Commuting bikes
Moderator: Dux
-
Topic author - Lifetime IGer
- Posts: 11367
- Joined: Thu Jan 06, 2005 10:08 pm
Re: Commuting bikes
Guys, still shopping and trying to understand the difference between some of my options.
Looking for a single speed bike that can take 32c tires with fenders. This is actually a rather limited selection. "Common" choices are:
Surly Cross Check ~$1k
Bianchi San Jose: ~$800 (they make the same frame for Gitane)
Redline 925 ~$325 used
These are all steel frame bikes with seemingly similar components. Outside of brand name, what's the difference between say, a $500, $800, & $1,000 bike? I'm not reluctant to pay for quality, but it's not clear what the differences are.
Looking for a single speed bike that can take 32c tires with fenders. This is actually a rather limited selection. "Common" choices are:
Surly Cross Check ~$1k
Bianchi San Jose: ~$800 (they make the same frame for Gitane)
Redline 925 ~$325 used
These are all steel frame bikes with seemingly similar components. Outside of brand name, what's the difference between say, a $500, $800, & $1,000 bike? I'm not reluctant to pay for quality, but it's not clear what the differences are.
One of the downsides of the Internet is that it allows like-minded people to form communities, and sometimes those communities are stupid.
-
- Lifetime IGer
- Posts: 19098
- Joined: Wed Nov 01, 2006 5:39 pm
Re: Commuting bikes
Surly is a little more bombproof and lot more versatile, but really...between the other two it comes to feel. Redline used to be a very legit builder for BMX and cross. I don;t know anymore. Personally between those bikes for what you want...comes bike fit and price.
"He who knows only his own side of the case knows little of that." JS Mill
-
Topic author - Lifetime IGer
- Posts: 11367
- Joined: Thu Jan 06, 2005 10:08 pm
Re: Commuting bikes
Finalizing selection. Some bikes that fit the recommended criteria fall under the category of "track frames," like the Surly Steamroller (single speed, takes 32c tires with fenders). I'm wondering if a track bike may suck for going 10 miles in traffic.
Is this a meaningful thing to think about?
Is this a meaningful thing to think about?
One of the downsides of the Internet is that it allows like-minded people to form communities, and sometimes those communities are stupid.
-
- Lifetime IGer
- Posts: 19098
- Joined: Wed Nov 01, 2006 5:39 pm
Re: Commuting bikes
Grandpa's Spells wrote:Finalizing selection. Some bikes that fit the recommended criteria fall under the category of "track frames," like the Surly Steamroller (single speed, takes 32c tires with fenders). I'm wondering if a track bike may suck for going 10 miles in traffic.
Is this a meaningful thing to think about?
Avoid "track" frames...geometry is twitchy in the extreme. The surly is fairly sluggish however. I was shopping for a bike for my son and ran across this and thought it might fit the bill for you.

Torker U-district, has flip flop hub, fairly cheap as well.
"He who knows only his own side of the case knows little of that." JS Mill
-
Topic author - Lifetime IGer
- Posts: 11367
- Joined: Thu Jan 06, 2005 10:08 pm
Re: Commuting bikes
Cool, thanks. Similar to the one I posted the specs about the other day, though this one is $599.

Was surprised at the light weight and economy of effort. Big difference between the 10 yo Schwinn High Plains I've been riding.
Was surprised at the light weight and economy of effort. Big difference between the 10 yo Schwinn High Plains I've been riding.
One of the downsides of the Internet is that it allows like-minded people to form communities, and sometimes those communities are stupid.
-
- Lifetime IGer
- Posts: 19098
- Joined: Wed Nov 01, 2006 5:39 pm
Re: Commuting bikes
That's a pretty bike.Grandpa's Spells wrote:Cool, thanks. Similar to the one I posted the specs about the other day, though this one is $599.
Was surprised at the light weight and economy of effort. Big difference between the 10 yo Schwinn High Plains I've been riding.
"He who knows only his own side of the case knows little of that." JS Mill
-
- Lifetime IGer
- Posts: 21247
- Joined: Thu Mar 17, 2005 6:54 am
- Location: Upon the eternal throne of the great Republic of Turdistan
Re: Commuting bikes
Serious question-- how much do you want it to suck? Depending on your situation, more of the right suckiness may be better.Grandpa's Spells wrote:Finalizing selection. Some bikes that fit the recommended criteria fall under the category of "track frames," like the Surly Steamroller (single speed, takes 32c tires with fenders). I'm wondering if a track bike may suck for going 10 miles in traffic.
Is this a meaningful thing to think about?
