Well, lets see winter riding in Seattle. Been there, done that. Fenders are a must. Good brakes too; discs would be nice. And plenty of gearing for those infamous Seattle hills. And an aluminum frame to resist corrosion.
Schwinn Super Sport DBX
Super Sport DBXI must say both the Schwinn and Kona would fill the bill nicely. The Schwinn Super Sport DBX ($1200; schwinnbikes.com) is very much an all-purpose/commuter bike, with a 27-speed Shimano drive train, disc brakes, aluminum frame, and friendly riding positiondrop handlebars, but a relaxed geometry for a comfortable day in the saddle.
Konas slightly pricier Sutra ($1300; konaworld.com) is very similar, but more of a true touring bike. It has a steel frame, for example, which makes for a smooth ride and has the flex to handle big loads better than aluminum frames. Its an excellent bike. Whether its quite right for a commuter is an open question due to the corrosion issue (although that can be dealt with by treating the inside of the tubes with a corrosion inhibitor and keeping the bike clean and dry when not on the road).
Personally, I like cyclocross bikes for the kind of mission you have in mind. One intriguing possibility is the Bianchi Axis ($1,300; bianchiusa.com). It has plenty of room for fenders, an aluminum frame, and an 18-speed SRAM/Shimano drivetrain. Its crank has a double chainring, not a triple as found on the Schwinn and Kona bikes, but its a compact crank so you have plenty of leverage for getting up hills. Giants TCX ($1,200; giant-bicycle.com) offers a very similar frame setup and drivetrain at a really competitive price. Both bikes use V-brakes rather than discs, but they offer good stopping power as well as less weight.
Me, Id probably buy the Bianchi. I like that Celeste Green paint job
Youve seen our picks for 2007 Gear of the Year, and now the entire
ϳԹ Summer Buyers Guide is online. Check out this years more than 400 must-have gear items, including road bikes.