I am the perfect bike for knocking around Portland's East Side, for <$1k. I'm probably a jack of all trades, efficient enough to take all over town, but upright and with wide enough tires to feel versatile and confident in (e.g.) late night rides on bad road after a beer. New or used. What am I?
find a use Surly Crosscheck, put 2 inch tires on it.
THIS. ❤️ my crosscheck. Been on 300 mile tours and dirt trails.
steel is reel
i have two steel bikes, one i bought in 2005, the other in 2007, unclear if i'll ever need to replace either in this life (N+1 in the next tho)
Looking for pretty remedial help here, as my experience is basically growing up with 70s 10 speed road bikes and more recently riding a fat-tire eBike. Obviously there's a vast space between. Shop recs are appreciated if that's the move. Maybe common used deals? Does buying new make sense w/tariffs?
Talk to a guy named Tomcat at Tomcat Bikes. Very good people and known personally to me as a bike elder of greatest trust.
On a street named Milwaukie in a neighborhood called Brooklyn… 3117 SE Milwaukie Ave Portland, OR 97202
These people are or at least used to be a good shop. Used is perfectly reasonable if you can find something you want.
Im debating one of these, but yeah, your local bike shop is probably a good call www.poseidonbike.com/products/x-a...
Flat bar gravel bike is the winner here
I really hope no one else replies with this, or else I am buying this bike today. Please no one else reply like this. also.... cetmacargo.com/products/5-r...
I have *opinions* on this. May I strongly recommend a step-through city bike with an upright seating position, medium width tires and at least 7 speeds? Marin Larkspur 2? Electra Loft? Breezer Downtown. Bianchi Milano. All entry level urban bikes. Upright seating is just so much more civilized.
The Specialized Sirrus X would probably be a great option for that, probably the 2.0 spec. Lots of companies make bikes like this and they're often called fitness flatbar bikes. (Giant escape, trek fx, etc).
mostly i'd recommend going to shops and trying a few. Avoid unnecessary complexity like front suspension forks.
I love my all city space horse and if you get one of the later models, that should set you up really well. Plus you would be able to get into some more fun stuff like gravel riding touring/bike packing. You are in the right place for that!
Marlboro Fuji foldable MTB
the bike shop in madison the guys bugged out when i brought it in for a setup after driving it 1000 miles on my roof. the delicious irony of a bicycle cigarette reward is amazing
Swapped out all the stock components (they’re awful), got it powdercoated and a used internal 7 speed hub, roughly $1200 total.
wow, that is super cool
Very nice! As a casual bike rider the stock shit was always 'fine' but I don't know any better. My only complaint is the frame is kind of heavy but it's from the 90s
Thank you! ☺️ The frame is actually not that heavy, the components weigh a ton though
i had never considered that could be the case lol
I’d go over to Joe Bike and see what they have in the shop, they’re super friendly, nice bikes too. Or, get a used Surly- can’t go wrong with one of them!
Pashley ship to the US from the UK, their classic bikes are bomb proof and the Parabike is less than £900.
A ‘90s mountain bike
Lectric XP. 3.0 can be had from one of their almost weekly sales for 999 and the 2.0 for like, 799, I think. Bought one for my wife, she loves it. Got it with a bunch of extras included, highly recommend both comfort and cargo packages.
A bike?
no that's too obvious
Have had a Priority Eight for a few years and really like it for exactly that role
a 90s steel mountain bike that's been converted to a 1x and riser bars.
Seriously though can put together a pretty decent SEPDX bar bike from CL and parts. I'd be happy to help, even just to get rid of excess parts that live in my garage.
A @surlybikes.bsky.social Preamble
or Bridge Club
Gravel bike used on Craigslist
Seconding this recommendation Or find a good local cooperative bike repair place that resells old donated bikes it fixes up I would think $500-600 would be enough to get something very good
A Surly
i was just going to comment a surly preamble seems like a good fit! or an old steel mountain bike, but that would be more of a project
Yeah, i am far from a bike knower but my Surly is now 15 years old and while it could use a tune up its still ticking. when i lived in downtown Denver for years i would regularly put more miles on my bike than my car. Big tires + steel frame = tough and useful around town.
I bought a Cypress from Giant a few years ago. It's a delight to ride. The handle bar is adjustable, so I had the shop tilt it so that it's even more upright. Very comfortable. This is the updated version, but it looks like there are older, cheaper versions. www.giant-bicycles.com/ca/cypress-2...
I'm riding a new-ish gravel bike around N/NE Pdx these days, but you honestly could just put some 28 or 35 tires on an 80s steel frame
Shop recs-wise for used there's the Community Cycling Center at 15th and Alberta; for new River City is a good big local shop, though Golden Pliers is smaller and also lovely
Used Surly Bridge Club
Used hybrid or rear-suspension only mountain bike.
did you mean front suspension only
Yeah. You're right. Rear suspension trades off energy for suspension.
