Commuting - New Build - for commuting

Ta da ! Needs some adjustments (seat, handlebar height etc), will occur on first ride if it ever stops snowing here :). Nashbar aluminum touring frame and stuff from my old Giant 90's hybrid that I "roadie-fied" 7-8 years ago.

Looks nice

Nice! What seat is that?

The Nashbar touring frame/fork is a surprisingly nice combo. I have one that I've been riding for a year now. It's great. I love it! I'm assuming you built yours up yourself? Isn't it crazy how the fork weighs as much as the entire frame by itself? Still, I'd take that cro-moly fork over anything else. The whole frame feels very compliant to me. I run 700x32 tires on my bike but I think I could probably go with 700x35 or even a bit larger, but there might be fender clearance issues. I think 700x35 is probably the largest reasonable size of tires to be run on that frame. The only other suggestion I could make would be going with a Brooks saddle. I have a B17 on my bike and I'd never use any other type of saddle again. However, Brooks saddles have their detractors as much as they have their promoters. You either love them or hate them.

The Nashbar touring frame/fork is a surprisingly nice combo. I have one that I've been riding for a year now. It's great. I love it! I'm assuming you built yours up yourself? Isn't it crazy how the fork weighs as much as the entire frame by itself?

Yes, assembled it myself. It's the third bike I have done over the last 7-8 years. I can't wait to get riding on it. Reading about people's experiences with it (and the fact that frame and fork were ~$115 about a month ago) did it for me. When the frame came, I thought the box was empty at first. The biggest problem I had building it (outside of pressing in the headset with a homemade "press") was trying to get my older campy 9 speed shifters to work with v-brakes. But again (thanks to several on this forum), travel agents (and some slight drilling to get campy cables through them), fixed that issue.


I think 700x35 is probably the largest reasonable size of tires to be run on that frame.

I agree. I have 700x35 Nokian w106s on it (before the new icespeeds) and clearance is maxed out (maybe 3mm left), with the fenders.

Nice! What seat is that?

I liked the color and needed something to try on it, ... ebay special.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VELO-ROAD-MOUNTAIN-BICYCLE-BIKE-SADDLE-SEAT-BROWN-NEW-/110954333549

I have 4 of the older specialized comps that I keep buying when I find them. I may try a brooks B17 if I find myself riding this one to work regularly.

Nike touring rig! Are you gonna put panniers, lights etc.? Post another picture after she's dressed. :)

That is a sweet saddle - thanks for the link! It has been difficult sourcing a decent brown saddle that is not Brooks (I am one of those who think they are not that handsome).

Very nice, I like your thick tires, looks comforatble. How far is your commute?

Nice job. I finished building up a Nashbar touring frame around this time last year. Those are nice frames.

How far is your commute?

In the summer (not usually more than once per week), it would be 46 miles round trip, but that makes a really long day of course, so this time of year I start about half way at a commuter lot which is about half way (24 mi round trip).

Nike touring rig! Are you gonna put panniers, lights etc.? Post another picture after she's dressed. :)

Will do. I have a front rack ordered. My lights etc. are on my mountain bike for now. Next time I clean it up, I'll take pics of that. The mtn bike is mostly a back roads in winter bike - an original equipment Raleigh M80.