"Liberalism is arbitrarily selective in its choice of whose dignity to champion." Adrian Vermeule
-
- Staff Sergeant
- Posts: 366
- Joined: Sun Oct 06, 2013 11:41 am
- Location: Your Mother's sweet ass.
Re: Commuting bikes
Allow me to attempt to un-gay this fucking thread.....


Those Shoreline idiots read IGX like the Satanic Bible
-Shaf
-Shaf
-
- Sergeant Commanding
- Posts: 5038
- Joined: Sat Dec 01, 2007 11:51 am
Re: Commuting bikes
by posting a piece of crap bike?Master_Blaster wrote:Allow me to attempt to un-gay this fucking thread.....
WildGorillaMan wrote:Enthusiasm combined with no skill whatsoever can sometimes carry the day.
-
Topic author - Lifetime IGer
- Posts: 11367
- Joined: Thu Jan 06, 2005 10:08 pm
Re: Commuting bikes
I assume you're asking if increased effort per mile may be a good thing? My is I would rather have the option of an easy ride into work, and 10 miles in rush hour is going to be a pain to begin with. On days where I want to work harder, I can go faster and/or take a longer route.Turdacious wrote:Serious question-- how much do you want it to suck? Depending on your situation, more of the right suckiness may be better.Grandpa's Spells wrote:Finalizing selection. Some bikes that fit the recommended criteria fall under the category of "track frames," like the Surly Steamroller (single speed, takes 32c tires with fenders). I'm wondering if a track bike may suck for going 10 miles in traffic.
Is this a meaningful thing to think about?
One of the downsides of the Internet is that it allows like-minded people to form communities, and sometimes those communities are stupid.
-
- Staff Sergeant
- Posts: 366
- Joined: Sun Oct 06, 2013 11:41 am
- Location: Your Mother's sweet ass.
Re: Commuting bikes
Terry B. wrote:by posting a piece of crap bike?Master_Blaster wrote:Allow me to attempt to un-gay this fucking thread.....

Those Shoreline idiots read IGX like the Satanic Bible
-Shaf
-Shaf
-
- Lifetime IGer
- Posts: 21247
- Joined: Thu Mar 17, 2005 6:54 am
- Location: Upon the eternal throne of the great Republic of Turdistan
Re: Commuting bikes
Put down the donut PyleMaster_Blaster wrote:Allow me to attempt to un-gay this fucking thread.....
"Liberalism is arbitrarily selective in its choice of whose dignity to champion." Adrian Vermeule
Re: Commuting bikes
Found at the Skanks Who Shop at Walmart site.Master_Blaster wrote:Allow me to attempt to un-gay this fucking thread.....
Don’t believe everything you think.
-
- Staff Sergeant
- Posts: 366
- Joined: Sun Oct 06, 2013 11:41 am
- Location: Your Mother's sweet ass.
Re: Commuting bikes
Turdacious wrote:Put down the donut PyleMaster_Blaster wrote:Allow me to attempt to un-gay this fucking thread.....
I'm cultivating mass. Fuck off.
Those Shoreline idiots read IGX like the Satanic Bible
-Shaf
-Shaf
-
- Staff Sergeant
- Posts: 366
- Joined: Sun Oct 06, 2013 11:41 am
- Location: Your Mother's sweet ass.
Re: Commuting bikes
nafod wrote:Shop at Walmart.Master_Blaster wrote:Allow me to attempt to un-gay this fucking thread.....
Congratulations!! You just solved three pages of Phaggotry.
Those Shoreline idiots read IGX like the Satanic Bible
-Shaf
-Shaf
-
- Lifetime IGer
- Posts: 21247
- Joined: Thu Mar 17, 2005 6:54 am
- Location: Upon the eternal throne of the great Republic of Turdistan
Re: Commuting bikes
Time to change the dosage on your meds runt.Master_Blaster wrote:
I'm cultivating mass. Fuck off.
-
- Staff Sergeant
- Posts: 366
- Joined: Sun Oct 06, 2013 11:41 am
- Location: Your Mother's sweet ass.
Re: Commuting bikes
Turdacious wrote:Time to change the dosage on your meds runt.Master_Blaster wrote:
I'm cultivating mass. Fuck off.
Oh....wow....right on time Turdacious. I was hoping for a fat joke
Those Shoreline idiots read IGX like the Satanic Bible
-Shaf
-Shaf
-
- Lifetime IGer
- Posts: 21247
- Joined: Thu Mar 17, 2005 6:54 am
- Location: Upon the eternal throne of the great Republic of Turdistan
Re: Commuting bikes
You bust tape and barely meet minimum PT standards. You're hardly in a position to knock anyone for their choice of cardio.Master_Blaster wrote:Oh....wow....right on time Turdacious. I was hoping for a fat jokeTurdacious wrote:Time to change the dosage on your meds runt.Master_Blaster wrote:
I'm cultivating mass. Fuck off.
