Commuting - New Bike, New Bike!!!

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I found a great deal on a used Fuji S-12 LTD lugged steel bike from the early 80's with practically no miles on it. It's my new long distance commuter for when I'll be doing 32 miles round trip (use my Downtube Folder for the short commute). Anyway, I'm stoked, here's a picture of her (haven't named her yet, my brother already has a bike named "your mom" so I'm open to laughable suggestions):

To see it in full detail, you can click on this link: Full Detail Pic (http://farm1.static.flickr.com/196/446465249_cbafcd5223_o.jpg)
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/196/446465249_b240bff589_b.jpg

I just ordered fenders, conti ultra gators, and some other necessities to finish her off.

Wow, that's a BEAUT! Congrats!!!!

Beauty!

Happy Bike Day!!!!

So your brother rides your mom? Dude.... that's gross.

Awesome. I have the same bike in blue — ice blue.

Nice bike, not nice shoes. I hope that you're not running in those Nikes!

Beauty is a good name - then depending on your mood you can be Beauty and the Beast or Beauty and the Geek or Beauty and ...

Love the Avocet seat.

Call it Fuji-San. Every time you get on it, you can Mount Fuji....

Nice! Now it's missing something. Hmm what can it be... Oh I know! there you go:

http://www.wallbike.com/jpgs/b17standnarrblack.jpg

ahh now it can be complete...

Yes, the B17 trekking saddle will be soon.

Beautiful blue version Bklyn all lit up like xmas.

I'm definitely going with Fuji-San.

And, no, my brother doesn't ride my mom, he rides your mom...

Awesome. I have the same bike in blue — ice blue.

Yeah, I remember that. The old leaky basement trick. How did it thaw out?

Jeeze, that's in great condition. Much nicer than my one year old bike.

I wish I were 6'2". There are loads of super nice used bikes for tall folks... At 5' 10" I never get sales on shoes or clothes either! No 54cm bikes... Nice catch!

Lovely.

Looks like you're a Patristics major.

Upon further reflection, your Fuji is definitely a step up from mine. Mine has these center-pull brakes, yours has the nice barcons. Are those 27" wheels? Make sure you check the rims to see if they're hooked rim and can take high tire pressures! If they don't have hooks, don't inflate above 75 psi!

Oh, and Unchunk: It thawed out just fine. And it gave the bike the aura of toughness. Can't explain it, exactly, but I now . . . admire it? Does anyone else attribute personalities to his bikes? Personalities that grow and change? Probably not.

That's the nicest Fuji I think I've ever seen on here. But you need brake hoods!

Great Bike!!! I have a 1981 Fuji Royale 12 speed that i use to commute on. I added a Brooks saddle to mine. You can buy vintage brake hoods if you choose. I had my rear rack attached near the rear brake as you do and the rack attachment broke eventually. I now have mine attached to the seat stays using two attachments and have no futher problems.

Sweetness!!! :D

Delicious ride!

Thanks for all the comments guys. Ringring, I'm actually a Philosophy PhD, not patristics or history (but truth is truth and as a platonist the ascent to the divine/the good can only lead in one direction in post-Plato history).

Just ordered the brakehoods off ebay for 6 bucks and dia-compe safety brake levers for another 5. Now it'll look real retro, like my parents' Schwinns from the 70's, dual levers off one brake, yes!!!!

I'm hoping the rear rack steel piece keeps in on the brake bolt, but if not in the end, then some clamps, rubber and a new rack will do.

The rims are clinchers Bklyn, good call, I double checked for that very reason (very few 27's that are puncture resistant that aren't clincher). I'm also getting the kool stop pads for the brakes because yesterday in the rain, the stock brake pads almost stopped me too late behind a BMW.

Also, once I get the new tires and tubes I'll be using the old tubes for re-wrapping my handlebars (cloth wrap on there now is about as cushioning as the metal below).

I was very lucky to get the bike in this shape, took me about 4 weeks of craigslist/ebay scouring (qbike.com is very helpful). And you're right Brooklyn Rider, a lot of vintage steel bikes for 6'2" type on CL and Ebay.

Sweet ride, BMFU. I had a Fuji Club back in the 80's. I miss those block letter Fuji decals from back in the day.