I was gonna say, I'm not sure I've even seen a rear-only suspension bike... but I am extremely out of the loop!
although i’d say unless you’re doing actual trail riding front suspension is not worth the hassle
Portland DOES have some impressive potholes, ended up damaging a tire on my car on one...
the issue is that the front suspension on any <1k bike is going to suck ass and won’t work properly for long
ok, this is good to know... I remember having a cheap (Costco, I want to say) full suspension mtb as a kid for a while, and liked being able to bounce up onto sidewalks etc, but it was so heavy and not built to last.
My assumption is also used w deprecation rather than new. But if new, buy now. Supply chains of any complexity in the US are going to be totally F@#)@#*)(ed.
if you want comfort just get wider tires, gets you most of what you’ll be after on drunken late night excursions
90s steel framed rigid mountain bikes are all the rage. tons on marketplace in the 200-500 range depending on how restomodded you want them. specialized hard rock, rock hopper, stump jumper, etc.
seems to be quite a few older mountain bikes like these on CL, some apparently quite modernized... intuitively they seem like a good deal, but I lack the componentry knowledge to know how modern/quality they really are
im in the same boat, bought a hard rock for ~$60 and am fixing it up myself. i narrowed in to those specialized models as they’re higher quality steel frames. from what i can figure out any of those with name brand drivetrain like specialized or sram is a solid buy. r/xbiking has a ton of info.
This is nice 👌
www.radpowerbikes.com/collections/...
Check out whatever bikes for humanity on Powell has. No need to buy new. Get something easy to ride. Agree with other comment about more upright seating position.
Trek FX 2
Second the suggestion of a Brompton, with a Swytch electric conversion kit (or whatever the US equivalent is). Can’t beat an ebike for post beer commuting.
i have rid my 2010 surly crosscheck nearly 20,000 miles, mostly across the central eastside, often after a beer or two. if you can find a used crosscheck, long haul trucker at your price range, go for it. i promise you won't regret springing for a new surly either. enormous brand loyalty
I definitely agree with the Surly Preamble recommendation. The other sub $1k bike that comes to mind is the aluminum Kona Rove. I'd go Preamble though.
90s MTB is the best answer. Surly long haul trucker can also be set up to suit your needs, but likely goes a hair over budget
I would also say that there is an entire subreddit, r/xbiking, devoted to this question. It's also known as "bikes where the tires cost more than the frame"
Definitely true when it comes to Schwalbes on a Hard Rock (this is it though)
tires were $48 rest of the bike was $60 before i started fiddling with it
I adore my Linus roadster; it would be the one bike I’d keep forever if it came down to that. It’s right up at the top of your budget and your need for chunky tires makes me wonder, though. www.linusbike.com/products/roa...
tragically, I'm just not that cool
I can assure you I am not either
Not my actual one (who’s got a seat that high?) but 1992 Cannondale M500 got me everywhere & used to have a rack w kid seat on it
I feel like @jeremycole.bsky.social might have thoughts. 1.3K followers 1.1K following
You’re a Priority Eight!
My canondale quick cx has over 30000 miles on it (mostly commuting) and i can certify it as a safe ride on a rainy night after one or two beers.
Surly Preamble Flat Bar (normal derailleur ) or Priority Brillian L Train (belt drive, internal hub), I'd get the Disc Brake version (I prefer disc brakes for commuting). I would get also fenders (I think both will take fenders). I love my fenders and beltdrive/internal hub.
I definitely went through the "don't overthink this, just get a basic Amsterdam-style cruiser" thought process, but the ride back home is slightly but consistently uphill... at the end of the night you do want a little less weight, and a few more gears than you can get away with in the 'dam
I have done a similar commute daily in Pdx for years and I would advise you to heed your instinct on less weight and more gears
I commuted on a Batavus BUB step-through (with racks!) for a while, which was aluminum and would have been geared better for climbing and speed with a slight rear hub upgrade. Comfy No idea if it is even findable there in Portland
Beautiful 😍
Completely understandable. In fact, I was considering getting a fresh one and the this model’s now a 3-speed by default.
You are a 1990s Rockhopper
My oddball choice is one of the many used Bromptons on Portland-area Craigslist. Don't have to worry about locking up your bike when you can bring it in.
being able to fit a bike into the back of the clownshoe also raises some intriguing possibilities that I hadn't considered before... guessing from the "could do a century" language in the ad that these are actually capable of longer rides than I would have assumed?
To be clear-headed about it - Yes but to me they're not really super happy going over about 16mph so it'll definitely take all day. I don't actually ride mine too often but I love having it when I need it.
(put another way I have ridden at roadie-effort on my Brompton too but it takes effort! I think they ride much more like a bike than people assume though... as long as you keep your hands on the bars that is)
~$1000 is the optimal amount of money to buy a Brompton for because even though they cost a lot more new, they don't seem to depreciate below around that much. They're like Caterhams that way. (source: wife got a new one from Clever Cycles which cost damn near $2k, and my similar spec $1100 used)
That $900 one has some nice upgrades and spec which is why I linked it, but I am not sure I actually recommend the S-type (low) bars, unless you're short. Mine with M (mid) bars and I'm definitely less upright than I'd expect!
