Riding the whole Great Divide Trail from Banff to Mexico on unicycles [unsupported]???…wow that’s my kinda crazy.  I’m glad that Bow Cycle doesn’t have any Surly Conundrums built up and hanging on the wall or I’d be in trouble…=-)

The boys from the Riding the Spine Crew continue to roll on their Pan American Domination Tour.  They are deep into South America with lots more adventures in the books.  If you haven’t checked out their site lately [or ever] give it a look.  I don’t think anyone else has had as much epic fun on longtail cargo bikes!

Photo: Mike McCrank

My Ultimate Commuter Bike

• Surly Pugsley frame
• 29er MTB wheels
• Schwalbe Big Apples 29 x 2.0″ tires
• Shimano Alfine 8 speed hub
• Avid BB7 disc brakes
• Titec H-bars
• OMM Cold Springs rear rack
• SKS fenders

If I could only have one bike for commuting under just about any conditions it would be based on a Surly Pugsley frame.  This is a tough mountain bike frame that uses 29er wheels.  The geometry and handling are excellent for riding fast over rough surfaces with some cargo.  You can build it with “normal” mountain bike wheels or uber fat Surly Endomorphs for snow commuting.  You can also fit studded tires if you need to deal with a lot of ice on your commute.  The frame comes with horizontal dropouts making an internal gear hub easy which reduces you maintenance workload considerably and makes the bike very reliable.  If you had a long road commute to tackle you could swap in a set of drop bars and use high pressure sick tires to amp up your speed.  Want to do some mountain biking? - no problem.  Want to bike tour? - no problem.

I can’t think of a more versatile bike.

FYI - if you prefer 26″ wheels you could build up a similar bike using a Surly 1×1 frame and the only thing you’d give up is being being able to run 4″ wide snow/sand tires.

For those folks who don’t want to have to geek out on a commuter bike here are 4 picks that will make excellent rides with minimal effort:

Kona Dr.Dew

The Kona Dr. Dew is an affordable rigid 29er MTB equipped with disc brakes and wide ratio gearing.  The strong simple frame will easily accept a rear rack and fenders for all weather commuting.  It’s 37mm Continental Contact tires will roll fast, give you some cushion on rough surfaces and are tough enough to avoid flats.

The Dr. Dew would be ideal for short to moderate length commutes in the city and for social/fitness riding on the weekends.

Bow Two-Four Cross Bike

The BBC Two-Four is a fast light bike that blends the speed and handling of a road bike with the utility and toughness of a mountain bike.  Mounting a rear rack and fenders is no problem on this frame.  If you have a longer commute, want to ride with some roadies on the weekend or want a bike that can handle some light touring than the BBC Two-Four would be ideal.

Electra Townie 8i

The Electra Townie 8i is a stylish cruiser with 8 trouble free internal gears, fenders and front suspension.  The upright seating position, comfy saddle and high bars will make your short urban commute a breeze.  A basket on the front could carry lunch and your basic essentials easily.  Come the weekend you have a fun bike to roam around town with your spouse and family.

Dahon Speed D7

This affordable folding bike is fast and comfortable enough for a moderate commute with the added bonus you can take it on a bus or the C-train.  Using transit to help you conquer a longer commute is a smart idea. I’ve got a Speed D7 and several of my friends ride them as well.  They definitely represent a nice mix of performance, value and versatility.  They come out of the box equipped with fenders and a rear rack making them pretty much commuter ready.