The Perfect Bike For Commuting

Much like buying your first car buying your first bike for commuting can be a confusing often scary experience. Should you ride a recumbent? A single speed? Will your mountain bike do the job?

Considering the amount of time you will be spending on this bike to and from work you want to know you are making the right choice. This can be tough as the options can be overwhelming. In this post I will break things down and recommend five different bike types and models that are perfect for commuting.

Hybrid Bike

Marin San Anselmo Commuter BikeHybrids are a perfect in-between step between road and mountain bikes. I personally have always commuted on a hybrid bike and I find it perfect for speed and comfort. It also copes well with the occasional bit of off-road use and bumping up and down sidewalks. What may put some people off is the upright riding position which whilst it provides a good view of surrounding traffic it can slow you down especially in windy conditions.

If you’re looking for a Hybrid bike then Marin have a good range. My ride is the Marin San Anselmo and for me it was love at first sight. The bike is light and speedy. Best of all, even after many miles, the amount of maintenance I have had to perform is minimal.

Folding Bike

What if your commute involves a 30 minute train ride? No problem! You simply ride to the the train station, fold the bike down and take it with you. Then on the other end in around 15 seconds you are good to go again. Finally when you arrive at the office you collapse the bike down and carry it up to your desk. Whilst you probably won’t win any speed awards you can’t deny the convenience of folders for bike commuting.

The de facto standard when it comes to folding commuting bikes is the Brompton M3L. The main reason for this is that it folds down into a very small package. Then, when unfolded, it provides a very smooth ride. For the mountain bikers amongst you, you may be surprised to hear there is even a folding mountain bike available.

Single Speed

For simplicity and ease of maintenance single speed bikes have an irresistible appeal. With only one gear there is no need for a derailleur. Not only does this make the maintenance side of things easier but it majorly reduces the cost. It also provides impressive speed for those of us that want those few extra precious minutes in bed before heading to work. If there is however a great big hill on your commute then the limited gears will be a major turn off.

If you want a single speed bike and are a bit of a bike geek then you can save a lot of money by building it yourself. Alternatively there are many mainstream manufacturers bringing out single speed bikes. Worthy of a mention is the Charge Plug.

Dutch Bike

Dutch Bike for CommutingThe Dutch bike is a popular choice in bike rental schemes across Europe. It is also the predominant bike you will see in cycle mad capitals such as Amsterdam and Copenhagen. Their practicality and reliability are two reasons for their huge success. Featuring a step through frame they allow the rider to hop and off very easily without allowing everyone to look up your skirt or splitting your pants. They also have a chain case that prevents getting oil stains onto clothes. Newer models also often include hub derailleurs for tackling hills.

Dutch bikes are a little hard to get hold of depending on the part of the world you are in. A brand worthy of a mention is Jorge and Olif who make a number of Dutch style bikes and are well recommended.

Touring Bike

Touring bikes are often chosen for commuting due to their reliability and efficiency. They also often come with built in rack mounts so are well suited for carrying extra loads such as work clothes. They can be more expensive so for the price conscious this option may not be the most suitable.

Cannondale have a bit of a history of touring bikes and it may be worth having a look around their catalogue and see what you can find. The Cannondale Touring 1 is a good choice for someone looking at a touring bike for commuting. A couple of sites also point towards the Surly Long Haul Trucker.

Can I use my mountain bike for commuting?

Any bike can potential be used for commuting. If you want to use your mountain bike there is nothing to stop you but personally I would choose not to. The weight of the bike is one thing that puts me off due to the additional effort for me to haul it around. Most the people I see cycling on a mountain bike in an inner city area are not travelling at any great speed. Of course it is possible to swap the tyres for fat slicks and that is what many commuting mountain bikers do.

I would really like to hear from you guys about what bike you use for commuting. Also if you use your mountain bike for commuting has it been a positive experience?

This is a guest post by Andreas Kambanis who runs a blog about cycling and London. You can grab his RSS feed here. Andreas’ started bike commuting when he got his first job in London. Despite going completely the wrong way on day one and ending up on one of the busiest streets in London he has never looked back. His blog is mainly for casual cyclists and commuters but there’s plenty in there to keep anyone interested.

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