The time has come where I need to have a more specialised commuter bike. Been using a gravel bike for the last few years but want to shift to a IGH so things need to change. I could go for a complete bike or build one with a new/second hand frame.
Criteria as follows.
Not too heavy so no cheapo steel but better stuff fine., IGH so either 130/135mm horizontal dropouts, track ends or some clever adjustable drop outs. Hub brakes. Would go either disc or hub . Dynamo front wheel. Happy to go back to flat bars as long as I can get a nice low position. Advantage there is hydro disc brakes are way cheaper. Clearance for 35mm + tyres with mudguards. I do 11 miles each way, 7+ being FC gravel/mud. Mudguard mounts .
I guess the frame is the first step, anythingworth looking at. Sadly older steel MTBs don't tend to have horizontal dropouts and disc mounts. Could get the gas bottles out but would rather not. Entertain/motivate me 😀
Not too heavy
An Alfine 11 hub is 1.6kg, so brace yourself for that!!!
I use a Cube Editor for commuting, I ditched the Gates Carbon Drive belt for a regular chain and cogs in order to get lower gearing without having to re-mortgage. The bikes low maintainance but the hub gears have their quirks which I think are due to the specific inner cable length required.
I assumed that Di2 would bypass the ‘specificities’ of cable length?
Some On-One inbreds had a unique way to let you run ss.
I've always fancied a Soma Wolverine. The rear brake caliper postion looks a bit awkward for rack mounting but a lovely, versatile frame nonetheless. It has sliding drop outs. Gates drive compatible too!!
Rather than building up from scratch, how about the old Genesis day-one alfine/nexus?
Not sure, but might fall into your cheapie steel category?
Not fancying the Gates. SS chains are cheap and I usually run 2. Been wondering about an Inbred. Only 170cm tall so what size anyone?
Definitely gears required for the commute? I went from Alfine to fixed and now SS on my commute steed. I’ve got quite a lumpy commute and it took about 6mths to work out which was the right gear and stick to it (on the Alfine). I then converted it and haven’t looked back. I do sometimes curse when there’s a strong easterly headwind as it’s an uphill drag on the return… but most of the time it’s great. And the benefits of lack of maintenance and weight saving are real. if you have a particularly hilly route though it probably won’t be for you.
Distance/terrain/traffic/luggage?
Those are my first considerations. Have always commuted by bike and found diff strokes for diff commutes. ie a 25 mile hilly A-road commute with minimal luggage very different from a 10 mile traffic-jammed urban commute with often more cargo-carrying/town-stops reqts. First one loved derailleur, drop bars and 531 handbuilt tourer, second one loved hub gears, sitty-uppy and stepthru with integrated locks, sidestand etc.
Same difference again for a coastal, stupid-hilly altogether rural commute on 100% minor roads/farmtracks (this remains a favourite) where a lightweight alloy 26er MTB (Kinesis Maxlight) running Schwalbe Hurricanes, triple, wide riser bars with mahoosive bar-ends and a rear rack got the job done perfectly and without rusting in the sea air and morning mists.
The Day One looks to be a sensible all-rounder as long as not mega-miles.
Becareful to build or buy a hopefully economical low-maintenance/low-cost spares tool for the job and not a ‘dream build’, is my best advice over the decades.
Current commuter is an old 700c hand-built British tourer on hand-built wheels and 28c Marathons. HG50 3 x 7 drivetrain replacement intervals and maintenance costs = trivial. It does interurban and rural commutes like a clockwork dream.
ymmv
SS chains are cheap and I usually run 2
At the same time? Is that a thing?
I used to have a Cannondale badboy for commuting which had an ebb and Alfine 8, have to say it was the perfect bike for me commuting around Bristol. I'd look at MTB frame that also have ebb's, Starling come to mind if you can find one....
If you don't fancy a Gates drive then I solved the above problem with a Genesis Croix De Fer. It's got vertical dropouts (I got sick of horizontal track ends with mudguards) which I have set up single speed using a magic ratio, it's been working really well (better than when I was using a Surly Singulator tbh, so that was a waste of £50). I'm happy to tell you what chain ring and sprocket I'm using if you're interested
Magic ratios may be an option. SS doesn't seem to work. One nasty 15% climb either way and to gear for that I seem to be spinning out on the flat. Don't carry much. A Carradice A$ sized hi level bag on a SQR mount.
Nothing too techy on the ride. In the summer I sling the 30mm slicks on and they cope perfectly well with the last drop of the Verderers here in the FoD. Day ones seem a good idea or an old Pompetamine. Need to have rear OLD to fit a IGH.
Just one thing. No bloody chain tensioners! Pig ungly
Keep the ideas coming.
I used to have a Cannondale badboy for commuting which had an ebb and Alfine 8
this is the exact bike I have, bought new in 2007 but now running SS since 2009.
Perfect commuter TBH!
Bought Carrera subway 2 from Halfords Changed tyres fitted rack all fine 22ile commute. Peter
An old cotic roadrat (or possibly escapade) might fit with your frame requirements. I’ve been running one as a computer/tourer since 2006 ish (though not so much for the last five years or so since moving further away from work) and other than some slightly awkward drop outs when run with a standard derailier but I expect that issue would go away with a hub gear or ss set up.
I guess the frame is the first step
I've got a 2005 Stumpjumper hardtail frame for sale in the STW classifieds...
Only 170cm tall so what size anyone?
Prob sm/med MTB (16”) or 53cm road. I’d be concentrating on getting tob-tube/ reach correct though. Maybe go for a fitting or measure/reference existing/past bikes that have worked?
I see Genesis iO ID come uo from time to time. Could be a good alternative to a inbred if looking around.
https://www.bikeradar.com/reviews/bikes/mountain-bikes/genesis-io-id-review/
I used a genesis IOID for commuting - great bike for an urban commute
You do not need tensioners or funny dropouts to use an IGH - various eccentric BBs are available that go in standard frames
I found the alfine perfect for a commuter
I had an Alfine 11 Di2 and an Exposure Revo dynamo mounted to an original 2014 Niner RLT 9 frame. I did around 20k km commuting on that and it was very cheap to run. 1 chain, 1 sprocket, 1 chainring, a service kit or 2 and some pads and bar tape. 54km each day with 500m of climbing.
Whilst it was simple and cheap to run, It was both heavy and draggy when in use. Whenever it was nice weather I’d opt for a different bike.
Have you looked at the Shand Leveret? Disc brakes though