Commuting - Just picked up my new commuting rig!! (Pics)

YES!!!

So after commuting for a few months on my Specialized mountain bike with a backpack, I decided it was definitely time to invest in something lighter, faster and more efficient. I wanted a road bike, but one with a flat / mtb handlebar, and one with a bit more relaxed geometry.

I started shopping around 6 weeks ago, and rode everything I could get my hands on. Felt, Fisher, Kona, Trek, Rocky Mountain, Specialized, Cannondale, Surly, everything.

I had it narrowed down to a Felt Speed 22 until I rode the Giant FCR2. The Giant was PERFECT, and was almost $400 cheaper than the Felt, with similar tech and components. It's basically an OCR roadbike with a mountain bike bar and seat, and it's XL size fits me juuust right.

I picked it up locally for $679, and added a pair of Schwalbe Marathon 700x32 tires as well as a NiteRider wireless computer and a seatpost rack. I swapped out my headlight, bottle cage and blinkie from the Rockhopper.

I've only done about 30 miles on it so far, but I am amazed at the difference between my mountain bike and this. It seems I can just roll forever, with little to no effort at all, and I can haul some serious ass when I put the hammer down. I bet my average speed has gone up 4mph immediately. I am very happy!!

Here are some quick pics I snapped today, let me know what you think!


http://volksdragon.net/images/Giant01.JPG

http://volksdragon.net/images/Giant02.JPG

http://volksdragon.net/images/Giant03.JPG

http://volksdragon.net/images/Giant04.JPG

http://volksdragon.net/images/Giant05.JPG

http://volksdragon.net/images/Giant06.JPG

http://volksdragon.net/images/Giant07.JPG

Nice bike!

I once owned an FCR3 (http://www.bikepedia.com/quickbike/BikeSpecs.aspx?Year=2005&Brand=Giant&Model=FCR+3&Type=bike). It was a great bike, but I ended up with a job much further away, so sold it when I stopped commuting.

I'm glad I'm commuting again, but now I miss that bike. The only negative thing I can say about it is that it didn't have drops. Enjoy it, it's bombproof!

:thumb: nice

Kewl! Congrats!

Congrats. Considering fenders?

That is one sweet looking bike.

great bike! i like how the steapost rack looks, as opposed to a rack using the mounts. it just looks...sleeker?
anyway, great ride.

Good start, but ditch the seat rack (which appears to be only half there) and go with a proper rack and you'll be much happier.

Smooth. Someday?...

Good start, but ditch the seat rack (which appears to be only half there) and go with a proper rack and you'll be much happier.

+1

Throw a brooks on that baby, and it'll be perfect.
:thumb:

Good start, but ditch the seat rack (which appears to be only half there) and go with a proper rack and you'll be much happier.

+ 1 that seat rack won't hold much weight & will wiggle/wobble disconcertingly...

but it does look cool - nice bike and great that you've invested in a bike that will make your commuting a pleasure!

Are those grips and bars standard on that, or transferred?

Bike looks FU(%!N nice! Keep the seat rack. I've been comuting with one for years and I've never had an issue. and it saves on weight.

+ 1 that seat rack won't hold much weight & will wiggle/wobble disconcertingly...

but it does look cool - nice bike and great that you've invested in a bike that will make your commuting a pleasure!

Thanks for the feedback!

I had considered the full rack, but I carry VERY minimal stuff on my commute, and I like the ability to ditch the rack whenever I see fit. It needs to hold a pouch with my wallet, cell phone, and gun in it, nothing else.

I may keep it for the next week or so and see how I like it. If it doesn't saerve my needs, I'll ditch it and get the full rack.

Are those grips and bars standard on that, or transferred?

They come that way. The only additions are the light and compy.

sweet... my 05 fcr is still in as good of shape as the day i bought it. it has tons of miles on it. 05 didn't come with bar ends so i added some profile design ends. other than lights, road morph pump & comp, only other change was 23x700 armadillo tires. they are flat proof!

gun in it

Yee Haw!

For that small amount of stuff, just use jersey pockets. The gun will be more handy then too. :)

I have a QR post but don't use it anymore. Decided I like the versatility of a full rack to carry whatever I want whenever. The weight difference is negligible and I ain't racing on my commute anyway.

Like the bike though.

