Commuting - bridgestone...

Hi- I'm new to the commuting forum, but not to cycling or commuting. I've commuted several times on a m/b and have posted here a couple times on the road cycling forum and have appre3ciated the friendly help/advice all have given.

Sooo...

I want to build up a Bridgestone bike as a commuter/ touring bike and do not know where to look for one. Are there any links on the computer to look at in particular. Also I am under the impression that the early # XO's make the best commuting type bikes and the # 1 MB's and several early low # RB's. I want to find a frame/bike that has the capability for racks. I think these are called eyelets?? on the fork and rear stays.

Thanks for any help.

SB

Bridgestone Owners Bunch are pretty active online, and you dont even need one to join.
Search on iBOB.

I had a bridgstone fatboy that would have made a great commuter. It was just a bridgestone mb with bridgstone 1.5 slicks. good bike.

Bridgestone has been defunct for about 10 yrs. Remaining X0s are getting pretty pricey, and pretty worn. The concept, and the guru behind the XOs, etc., live on with the Rivendell All-Rounder (http://www.rivendellbicycles.com/), but a new AR would be much too fine a bike to be relegated to commuting. If you're bound and determined to have a B'stone, there's always e-bay.

Have you looked at any low-end cyclocross bikes? IMO, they have great commuter potential. They have sufficient tire clearance for up to , say, 700x35s, though an x32 is probably tuff enuf for most anything you'd encounter on a commutes. Components and designed to tolerate abuse. You could even add a pair of moustache bars, if you like. Not sure how they are outfitted w/regard to eyelets for panniers, etc.

Jamis has lots of low-end bikes with the sort-of cyclocross geometry and component mix that I think would make a good commuter. As you go up the price scale, lots more becomes available (Bruce Gordon, higher end cyclocross, etc.).

My commuter is a '93 B'stone RB-T, Mavic 36 spoke MA-2 rims equipped w/Conti Top Touring 700x32s, moustache h-bars, Phil Wood sealed cartridge BB.

Happy hunting,
Bob

Now I am looking at a used Bianchi Milano w/ internal 7 speed hub to put a few miles on a cuple times a week. Thanks