I stopped riding my fast road bike to work and to do shopping due to it not being so good for racks, fenders, and occasional muddy concrete - plus i don't like to leave it locked up in public outside. Started using a cheap heavy (35 lbs) hybrid I used to ride but I hate it. Brakes that don't stay adjusted longer than a day, crappy unnecessary suspension fork, HEAVY heavy wheels with 38c cheapo tires that go flat more often than my 23c Michelin road tires...
So, I start looking for a "real" respectable commuter that I can still feel ok about locking up outside.. Once you go up from $400 to ~$900 in price they start *adding* **** I don't want rather than improving the frame or bearings, for example I don't want a suspension fork! I don't need disc brakes!! I don't think I want an internal hub either (I can't work on those, they're heavy, and I'm not convinced they're efficient OR really water-proof) Just give me a decent light frame with eyelets for racks and fender and some decent hubs that will either LAST in the rain or can actually be rebuilt. I want my dollars going toward the right bits.
Suggestions?
So, I start looking for a "real" respectable commuter that I can still feel ok about locking up outside.. Once you go up from $400 to ~$900 in price they start *adding* **** I don't want rather than improving the frame or bearings, for example I don't want a suspension fork! I don't need disc brakes!! I don't think I want an internal hub either (I can't work on those, they're heavy, and I'm not convinced they're efficient OR really water-proof) Just give me a decent light frame with eyelets for racks and fender and some decent hubs that will either LAST in the rain or can actually be rebuilt. I want my dollars going toward the right bits.
Suggestions?