Comments on: The ultimate commuter bike http://commutebybike.com/2007/09/26/the-ultimate-commuter-bike/ Tips, Hints, Reviews and Safety for Bike Commuters Sat, 20 Mar 2010 07:35:12 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: My perfect commuter bicycle « Bike Monkey Magazine http://commutebybike.com/2007/09/26/the-ultimate-commuter-bike/comment-page-1/#comment-135761 My perfect commuter bicycle « Bike Monkey Magazine Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:14:17 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/09/26/the-ultimate-commuter-bike/#comment-135761 [...] get 100 different answers. I caught a lot of heat when I proclaimed Joe Breeze’s Finesse the ultimate commuter bike a little over two years ago. Freewheel likes city bike with internal gear hubs and chaincases, [...] [...] get 100 different answers. I caught a lot of heat when I proclaimed Joe Breeze’s Finesse the ultimate commuter bike a little over two years ago. Freewheel likes city bike with internal gear hubs and chaincases, [...]

]]> By: good luck with that. http://commutebybike.com/2007/09/26/the-ultimate-commuter-bike/comment-page-1/#comment-130027 good luck with that. Tue, 06 Oct 2009 00:04:29 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/09/26/the-ultimate-commuter-bike/#comment-130027 this bike is still not worth the price being asked. seriously its a bike for a retiree with a whole bunch of money that does not know any better or care how much things are. its just not good value for the dollar. really nice looking bike nicely built honestly tho the retail on this bike it way way way way way to much. this bike is still not worth the price being asked.
seriously its a bike for a retiree with a whole bunch of money that does not know any better or care how much things are.
its just not good value for the dollar.
really nice looking bike nicely built honestly tho the retail on this bike it way way way way way to much.

]]> By: David Bjurman-Birr http://commutebybike.com/2007/09/26/the-ultimate-commuter-bike/comment-page-1/#comment-129863 David Bjurman-Birr Sun, 04 Oct 2009 14:24:48 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/09/26/the-ultimate-commuter-bike/#comment-129863 Wow...it's interesting to see the negative posts from people who don't own the finesse. I had my local dealer special order one for me a little over a year ago since there are no breezer dealers near me. This bike is worth every penny...extremely well designed, fast, fun, & functional...truly a pleasure to ride. It's not really fair to simply categorize this as a commuter...yeah, you can easily commute on it; however, it easily doubles as a touring bike. Wow…it’s interesting to see the negative posts from people who don’t own the finesse.

I had my local dealer special order one for me a little over a year ago since there are no breezer dealers near me.

This bike is worth every penny…extremely well designed, fast, fun, & functional…truly a pleasure to ride.

It’s not really fair to simply categorize this as a commuter…yeah, you can easily commute on it; however, it easily doubles as a touring bike.

]]> By: Aphid http://commutebybike.com/2007/09/26/the-ultimate-commuter-bike/comment-page-1/#comment-107015 Aphid Sat, 28 Mar 2009 20:31:09 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/09/26/the-ultimate-commuter-bike/#comment-107015 Don't know if anyone's still reading this thread, but I just bought a Breezer Finesse, and I'm quite happy with it. I went with the Finesse because it has things for which I was looking: - disc brakes (I'm no expert, but my understanding is that I can expect consistent effort and excellent stopping in all conditions, and I'm very happy w/ them so far) - upright/comfortable riding position - internal hub (low maintenance, quiet) - some sort of damping (carbon in this case) without the loss of too much efficiency I also wanted fenders and lights. I know I could have added these and other items to another bike, but the convenience of having the Finesse ready to go (except pedals, lock, hydration, and storage) with integrated/matched components was very appealing. BTW, the Shimano Alfine internal rear hub has a better range of effort than any other I tried. Too bad it's not a belt drive. For me, the Breezer Finesse was the best balance between comfort and efficiency and ready components I found. Is it worth the price (actually reduced this year)? Well, I bought it. And I'm riding around with a big grin on my face! Don’t know if anyone’s still reading this thread, but I just bought a Breezer Finesse, and I’m quite happy with it.

