{"id":38211,"date":"2021-07-30T13:53:24","date_gmt":"2021-07-30T20:53:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/averagejoecyclist.com\/?p=38211"},"modified":"2021-09-08T10:51:36","modified_gmt":"2021-09-08T17:51:36","slug":"how-to-set-up-your-commuter-bike","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/averagejoecyclist.com\/how-to-set-up-your-commuter-bike\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Set Up a Commuter Bike"},"content":{"rendered":"

Are you planning to set up a commuter bike? If so, this post has everything you need to know, including how to choose a suitable bike, and how to equip it with essential accessories for safe and comfortable bike commuting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Start with a Good Bike!<\/h2>\n

I strongly recommend that you do not<\/strong> buy a cheap department store bike and hope to be able to use it as a form of transport.<\/p>\n

Reasons NOT to Buy a Department Store Bike:<\/h4>\n
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  • Department store bikes have cheap compo<\/strong>nents<\/strong> that will not work well and will not last long.<\/li>\n
  • These cheap components are assembled by people who are not bike mechanics, so the bikes may be incorrectly assembled<\/strong>. I know someone whose department store bike literally fell apart under her the first day she rode it. And she only weighed about a hundred pounds!<\/li>\n
  • Department store bikes will likely not have the braze-ons<\/strong> you will need to mount essential gear on your bike, such as fenders. You could tie these on with zip ties, but that would be unstable and unsafe.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
    What is a braze-on?<\/h5>\n

    A braze-on<\/strong> is a small fitting permanently attached to a frame. They are used to attach accessories such as fenders or water bottle holders. They may be brazed onto the frame in the case of a steel bike, or welded, glued, riveted or molded to the frame. Whatever technique is used, they provide solid supports for the accessories that are essential for a great commuter bike.<\/p>\n

    Related Post: 7 of the Best Bike Computers \u2013 from Budget to Premium<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

    What Kind of Bike Should You Get?<\/h2>\n

    This depends on your needs and abilities, and on your route. If for example your entire route to work was over a mountain, you would need a mountain bike<\/strong>. You can also use a mountain bike to navigate city roads with potholes. However, as mountain bikes are on the heavy side, you would have a slower ride. Uphills would be that much harder.<\/p>\n

    Road Bikes for Bike Commuting<\/h3>\n

    If you are young and strong and your body is able to withstand a lot of rough bumps while cycling, you might opt for the opposite kind of bike: a road bike<\/strong> (also called a race bike). This is the lightest and fastest option, but is not necessarily the best choice for most commuters. Road bikes encourage an aggressive riding style, which is great for winning the Tour de France, but not necessarily great for a middle-aged commuter transporting their lunch and a heavy laptop through traffic. The aggressive style, plus the limited cushioning provided by skinny tires and a minimalist frame, could soon cause lower back pain, tennis elbow, and other ailments that cause you to ditch the bike.<\/p>\n

    Related Post: How to Become a Bike Commuter \u2013 7 Tips to Plan for Success for Women Bike Commuters<\/a><\/h3>\n

    Hybrid Bikes for Bike Commuting<\/h3>\n

    An ideal commuting bike for most average people will be a strong, good quality bike, most likely a hybrid bike<\/strong>. It might have front shocks to be gentler to your hands and elbows. It would likely have a relatively upright position<\/strong> to make it easy for you to see traffic. It definitely should have bombproof mid-range components<\/strong> (i.e. brakes, gears, etc.), such as Shimano Tiagra or Deore.<\/p>\n

    There should be enough clearance<\/strong> between the tires and the frame so that you can mount fenders<\/strong> (always check this when buying a bike). And of course, it should have the braze-ons previously mentioned, and possibly even have the front forks drilled with mounts for extra panniers. It should have at least one place to mount a bottle holder<\/strong>. If you are a thirsty kind of person or plan to commute 30 miles, it should have two places to mount a bottle holder.<\/p>\n

    Have Enough Gears!<\/h3>\n

    Also, make sure your bike has all the gears<\/strong> you need. If you have hills to climb and lots of luggage to carry, you will benefit from a triple front gear ring. This will give you more gears, and easier gears. If you are a beginner, we have a post right here<\/a> that explains how to use your gears to make cycling easier. My own commuter bike has three rings on the front derailleur<\/strong>, which is always my preference. Sometimes I just need that grandpa gear!<\/p>\n

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