Ultimate commuter?

Crawf
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Ultimate commuter?

Postby Crawf » Wed Sep 29, 2010 9:07 pm

Its hard to find a bike that can suit most commuting needs, but I think this one has most things covered as far as durability, braking and low maintenance.

http://civiacycles.com/bikes/bryant/bry ... ine/#build

Cr-mo frame
Disc brakes
Belt drive
Alfine hub

Wish I knew this bike existed 4mths ago!

Nobody
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Re: Ultimate commuter?

Postby Nobody » Wed Sep 29, 2010 10:02 pm

Appears to be a nice bike, but I doubt it is going to be cheap by the time it gets to you.

Alfine hubs have been known to have reliability problems, but don't take my word, do a search.

There is a new version of the Gates belt drive due in 2012 which might be worth the wait.

I knew about this bike, but still chose to build my own.

Crawf
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Re: Ultimate commuter?

Postby Crawf » Wed Sep 29, 2010 10:36 pm

Never had an internal geared hub, but I always thought they were super reliable and long lasting from what I read?

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MattyK
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Re: Ultimate commuter?

Postby MattyK » Fri Oct 01, 2010 1:14 pm

Can't speak for Alfine, but my Nexus 8sp has been faultless in ~3 years of every day commuting. on the other hand there's another guy at my work whose Trek Soho crapped out its Nexus after only a few months. Don't know the details, maybe (his is a newer version than mine) it's related to the needle roller bearings?

A Simpel Optimist would float my boat:
http://www.simpel.ch/velos/optimist.html

Alfine or Rohloff, though I'd wait for an 11sp Alfine version to come out...

Of course, if I could afford that I'd probably buy a car...

Espresso_
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Re: Ultimate commuter?

Postby Espresso_ » Fri Oct 01, 2010 2:07 pm

Yeah, that is an excellent-looking bike for many purposes.
Jacobite wrote: Wish I knew this bike existed 4mths ago!
Did you buy something else? If so, what was it?

E

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il padrone
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Re: Ultimate commuter?

Postby il padrone » Fri Oct 01, 2010 3:13 pm

MattyK wrote:A Simpel Optimist would float my boat:
http://www.simpel.ch/velos/optimist.html
Really cool commuter bike - Rohloff + disc brakes + Gates belt-drive + Schmidt dynohub + Supernova E3 3W LED headlight :shock: 8). Yes, this may be the ultimate commuter!

Where's the 'drool' icon?

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Espresso_
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Re: Ultimate commuter?

Postby Espresso_ » Fri Oct 01, 2010 3:56 pm

Is it wrong that these bikes excite me SO much more than a 4kg carbon thingy?

More, I say!

PS. I would prefer drops on my Optimist, thanks.

E

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x8pg2qr
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Re: Ultimate commuter?

Postby x8pg2qr » Fri Oct 01, 2010 4:07 pm

il padrone wrote:
MattyK wrote:A Simpel Optimist would float my boat:
http://www.simpel.ch/velos/optimist.html
Really cool commuter bike - Rohloff + disc brakes + Gates belt-drive + Schmidt dynohub + Supernova E3 3W LED headlight :shock: 8). Yes, this may be the ultimate commuter!

Where's the 'drool' icon?

Image
Very nice.

For those who want or don't mind derailers, I like the Vivente randonneur. Most tourers are better commuters than the average $400 bike, so I hear. Giant even waffles between calling the Giant Transend a "tourer" or "super commuter".

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MattyK
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Re: Ultimate commuter?

Postby MattyK » Fri Oct 01, 2010 5:03 pm

Actually, I've changed my mind - the ultimate commuter is one of those step-through scooter style electric bikes that I saw millions of in Shanghai a few weeks ago...

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elStado
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Re: Ultimate commuter?

Postby elStado » Sat Oct 02, 2010 1:09 am

IMO, this would be my ultimate commuting bike:

Image

http://www.cube.eu/en/tour/urban-life-series/epo-fe/

You get around 100km a charge out of it, depending on conditions. Let's say 80km with a bit of a headwind and some hills. Still pretty good if you're only doing 20-30km each way.

Only issue would be I would always be paranoid of it being stolen or vandalised. Although with a bike like that you can afford to carry a solid U-Lock (or two) with you, and I would have it in secure storage at work.
Check out my practical cycling and cycle touring website: VELOPHILE AUSTRALIA

HillBilly
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Re: Ultimate commuter?

Postby HillBilly » Sat Oct 02, 2010 4:00 pm

Hey that Simpel Optimist shares a lot of similarities with my bike!

Here's my version :

Image

It's a steel 29er Voodoo with Rohloff, Schmidt Dynamo, Supernova lights and Shimano SLX bits.

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casual_cyclist
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Re: Ultimate commuter?

Postby casual_cyclist » Sat Oct 02, 2010 4:25 pm

HillBilly wrote:Hey that Simpel Optimist shares a lot of similarities with my bike!

Here's my version :

Image

It's a steel 29er Voodoo with Rohloff, Schmidt Dynamo, Supernova lights and Shimano SLX bits.
Looking great!
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Nobody
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Re: Ultimate commuter?

Postby Nobody » Sat Oct 02, 2010 5:45 pm

HillBilly wrote:Hey that Simpel Optimist shares a lot of similarities with my bike!

Here's my version :

Image

It's a steel 29er Voodoo with Rohloff, Schmidt Dynamo, Supernova lights and Shimano SLX bits.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/54476325@N ... /lightbox/

Espresso_
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Re: Ultimate commuter?

Postby Espresso_ » Sat Oct 02, 2010 5:48 pm

Could a Leica M9 make my bike look that good?

Nice gear!

E

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DaveOZ
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Re: Ultimate commuter?

Postby DaveOZ » Sat Oct 02, 2010 6:48 pm

I've got one of these coming from Tennessee soon. This will be my ultimate commuter.

Image

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il padrone
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Re: Ultimate commuter?

Postby il padrone » Sun Oct 03, 2010 1:22 pm

Nobody wrote:
HillBilly wrote:Hey that Simpel Optimist shares a lot of similarities with my bike!

Here's my version :

Image

It's a steel 29er Voodoo with Rohloff, Schmidt Dynamo, Supernova lights and Shimano SLX bits.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/54476325@N ... /lightbox/
Couldn't link to it properly. Here it is

Image
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