I try to do my part to spread the "good word" of the many uses of the bicycle by, what else, cycling everywhere. |
|
|
|
|
|
26-01.-2004, 02:05 AM
|
#15 |
|
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Paris, France
Posts: 750
|
Interesting discussion here. There are a lot of us who want a multi-purpose, functional bike. Mine's a cheapo dreamboat, less than 200 bucks, new. Use it for commuting and errands, and consequently, for excercise and fun.
Neighbor has an old Gazelle. Have tried it. It's handsome and a well made bike, but very heavy (hills are a b@tch) and not very manoevrable. That said, it's one of those bikes that you love as an object and become attached to. I'd think twice about buying one in the States as my everyday bike, unless I really knew how to do basic maintenance myself (which I for one do not). In Europe there do seem to be a lot more bikes for average folks who have no ambition to race or look excessively cool. Just bikes for everyday use. Trying to attach a picture of mine, from the Go SPort catalogue. I've purchased soft saddle bags, a childseat (that I can remove, but it's also very practical for hauling things like 6 packs of 1 liter water bottles, big bag of groceries, etc.). Basket on the front is standard. You can add all kinds of stuff, like skirt guards, if you want, although I would no more wear a skirt to bike than I would to ride a motorcycle. So here she is, the one on the top. The one on the bottom looks nice too. And for under 200$, if it gets stolen (happens a lot) I'll be sad, but not ruined. Pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal....
__________________
The six-pack will be mine... |
|
|
|
Linear Mode
