15 miles each way? Even more reason to use a road bike or CX bike with road tires, IMO. Unless he's really overweight and wants to exert the extra effort.

Totally with you on not having a backpack when riding.

 

Yes, 15 each way. And I have already suggested to him that whatever he gets, 28mm tires are plenty wide for his use (he is like 150 pounds).

I'll look at some Cross bikes.

 

I've been using a Trek CrossRip disc for a couple years... crossish commuter bike with disc brakes, shimano 105, 32c tires, fenders, rack. Works awesome. I'm sure most big companies make something similar.

 

I think Salsa cycles lineup and trek 520 disc/720/920 are a great place to start. But at $2k I would ask all the right questions before shopping. That's a lot of money to spend on the wrong bike. No reason to get a bike meant for dirt/loaded touring if it is completely flat and rarely off-road.

Also, what is the storage situation? It sucks to shop for a bike and then realize it is too nice for you to not worry about it while you are at home or work.

I think internally geared hubs are great. Alfine 11sp is cool. However, they are kind of a big compromise. The big proponents of internally geared hubs will shout into your face until you give up, but it is true that they eat some of your efficiency and lack the tight gear ranges offered with an 11sp traditional group. It is true that they offer a very wide range, but only a few jumps.

 

for commuting, 15miles especially, get a cheap road bike with larger tires.

you can put racks and junk on a road bike if you want to.


if hes only interested in commuting and not riding, a cheaper bike will be fine if he wants to save some dough... not familiar with the area but $2k bike would hurt to loose from an accident or theft that are more common on commutes.

I would go 32c tire width, but still a slick. imo. you can run lower pressures and they will be more supple with commuter friendly tires. I rode my carbon bike on pro4's this year and I flatted a few times on the way to work which was a pain. a more stout tire with more width and less pressure would be ideal for a commuter bike, especially if your already thinking some kind of rack and fenders.

 

Since I'm not trying to get UCI points, I've decided to race cross this season on the WTB Nano 40C tubeless. Just a bit more rolling resistance than my 33c Grifo Team tubulars but about 3x the grip and shock absorption. Stuff I have to tip toe and skitter through with the 33's I can stuff like a BMX bike with the 40's. No comparison. I think it'll be an advantage over everyone else running UCI legal tires in our local cross series.

 

Your only allowed 33c for CX?

a 40f/33 rear would be pretty mean, get you over the loose stuff with a little less rolling on the back.... which would be great unless there is a TON of sand.
For me, riding on dirt is about front grip in the turns. I might not have my weight in the proper spot sometimes though.

 

Nothing better than being able to bring the bike inside with you. I have a Clug in my office. Get CLUG

 

I'm doing a road tour starting tomorrow going for 4 days. It is 650km in total, biggest day is 180km.

My 5 year old BMC still scrubs up alright:

 

EDIT: Duh, wrong thread.

 

Nice looking C'Dale! I've always wanted one of their carbon/aluminum frames, but have never been able to find one in the right size. People really seam to hold onto the last of the US made ones.


Well, I couldn't stand it any longer - been wanting to do a lightweight build for a long time. I picked up an '09 Scott Addict SL this week. Too nice to pass up, and it's a proven platform for this type of build. The frame came in right at 800g, and the fork at 285g (with the crown race). I'm aiming to end up in the 10-12lb range when it's said and done, but I have a feeling this will be a bit of an ongoing build.

 

You don't see a lot of the six13s because they fail at the bond joint when ridden. Most of them got swapped out under warranty.

 

I hadn't heard about that. Were they swapped out for a better-built Six13 or for a different model?

Edit - My "research" (Googling it and looking at forum posts) shows most were swapped out for other Six13s and that models with a carbon top tube were more likely to fail.

 

Cannondale went to a full composite and they were swapped for those.

 

Finally got to ride up Pike's Peak from my house... And convinced a few friends to come with:


11,500 feet of climbing, topped out at 14,110 on top of the peak. It was hard- a buddy's strava from the ride:
https://www.strava.com/activities/410381828

 

Monster ride that.

 

Yeah it was brutal- lots of techy climbing and hike-a-bike sections and heavy bikes. I still feel like **** (ride was saturday).

Guy 2nd from the right did a similar ride 10,000+ feet climbing on Sunday and rode into work today. He also set the record for the Colorado Trail Race this summer- under 4 days Durango to Denver on dirt 70,000 feet of climbing or something. I think he slept 3 hours. Nuts.

 

I saw a ton of muddy mountain bikes up here in Whistler on Saturday. No pics, but it looks like a pretty incredible downhill ride.

 

Whistler is heaven on earth if you ride MTB. Literally the best place on the planet to ride.

 

Picked up WTB's Cross Boss in 700x35 to replace the 40c Nanos which didn't fit my frame. They are perfect in every way (faster, 130g lighter per tire, supple at 35psi), except for this:



No bueno. I am toying with the idea of moving the good 35c to the rear, and putting one of the 40c Nanos on the front. Thoughts? My biggest gripe with the Nano (aside from it not fitting the bike) was that they felt really slow on the road, even at 60psi, and even compared to the 35s. Is a 35/40 combo the best of both worlds, or worst of both worlds?