Reliable Commuter
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Reliable Commuter
Postby Sydguy » Fri Apr 01, 2011 6:24 pm
Commuting home last night a spoke snapped, same as last time, rear wheel at hub. Can't afford this to keep happening.
As I need new bike, what should I aim for $ wise in flat bar roadies, to ensure the components will withstand 200 km weekly? I've realised that an entry level hybrid won't take the mileage. At any rate the frame is far too small.
New lbs is saying $1300 mark gets flat bar with decent parts. But he thinks my single pannier is too heavy and I should get a road bike use a backpack and fly to work.
Any advice?
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Re: Reliable Commuter
Postby jasonc » Fri Apr 01, 2011 6:53 pm
It has 105 rear cassette and derailleur. it rides on 700x28c tyres which have tread, so if you want super skinny road tyres they'll have to be replaced.
I was in the same situation (sans pannier situation) and didn't want a road bike. this was exactly what i was looking for at the right price.
cheers
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Re: Reliable Commuter
Postby il padrone » Fri Apr 01, 2011 7:46 pm
Go to a better bike shopSydguy wrote:But he thinks my single pannier is too heavy and I should get a road bike use a backpack and fly to work.
Any advice?
It's your choice about what you need to carry to work and how you carry it. It will have exactly 5/8 of SFA in the question of the cause of your brooken spokes.
For the best way to resolve this I'd consider looking at your spoke count and considering whether a set of wheels with 36 SS spokes, handbuilt by a reputable wheel builder might give you greater durability.
I have to carry two panniers of gear to work and have not broken a spoke in the past 18 years on my commuter bikes. Low-cost modern bikes usually have machine-built wheels, often with 32 spokes, or less. This is an area of greater weakness.
"An unjustified and unethical imposition on a healthy activity."
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Re: Reliable Commuter
Postby kiso » Fri Apr 01, 2011 7:50 pm
A new pair of wheels is a lot cheaper than a new bike!
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Re: Reliable Commuter
Postby il padrone » Fri Apr 01, 2011 8:26 pm
Sounds like an old wives tale IMHO. My Giant Sedona touring MTB and commuter has gone through 4 pairs of hoops in 18 years:kiso wrote:How many km has the bike done? It could be that you just need new wheels. I've been told that as the rims wear down (assuming you don't have disc brakes) the wheels flex more, resulting in more broken spokes.
Original Araya - 6 years
Mavic (?) - 5 years
Mavic X317 - 5 years
Velocity Synergy - 3 years*
Mavic XM517 - 1 year (still in action on wife's bike)
The first 4 rim sets all wore until the sidewalls either became 'orribly concave or actually split. Never broke a single spoke in that time.
* disappointed in the performance from the Velocity
"An unjustified and unethical imposition on a healthy activity."
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Re: Reliable Commuter
Postby Sydguy » Fri Apr 01, 2011 10:51 pm
Have changed bike shops... the original LBS replaced the first spoke but did not cross it over... my new LBS thought that was pretty funny. I of course did not.
I will either get a very close to top of the range flat bar from a large company like Avanti/Giant or perhaps something with internal gear hub, heavy and tank like in durability. Happy to sacrifice speed for reliability.
The joke is on me though - I started cycle commuting to save money!
Jm
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Re: Reliable Commuter
Postby Gravel_Rash » Sat Apr 02, 2011 7:45 pm
2006 Specialized Hardrock
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Re: Reliable Commuter
Postby westab » Sat Apr 02, 2011 8:03 pm
I don't think the kind of bike is that important - you have to enjoy riding your machine; having panniers does place extra load on your rear wheel so it does require more care and attention.
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Re: Reliable Commuter
Postby nickobec » Sat Apr 02, 2011 11:39 pm
don't risk your back
personally I don't ride on Monday's. So I take enough clean clothes for week in and my dirty clothe out on Monday's by train. That way I avoid riding with panniers or backpack most days. Survive using a seat bag and/or handlebar bag.
I have broken two spokes on a very cheap ($80) wheelset after 4000km, my other wheelsets no problems, even with far more mileage on them.
I commute on variety of bikes including a modern 10 speed steel road bike, retro 7 speed Repco Superlite and a steel singlevspped. Not a flatbar in sight.
Note my commute is 40km, and 32km is on PSP without cars.
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Re: Reliable Commuter
Postby goneriding » Sun Apr 03, 2011 11:06 am
I've got the same set of commuting wheels as westab and have just recently had the rear one rebuilt due to multiple spoke breakages. They have done about 25,000 km's on Sydney roads which impressed me!
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Re: Reliable Commuter
Postby DavidS » Sun Apr 03, 2011 12:12 pm
DS
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Re: Reliable Commuter
Postby Sydguy » Sun Apr 03, 2011 7:03 pm
I need to get a new bicycle frame, as the current one is far too small and likely to cause me other dramas (back etc...). It is basically starting again, but this time I know that I am commuting 4 days per week, and 5 days when uni is out - regardless of weather etc...
The Giant Seek 2 and Scott Sub 45 would do the trick from what two separate LBS's have told me and they seem genuine and very understanding of what I need. Thank Allah/God (insert what ever make believe fairy you pray to) for this forum, I will never have much mechanical understanding but the amount of info and advice on here is awesome.
My only call now is do I roll with an 8speed internal hub job or just get the usual gearing. The Seek comes in single speed, not keen on and an 8 gear internal hub. Some good topics on the internal hubs, I'm leaning towards the Giant Seek City for that reason. Now the hard part is to track down a large (55 or 56cm) one that I can test ride. A new batch of Giant's are due to hit stores in the next 2 - 3 weeks and for that reason the big bike shop in Burwood could not get in a Seek 2, in large until the news ones hit the store.