One more thing, time for the next step, clipless.:)

That's a sweeeeeeet bike! All I would need diffeent would be a susp. post (bad back)!

Ride the f''k out of it!

One more thing, time for the next step, clipless.:)

I agree...

I'm getting there....I figure I'll log a few hundred miles with the straps to get used to my feet not moving, then clipless I will go.

Nice bike, I am jealous. I also commute with a Specialized mountain bike and a backpack, and I often wonder how much easier it would be without the big knobby tires. On my current budget I'll probably just get new tires.

Go clipless right away. I tried toe clips one time and hated flipping the pedals around. I went clipless and loved them right away. Had a few close calls but after 12 or so years of them I have yet to do the clipless pedal fall.... and I've obviously jinxed myself now... :D

The bike looks great. Subtle color and a sweet wheelset. While it's nice to have a rack you can ditch in a hurry I've found that those seat post racks are actually a lot heavier than a regular one. There's a LOT of metal in them compared to a lot of the regular racks.

If you're only packing (packing as in gun, get it? :D I know, a real groaner) that small an amount of stuff to work I'd suggest just a larger than normal seat pouch. Far lighter and zero risk of flopping around. And easily removable.

For commuting you'll also want a frame pump and a spare tube and levers to fit into that pouch. And maybe some light duty rain gear in case of surprise showers?

I actually commuted for the first few years with a kid's small backpack that I converted to a sort of super seat pack. It worked fine and I still use it now and then when I don't need to move much stuff. It's far nicer than a back pack in the heat.

Thanks for the feedback, BCRider! Clipless will be next, after I sort out this rack / bag thing. I'm just going to try out a few different things and see what works best for me.

I really want to avoid a full rack, but we'll see. I'm going to check out some pumps tomorrow at lunch.

i hope you don't weigh much and don't have many pot holes on you commute.

I dunno, i only weigh in the 150's, and i prefer to run bomb proof wheels with either 32 to 36 spoke count.
I've yet to have had either of my wheel sets retrued.

That's a pretty bike!


and gun in it

There's always one of these:

http://www.texaselectricbikes.com/catalog/bike-rack-p-83.html

Outstanding purchase. I am a big fan of Giant. They are a great all around value. I do have a bit of a concern about the wheels. Let us know how they hold up after a couple hundred miles. I'm guessing that they are machine build. It might be worth it to have them properly tensioned by a LBS. If they are still true after a couple hundred miles then don't worry about it. Enjoy!

For the small amount of stuff you carry I would us a waist pack, would have the advantage of keeping the gun handy and under your control.

haha. gun rack. I'm laughing AT you.

Very sweet. Faster IS better!

+ 1 that seat rack won't hold much weight & will wiggle/wobble disconcertingly...

but it does look cool - nice bike and great that you've invested in a bike that will make your commuting a pleasure!

I think the idea behind such a rack is that whoever uses it won't be putting a ton of weight on it. Besides those things can support 15-20 pounds easily, and 20 pounds of junk is a lot.

VERY nice! Congrats. I'd agree with the comments about the small seat bag though, mine is working quite well for the few items I carry.

I had considered the full rack, but I carry VERY minimal stuff on my commute, and I like the ability to ditch the rack whenever I see fit. It needs to hold a pouch with my wallet, cell phone, and gun in it, nothing else.

I may keep it for the next week or so and see how I like it. If it doesn't saerve my needs, I'll ditch it and get the full rack.

If you get a full rack you can stop at the grocery store on the way home and put two six bottle packs of beer into a grocery pannier on either side and not have to worry about the rack collapsing on the ride home.

That's incentive, right?

Bike looks FU(%!N nice! Keep the seat rack. I've been comuting with one for years and I've never had an issue. and it saves on weight.

Only if it is off the bike!

It has a single mounting point so it uses much larger diameter tube....to carry less weight.

If you add the Panniers brackets it weighs nearly a pound more then a simple frame rack. It is rated 20lb and it is way up height. The frame mount has three mounting points so it can be made out of lighter material and carry more weight.

