New bike(s)

[coathangrrr]

I'm pretty positive that I'm going to get a Charge Plug Grinder when we get them into my work. It seems like it'll do everything I want a commuter to do, and it'll fit the cross tires I like to use, and maybe some nice spiky snow tires as well. Plus it's pretty cheap

Comments

[krangomatik]

Have you looked at REI's Novara Randonee? You can often find them heavily marked down at end of season sales. I know a couple people that have these are really like them. No disc brakes though, if that's a deal breaker for you.

A couple years ago riding down the coast we met a couple that were riding on REI's Safari which is the REI mountain-ish touring bike. They seemed to like them quite a bit and they are a bit less expensive than the Randonee (though they are lacking some things I desire like drop bars and have shifters that are too crazy for me).

I ride a hand me down Bruce Gordon that I'm very happy with.

One problem that I've seen a couple times is if you intend to tour with a front rack and front fender you have to make sure you get some sort of setup that can live in harmony. Though, if you're of the trailer persuasion you don't have to worry about this.