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That’s right, we want to know what kind of bike you ride to work. Or bikes, if you happen to switch between a few different bikes. Tell us in the comments field below. Feel free to just name the make and model, write a few words, or share a story of you and your favorite steed. Got photos? Post a link.
To get this party started, I’ll go first:
My favorite bike to ride to work is my LeMond Reno. The only thing stock is the frame, and it’s light, fast and efficient. I’ve got a fixed 1980’s Schwinn LeTour conversion that’s also a blast to ride. Lately my top two rides have been test bikes, though. I ride the Salsa La Cruz anytime I want gears. Since it’s the newest bike in my basement, the Redline 925 has been getting the most use overall. Plus I use it for playing bike polo, so I ride it to work on Thursdays so I can head straight to the polo court at 5pm.
on a good day the c-dale super six in red.
on a slow day a Fort pursuit fixie
on a rainy day the basso gap with full fenders nexus8 hub and magura hydraulic rim brakes
My 2008 Surly Cross-Check (Fixed) just finished its first Winnipeg Winter and it was a joy to ride, looking forward to the summer! So smooth and nimble.
Trusty 2002 Kona Cinder Cone as a backup and for trails.
fixie beater…80’s trek frame, random makeup of other parts, no stock, prize possession…b17 brooks saddle.
simple, fast, nothing better.
I ride my motobecane mostly. It is the most durable bike I have. Next week my 1989 lemond will be complete and I will start riding it. I look forward to it cause’ it a cro-mo with all new shifters and wheels and corners quick.
the commute to work on my 2008 Giant STP ( http://www.genetics.pitt.edu/~rob/bikes/stp/stp.jpg ) lately is 3.5 miles each way of interconnected wall ups, 45 degree-angled-wall rides, bunny hops over puddles/garbage/potholes/imaginary-lava-floes/curbs, rolling balance on sidewalk cracks and curbs, front wheel garbage flicks, side hops to rolling balance on curbs, 4-stair drops, 4-stair ups, trackstands, and i’m-getting-better-at-it attempts at manuals.
no foot down. ever.
I ride a Specialized Expedition. I commute to work as many days as the weather will let me and do so in order to incorporate physical activity into my day, to save on gas and wear and tear of the car, and because it is just more fun to be on my bike. I don’t bike for speed but for comfort and the chance to take my time and observe the little things. I outfitted my bike with fenders, a rear rack, a headlight, a water bottle carrier, and a wicker basket. Most days I also have a pannier for extra stuff I might collect during my day.
Bianchi San Jose- 38×17,midges also used for monster cross, 28c Rando’s for the commute and fixed
Fuji Track- 47x? depends on how in/out shape I am. Usually ride this when I’m gonna do my training ride right after school.
Dahon Jack MTB style folder. Is allowed on the train. Totally against received wisdom, as my commute bike it has 26×2.4 knobblies on rather than the stock schwalbe BAs as a lot of the roads i ride on are pretty ropey, plus 28″ riser bars for control down some of the stupidly steep hills on my commute (Urban plymouth and rural cornwall, UK) with bar ends on to protect my hands from wing mirrors. You’d be surprised how much space you get given with big wide handlebars with bar ends.. >:D
2008 Kona Paddywagon just built, winneman DP18s, 46-16 ratio, cut and flip bullhorns, 28c kenda reflective things, this bike hauls serious ass, good thing my rides to work are all downhill!!
Usual rig is a 2008 Specialized Langster fixie rolling on Velocity Deep V’s with 42×13 gearing. http://www.flickr.com/photos/flyfixie/3457458718/in/pool-urbanvelo On fabulous weather days I use my Raleigh Fixed conversion with 48×16 gearing, Brooks swift and Velo Orange Leathery bits http://www.flickr.com/photos/flyfixie/3312037477/in/pool-urbanvelo/ And then sometimes I ride my 28″ Raleigh English Roadster. http://www.flickr.com/photos/flyfixie/3412784244/in/pool-urbanvelo/ well once anyway.
