Your best all purpose bike ...
12-04-18, 06:33 PM
#1
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Bikes: K2 (Marzocchi/Fox), Trek 6000 (red) MARS Elite up front, Specialized Hardrock Sport -> eBike (R7 Elite up front), lastly TREK 820 loaner. Recently sold Peugeot du Monde Record and 1956 Schwinn (owned since new).
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Your best all purpose bike ...
It seems lately I have been playing with older re-purposed 26" mountain bikes. Mostly hard tails, but I have one full suspension bike too. They are not competitive for down hill and stump jumping any more, but they seem to make very versatile run-around do anything, and mild trail bikes ... 
Sold the all the road bikes, and basket(s) laden cruiser. All we have left are older MTB chassis's with smoother general purpose tires, more plush ergo seats, and rear racks ...
This is my old standby do-anything bike. It has been superseded by a K2 and much modified Hardrock Sport. But it is not going up for sale anytime soon
What do you'all use for general getting around?
Sold the all the road bikes, and basket(s) laden cruiser. All we have left are older MTB chassis's with smoother general purpose tires, more plush ergo seats, and rear racks ...
This is my old standby do-anything bike. It has been superseded by a K2 and much modified Hardrock Sport. But it is not going up for sale anytime soon
What do you'all use for general getting around?
12-04-18, 07:04 PM
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I have an older Specialized Sequoia touring bike that I converted to a flatbar. It has racks, lights , fenders and 28m tires. I use it for commuting, street rides and long rides.
12-04-18, 07:07 PM
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Novara Mazama. Something between a road/gravel/touring/rough road bike.
My repurposed 26" fully rigid MTB comes in a very close second, but loses out on no speed. I hope the 9 speed conversion that is sitting in boxes waiting to go on helps out a bit with that
My repurposed 26" fully rigid MTB comes in a very close second, but loses out on no speed. I hope the 9 speed conversion that is sitting in boxes waiting to go on helps out a bit with that
Last edited by jefnvk; 12-05-18 at 08:41 AM.
12-04-18, 07:10 PM
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Interocitor Command
12-04-18, 07:16 PM
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my all purpose
My all purpose bike is a 2006 Schwinn SS DBX. It is a capable road bike, good commuter with racks mounted and is OK on easy riding trails/paths. I use it a lot in the colder and wetter type weather. Also can be used for single day/weekend touring.
Have owned it for 13 years. I like to take it with me when I travel.
Have owned it for 13 years. I like to take it with me when I travel.
12-04-18, 07:57 PM
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My "do everything" bike is my Gary Fisher Wingra flat bar hybrid. It was my first bike as an adult, and i bought it with the intent that it would indeed "do it all"... road, trail, singletrack. I quickly figured out that the singletrack part didnt work, but it is my commuter, with full fenders, rear rack with panniers, and is my most versatile bike.
12-04-18, 09:11 PM
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I shopped hard for a modern hard tail MTB with traditional rack mounts and QR so I could use a kid seat and trailer. I found several that fit the bill. A Karate Monkey would do it with an aftermarket axle, a Roscoe would do it but was out of stock, so I finished with a Timberjack.
12-04-18, 09:27 PM
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My 12 year old Kona Jake the Snake is the best bike I've ever had. Pulls a bike trailer, is great for commuting but can also do single track and is so comfortable
12-05-18, 12:06 AM
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Took me months to find this used, but a 2014 Cannondale Quick CX 3, to which I added a Tubus Cargo Evo rack, Topeak Mini Morph pump, SPD/Platform combination pedals, CygloLite HotShot 100 tail light, PlanetBike Bottle Blinky (Amber side flasher) and Light & Motion Taz 1200 headlight. A couple bottle cages, some GP 4 Season 32mm tires. On order: PDW full length fenders.
I use Ortlieb panniers on the rack when I need to carry stuff. For smaller loads an inexpensive REI trunk. The saddle bag is always there with roadside repair kit.
This is my casual ride, or shopping, or commute, or any-weather bike. For more serious rides I take my Synapse road bike. But for utility, or quick casual, or family rides, the Quick CX is my general purpose do-it-all.
When the weather turns sloppy or I take it off road onto trails I swap the original Kenda Happy Medium 35mm tires back on.
I use Ortlieb panniers on the rack when I need to carry stuff. For smaller loads an inexpensive REI trunk. The saddle bag is always there with roadside repair kit.
This is my casual ride, or shopping, or commute, or any-weather bike. For more serious rides I take my Synapse road bike. But for utility, or quick casual, or family rides, the Quick CX is my general purpose do-it-all.
When the weather turns sloppy or I take it off road onto trails I swap the original Kenda Happy Medium 35mm tires back on.
12-05-18, 01:09 AM
#10
Interocitor Command
For me it would probably be between these two. One is a 2004 Raleigh M60 Mountain Sport. The other is a 2011 Giant Roam-2. Both bikes have undergone extensive modifications since these pictures were taken in Spring 2015.
