Commuter/Tourer Suggestions

[elapid]

I'm consolidating my bike collection a little with the birth of my son. I want a bike that I can use for commuting (30km/day), riding my bike into the local hills with a baby trailer, and possibly some light to moderate touring.

I am open to all recommendations, but I am thinking primarily of the Surly Long Haul Trucker (LHT) (disc version) or the Kona Jake. I am a little concerned about the handling of the Surly LHT under no or light loads, but likewise about the ability of the Kona Jake to handle light to moderate touring.

I will be test riding both later in the year. (In addition, I currently have a carbon Stevens 'cross bike, but am willing to sell this if I can also use the Kona Jake for some fall fun.)

Any advice and/or recommendations?

 

[winkybiker]

Kona Jake isn't really a tourer, is it? Don't know how it would handle with racks. Does it even have rack eyelets? But great as an all-weather commuter and general get-around-on bike.

I commute in the winter on a C'dale T2000 full tourer (but with no racks fitted). Works fine of course, but not as light as it could be, I guess. On the other hand it is great fully loaded tourer.

The Surly LHT is a different type of bike again. Built for maximum load-carrying capacity and a fair compromise doing everything else. Unless you plan to schlep huge amounts of stuff on a regular basis, I'd be inclined to give it a miss. On the other hand, if it let you go car-free, I'd jump at it.

 

[elapid]

Kona Jake isn't really a tourer, is it? Don't know how it would handle with racks. Does it even have rack eyelets? But great as an all-weather commuter and general get-around-on bike.

I commute in the winter on a C'dale T2000 full tourer (but with no racks fitted). Works fine of course, but not as light as it could be, I guess. On the other hand it is great fully loaded tourer.

The Surly LHT is a different type of bike again. Built for maximum load-carrying capacity and a fair compromise doing everything else. Unless you plan to schlep huge amounts of stuff on a regular basis, I'd be inclined to give it a miss. On the other hand, if it let you go car-free, I'd jump at it.

Thanks Winkybiker. I checked your Cannondale T2000 and unfortunately it is no longer produced. I have the same concerns with the LHT that you expressed. The Kona Jake has rack eyelets and can be used for touring, but I am not sure what is like under load. Another possibility is the Salsa Vaya, which I believe comes with couplers, so would be easier to travel with and, depending on its suitability to 'cross racing (fun, not serious), then may be able to replace my 'cross (Stevens Ultegra) and travel (Ritchey Breakaway) bikes.

 

[dsut4392]

I'm consolidating my bike collection a little with the birth of my son.

Congratulations!

I want a bike that I can use for commuting (30km/day), riding my bike into the local hills with a baby trailer, and possibly some light to moderate touring.

I am open to all recommendations, but I am thinking primarily of the Surly Long Haul Trucker (LHT) (disc version) or the Kona Jake. I am a little concerned about the handling of the Surly LHT under no or light loads, but likewise about the ability of the Kona Jake to handle light to moderate touring.

I will be test riding both later in the year. (In addition, I currently have a carbon Stevens 'cross bike, but am willing to sell this if I can also use the Kona Jake for some fall fun.)

Any advice and/or recommendations?

What are you commuting on now, and any reason it wouldn't do for towing a trailer with?

The Surly LHT handles just fine loaded or unloaded, but think 'steamroller' rather than 'lively'.
The Kona Jake would do fine for trailer towing, and you could use a trailer for touring too. But would it give you as much "fall fun" as your Stevens?

I wonder, is there actually any reason why one shouldn't tow a kiddie trailer with a 'nice' bike (other than a lack of gearing for the hills)? A Chariot transfers the towing load directly to the rear axle, so it shouldn't matter what your frame is made of...

I went through a similar consolidation late last year with the birth of my second, to make space for kids' bikes in the shed. We chose to keep the 'fun' bikes separate from the 'load hauling' bikes. I got the opportunity to upgrade my full sus MTB in exchange for letting go of my race hardtail and old full sus. Now my wife and I have 3 bikes each, a commuter/tourer/towing bike, a nice road bike, and a nice full sus MTB.


Trailer wise, get a Chariot.

 

[lennart]

sounds to me like a sulry cross check is an good option. I do a 40 km communte on it in the Netherlands. Done some touring on it as well. I do not know how light/moderate, Marocco is compared to your place , but no complaints at all. I bought just the fames and the parts that I did not have. So I have no expeiriance with the set up as complete bike. Thet seem to change that a bit every year.