I have ‘08 Schwinn Madison (stock) and a ‘00 Litespeed classic (if I go for a longer ride)…both are great…a few years ago I rode my Green Gear cross bike (‘93) or ‘91 Giant Cadex…even farther back I rode a Schwinn Varsity…I still have all the bikes except the Varsity…
I work in midtown Manhattan and I have to park on the street — it’s a high theft area so I ride a dirty, rusty Fuji s10s frame, an old 12 speed converted to single speed and with straight bars. It’s a little ugly, but that’s the point, and it’s actually a fun ride with super acceleration. I save the Bianchi Volpe for weekends in the park.
1985 Bridgestone 450 Chromoly frame I got off eBay. I built a Sturmey Archer 3 Speed hub and a Shimano Generator Hub both on Mavic OpenPRo rims. All City Track Crank with MKS pedals and toe clips. Nitto Technomic Stem, Soma Moustache Bars, Dia Compe brakes, Cetma Front Rack, Jannd Expedition Rear rack, Ortilieb Panniers, Brooks 135 Saddle (front and rear springs)
http://notyouraveragebicyclemessenger.bostonbiker.org/files/2009/04/bike.jpg
Your mom.
1987 Specialized Stumpjumper Comp for my 1.5-mile commute
I ride my 2008 Specialized Langster Seattle. My commute is only 1.6 miles in San Francisco, but this brut helped prevent further bodily harm when a car pulled into the bike lane on my commute 2 months ago!
Love my Specialized Langster !!!!!
-XD
Jamis Quest. I bought it 5 years ago. I live/work in San Francisco and ride it all year (in the rain as well) to commute. It is a triple with a steel frame and carbon fork. The gear range is nice (pain to maintain though) because I live towards the top of a big hill. I am having a hard time finding a rack/bag that will mount on the frame and clear my heels.
My commuter is a 2008 SALSA CASSEROLL triple with a Brooks leather saddle & bar tape as well as seat and bar bags from Acornbags.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cwkrause/2689763982/in/set-72157606297228373/
1996 Bianchi Volpe (cyclocross/touring bike) with old Suntour components that shift like a dream, flipped-over Soma three speed bars w/ patented, super-uncool, hot pink vinyl bar tape, black Soma fenders, one side-pull bottle cage for all-important coffee thermos, racks and bags from assorted places in Italy & Germany that i like to swap out depending on hauling needs, a bell to signal “I am pulling off for a burrito” to fellow riders and a rechargeable lantern from Performance Bike. Soon to have Cetma front rack for cases of wine, charcoal, kids from neighborhood. Bike is made to haul my fat-ass to work, to markets, & to wine grottoes. Bike cost me $50 on craigslist. Only needed a new chain and cables.
In my house i have a Salsa Casseroll frame. Hanging up there alone because i found a commuting bike for $50.
GT Peace 9r’ SS all year long. The beast loves the cold, snowy, salty, windy, seemingly never ending Wisco. winters.
Big LOVE to all you commuters out there!!
Windsor The Hour: 9 miles one way Miami.
I commute and do 99% of all of my riding on a Surly Steamroller, with 28c gatorskins, risers, and a big Wald basket on the front to haul groceries/whatever won’t fit in my bag. My commute is usually about 15-16 miles depending on if I’m going to school or work (or both).
I commute almost everyday on my Motobecane Messenger fixy. On the days the fixy stays in the garage I ride my Lemond Buenos Aries. My poor mtb never gets commuted on. I commute just over 5 miles one way to school/work 5days a week and ride to church on Sundays. I never drive my truck to school, work, or church.
Wow, lots of fixed/ss commuters! I drop/climb 520ft in elevation during my daily commute, and my 2007 Surly Long Haul Trucker eats up those Seattle hills. Mostly stock, added a brown Brooks B17, Soma brown camo bar tape, Tubus Cargo rear rack with a big Wald basket up top, a Riv Burrito Wrap for spares, Velo Orange smooth aluminum fenders, and naturally any sort of light/cyclometer/bell I can possibly affix to the damn thing. It’s my “do everything” bike, my one and only.
My ride is an ‘89 Bridgstone RB2. I converted the wheels to 650B’s and put Nitto Albatross bars on it (with a Nitto Technomic stem). Brooks B67 saddle and Sugino Messenger crank. Come to think of it the only stock parts left are the front derailluer (Shimano Sport LX) and headset (Vesta). Really fun bike to ride!