12-05-18, 04:09 AM
#11
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My Schwinn Crosscut (owned >27 yrs) performed all duties for years mountain biking, commuting, training and a roadie Metric century ride before I purchased my other two dedicated bikes. Carried it with me shipboard for several cruises as well. Current iteration in photo.
12-05-18, 08:02 AM
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I don't have an all-purpose bike. My Surly LHT can do a lot, including taking on unpaved mountain passes, but I wouldn't take it on a fast road ride.
12-05-18, 09:51 AM
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My 2005 Giant Rainier (old-school NORBA geometry 26er hardtail) is still going strong. From '05 to '10 when I bought a dedicated 'road bike', the Rainier served for everything, and served well, with just a switch in tires: road rides, commuting, mtb. Even did my first true 'century' on it, with road slicks; no problem.
If I had to keep just one bike, this would be it without question. Mind, there's nothing 'original' left on it other than the frame, but still ... . Matter of fact, going to update the drivetrain/brakes again this spring, to XT (change over to 1x). Frame, fork, and wheels (Mavic 717 disc on XT) are still great. Lousy pic of Blue Pig below.
If I had to keep just one bike, this would be it without question. Mind, there's nothing 'original' left on it other than the frame, but still ... . Matter of fact, going to update the drivetrain/brakes again this spring, to XT (change over to 1x). Frame, fork, and wheels (Mavic 717 disc on XT) are still great. Lousy pic of Blue Pig below.
12-05-18, 12:16 PM
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12-05-18, 12:23 PM
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I only own N bikes so my one and only ride, an '84 Pug purchased new by me, is my do-all bike.
Jon
Jon
12-05-18, 08:52 PM
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My all arounder. Rockhopper Comp conversion. Albatross bars, flat pedals, 1.5" road tires, WTB Pure V saddle, rack{not in pic**, fenders, ergo grips and the all important bell! Been fun to do and awesomely freeing. No special clothes or shoes. Neck doesn't hurt. Ride trails or roads. I find myself looking for reasons to ride further! Before and after pics. 
12-05-18, 10:28 PM
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It's down to a dropbar MTB trek 830 when it's super mucky or single track is on the menu, or my Masi Giramondo for dryer weather, longer rides and a desire for higher speeds. Both are excellent rides. Whichever one is set up at the moment gets the day to day use. I always want to use my road bikes but find excuses to use these instead.
12-05-18, 10:45 PM
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I dont have an all purpose bike as i do too much varied riding.
but my closest to that is also what I often use for just riding around(which usually means shorter family rides).
Black Mountain Cycles MC frame built up with a mixed 11sp drivetrain for mostly gravel riding.
great wide range gearing from 46/34 crank and 11-36 cassette. Quality 40mm tires. Front and rear racks could be mounted and there are 3 bottle mounts for touring/long rides.
but my closest to that is also what I often use for just riding around(which usually means shorter family rides).
Black Mountain Cycles MC frame built up with a mixed 11sp drivetrain for mostly gravel riding.
great wide range gearing from 46/34 crank and 11-36 cassette. Quality 40mm tires. Front and rear racks could be mounted and there are 3 bottle mounts for touring/long rides.
12-05-18, 10:56 PM
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My best all-purpose bike is probably the Neo/Brompton, followed by the Bianchi. However, the bike I like riding the best is the Time. It’s the least practical, but it makes cycling fun.
Last edited by avole; 12-06-18 at 01:12 AM.
12-05-18, 10:58 PM
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A DVD player without a DVD slot? Haha
12-06-18, 06:26 AM
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My all-around bike is a Surly Disc Trucker. Great touring bike, but since I got into gravel riding, pulled it into service for that. Also, my back-up road bike when my main road bike is out of commission for some reason. I've used the Surly on tours, gravel rides, and a couple of century rides on pavement. It's a tank but it's given me some great service.
12-06-18, 06:41 AM
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My all-purpose bike is a converted steel Bianchi Advantage. Fenders, rack, panniers, 38-mm city tires. It's all-purpose...well, it's really just great for hauling groceries in the rain and snow, thus it rarely gets ridden.
12-06-18, 10:05 AM
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While I would never have just one bike, if I really had to it would be this one
IMG_3144 by Stuart Black, on Flickr
I can put up with the slowness of the tires on pavement as long as I have the ability to ride off-road. I can, and have, toured on it.
DSCN1197 by Stuart Black, on Flickr
It actually tours well and allows me to go places I wouldn’t usually go on a tour. Next summer I plan on using using it to do a route that includes the pass that is being discussed in this thread. I actually plan on riding Black Bear Pass as part of the route.
IMG_3144 by Stuart Black, on Flickr
I can put up with the slowness of the tires on pavement as long as I have the ability to ride off-road. I can, and have, toured on it.
DSCN1197 by Stuart Black, on Flickr
It actually tours well and allows me to go places I wouldn’t usually go on a tour. Next summer I plan on using using it to do a route that includes the pass that is being discussed in this thread. I actually plan on riding Black Bear Pass as part of the route.
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Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!