Thanks for all the comments guys. Ringring, I'm actually a Philosophy PhD, not patristics or history (but truth is truth and as a platonist the ascent to the divine/the good can only lead in one direction in post-Plato history)

Your LBS is in a cave? ;)

Alright, here's an update: I've put Conti-Ultraskins on with Mr. Tuffy liners. I've got Kool Stop Salmons on the brakes now. Planetbike Cascadia fenders with the big mud flap. MKS Touring pedals (minus the powergrips that haven't arrived yet), these replaced the traditional pedal clips & and strap. Added the Dia-compe gum brake hoods and safety levers (yes, braking on the tops of the handlebars). Apart from the powergrips I'm also awaiting the lizards skins set for my derailleurs and headset, a superflash for my rear blinkie, and once I have money for bike stuff again a Brooks B17 Trekking saddle, non-QR skewers, and the full compliment of Kryptonite New York U-Lock and Chain Lock.

For full resolution pic, click here to get the detail: Full-Res Pic (http://farm1.static.flickr.com/177/455799282_51994eb273_o.jpg)

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/177/455799282_d0de644df2_b.jpg

Wow, almost too pretty to be riding in nasty commuting weather. That bikes looks to be in stellar condition. How pale is the gold paint in real life? I'm digging it.

Paint is in perfect condition! It is a beaut, though I'm hoping it will love the bad weather when it happens.

Alright, here's an update: I've put Conti-Ultraskins on with Mr. Tuffy liners. I've got Kool Stop Salmons on the brakes now. Planetbike Cascadia fenders with the big mud flap. MKS Touring pedals (minus the powergrips that haven't arrived yet), these replaced the traditional pedal clips & and strap. Added the Dia-compe gum brake hoods and safety levers (yes, braking on the tops of the handlebars). Apart from the powergrips I'm also awaiting the lizards skins set for my derailleurs and headset, a superflash for my rear blinkie, and once I have money for bike stuff again a Brooks B17 Trekking saddle, non-QR skewers, and the full compliment of Kryptonite New York U-Lock and Chain Lock.

For full resolution pic, click here to get the detail: Full-Res Pic (http://farm1.static.flickr.com/177/455799282_51994eb273_o.jpg)

Very nice! I just bought Planetbike Cascadia fenders for my ss/fixie 73 Raleigh. My full fender commuter is currrently a 2003 Fuji World frame I built up as a double. Even with fender, rack and panniers it feels faster than my aluminum frame bike.

Nice, how've the cascadias done in wet weather? I have freddy hardcores on my folder, the mudflap is definitely too small, I get grime on where a front derailleur would be if my folder had one.

Do the "safety levers" have any discernible effect on the speed of the bike? My memory is that they had almost none! I wouldn't have put those on - I think they look ugly, make the hoods uncomfortable to ride, and don't stop the bike - I took them off my lockup/beater without ever testing them!

No effect on the speed, I'm not in the road forum, so a few grams can kiss my butt, same with the "aero" effect. As for the comfort, I haven't had a problem resting on the hoods and I tightened the brakes to the point where the safety levers actually do something. They're not for hard core braking, but I don't expect to be going fast on anything but the drops, going from light to light often in NYC leaves me little chance to get above 15.

I think a honey colored Brooks might work here, with the gold trim.

Also, now that you have the gatorskins, you don't need to put towels under the bike because they'll protect it from any splinters that might be in your hardwood floor.

You found a nice one, congratulations.

Nice looking bike! ;)

I'm not familiar with wrapping the bars with tubes. Does that work well? Do your hands stay clean (or always wearing gloves)?

Also, now that you have the gatorskins, you don't need to put towels under the bike because they'll protect it from any splinters that might be in your hardwood floor.

That made me laugh, nice... More for protecting the floor from the much on NYC's streets.

Thanks for the compliments, I love me some bike porn.

I do wear gloves all the time (keeps my wedding ring on and too many bad memories of ground beef palm from when I was a kid and played roller hockey). But, after cleaning the tubes for application as handlebar wrap, I noticed nothing was getting on my hands. Granted this wasn't after 30 minutes to an hour of direct and constant contact with the tubes. What's amazing about the tubes is that they're the originals. Rubber is still in great shape on them.