Hey chimbleysweep!

Since you all are obviously experts, or at the very least extremely interested in biking, perhaps you could help me out. Sorry for taking the thread off topic.

Moved to DC a year and a half ago, and need a daily commuter bike. I'm looking for something quick, reliable, and relatively low maintainence. Any ideas? Price isn't a huge factor, and it won't be U Locked and unattended for very long at a stretch…

A close second choice for me was the Kona "Jake the snake"…it's what they call a cyclocross bike, so basically almost the speed of a roadbike and almost the durability of a mtn bike, I only decided on the Mercier because I won't be commuting but plan on century rides on weekends etc. I think "Jake" would be a great commuter personally, and also for longer rides on weekends if you get addicted, which you will.

It's a beautiful bike too.

Road bike or Mountain bike? How far is your commute, how ropey are the roads, how much traffic?

Originally posted by mankie:
A close second choice for me was the Kona "Jake the snake"…it's what they call a cyclocross bike, so basically almost the speed of a roadbike and almost the durability of a mtn bike, I only decided on the Mercier because I won't be commuting but plan on century rides on weekends etc. I think "Jake" would be a great commuter personally, and also for longer rides on weekends if you get addicted, which you will.

It's a beautiful bike too.

I love my Kona. I've had it about six years and it's been indestructible. It's an old ('98) steel hardtail. Very easy to work on and the frame takes serious abuse.

Originally posted by keithstg:

Moved to DC a year and a half ago, and need a daily commuter bike. I'm looking for something quick, reliable, and relatively low maintainence. Any ideas? Price isn't a huge factor, and it won't be U Locked and unattended for very long at a stretch…

Personally, I think the Jamis Coda is the ideal commuter bike. Light, fast, durable.

My SO bought a Bianchi Bergamo, though, which is a clunkier version of the same. Heavy thing, but very comfortable.

Originally posted by mark e smith:
Road bike or Mountain bike? How far is your commute, how ropey are the roads, how much traffic?

Undecided as to whether a road or mtn bike. Commute will vary, but basically in the Dupont / Logan / U Street area, with occasional trips to Georgetown and Woodley / Cleveland park.

I highly recommend a mountain bike for what are relatively short distances all in town. I never really liked hybrids as they are not great at anything….

My friend had a kona cinder cone and it was nigh on indestructible. I like steel frames, they are a bit more absorbant. If you weigh over 200lbs you might think about a specialized stumpjumper M4, but with slicks….

Originally posted by mark e smith:
I highly recommend a mountain bike for what are relatively short distances all in town. I never really liked hybrids as they are not great at anything….

Yeah, but you don't want a suspension anything on it, and you don't want nubby tires. And the little mountain wheels aren't going to be very fast.

You can get a beefy steel frame on any bike, and hybrids aren't any longer just comfort bikes. Again, I point to the Jamis Coda. It's a steel frame, less agressive road bike style geometry, with road sized tires, and flat bars. I wish I had it instead of my stump jumper.

One more sidenote– now here's a thread that I don't mind having my name on!

Originally posted by chimblysweep:
Yeah, but you don't want a suspension anything on it, and you don't want nubby tires. And the little mountain wheels aren't going to be very fast.

You can get a beefy steel frame on any bike, and hybrids aren't any longer just comfort bikes. Again, I point to the Jamis Coda. It's a steel frame, less agressive road bike style geometry, with road sized tires, and flat bars. I wish I had it instead of my stump jumper.

Mountain wheels not fast….. they are plenty fast enough if you put some slicks on…. On some long winter rides the better roadies would come along for centuries on their mountain bikes just to make everyone look bad.

I understand the point about the hybrid. But I think a real mountain bike or road bike is a much better proposition. If you actually get into cycling, you can do so much more with it than just commute. You cant take a hybrid mountain biking or on a long roadie ride.

A solid bike if there ever was one.

Originally posted by mankie:
My mtn bike is a Trek 850, had it for years and it's never let me down…only been tuned up once too. No fancy suspension, just a damn good bike that's built like a tank.

Thanks very much for everyone's replies. I think I have a pretty good idea of what will work now. I'll post back with my final decision on the bike this weekend…

So I just picked up an old '91 Diamondback Prevail frame with drop handlebars on ebay for the grand total of 57 dollars including shipping. Fixie here I come!

Originally posted by thirsty moore:
So I just picked up an old '91 Diamondback Prevail frame with drop handlebars on ebay for the grand total of 57 dollars including shipping. Fixie here I come!

Wow, including shipping? that's quite the deal. Shipping a bike is usually $50+! That's why I've never bought a bike on ebay…

I'm paying about $41 for the frame and handlebars. The original bid started at $15. The shipping's less than $20. Hopefully it doesn't get shipped in a paper bag.

This isn't the sweetest frame in the world, but it's my first fixie. Once I get used to it, I'll pick up a better frame. That said, I'm still extremely excited.

Does anyone know of a company who will do custom paint on bike frames? I love my bike apart from the boring color…black/blue.

I'd actually love to know the best way to strip paint off of a bike frame. Any suggestions? The color scheme on the frame that I'm getting isn't the best.

Originally posted by Bollocks:
Does anyone know of a company who will do custom paint on bike frames? I love my bike apart from the boring color…black/blue.

Yes, my friend rust-oleum does custom paint job, as do many other folks that hang out in spraycans on the shelves of your friendly neighborhood hardware store.

Good one thirsty, just make sure the wheels are good. You dont want them collapsing the first time you hit a pot hole……..

I bet getting a bike painted prefessionally is really expensive.

I was thinking of getting some car wheels powdercoated and I got quotes of around $80 a wheel. I wonder if anyone in the auto industry knows of anywhere cheaper.

(I want to get a new set of holies for the mini and powdercoat them black)

Originally posted by thirsty moore:
I'd actually love to know the best way to strip paint off of a bike frame. Any suggestions? The color scheme on the frame that I'm getting isn't the best.

that would be my friend steel wool.