I went with the Finesse because it has things for which I was looking:
– disc brakes (I’m no expert, but my understanding is that I can expect consistent effort and excellent stopping in all conditions, and I’m very happy w/ them so far)
– upright/comfortable riding position
– internal hub (low maintenance, quiet)
– some sort of damping (carbon in this case) without the loss of too much efficiency

I also wanted fenders and lights. I know I could have added these and other items to another bike, but the convenience of having the Finesse ready to go (except pedals, lock, hydration, and storage) with integrated/matched components was very appealing.

BTW, the Shimano Alfine internal rear hub has a better range of effort than any other I tried. Too bad it’s not a belt drive.

For me, the Breezer Finesse was the best balance between comfort and efficiency and ready components I found.

Is it worth the price (actually reduced this year)? Well, I bought it. And I’m riding around with a big grin on my face!

]]> By: Spokey http://commutebybike.com/2007/09/26/the-ultimate-commuter-bike/comment-page-1/#comment-90489 Spokey Fri, 05 Sep 2008 19:06:37 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/09/26/the-ultimate-commuter-bike/#comment-90489 The old saying, "You get what you pay for" applies most certainly here. I love my Finesse, from the first look to the first ride, it has consistently exceeded my expectations. The quality of design and component selection more than justify the price, there is just no way to compare it to a lesser bike. If you think it costs too much, I would encourage you to do some research before you leap to that conclusion. As others have pointed out, a less expensive bike has less expensive components and nowhere near the thought/design that make this bike what it is. It's better than I thought it would be, and that's saying a lot... The old saying, “You get what you pay for” applies most certainly here. I love my Finesse, from the first look to the first ride, it has consistently exceeded my expectations. The quality of design and component selection more than justify the price, there is just no way to compare it to a lesser bike. If you think it costs too much, I would encourage you to do some research before you leap to that conclusion. As others have pointed out, a less expensive bike has less expensive components and nowhere near the thought/design that make this bike what it is. It’s better than I thought it would be, and that’s saying a lot…

]]> By: Dave http://commutebybike.com/2007/09/26/the-ultimate-commuter-bike/comment-page-1/#comment-86360 Dave Sat, 26 Jul 2008 06:07:51 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/09/26/the-ultimate-commuter-bike/#comment-86360 Joe said above somewhere in the thread that a complete enclosed chainguard can be added, which I was interested in not so much for my pants but as a deterrent to grit getting into the chain and wearing it and the rings out. Personally, I think he should sell it with it, but it's not a big deal if it can be added later. Apparently the mickey mouse frame lock is not included, either, which is not a big deal. I need to test ride one and get a better feel on its durability, still, to justify the cost. Seemed like a pretty big step in price from the Uptown. Joe said above somewhere in the thread that a complete enclosed chainguard can be added, which I was interested in not so much for my pants but as a deterrent to grit getting into the chain and wearing it and the rings out. Personally, I think he should sell it with it, but it’s not a big deal if it can be added later. Apparently the mickey mouse frame lock is not included, either, which is not a big deal.

I need to test ride one and get a better feel on its durability, still, to justify the cost. Seemed like a pretty big step in price from the Uptown.

]]> By: the bike nut http://commutebybike.com/2007/09/26/the-ultimate-commuter-bike/comment-page-1/#comment-84358 the bike nut Sun, 29 Jun 2008 04:16:20 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/09/26/the-ultimate-commuter-bike/#comment-84358 it looks ok. but to honest chromo is way nicer for commuting. its a little heavier ,but not so much to really make a difference. i am willing to bet i could smoke most people riding it on the 50 dollar garage sale giant hybrid i bought last year. i threw some nice lights on it i also got from a garage sale arc disharge headlight. some swabbe slicks and well it cost me a total of 200 bucks after all was said and done. looks better than the breezer too. theres another eight bikes i could do for the money i saved as well. or maybe two or three nice ones. i dont mind being a generation behind when it comes to bike technology. so yeah you can keep the breezer. it looks ok.
but to honest chromo is way nicer for commuting. its a little heavier ,but not so much to really make a difference.
i am willing to bet i could smoke most people riding it on the 50 dollar garage sale giant hybrid i bought last year.
i threw some nice lights on it i also got from a garage sale arc disharge headlight. some swabbe slicks and well it cost me a total of 200 bucks after all was said and done.
looks better than the breezer too.
theres another eight bikes i could do for the money i saved as well. or maybe two or three nice ones.
i dont mind being a generation behind when it comes to bike technology.
so yeah you can keep the breezer.