I commute on either a Trek 7.2 fx or my ‘92 Trek 750 that i has been customized to ride more like a road bike. i prefer the 750 to any of my other bikes.
I ride a ‘08 Kona Jake daily – Takes me wherever I need to go and is great for crappy VT roads that are full of potholes.
My single-speed is a re-fit 80s Schwinn LeTour. It’s a really fun ride, but I don’t ride it as much since getting the Kona. There are a lot of hills on my commute!
I also have 1970 Crescent Pepita Special that doesn’t get ridden much – it’s got some serious toe-clip overlap and can be a bit dangerous if you’re trying to do any riding in traffic or on city streets. It’s in mint shape and it’s really pretty, so I can’t bring myself to part with it.
I ride a New World Tourist by Bike Friday now days; I used to ride a modified sixteen-gears-deparment-store-steel-frame bike that I turned into a fixed-gear bike, unfortunately the rear crank wasn’t good for a fixed gear and tweaked the steel frame :-/ Then i got a Pista by Bianchi but a car stroked me and messed it up and now I ride the New World Tourist which is pretty comfortable and i can use it for long rides.
Commuting about 3x/week on old Trek 620 (circa 1983) about 12 miles both ways (converted to a triple crank years ago); like an old friend we know each other very well. Thinking about getting a SS bike as we’re pretty flat here and maybe for less maintenance, I can “muscle up”!
Mine is 2008 KHS Urban X. Best riding on summer.
2009 Salsa Fargo 29er (w/Big Apple tires)… this bike is so much fun, and it goes everywhere… makes every commute an adventure. Schmidt dynamo hub, hydraulic disc brakes, perfect in almost every aspect (except weight… so what)
1985 Specialized Stumpjumper… 25 years old and still amazing… Simply a joy to ride… Handles racks and panniers very well. SRAM iLight dynamo hub
I commute on a 2009 Gan Well 700 series Chro-moly single speed that I modified with a shorter stem, short throw brakes levers, better grips and skinnier and tougher Continental tires. It’s pretty, fast, agile and sturdy. Works pretty good out here in Japan.
I ride a 1984 Schwinn world sport. It’s a pretty bullet proof bike with some continental gatorskin tires and a beefy chain.
I commute 19 upstate NY miles on a few different bikes. On dry days, I ride my 1975 Scan Sport Nordisk 10 spd. Crappy days bring out a Redline Conquest Pro. Sh*tty days I ride my 1996 Cannondale M400. When it comes to snow, I take the Xterra.
Rob Jazz – you still have the scan sport nordisk?
either my 46cm single-speed Casseroll or a 46cm Long Haul!
2009 surly cross check full 105, deep wheels
pake 2011 fixed
or fuji classic single speed only to polo though
this year for snow will be the mtb or the surly add cx tires
I commute on Ktm life disc 2011, or on a Dechatlon Vitamin, depends on the distance I’m supposed to cover
80’s Miyata road frame with upright bars for fast flat commutes on days I don’t need to carry much. Surly Instigator + Xtracycle for days with kids or stuff I need to haul.
A newly purchased Breezer Uptown 8 — 2010 model, i think, with the slightly better front light than in current models. Switched out the handlebars for more upright ride. The premium Nexus 8 hub (with the red stripe) is a fine one, i don’t covet the Alfine. Perfect full chainguard. Key finding: 26 inch wheels more better for commuting and maneuvering. Speed is not the goal here
I ride a Csepel Royal 2010 single speed, thats good both in the city and for longer routes.
2002 Surly crosscheck,fav bike of all time,can take the Mountains of Bulgaria and the bad roads and being chased by wild dogs,lasted longer than my marriage.
Relight marathon fixed
Or Fuji sunfire
now working on a mixie hahahah
This beauty: http://www.rei.com/product/808786/novara-transfer-bike-2012
It’s beautiful, functional (+lights, bell, rack, fenders, chain guard, puncture resistant tires), but heavy (40 lbs!).
In sum:
My bicycle brings all the boys to the boys to the yard.