 

[kuoirad]

Gunnar Fastlane?

http://gunnarbikes.com/site/bikes/fast-lane/

Or maybe instead of the Jake, the Kona Rove...

http://konabikes.com/rove.cfm

(but I also prefer steel, so ymmv)

 

[elapid]

Thanks all. I've test ridden three of the bikes (Surly LHT, Kona Jake, and Salsa Vaya) and will buy the Salsa Vaya. The Kona Rove is apparently very similar to the Salsa Vaya. Will probably buy the 105 model, I just need to convince the LBS to sell it to me with the Sora frame because pastel blue is not really my colour

 

[purcell]

I will make my likes clear here, think through what you want and need, both in terms of carrying , ride character, etc. then get a bike built.

I cannot remember where you are located but there are lots of good framebuilders that will build you a frame and fork at a very decent price. Custom bikes are not all about "ego" or " odd dimensions" they are abut getting what you want.

My "commute" bike is a Doug Curtiss built (Curtlo), steel frame and fork, built with Canti brake mounts, rack and fender eyelets to allow for both front and rear racks as well as full coverage, proper mount fenders. I also had light mount points installed on the front fork and the rear, left seat stay.

All built around the geometry of a classic cyclocross race frame.

I paid $980 for the frame and fork, in total. I paid an additional $100 for a powder coat up charge.

The main thing is I got the exact bike I wanted. If I were ordering again I would find a builder to work around internal wiring runs for headlight and taillight that I could hook up to a dynamo hub.

 

[42x16ss]

Have you thought about the Cinelli Gezzetta della Strada?

 

[King Boonen]

Buy this:

http://www.cotic.co.uk/product/escapade

Build it up as you want it.

 

[MarkvW]

Does it drop like a stone or does it wobble under load when descending mountains?
Disc brakes are god.
Fancy stuff is great if you can fix it in the middle of nowhere.
The top tube shouldn't interfere with standing up at intersections.

 

[winkybiker]

Buy this:

http://www.cotic.co.uk/product/escapade

Build it up as you want it.

Interesting product. I like the through-axle set-up on the front. Few MTBs continue to use conventional fork tip drop-outs due the fact that the disc-brake forces want to yank the wheel out of the drop-outs under braking. Probably an even greater issue on tarmac where braking forces are potentially much higher. Lawyer tabs aren't enough....

 

[elapid]

Well here it is - Salsa Vaya 2 purchased today and very happy with the bike. BB7 mechanical disc brakes, Shimano 105 triple, lovely position in both the drops and on the hoods. Thanks for all your input and suggestions.

 

[MarkvW]

Well here it is - Salsa Vaya 2 purchased today and very happy with the bike. BB7 mechanical disc brakes, Shimano 105 triple, lovely position in both the drops and on the hoods. Thanks for all your input and suggestions.

Brooks B-17 for long tours might be good. Front bags make for better handling. Looks like a great setup. Especially for gravel. Looks like you can mount rear lights on the rack too!

 

[elapid]

Thanks MarkvW - I do have a Brooks B17 saddle which I rescued from one of my two single speeds which I recently sold. I will probably use the B17 on this bike. Front racks are likely for when I go touring, and yes I can use a rear light on the rack.

 

[winkybiker]

Nice choice. If the fork uses conventional dropouts, keep the skewer very tight. As MarkvW says, front racks and bags make for good handling when fully loaded.

 

[King Boonen]

Interesting product. I like the through-axle set-up on the front. Few MTBs continue to use conventional fork tip drop-outs due the fact that the disc-brake forces want to yank the wheel out of the drop-outs under braking. Probably an even greater issue on tarmac where braking forces are potentially much higher. Lawyer tabs aren't enough....

Most cheaper MTB's still do, basically anything under £1500-2000 is still running QR forks, but when you get past that they don't. I've never had a problem to be honest, even under heavy breaking, although my new (to me) Magura forks have cowled drop-outs on them which hold the wheel very well.


The Escapade is marketed as a "life-style" bike, the kind of bike you can cycle out to the hills down the roads, then take off-road to a campsite, then take home and use it for the commute. From what I've heard it does all this very well. If I ever go back to a road bike it'll be this.

 

[winkybiker]

Most cheaper MTB's still do, basically anything under £1500-2000 is still running QR forks, but when you get past that they don't. I've never had a problem to be honest, even under heavy breaking, although my new (to me) Magura forks have cowled drop-outs on them which hold the wheel very well.

Yeah, you're right. MTB QR suspension forks do tend to have very deep sockets for the QR, rather than just lawyer tabs like road bikes. Advice is still to keep them tight, though. I might have over-stated it a bit.

 

[King Boonen]

No, you're right, you do need to do them up tight. Most cheaper mtbs also only have 160-180 mm discs which helps.