It would be great if I can find a Seek City in Sydney that is a 2010 run out... and am planning to hit numerous bike shops next weekend. The strong AUD is a blessing as Giant are holding their prices for the new versions, or so I am told!
Thanks for the tips people!
JM
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Re: Reliable Commuter
Postby CommuRider » Sun Apr 03, 2011 8:13 pm
The other positives are that my bike looks more streamlined and well, I am sure others here would say it is 'weight training' with the added weight at the back.
Looks like you are becoming a serious commuter! Good luck with the decision and make sure the LBS you buy it from knows their stuff well and will not pull wool over your eyes or try to bulldoze you with what is good for them rather than good for you. I had to insist on some stuff with my conversion thanks to the knowledge available on this forum as I have more confidence to talk to bike shop owners now. Specifically, when they told me to get a new bike when I knew the quality of my bike could withstand the conversion. Had to wait a bit but got what I wanted in the end. So be assertive with your specs and know what you want.
Remember, you are the buyer and will be the owner of the bike so you will have to live with the purchase and use it!
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Re: Reliable Commuter
Postby gdt » Sun Apr 03, 2011 9:07 pm
Spokes are the bane of my life, mainly because throwing a spoke puts the wheel out of action for a few days (either into the LBS or into the shed until the weekend). So if you do upgrade, keep the old set as reserves.
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Re: Reliable Commuter
Postby mekore » Thu Apr 21, 2011 3:59 am
brrrr..... what an lbs....... i think you just need a pair of strong wheels... look for those with at least 32 spokes, and it should be hand built, it will last a looot longer and is cheaper for long shots. or, you can buy that is factry made, and have your lbs to true and tension it. i recommend that you have your lbs(better not that one) to build custom wheelsets for you. even with 500-600$, you can get a good set of strong wheels that will last for years, and it may outlive your bike. Mate your wheels with wide tires, i think 32c is minimal if you use heavy panniers, wide tires will help to strengthen your wheels too my tips to look for a good lbs is to look for one with at least one old and wise lookin, partially bald guy reading newspaper or component catalog on the corner of the shop usually they are honest and open for consultation...Sydguy wrote:Hi all,
Commuting home last night a spoke snapped, same as last time, rear wheel at hub. Can't afford this to keep happening.
As I need new bike, what should I aim for $ wise in flat bar roadies, to ensure the components will withstand 200 km weekly? I've realised that an entry level hybrid won't take the mileage. At any rate the frame is far too small.
New lbs is saying $1300 mark gets flat bar with decent parts. But he thinks my single pannier is too heavy and I should get a road bike use a backpack and fly to work.
Any advice?
Good luck!
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Re: Reliable Commuter
Postby cachexian » Mon Jun 27, 2011 8:36 am
Electric one: battery and work pannier bag 8kgish
Human powered: my son 20kgish
I've not had any probs with broken spokes. I did snap a mounting bolt on the pannier rack on the ebike. I don't slow down for bumps etc on that bike as much as I do with my son on the back (for obvious reasons).
I don't do the Ks that you do on a weekly basis but have now done 1000ks on the ebike and about 2500k on the other one.
I definitely recommend Scott Sub for commuting. I was advised against hub gears because of difficulty getting the wheel off for tube changes.
and...
Trek Madonne 3.1 driven by left leg and right leg
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Re: Reliable Commuter
Postby MattyK » Mon Jun 27, 2011 12:32 pm
The problem there is your choice of tyres, not the hub.cachexian wrote: I definitely recommend Scott Sub for commuting. I was advised against hub gears because of difficulty getting the wheel off for tube changes.
The rear wheel can be removed with a 15mm spanner and a 2mm allen key (or an old spoke). Brakes would loosen like any others.
rear facing track style "dropouts" you would need to drop the chain before removing the wheel, but most have forward dropouts, and/or a master link on the chain.
matt
2 years with no punctures - schwalbe marathon *jinx*
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Re: Reliable Commuter
Postby cachexian » Mon Jun 27, 2011 10:31 pm
I had an horrible puncture yesterday - but I guarantee that your marathons would not have protected you. 2 inch nail straight through the kevlar protection belt on my Schwalbe Duranos and out through the sidewall.
I did actually patch the tube though without taking off the wheel. Love the Park Tools Super Patch!
I've got Mr Tuffys under Continental Contact Sports on my commuter and love them - six months no punctures.
and...
Trek Madonne 3.1 driven by left leg and right leg
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Re: Reliable Commuter
Postby MattyK » Tue Jun 28, 2011 5:38 pm
So what you're saying is the presence of a hub gear would have made no difference to the ease of repair?cachexian wrote:Hey MattyK,
I had an horrible puncture yesterday - but I guarantee that your marathons would not have protected you. 2 inch nail straight through the kevlar protection belt on my Schwalbe Duranos and out through the sidewall.
I did actually patch the tube though without taking off the wheel. Love the Park Tools Super Patch!
I've got Mr Tuffys under Continental Contact Sports on my commuter and love them - six months no punctures.
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Re: Reliable Commuter
Postby cachexian » Tue Jun 28, 2011 10:19 pm
Glass punctures / snake bites are harder to locate and I suspect that it might have been harder to repair one of those with the wheel on the bike.
and...
Trek Madonne 3.1 driven by left leg and right leg
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Re: Reliable Commuter
Postby MattyK » Wed Jun 29, 2011 10:09 am
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Re: Reliable Commuter
Postby cachexian » Wed Jun 29, 2011 10:28 pm
and...
Trek Madonne 3.1 driven by left leg and right leg
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