Citytraveller

Hello all - I recently bought a trek allant for commuting but that only last about 3 weeks until I dreaded riding that bike:

1. it was way too heavy, almost 35 pounds + my fuhgeddaboutit lock, + purse just made it a super heavy machine.
2. it was slow - each pedal just took so much effort
3. again, it was heavy- I couldn't lift it to park it in my buildings bike rack (and had to have my boyfriend do it for me each time or else just brought it into the apartment) I am 5'4 and 120 lbs.

All in all just too much of a cruiser bike for me, so I sold it and am now looking for another commuter! Which of these bikes would you choose? I would use it for commuting and for some longer weekend bike rides. Would like a bike that I could add a rack to.

Trek 400 Road Bike - (48cm 531 Frame)

1990 Trek 420

Fuji Road Bike the fuji is the cheapest...

Also I live in Chicago but the only bikes I found that I liked were in Milwaukee, go figure

Thanks for any help!!!!

Wanderer

I'd go for the Fuji..... wonder if it will still be there by tonite?

Yep, the Chicago craigslist sucks.

jrickards

+1 on the Fuji

Hub Spanner

As you have learned, you won't ride a bike that is "no fun." I would recommend riding them all (I realize that is a hassle in this case) and picking the one that you think is the most fun.

Also, pick one that you can carry up the stairs. "Stair carrying" is perhaps the only time that bike weight matters for a commuter.

Finally, determine if you will need eyelets for fenders or racks someday.

I think the Trek 420 is the front runner on your list...maybe ride it first?

-Hub
t: HubSpanner

NormanF

A Trek 420 is made with Reynolds 531 tubing for a lightweight bicycle.

The frame alone is worth the cost of the entire bike!

tsl

I'd go for the Fuji too.

For me, the deal killer on the other bikes are the downtube shifters. I love my integrated levers and would never go back to a downtube shifter bike.

huizar

I don't know... my new bike will have integrated levers, but there's something undeniably fun about downtube shifters. Loved them on my old bike!

randomgear

The blue trek has eyelets on the rear dropouts, will make it easy to add fenders and/or a rack for panniers. The fork probably has eyelets, too.
The others don't appear to.

walrus1

Off to your local LBS you should go!

bikemig 

I'd vote for none of the above. A commuter ought to have eyelets and room for a little fatter tire and fenders. Vintage MTBs make great commuters once you swap out the tires for slicks, Specialized Rockhopper Mountain Bike 16.5"