![]() ![]() I’m getting bikes in that I ordered eight to ten months ago. Those shortages are still common two and a half years later. And when one company gets behind, the entire industry feels the shock waves,” Newbrey explains. People latched on pretty quickly, and the bike industry was not in any way prepared. “COVID hit, and people were looking for something that they could do outside, and bikes kind of became the first thing. With increased interest in biking spurred by the pandemic and continued global supply-chain issues, a lot of the bikes below might be low in stock. “They’re made with a lot of plastic parts that won’t last very long.” “I advise strongly against big-box store bikes, which generally do not have components that are meant to hold up for more than a handful of rides,” explains Bailey Newbrey, owner of Sincere Cycles in Santa Fe, New Mexico. While a top-of-the-line, aerodynamic racing bike can set you back a few grand, the experts we spoke to agreed that you can find a dependable commuting bike in the $500 to $750 range (if they’re not e-bikes, that is ). They explained what features to look for in commuter-specific bikes and how much you should be ready to spend. ![]() ![]() To demystify the process, we spoke with bike-store owners, retailers, and bike- commuting advocates. If you’re interested in riding to work, you may wonder how you’ll carry your stuff, how you’ll lock up your bike, what to do if it rains, and, most importantly, what type of bike you should buy. "(Third) Where will you store/park it? Locking, charging, protection from weather all come in to play, and some setups fair better than others based upon where it'll live during and after the workday," he said in an email.Photo-Illustration: The Strategist Photos: Retailersīike commuting is healthier and more environmentally friendly than driving and faster than walking, and, over time, it will save you a lot on MetroCards (if not stop you entirely from buying them). "(Second) Backpack or rack and panniers? How much gear do you need to carry, and how will you carry it? This really helps define the bike and/or how you will need to set it up. "(First) Electric or not? Frankly, this ties to sweat, distance, speed and related - do you have a place to shower and change at work? Mark Cote, the Active Category Leader at Specialized has three main questions every bike commuter needs to think about when shopping for a ride. "With a little modification, most bikes can be made into great commuters – with the addition of full-length mudguards to ward off foul weather, some kind of luggage carrying capability and lights for year-round visibility." A road bike is the preferred bike choice," he says. Most people at Trek commute 25 miles from Madison to Waterloo WI. "If you are travelling a longer distance, road bikes can make a great efficient commuter. Michael Mayer, Trek's Director of Product Marketing, tells Cyclingnews the most important considerations when you are looking for a commuter bike are the length of trip, terrain and what you need to carry with you. So, we posed the question to some of the world's biggest bike brands to find out what they think you should look out for if you're looking to get a commuter. With all of these different types of bikes, all designed in one way or another to achieve the same goal, finding the right one can seem an arduous task.
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