Thank you, super helpful!
I love my Brompton. Best purchase I’ve ever made besides maybe my house. I have a C-Line with tall handlebars.
You're welcome! Honestly it may not be for you but I thought I'd do my part as part-time Brompton weirdo to put it on the radar. It's my belief that for townie bike reasons whatever you get you need to be totally okay with it being stolen and/or get a lock heavy enough to be annoying to ride with.
For better or worst, a folder can solve that problem (also, in Portland you're likely to get looked at funny for bringing it in a lot less than most places...)
Big +1 to Brompton. I've been using mine for everything since 2007 --- daily commute in Manhattan, shopping (it fits in a shopping cart), as well as long (60ish miles) trips on weekends. The steering is a bit squirrelly, otherwise the geometry and the gears are laid out much like a regular bike.
Mmmmmm clownshoe
I had one in the 1990s
I had a Hard Rock in the 90s and then the same hard rock (and another) in the 2000s when I started riding as an adult, as well as a Stumpjumper M2... 1990s MTB can't lose. Request for a townie bike is why I suggest something cheap enough to make it suck less when it gets stolen.
This is the truth right here! … “something cheap enough to make it suck less when stolen “
Depends on how much you care about brakes though. I know people still swear by rim brakes but in damp areas like Portland, the disks are pretty nice.
Fair, but some decent pads and V-brakes on the 1990s MTB and you'll be good to go.
THIS is the answer. i have one and its indestructible
Trek FX 2 hybrid mountain/city bike has served me well on a few tipsy trips … www.trekbikes.com/ca/en_CA/bik...
I also have this bike and it has worked well. Was <$1000 when I got it, but their prices are sneaking up. Good all purpose city bike
You are a surly preamble or a giant or trek hybrid. Make sure you’ve got mounts for a rack on the back.
I picked up a secondhand Surly Preamble at Community Cycling Center and it 100% fits that exact bill!! I’m not a super confident cyclist but I’ve felt safe and comfy bopping around surlybikes.com/products/pre...
Lectric XPedition or better Aventon Abound. If you can find them used they're about $1k. E.g this one just needs a new seat www.facebook.com/marketplace/...
Currently looking for something unassisted. My eBike still works, it just needs a new chain... when it eventually dies I will replace it for sure, but for the moment I kinda want to rediscover the elemental feel of an unassisted bike.
Somewhere recently I saw someone refer to them as "acoustic" bikes and I think that's just perfect.
Fun! Just look for a used steel frame cross/gravel bike on Facebook. A good one is probably at/under $1k. That's been my go to for a city bike and you can take it on trails. E.g. www.facebook.com/marketplace/...
I think you ought to at least try the Giant gravel. It’s a good place to start like a Honda Accord. Then, you should know why you want something different. www.giant-bicycles.com/us/roam-2-2025
I have a Levo SL Carbon and it is an absolute joy; expensive, but worth every penny. www.specialized.com/us/en/turbo-...
The best bike I ever rode was a loaner from a resort in Phoenix. It’s called a Townie7D by Electra. I’m buying one as soon as I can. I looked it up and it was the best selling bike in America probably because of their flat foot technology. electra.trekbikes.com/ca/en_CA/bik...
Could be electric pedal assist, good for an older person like me or for the late night rider, such as: Lectric ebikes or Aventon ebikes or some of the choices for ebikes at REI. This site offers a library of reviews about various bikes. www.bikeride.com
Search FB marketplace for either an older Mountainbike, or a commuter with at least an 11-speed internal hub as wet PNW weather is rough on bikes. Fenders a must, lighting optimal. Your local bike shop is your best resource. Look for one with more than one main brand, and a big busy repair shop.
i've got one of these and i like it a lot; you can probably find a used model for < $1k
dangit bicycletouringpro.com/raleigh-club...
Ok I did not read your requirements well enough; the tires are fine but they’re not super wide, and the position is decidedly less upright than I, a hefty man in his late 40s, would prefer some of the time.
but it's a Good Bike and should be considered!
thank you!
are you sure you don't want to go electric? the ride 1ups seem dope and aren't far offf that price point
yeah, I have a fat-tire eBike that just needs a chain right now, and I will replace it with another eBike when it inevitably dies (the OEM no longer exists, drivetrain is unsupported, etc) for now the simplicity of an unassisted bike is appealing, as I haven't had one in ages
I just used, for the first time ever, one of these fixie step-through cruiser bikes in a large, fairly flat area. It was extremely forgiving, easy to ride and fumble around with, and all-around just ... fun? I was surprised. Available from Bed, Bath, and Beyond I am not making this up