"Liberalism is arbitrarily selective in its choice of whose dignity to champion." Adrian Vermeule
-
- Staff Sergeant
- Posts: 366
- Joined: Sun Oct 06, 2013 11:41 am
- Location: Your Mother's sweet ass.
Re: Commuting bikes
Turdacious wrote:You bust tape and barely meet minimum PT standards. You're hardly in a position to knock anyone for their choice of cardio.Master_Blaster wrote:Oh....wow....right on time Turdacious. I was hoping for a fat jokeTurdacious wrote:Time to change the dosage on your meds runt.Master_Blaster wrote:
I'm cultivating mass. Fuck off.
....At what point did I knock anyone for their choice of Cardio? Minimum passing score is what 180? Yeah Even at my heaviest I've never dipped below a 275. Kiss my fucking ass you D.C Desk Jockey faggot
Those Shoreline idiots read IGX like the Satanic Bible
-Shaf
-Shaf
-
- Lifetime IGer
- Posts: 21247
- Joined: Thu Mar 17, 2005 6:54 am
- Location: Upon the eternal throne of the great Republic of Turdistan
Re: Commuting bikes
Obsessive thread shitting, similar posting style, familiar narcissistic need for attention-- you're not like runt at all.Master_Blaster wrote:Turdacious wrote:You bust tape and barely meet minimum PT standards. You're hardly in a position to knock anyone for their choice of cardio.Master_Blaster wrote:Oh....wow....right on time Turdacious. I was hoping for a fat jokeTurdacious wrote:Time to change the dosage on your meds runt.Master_Blaster wrote:
I'm cultivating mass. Fuck off.
....At what point did I knock anyone for their choice of Cardio? Minimum passing score is what 180? Yeah Even at my heaviest I've never dipped below a 275. Kiss my fucking ass you D.C Desk Jockey faggot
"Liberalism is arbitrarily selective in its choice of whose dignity to champion." Adrian Vermeule
-
- Staff Sergeant
- Posts: 366
- Joined: Sun Oct 06, 2013 11:41 am
- Location: Your Mother's sweet ass.
Re: Commuting bikes
Turdacious wrote:Obsessive thread shitting, similar posting style, familiar narcissistic need for attention-- you're not like runt at all.Master_Blaster wrote:Turdacious wrote:You bust tape and barely meet minimum PT standards. You're hardly in a position to knock anyone for their choice of cardio.Master_Blaster wrote:Oh....wow....right on time Turdacious. I was hoping for a fat jokeTurdacious wrote:Time to change the dosage on your meds runt.Master_Blaster wrote:
I'm cultivating mass. Fuck off.
....At what point did I knock anyone for their choice of Cardio? Minimum passing score is what 180? Yeah Even at my heaviest I've never dipped below a 275. Kiss my fucking ass you D.C Desk Jockey faggot
Yup. Dead to rights.
Those Shoreline idiots read IGX like the Satanic Bible
-Shaf
-Shaf
-
- Staff Sergeant
- Posts: 366
- Joined: Sun Oct 06, 2013 11:41 am
- Location: Your Mother's sweet ass.
Re: Commuting bikes
Turdacious wrote:Obsessive thread shitting, similar posting style, familiar narcissistic need for attention-- you're not like runt at all.Master_Blaster wrote:Turdacious wrote:You bust tape and barely meet minimum PT standards. You're hardly in a position to knock anyone for their choice of cardio.Master_Blaster wrote:Oh....wow....right on time Turdacious. I was hoping for a fat jokeTurdacious wrote:Time to change the dosage on your meds runt.Master_Blaster wrote:
I'm cultivating mass. Fuck off.
....At what point did I knock anyone for their choice of Cardio? Minimum passing score is what 180? Yeah Even at my heaviest I've never dipped below a 275. Kiss my fucking ass you D.C Desk Jockey faggot
Yup. Dead to rights.
Those Shoreline idiots read IGX like the Satanic Bible
-Shaf
-Shaf
-
- Sergeant Commanding
- Posts: 6638
- Joined: Mon Jan 03, 2005 6:25 pm
- Location: The Rockies
-
- Lifetime IGer
- Posts: 19098
- Joined: Wed Nov 01, 2006 5:39 pm
Re: Commuting bikes
That has real potential.
"He who knows only his own side of the case knows little of that." JS Mill
Re: Commuting bikes
I hope she doesn't get pulled over in Deming, New Mexico.Master_Blaster wrote:Allow me to attempt to un-gay this fucking thread.....
"Know that! & Know it deep you fucking loser!"

