Need Ideas. Show me you Vintage Commuter Road bike. Just Everyday use Road Bikes
 

So im parking my car and have an old Raleigh Grand Prix that i use aroud town and
need to add parts to turn into a commuter bike. Show your bike here.

NO RACE
NO SATURDAY RIDE BIKES

!!!!!!!Commuter bikes please. Old, rusty, racks, light reflectors.

I have seen alot of Show off your :Top of the line Carbon, Restored Vintage, Race day bikes but no everyday commuter bikes..

Any pics or ideas are welcomed.

This has been shown before...

As it was new:

http://world.std.com/%7Emuller/pics/1972-UO-8.jpg

At the start of last summer's commute (though it now has a VO crank):

http://users.rcn.com/jimmuller/pics/UO8_in_2011.jpg

Just another day going to work:

http://world.std.com/%7Emuller/pics/station.jpg

Unfortunately I don't have any pics from before the crash, but here is my Motobecane:
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a64...120_150309.jpg

Office crates are lighter and have more space than milk crates, and if you pick the right one, can still be pretty sturdy.

This is where it all start the first commuter, commuted for a while on this, bought this and road it just like, bent rear wheel and skipping chain, and busted rear derailleur
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...7/IMAG0101.jpg

My daily but had a 13-19 freewheel that was a killer on hills but fast on the flats, passing cars was a breeze
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...7/IMAG0195.jpg

New Daily Driver just recently finish from just a $30 frame, test her today and went up hill no problems
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...7/IMAG0256.jpg

nice. that's what im talking about. thanks.
keep them coming. I have about a 6 mile ride to work so this is great. i will post my pics when done my build.

i have a 6 mile ride to work too, takes me about 25-30 minutes because i ride on a horrible truck route. IMO ride the bike with what you need on a day off like i did, then you can figure out where she stands, and what you feel comfortable riding.

You threw me off a bit with your title. This ain’t vintage, but it soon will be. I sort’a considered it a red headed step child at the time; it wasn’t until after I sold it that I realized what a practical bike it was. I used to ride it once a week, when I could, about 15 miles to work. OK, I’m not a real everyday bike commuter, but still, if your are, you could do a lot worse then to ride this practical bike.
http://i700.photobucket.com/albums/w...Trek730001.jpg

No problem your bike is fits the idea.

http://www.bikeforums.net/editpost.p...ost&p=13699250

A converted 94 Schwinn Crosscut. My everyday go-to 'road' bike for rides around the neighborhood. I like it more than my true road bike. I can confidently ride over almost everything...thorns, rocks, gravel, branches, construction spills, small animals. ;)

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6035/6...fbd8c8ea_b.jpg
late afternoon ride-1 by WNG555, on Flickr

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/c...oor198/118.jpg

jk...



http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/c...r198/005-1.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/T1tAy.jpg

Budget flat bar commuter, works beautifully.

An assortment of scuffed up components, mismatched wheel and dented frame tubes all contribute to my ER (errand runner). I used bikes like this one to get from here to there and back again, focusing on getting things done rather than seeking to just ride. I prefer the Bullhorn bars to keep my seating position more upright, which I prefer for riding in traffic conditions. I plan on installing a set of bar thumb shifters soon...
http://www.mytenspeeds.com/My_TenSpe...ull_Side_1.jpg

Only vintage part is the front wheel but this is my commuter rig. The rest is from 1999 except the pedals which are brand new. I usually wear a backpack but when that's not enough I bolt on a Blackburn rear rack with a recycling container attached with self-tapping screws - similar to Arrowana's Moto's setup.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7154/6...df5b229a_b.jpg

My 2 'go to' bikes....these are the one I've riden to 7-11 or to get hair cut. They may seem over the top but they're my low end cruising around bikes.

http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/r...t/DSC00516.jpg
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/r...f/DSC03178.jpg

I don't do rusty or reflectors...but this is the bike I usually ride around everyday:





After:

http://i936.photobucket.com/albums/a...lk67/photo.jpg

http://i936.photobucket.com/albums/a...67/photo-1.jpg

http://i936.photobucket.com/albums/a...67/photo-2.jpg

http://i936.photobucket.com/albums/a...67/photo-3.jpg

http://i936.photobucket.com/albums/a...67/photo-4.jpg

http://i936.photobucket.com/albums/a...67/photo-5.jpg

http://i936.photobucket.com/albums/a...67/photo-6.jpg

http://i936.photobucket.com/albums/a...67/photo-7.jpg

Come to think of it...I do rusty and old...and we ride this around when I go somewhere with my wife and/or friends pretty frequently:

http://i936.photobucket.com/albums/a...7/IMG_0657.jpg

Mrs. Gomango's around town bicycle.

A Centurion Lemans RS.

We bought this in 1986 and it is still going strong.

It goes everywhere with her, as she put on a little over 2,000 miles last year on this bicycle.

It is so versatile.

http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4030/4...a206983d_o.jpg

I ride my son's Stumpjumper Sport pretty often, though it is a bit on the small side for me.

They make outstanding commuters and errand bikes.

http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4098/4...bc9b929a_o.jpg

...and this was my do everything bicycle after my knee surgeries.

An older Bruce Gordon Rock 'n Road. A bicycle I had no business selling.

I commuted often on her, and though she was a tank, she was super reliable with a full Deore XT gruppo.

I miss her!

I'd throw on a set of super wide Grifos up at the cabin, and she would double as a superb fire road bike.

http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4118/4...0b68522f_o.jpg

My ever evolving Super Grand Prix, Picked up originally off Craigslist for $20.00 after being hit by a car.

I commuted on this bike all last summer and into fall, I'm not a cold weather rider.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y17...s/DSC05081.jpg

:thumb: Boathouse Row. My old stomping grounds...

dropping the kids off at school this morning, 28*F, dusting of snow...

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-2...0/IMG_6777.JPG

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-r...0/IMG_6778.JPG

I dont think this is the Charles.

My "everyday" Grand Prix.
http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/n...h/bd86bc02.jpg
http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/n...h/4ae5b5f0.jpg

Schuylkill River, Boathouse Row Philly. I used to row there at Penn AC (the club semi-obscured by the rear-view mirror and sitting between Undine Barge on the left and U Penn on the right) while I was on the US National Team.

That is the Charles in your post. Shot taken from the Boston side near Mass Ave. :thumb:

A Litespeed with Spinergy wheels is not low-end. Give me a freakin' break.

I don't know...if that's the bike he's using every day, it fits the parameters. I've commuted on road bikes and as long as you aren't carrying anything or going over gravel, they're great. My favorite bike for riding through slush/light snow is my Merlin...I'll take that over the Koga Miyata every time because it cuts through better and I don't have to worry about the titanium getting salt water all over it. I also like how maneuverable and responsive road bikes are in traffic...my campy dual pivots stop a light roadbike on a DIME.

I personally don't think there's anything practical about using older bikes with needless weight, inferior brakes, reflectors, inferior pumps and steel rims when there are much better modern alternatives. They might be prettier and fit an aesthetic, but they're no more practical (and I'd argue less practical) than something like the Litespeed.