My frame mount is rated 40lb+ and has the provision for panniers and that weight is a good 8-10 inches lower if its on the top of the rack and even lower in the panniers. That rating is VERY conservative as I have rode it with a 200lb person sitting on it. Try that with a post mount and you will be facing the wrong way on the bike when the seat twists around if it doesn't snap off. :roflmao2:

Once you start commuting the desire to do as much as you can with the bike increases. Hell I dragged a 20lb bag of ice home today for the ice cream maker. :lol:

I too have been using an FRC3 for commuting. I was looking at the FRC2 but for my needs decided it was not for me. Too few of spokes because I sometimes do long multi day tours, carry heavy groceries, prefer reliability over shaving off a few extra ounces. I also added bar ends but I have a bad shoulder and am going to try putting some Nashbar Trekking bars on the beast. I would throw on some Planet bike fenders to keep water/dirt/nastyness off of your new pretty bike. 1 + for a real rack or no rack at all. I like to tote my girlfriend around on mine. She rides side saddle style on the back and puts her arms around my waist. One of my favorite things to do on the bike :) I also like that I can add a front rack if I wanted. In retro spec I kinda wish I had gone with the chromo KHS Urban express but hind sight is always 20/20. The Giant was the right choice for you because it is much more "Road" oriented rather than hybrid/tourer. Good luck dude!

Thanks, Zepp!

Well, after one day riding to work, the seat post rack is gone. I don't carry enough stuff to justify that thing hanging out back there. I replaced it with a little Topeak bag that should hold my stuff juuuust right.

I really like the look of those wheels, we'll see how they hold up to my commute. I am not light by any stretch of the imagination, but the guys at the LBS assure me those wheels are up to the task. Jury is still out. I've done 45 miles so far, we'll see at 200...

Thanks, Zepp!

Well, after one day riding to work, the seat post rack is gone. I don't carry enough stuff to justify that thing hanging out back there. I replaced it with a little Topeak bag that should hold my stuff juuuust right.

I really like the look of those wheels, we'll see how they hold up to my commute. I am not light by any stretch of the imagination, but the guys at the LBS assure me those wheels are up to the task. Jury is still out. I've done 45 miles so far, we'll see at 200...

Depending on where you live, I'd still consider getting fenders. (Where I live, commuting without fenders is possible three months out of twelve, in a dry year...)

a fender like this would look pretty decent on there. especially if your not overly worried about rain
http://images.buzzillions.com/images_products/06/34/sks_xtra_dry_rear_seatpost_fender_reviews_507743_300.jpg

NiteRider wireless computer

Nice set up.

What are your impressions on the computer?

What model computer did you get?

Ahh! As I always say, nothing like the smell of new bike! That's a really nice ride.
Ernest

Good start, but ditch the seat rack (which appears to be only half there) and go with a proper rack and you'll be much happier.

+1

Love the bike, hate the rack (not from look, but from personal experience).

Once you start commuting the desire to do as much as you can with the bike increases. Hell I dragged a 20lb bag of ice home today for the ice cream maker. :lol:

Sort of like a utility time trial of sorts...

WTB saddles are awesome. Let it break in and you'll be plenty happy.

Very nice. It's always enjoyable getting a new bike. I hope you have many years of fun, safe riding. I would suggest though a proper bike rack and some panniers...I found it made things easier

Great bike & value. Congrats!

I've put more than 1000 miles on my Giant Cypress this summer with zero problems. I have a 35 mile RT commute.

Giant produces very good bikes at every price point.

Michael

Outstanding purchase. I am a big fan of Giant. They are a great all around value. I do have a bit of a concern about the wheels. Let us know how they hold up after a couple hundred miles. I'm guessing that they are machine build. It might be worth it to have them properly tensioned by a LBS. If they are still true after a couple hundred miles then don't worry about it. Enjoy!

Yeah, i was wondering why companies are making "commuter" bikes with 24h wheels. Personally i would like something a little bit beefier. Let us know how they hold up.

It needs to hold a pouch with my wallet, cell phone, and gun in it, nothing else.

You're my kinda guy. But that's what holsters are for!!!! Oh well.

Anyway, awesome bike!!! I was thinking of getting something in the FCR line. The LBS manager who is my good friend just bought himself an FCR1 at shop price, and would be willing to sell it to me for that price (after one summer of very minimal use) for the same price. It would have been ~$550 for the FCR1. Killer price. But alas, I found that the TranSend was cheaper and more appropriate for my type of commuting. If I only had a light amount of stuff, I'd be all over the FCR.
great bikes. You have great taste man.