Getting a used bicycle for commuting?

[squirrelitude]

I recently moved to the Arlington Center area, and I plan to start commuting to work (at Alewife) by bike. This would involve either a straight shot on the Minuteman Bikeway, or Mass Ave/Broadway and then the parkway if the bikeway is in bad shape, snow-wise. I'd like to get a used bike, but I'm new to the area as well to bike commuting. So, does anybody have recommendations on...

* What type of bike to get?
* Where to look for bikes? (Here, Craigslist, specific bike shops, other venues...)
* Carry bags that I can both strap to the bike and wear on my back?

I'm planning on getting a card so I can lock up in the Alewife bike cage, but I'm also going to look into bringing my bike into the office. :-)

Comments

[fredrickegerman.livejournal.com]

Wide tires are a good idea, and not all bikes will accomodate them. Road bikes in particular are infamous for not having enough frame width for wide tires, and even my cyclocross bike doesn't go much wider than 35mm.

Note that the big, bad lock will weigh as much as your frame, and optimize (= don't bother optimizing) accordingly. Be prepared to lock both the front wheel and the rear triangle so that your frame and wheels are all safe.

You'll probably want to consider replacing the stock tires of any bike you buy with something sturdier after the first few flats [I say after mostly because you could get lucky and get decent tires off the bat, especially if you get a used bike]. Look for messenger tires, and check out online reviews. Pricier, but at say $10 per flat I haven't had to fix, more than paid for.

For ice, studs are a must. Most people just skip it; studded bike tires are pricey and not that comfortable to ride on when it isn't icy. You sound like you're sticking to cleared roads, and are willing to walk short stretches if it looks bad, which is probably the easiest for the distance you're going.