A question for the bicycle community out there

[sauergeek]

I am pondering acquiring a bicycle, and am looking for recommendations. I would use it for two primary purposes:

1) Riding from my condo to the train station. This is a distance of about a mile, over cobblestone, brick, wood, and asphalt pavement. (Mostly asphalt, with cobblestone a significant second.) There are bike racks in the parking garage at the train station.

2) Grocery shopping. The store I usually go to is about 2.5 miles away; there's a closer one that isn't as good about a mile away. Either way, I'm still facing the same pavement mix as above. I have not looked for bike parking at either store, but I believe there is none.

I may also use a bike for random short rides around the area. I am unlikely to take up any sort of long distance, competitive, or significant unpaved riding (though there may be a bit of unpaved riding here and there).

Any additions to a bike for carrying groceries should be either easily removed or so integral to the bike that it would require significant disassembly of the bike to get them off -- to prevent theft when they're not in use. (I'd prefer the former, and just bring them into the store with me.)

I would prefer regular bike pedals so I don't have to change shoes when I get where I'm going. I vastly prefer drop handlebars to straight ones.

Thoughts?

Comments

[andrewfeland.livejournal.com]

I've ridden all kinds of bikes all over the Boston/Cambridge/Somerville area--in college, I'd bike more often than I'd take the T, mostly to save money. I've had eleven of them stolen out from under me. Note that I am in no way a "bike person" and usually rode whatever piece of junk I could lay hands on for $25 or less.

That being said, my best experience was with a basic mountain bike. Big, knobby tires can chew up anything that New England can throw at them, and in almost any weather. The only thing that will stop you from riding right over it is ice. If you're only riding a mile or two, I wouldn't even be too concerned with weight, and toe clips are right out--or will be, the next time a truck pulls out in front of you and you have to make a quick stop and put your feet down. I had a nasty bruise on my arm for a month from one of those. :P

Good luck!