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Virgin Commuter
Dunno if anyone knew, but my time of walking to work has gone, replaced most of this week by sitting on a bus in traffic (yerch!).
However, today things changed. Finally got everything sorted for a ride to the office, and here it is:
http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/episode/view....
Stats are wrong for a number of reasons, and a few wrong turns were taken. But the ride wasn't that bad at all so hopefully this will become a regular occurrence.
Can't do this all the time on the Rush of course. So... suggestions for a commuter bike? 
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good work with the commute Rob, you will notice the increase in energy in the coming weeks if you keep it up.
I commute 3-4 times a week on my old roadie (gitane mach 1400), its about 6 or 7 yrs old (paid about $500 or so back then), weighs a tonne but is very reliable, runs shimano sora stuff, i have a rack mounted and a tioga rack mount box thing, i can fit all my stuff in there, ie wallet, phone, pump, tubes, tool kit, lunch, small work stuff etc, i dont carry my clothes with me, i drive one day during the week with a weeks worth of fresh clothes, and i have a spare set of shoes, belt, jacket etc which i leave permanantly at work. I also dont have to carry a back pack which is a lot more comfortable. Only thing i changed on it was to fit some old spd pedals i had lying around in the garage. I use an old pair of mtb shoes (i dont want to wear out my new pair). It has been very good, i do roughly 100-180km per week depending on the route i decide to take. My commute is very smooth, maily new smooth bike paths or dedicated road side cycle lanes. If it was rougher i would probably go a cyclocross bike.
The type of bike you choose will depend heavily on the route you take and how smooth it is, if you have to use lots of foot paths and dodge walkers and go up/down foot paths a road bike with 23mm tyres will get very anoying. I would never use my main mtb bike for commuting because of wear and tear.
Whack some slicks on your old mtb and give that a go to start with.
Don
according to your graph there looks like the ride home may be a little hillier.
Thats a good average speed for a mtb commute through traffic
id whack some slicks on a dirtjumper, incase you need to bunny hop some cars/pedestrians/animals etc.
Onya Rob! Does that mean you are on the ROAD???? I thought that was an evil word for you??? Actually no don't do it you will just get fitter! you're fit enough!
I ride x2 a week from Lane Cove to Annandale (13kms) on the other bike and sometimes on the MTB bike just to have a bit of a change. Here are some thoughts:
- I take all my kit with me just to provide the extra weight (silly point 1)
- I am now riding river road from Lane Cove to Crows Nest (silly point 2)
- Increased wear and tear on the bike/s
- Take some stairs and jump some kerbs to have some more fun. I find the harbour bridge cycle stairs nice and fun. Riding down them on the MTB vs seeing a roadie walking it. Priceless
- Ride the Lane Cove National park from Epping would be an awesome way to ride home
Andrew
PS I actually have a road bike for commuting in. I just have to stay clear of potholes and cars!
I would say just get a new set of cheap wheels and chuck slicks on them (to use the Rush) but I'm not sure you can change wheels that easily with a lefty never having owned one.
Alternatively get a cheapo hardtail frame and build away, you can cannibalise bits from your old Jekyll. I picked up a trailstar frame for about $250 and it's great fun. Park benches and the like will never be the same... You could build it up as a singlespeed, chuck on V brakes, rigid forks etc. Lots of fun till you realise just how much you've actualy spent...
It don't matter what you ride, it's how you ride it ;-}
Ta,
Matt.
Rob,
I have an 18 inch Kona Cinder Cone 2005 frame that you can have for not too much change. Only used for a year or so. It is only taking up space in my laundry at the moment.
just started riding to work this week also, at the moment I am using the Cannondale road bike, but feel a little nervous locking it up out the front of the shops on the way home, so am planning to buy a elcheapo ridged mtb. My local shop has one for about $300, bargain! Might even fit some slick tyres & mud guards which I have lying around somewhere.
hey bruce, which way are you commuting?, i work in castle hill and have a thousand different ways to get here ranging from direct route (9km) or megalong around every suburb route (40-50km).
Some mornings i leave about 6.15am and do a 2hr ride before work.
Maybe we can hook up for a morning stroll?
Don
I am no longer living at Quakers, but thanks for the offer. Living much closer to work now
no worries
As 9-lives points out, one could just get a nice lightweight fixie frame and swap out the bits from Mr Jekyll. Hmmmm... worthy point but Jekyll lives for abuse these days and wants to continue in this tough life.
Plus, to be honest, it's brakes aren't that crash hot, the front wheel is lefty only, and... oh... it's looking a bit sorry for itself all round. So really... what are those parts worth anyhow? And plus, buying a frame on it's own is no-where near as much value as buying one bundled with loads of parts (ie. a complete bike).
But the beauty of buying a frame only and building up is that you can do exactly what you want with parts, including getting the best deal on everything so it's not too much more expensive, and you end up with a bike where you love every little bit of it and want to ride every day.
Plus having a one-off with a bit of bling is way cool and the kids all stop and stare at you trackstanding at the lights. Though that could be because they want to nick it...
Have a good weekend,
Matt.