Any ideas for a good commuting bike?
I need a bike for commuting that I can use with panniers. Should I go with a traditional touring bike, or should I use one of the hybrids similar to a Trek 7700 FX? I'd like to spend less than $1,250 if possible. I have found some bike commuting pages, but they don't give much guidance on, of all things, bikes. I'm sure you have more than enough time in the saddle to offer some guidance as well as some personal preferences. Tim San Jose, California
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Depends on your riding style. The Trek 7700 FX and other “hybrids” are basically de-tuned mountain bikesno shocks, lesser components. They’re excellent bikes for people who want to go on rides of 15 miles or less on decent roads, and who don’t want to put up with the weight of a full mountain bike or the ergonomic problems of a road bike. The 7700 ($800) could be fitted with racks and fenders, and would make a good, if not spectacular, commuting bike.
My own taste runs toward something like the Cannondale T2000 ($1,400). It’s a true touring bike, with lots of braze-ons (the fittings on frames that are used for attachments) for installing racks and fenders, room for big tires, and a relaxed frame for a comfortable ride. The advantages of such a design are more hand positions on the handlebars, better aerodynamics, and a more forgiving road ride. Its sibling, the T800, has a similar frame, a lower-priced component set, and sells for about $900. Trek’s 520 is another good touring bike, similar in many ways to the Cannondales but for the fact its frame is steel. The upside is a slightly smoother ride; the downside is it could corrode over time if subjected to frequent wet rides. The 520 is priced at around $1,000.
Depending on your size, you can probably buy one of these bikes secondhand. Doing so would save you hundreds of dollars, allowing you to get the bike you really want and need, while still making your budget.