I have a 6 mile commute starting in September. But the problem is I only have my Tri bike. I’d be carrying with me a backpack with books and a laptop so like 10 pounds or so. Does this seem reasonable or should I save up and get a cheap road bike or MTN bike.
I had to get creative I would leave tons of clothes in my office and commute 30 miles each way on my tri bike and road bike every other day. I would bring my bike in the service entrance and put in in an empty office. New job I drive in on monday with bike in trunk and use it as my storage locker all week (health club next door to shower)
Buy a beater, a lot less to worry about with weather, crashing, and getting your bike stolen.
Everyone should have a mountain bike or road bike as the default form of transportation for shorter trips.
Keep in mind that most backpacks are designed for use when you are more or less vertical. If you have a good position on your tri bike your back is more or less horizontal. This may or may not be a problem. Maybe it takes the weight off of your shoulders, maybe stuff shifts around.
Your tri bike probably cost a lot more than a typical commuter bike and looks like it, so it is probably a higher value target for thieves.
Most commuters will run a bigger more robust tire than most tri bikes, both for a comfy ride and for resistance to cuts and punctures.
A tri bike is intended to be ridden with fair degree of effort, maybe not what you want to do after a long day at the office.
You can never have too many bikes and you now have a great excuse to get another one. Or two.
scan the books onto a USB memory stick.
commuting on a TT bike isn’t a problem. (I do that)
riding with a 10lb backpack will be a little annoying. (I don’t do that)
If you are serious about cycling, you must have at least two bikes: one for races only, and another one for everything else. :))))
Not to be contrarian but—
Rule #12 // The correct number of bikes to own is n+1: While the minimum number of bikes one should own is three, the correct number is n+1, where n is the number of bikes currently owned. This equation may also be re-written as s-1, where s is the number of bikes owned that would result in separation from your partner.
You can do it but I’d suggest a more upright single speed such as the Jamis Beatnik. It’s not as flashy but for a 6 mile commute you’ll never have to do any maintenance on besides wipe the chain. Plus you can toss it into fixie mode for fun. Best of all, it’s pretty cheap ~400$
Not to be contrarian but—
Rule #12 // The correct number of bikes to own is n+1: While the minimum number of bikes one should own is three, the correct number is n+1, where n is the number of bikes currently owned. This equation may also be re-written as s-1, where s is the number of bikes owned that would result in separation from your partner.
Well :)))) Being fully aware of rule #12, I understand that there is a start point for every race, I would say. The OP obviously is not familiar with such important rule. Currently he has only ONE(!) TT(!!) bike he is going to use for commute(!!!). I am trying to work gently with him to give him an idea that is simply not enough, and not to scary him away. Once the thought about “more than one” is deeply rooted in his mind we can introduce him to Rule #12.
I’ve got thousands of miles commuting on my $300 mtn bike. Not only better for handling unusual conditions you might encounter commuting, especially on hike & bike trails, but its a better workout on a heavy slow bike. I ride with knobbies for added resistance.
Not to be contrarian but—
Rule #12 // The correct number of bikes to own is n+1: While the minimum number of bikes one should own is three, the correct number is n+1, where n is the number of bikes currently owned. This equation may also be re-written as s-1, where s is the number of bikes owned that would result in separation from your partner.
Well :)))) Being fully aware of rule #12, I understand that there is a start point for every race, I would say. The OP obviously is not familiar with such important rule. Currently he has only ONE(!) TT(!!) bike he is going to use for commute(!!!). I am trying to work gently with him to give him an idea that is simply not enough, and not to scary him away. Once the thought about “more than one” is deeply rooted in his mind we can introduce him to Rule #12.
I was just teasing and trying to live up to the persona of the snobby road racer
I ride to work on my tri bike with 10 lbs of laptop, clothes and lunch multiple times per week. It is not a problem for me, but my tri position is not really that “low”. I second what others have stated about getting a beater road/commuter bike.
I think I’m going to search Craigslist for a beater bike I don’t want to spend more the. 300-400 on it. So hopefully I can get something decent. I just tried riding around with the backpack and it moves around way to much to be comfortable epically on the downhills.
luggage rack
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My commuter is a tri-bike.
We were going to sell it to buy a “real” commuter but quickly realized that my used tri-bike had way sturdier components than new commuter-specific bikes. The only drawback was that there were no mounting holes for a book rack on the tri-bike. Instead, DH installed a seatpost-mounted rack (with a very high-tech and fancy after-market zip-tie suspension from the seat rails to keep the rack from flexing down onto the tire) and Ortlieb panniers (http://www.ortliebusa.com/prod-31.htm). Those panniers are great. Afternoon thunderstorm/monsoon - stuff stays dry.
This set-up worked for me, but if you can find a decent MTB or cross bike for low $, that might be a better choice.
The only problem will be is trying to hold 24 MPH Pace loaded down with books and a laptop…
No problem for all the studs on ST as long as they are not riding on Gatorskins and have the ST approved FTP north of 5W per kilo…then 24 mph is a breeze, even pulling a drag chute like this guy:
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I commute on my TT/Tri bike; It’s only 14.79 miles each way. Next week I plan to commute Mon-Thurs, on Sunday I’ll drop what I need in the office for the week, clothes, etc so I won’t have to ride with anything extra I wouldn’t carry with me on a regular training ride. Works out well!
Good Luck!!!
I would be a 2nd bike
I use a 6 year old Marinoni road bike with panniers, it’s the perfect commuter
Backpacks puts additional pressure on your bum and makes your back all sweaty anyways
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How about a unicyle?? +1 for a beater and all the reasons give above. Get something that’s meant to jump a curb, hop a pothole and skid around a dirt corner. Some of my funnest rides have been commuting to work and taking shortcuts through the park and finding unpaved alleys. Sure, you can commute on a tri bike, buy why…