City/Commuter/Hybrid Bicycles?

[billybek]

Looking at getting a commuter bike and I don't want to spend a pile of cash on it.

I am looking for something that is decent but not so decent that I would be afraid to lock it up and leave it outside in a bike rack. Even though my old Blur LT is really not worth much these days, I can't afford to replace it with a bike of equal or better quality and same goes for the road bike (and I don't want to commute on the road bike).

Been scouring Kijiji, Craigslist and Pinkbike for used but I haven't found the "one" yet.

What are you guys riding for a flat bar commuter? Any suggestions? Any lines on a phenomenal deal that I wouldn't be able to pass up?
What about sizing? I am 5'10" and have a 32" inseam.

Cheers,

[Charles Freeborn]

I've got a Trek 7300 "hybrid". Love it. Was less than $500 about 4 years ago if I remember correctly.

[Seahawk]

I have a late '90's vintage Trek light duty mountain bike you can have. I'll get some pictures and the model number later this morning. It is in good shape but would need a tune up...it has been hanging in my shop for years.

I have started to road ride again after my hip replacement and won't be doing trails

If interested, PM me.

It is headed to the fall Amish Auction regardless.

[john70t]

For $270 you could make it more fun:
Wheel | Electric-Bike-Kit.com

[billybek]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

I have a late '90's vintage Trek light duty mountain bike you can have. I'll get some pictures and the model number later this morning. It is in good shape but would need a tune up...it has been hanging in my shop for years.

I have started to road ride again after my hip replacement and won't be doing trails

If interested, PM me.

It is headed to the fall Amish Auction regardless.

Thank you for the offer but getting it here would be a bit of a hassle.
Perhaps a more local Pelican could make use of it?
Good for you for getting out and keeping moving after the hip operation. Nice impact free (hopefully!) way to get some exercise. Do you get out swimming or even pool walking for fitness as well?
Cheers!

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by billybek

Thank you for the offer but getting it here would be a bit of a hassle.
Perhaps a more local Pelican could make use of it?
Good for you for getting out and keeping moving after the hip operation. Nice impact free (hopefully!) way to get some exercise. Do you get out swimming or even pool walking for fitness as well?
Cheers!

I do. And I walk five times a week. I am saving my pennies for an endless pool.

Here is a pic of the bike, a Trek 980 (The welding helmet is not included):



It is going to auction this Fall. I am the anti-hoarder

[jyl]

Unfortunately, shipping bikes costs a fair bit. UPS and FedEX have set their dimensional rates so that you have to break the bike completely down and pack it as tightly as possible to avoid paying $160 for shipping within the CONUS. Then shipping across the border is even worse.

[Cajundaddy]

Trek 800, Trek 980 are great all-around bikes for low $$ used. The cranks and de-railers are pretty solid. Some punk stole my 800 a while back and I miss it.

[HardDrive]

I love my Marin Larkspur. I think I only paid $350 for it. I have literally put thousands of miles on iit.I highly recommend it.

[Laneco]

By the way... Cheap way to ship a boxed bike is via Greyhound. Someone has to pick it up at the terminal, but to give you an idea of costs, I shipped a tandem from Medford, OR to South Carolina fully insured for less than $80. Got there in 3 or 4 days.

angela

[Otter74]

FWIW, for shipping whole bikes and frames, I've found BikeFlights to be hands down the best way to go.

Here is my just-riding-around / winter bike / cheap bike / beater / etc. bike, a Raleigh One Way. I love riding this! I don't think I've got more than about $500 in it. Maintenance is oiling the chain every couple of weeks, replacing the chain once a year and brake pads twice a year. I tear it down and rebuild it once a year (winter is hard on a bike). I haven't washed it since November.

[billybek]

Did a bit of looking yesterday and anything decent falls into the $700-800 CND price category.

Giant Seek, Trek FX, Cannondale Quick, Specialized Crossroads etc etc...
Cannondale is a bit more money and a bit lighter weight than the others at that price point. All seem to mismatch decent components with cheaper stuff to make that price.

Was going to go through the bike swap that is run every year in Calgary but when I saw the line to get in I just kept on walking....

I did get out to punish the old Blur LT yesterday. Need to clean and tune this morning but it was a beautiful day to ride.

[group911@aol.co]

You should do the bike swap. They are amazing

[billybek]

Originally Posted by group911@aol.co

You should do the bike swap. They are amazing

Next year I know to go earlier rather than show up at the time it opens!
Looking through the fence I could see some pretty nice stuff in the sale.

[vash]

Originally Posted by Otter74

FWIW, for shipping whole bikes and frames, I've found BikeFlights to be hands down the best way to go.

Here is my just-riding-around / winter bike / cheap bike / beater / etc. bike, a Raleigh One Way. I love riding this! I don't think I've got more than about $500 in it. Maintenance is oiling the chain every couple of weeks, replacing the chain once a year and brake pads twice a year. I tear it down and rebuild it once a year (winter is hard on a bike). I haven't washed it since November.

Dynamo hub and lights? Under $500? Great deal!

[Bill Verburg]

Originally Posted by billybek

Looking at getting a commuter bike and I don't want to spend a pile of cash on it.

I am looking for something that is decent but not so decent that I would be afraid to lock it up and leave it outside in a bike rack. Even though my old Blur LT is really not worth much these days, I can't afford to replace it with a bike of equal or better quality and same goes for the road bike (and I don't want to commute on the road bike).

Been scouring Kijiji, Craigslist and Pinkbike for used but I haven't found the "one" yet.

What are you guys riding for a flat bar commuter? Any suggestions? Any lines on a phenomenal deal that I wouldn't be able to pass up?
What about sizing? I am 5'10" and have a 32" inseam.

Cheers,

I bought a Fugi Absolute 1.1, Aluminum frame, 28x700 slick tires, 10spd w/ compact crank, hyd disk brakes.

It's perfect for around town, and was under $1k

[UconnTim97]

My current project. 1993 Specialized Rockhopper. Converting it to a single speed commuter bike. Conversion kit and new crankset were less than $50 on amazon.
Just going to be a fun bike that I don't mind locking up downtown.

[Racerbvd]

I cruise around on a 26" BMX bike, fun, reliable and can launch curbs

[billybek]

Well, a deal popped up on Kijiji that I couldn't pass up.
Giant Roam 2
The bike hardly has a scratch on it and the nubs on the tires are still visible. I bet there isn't 50 klicks on the bike.
Spent a bit of time on setup and didn't need to clean or tune as it was perfect.
Would like a faster tire on the 700c wheels and maybe some fenders.
Giant considers this a cross bike that should be able to off road. Well it should be able to run gravel if nothing else but is a pretty nice package and it rides very well.
Need to swap on some SPD pedals and get some shoes that are more casual looking than my SIDI dominators and road shoes... I hate not being clipped in.
Half the price of new and under the dollar value that I had set as a cut off.... Win win.

[Arizona_928]

What's a hybrid bicycle? Those are the ones with the motor, and when you run out of gas, you pedal?! right