Best Commuter Bicycles Suggestions Here

Commune Bicycle Review

What kind of bike works best for commuting? How should I equip it (including lighting)? What should I carry with me? What should I wear? How should I wash up at work? Have I missed any important questions?

These are the questions we see most frequently from new commuters. So let's see if we can provide some suggestions.

Suppose you ride 5-8 miles round trip to work every week day. Your route is a combination of paths and streets and you commute year round, including through cold and snow.

Choosing the Right Bike

Mountain bikes with wide tires will do better on bad pavement conditions. Road bikes with dropped handlebars will give you more speed. Hybrids will let you sit upright, which is good or bad, depending on whether you are uncomfortable with dropped bars or whether you are annoyed by the decreased efficiency.

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A growing number of commuters like cyclo-cross bikes. That is a bicycle specifically designed for the rigors of a cyclo-cross race, but adapt nicely to daily commuting.

Cyclo-cross bicycles kind of resemble the bikes used in road racing. The major differences between the two are the geometry and the wider clearances that cyclo-cross bikes have for their larger tires and mud and other debris that is picked up by them. They can be fitted with racks and fenders.

Tire Size

There is a range of opinions, but many feel the ideal width for a commuter tire is 28 or 32. Wider tires give you a more comfortable ride and can handle potholes better.  If you are looking for speed chose a narrower tire.

It's all a trade off and you just have to decide what's important to you. Most would agree that knobbies are a bad idea unless your commute is mostly on dirt trails. Knobbies are less stable on pavement,  because less rubber has contact with the road and they increase drag.

Bicycle Commuter Gear

Must you sometimes commute at night?  Don't scrimp here because your life is on the line.  Get the best lighting you can afford. You will need a headlight and a rear blinkie. A 10w halogen is the minimum brightness for night commuting.

Many LED lights are available at reasonable prices and an LED is significantly better than nothing. Halogen seems a better choice for real visibility, although some high-powered LEDs have come on the market recently.

Bicycle Commuter Neon Jacket

A reflective vest will also increase your visibility.  A good choice are the ones worn by construction workers.

Look for a "ANSI Class II." vest at Home Depot or Lowes.

If you only rarely ride at night you can bet by with a rear blinkie, a front LED, extra batteries, and a reflective vest.

Bicycle commuting is smart, cheap and eco friendly.  As gasoline becomes more expensive more and more people will be riding bikes to work and bicycle commuter clubs will become very popular.

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Ride for Life...
Chip Clark
Famous Bike Guy

Best Commuter Bicycles Suggestions Here