Need some help deciding what to commute on. I've got about 7.5-8 miles which will be mostly rough roads and minimal but occasionally heavy traffic. There are limited climbs unless I go a weird way. On the way, I have the option to jump into the woods, but it's not particularly necessary and not possible at times due to a giant effin' field of poison ivy. The place I work has locked doors with internal bike racks, but the bike will likely be out of my view for the entire day. It's not really possible for me to lock the bike up in my office at this point, but it might be a possibility later. It's unlikely that I'll commute in the rain, at least for a little while (free parking and good car) but as I become more regular, I'd consider it.
Here's what I've got:
A "Douglas" titanium road bike, with rather expensive wheels and drop bars, but with a triple and 10 spd.
A Scott aluminum hardtail 29er, with an older Reba and newer XT components and currently knobbies.
"My wife's" 1999 cannondale F600, which is an older aluminum hardtail with a blown headshok which needs rebuilt. I'm currently trying to sell it in order to get her a hybrid, but if it becomes my commuter that's fine too. Has knobs.
Buy something new.
___
So what's my best option? I don't want to have anything stolen, but the RB and niner are more dear to my heart than anything else. I don't fully know the security of the building, but FWIW people leave cheaper bikes unlocked and simply parked in the stairwells every day. I'd like something that's at least a little bit fun to ride, so no 80's era huffies, even though they are unstealable. I could get slicks for the c'dale, and have the fork redone/ride it locked out, slicks for the niner but worry about theft, ride the RB but worry about theft/weather damage, or buy something entirely new which I can do whatever I want to with...in which case, what?
Here's what I've got:
A "Douglas" titanium road bike, with rather expensive wheels and drop bars, but with a triple and 10 spd.
A Scott aluminum hardtail 29er, with an older Reba and newer XT components and currently knobbies.
"My wife's" 1999 cannondale F600, which is an older aluminum hardtail with a blown headshok which needs rebuilt. I'm currently trying to sell it in order to get her a hybrid, but if it becomes my commuter that's fine too. Has knobs.
Buy something new.
___
So what's my best option? I don't want to have anything stolen, but the RB and niner are more dear to my heart than anything else. I don't fully know the security of the building, but FWIW people leave cheaper bikes unlocked and simply parked in the stairwells every day. I'd like something that's at least a little bit fun to ride, so no 80's era huffies, even though they are unstealable. I could get slicks for the c'dale, and have the fork redone/ride it locked out, slicks for the niner but worry about theft, ride the RB but worry about theft/weather damage, or buy something entirely new which I can do whatever I want to with...in which case, what?