]]> By: shotty http://commutebybike.com/2007/09/26/the-ultimate-commuter-bike/comment-page-1/#comment-82805 shotty Wed, 21 May 2008 19:45:53 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/09/26/the-ultimate-commuter-bike/#comment-82805 call me a idiot... but: gary fisher mendota: carbon fork and seat post avvid disc brakes $1099 CDN. call me a idiot… but:

gary fisher mendota:
carbon fork and seat post
avvid disc brakes

$1099 CDN.

]]> By: Quinn http://commutebybike.com/2007/09/26/the-ultimate-commuter-bike/comment-page-1/#comment-81849 Quinn Thu, 01 May 2008 02:32:53 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/09/26/the-ultimate-commuter-bike/#comment-81849 Last Friday I bought an SE Stout, After get too close to a SUV 1 too many times on my road bike, and realizing that I get trearted differently on a 29er, I am building up the Stout as 2x9, 22/36 x 11-34, can do/will do everything bike. Last Friday I bought an SE Stout, After get too close to a SUV 1 too many times on my road bike, and realizing that I get trearted differently on a 29er, I am building up the Stout as 2×9, 22/36 x 11-34, can do/will do everything bike.

]]> By: Jim Lamb http://commutebybike.com/2007/09/26/the-ultimate-commuter-bike/comment-page-1/#comment-81846 Jim Lamb Thu, 01 May 2008 01:43:53 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/09/26/the-ultimate-commuter-bike/#comment-81846 Nice looking bike. I ride a $1,900 cyclocross bike ('08 Specialized Tricross Comp) to work most days so maybe I'm the demographic this bike is targeted at. I had to add a rack, fenders, and lights to my bike but it's still pretty lightweight even with my panniers (with laptop, change of clothes, lunch, phone, etc.) on it. I like the idea of a bike like this, but I'm not sure if the "Joe Bars" would work as well for me as drop bars do. The disc brakes (mine squeal like a pig), dynamo hub and integrated lights (I'm always worried my batteries are going to give out in the middle of my commute) and internally geared hub (I bent my bottom bracket the first time I fell in the rain) are all terrific features for a reliable commuter bike. As far as the price point goes, I park my bike in my garage or in my office when I commute so theft isn't a concern. On those occasions where I have to make a stop or ride downtown, I take a U-lock with a cable. I don't mind paying a fair price (and I think this is a fair price) for a well designed and engineered product. My only issue with Breezer bikes is that, here in Raleigh, NC, I haven't found a dealer who stocks them and I have a really hard time committing to a bike without test riding it extensively first. Nice looking bike. I ride a $1,900 cyclocross bike (’08 Specialized Tricross Comp) to work most days so maybe I’m the demographic this bike is targeted at. I had to add a rack, fenders, and lights to my bike but it’s still pretty lightweight even with my panniers (with laptop, change of clothes, lunch, phone, etc.) on it. I like the idea of a bike like this, but I’m not sure if the “Joe Bars” would work as well for me as drop bars do. The disc brakes (mine squeal like a pig), dynamo hub and integrated lights (I’m always worried my batteries are going to give out in the middle of my commute) and internally geared hub (I bent my bottom bracket the first time I fell in the rain) are all terrific features for a reliable commuter bike.

As far as the price point goes, I park my bike in my garage or in my office when I commute so theft isn’t a concern. On those occasions where I have to make a stop or ride downtown, I take a U-lock with a cable. I don’t mind paying a fair price (and I think this is a fair price) for a well designed and engineered product. My only issue with Breezer bikes is that, here in Raleigh, NC, I haven’t found a dealer who stocks them and I have a really hard time committing to a bike without test riding it extensively first.

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