Antiacus

I'm thinking of going with a single speed commuter. I swung by my lbs and he had a few options in there. One was a Pake Rum Runner that looked like a pretty good geometry for me (I'm 6'5" with relatively longer legs than torso and easily get too stretched out).

I'm heavy, 240lbs and put a long of torque on my crank etc so we were looking at ditching the stock crankset, wheels and tires for these:

Sram Omnium crank set (+$225)
Origin 8 36 spoke deep v wheels with maybe 23cm Randonneur tires (+$100)
extra brake for the rear wheel ($?)

Other than that i would throw on a different saddle, pedals, and fenders (and possibly different bars, need to try out the stock bull bars).

Stock bike is $775 so i'm looking around $1025 with the crank, wheels and tires and about $1,150 with everything.

Seem reasonable, is there a better option out there?

cale

The crank upgrade sounds pricey and overly cautious. I'd pass on it and replace the original if and when it wears out. The stronger wheel sounds like a good investment. The extra brake being the one that wasn't there before. I'll take a pass on that.

Nice bike.

HillRider

I agree the crank change is not justified unless you want/need longer arms than come with the bike.

Stronger wheels seem like a good idea and Vittoria Randonneur tires are heavy but rugged. i have them in 700-28 on my rain/beater bike and they are holding up well. You might want to consider going larger than 700-23 for a commuter if the frame/fork will clear them.

By "extra rear brake" do you mean a second one along with the one that's already there or an optional brake since there is no rear brake on the bike? If this is a single speed, a rear brake (one, not two) and a front brake are essential. If it's a fixie, a rear brake is a good idea at your size and weight even if the bike doesn't come with one.

Saddles, pedals and bars are really individual choices so, by all means, get ones that suit you.

FastJake

I wouldn't say it's necessarily a better option, but if you learn how to build bikes you could easily build one just as nice for WAY less money. Single speeds don't have that many parts to them.

Single speeds need two brakes. Fixed gears can have one brake but two isn't a terrible idea, especially if you want the bike to be flexible and run it single speed as well.

I would not spend the extra for the crank. I've put together entire commuters for less than that...

At your weight, I would highly recommend running a tire much wider than 23mm. I'm 140lbs and I'm pretty happy commuting on 32mm tires. Since you're dropping cash on this bike I'd make it a priority to find one that will fit reasonably wide tires AND fenders.

Antiacus

Thanks for the replies, this helps. Some of your comments had me scratching my head. Went back and checked and the tires i've run on my last two bikes were 700x28, schwalbe marathon plus on my crosscheck and randonneurs on my Jamis. I wouldn't want to go any narrower on my commute, there are some ugly roads in Eugene.

Hmmm.

Other bikes i'm looking at are the Mercier kilo wt and the nashbar cx single speed. Both of those i can't credit back the stock components i swap out but both are considerably less expensive.

I've got two more weeks to decide. Please let me know if anyone has an idea i should check out. I'd appreciate it.

*edit* to clarify, the bike in the shop just has a front brake.

nfmisso

Take a look at a Surly Cross-Check SS: Cross-Check SS | Bikes | Surly Bikes

cale

OP already has a Surly Crosscheck. I suppose you could have more than one.

I do like the Surly bikes though. Similar in style are Gunnar bikes. The OP could look at their Street Dog. Street Dog

HillRider

That's where I got the idea you were considering 700-23 tires and assumed the "cm" was a typo.

dbg

+1 Bigger tires are hugely more comfortable -and not necessarily much slower or heavier.

FastJake

The Kilo WT looks like a solid choice. (I did not look up the Nashbar bike.) If you're looking a Bikes Direct I'd check out the Motobecane Fantom Cross UNO. Similar to the Kilo WT but with cantilever brakes rather than long-ish pull calipers, which I personally prefer. Save Up to 60% Off Motobecane Cyclocross Singlespeed Fixie Bikes - Fantom Cross UNO Track | Singlespeed Cross bikes | Save up to 60% off new bikes

qclabrat

which ones can actually fit a 28mm tire? many of my road bikes don't have the clearance on the forks

SquidPuppet

My opinion

1. Bigger tires (like 32mm) for your weight and a commuter.

Fact

2. Omnium cranks have been giving some (more than a few) people problems with crank arm/chain stay clearance, and they have been unable to correct that while simultaneously maintaining a decent chain line.

Booger1

I just bought that exact frame and fork on Ebay,used,for $45.....Built the whole bike for $450( 3 speed path racer kinda look thing)....Including handbuilt wheels on a AW 3 speed rear hub,powdercoated frame,Brooks type leather saddle,ect.ect.....seems like alot to me.

Granted,almost everything is used,but you woundn't know by looking at it now.

It will fit a 32 tire width wise ( I have those cream color Kendas on it),maybe 35's.I have 32 on it but it is real close to the brake mount height wise in the rear...35 may not fit.I couldn't fit fenders on it if they were made from notebook paper....

It is a nice riding bike!

DiabloScott

I didn't know Pake packaged whole bikes... did your dealer just have this one built up already?

Check out this one - I considered it for my FG commuter- stout wheels and crank, two brakes, comes with 28s but room for 32mm tires at least.

fietsbob

a S-A 3 speed is my go to bike .. it happens to be a folding bike but you dont have to .. any horizontal rear dropout old frame can work .

SquidPuppet

Let's have some pics.

smallsc111

I have your wheels on my fixed gear I love them. They are great wheels and they've held up really well to the the potholes on campus that would have normally ruined anything else. I have bull bars on mine and love them but it is an award grip for brake levers so if you want brakes Id go with something different.

Booger1

I'd love to show pictures but I have no way to do that at the moment.....Sorry.

79pmooney

Random thoughts here: Commuter - two good brakes. With levers where you can reach them without moving your hands from your preferred riding position. 36 spoke, strong wheels - a good move. DiabloScott's photo above of the Kona - that's a great start. Big tires - yes! Any given road hazard can be navigated with large enough tires. There are no situations where a skinny tire will get you through and a wide one won't. (At some point, you do have to draw the line - yes the "fat tires" will get you through EVERYTHING but who wants to go there on a commuter?) Ay your size, I would say no less than 28c. My commuters are 28c and I weight 155.)

Commuting is about reliability. Of having a bike that will serve you well with less than ideal attention, because you will be riding it when you haven't had enough coffee, when you are tired, when it is dark, when the weather is lousy, when you are angry or other drivers are angry and when you are just having a bad day. And a good commuter is a bike you will come to love, as inelegant, dirty and unloved as it is simply because, like a really good friend, it is there for you.

Ben