Is your commuter a beauty or a beast?
05-07-15, 03:30 PM
#51
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I think its a beauty, others would say beast
05-07-15, 03:43 PM
#52
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05-07-15, 04:47 PM
#53
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@tjspiel. That may be the only bike my wife will let me ride nowadays.
I love the 80-90s specialized mountain bikes, I miss my beasty old 1994 Schwinn Frontier GS. It got donated on a move a few years ago and I've regretted it ever since.
In my eyes my beast is a beauty... ohh wait bikes not wives.
I have not seen my bike in a while but I figure it looks like a cross between Frankenstein and Humpy Dumpty.
I love the 80-90s specialized mountain bikes, I miss my beasty old 1994 Schwinn Frontier GS. It got donated on a move a few years ago and I've regretted it ever since.
In my eyes my beast is a beauty... ohh wait bikes not wives.
I have not seen my bike in a while but I figure it looks like a cross between Frankenstein and Humpy Dumpty.
05-07-15, 07:49 PM
#54
Vain, But Lacking Talent
My beauty of a commuter was killed in action due to stupidity on my part. I'm in the process of building my steel Bianchi into a commuter, but haven't gotten around to getting the parts together, yet.
But I truly envy people who can rides beasts. I'd love to rock a $100 CL special. It would also make my wife extremely happy. But if I get my hands on something, it has to be a beauty. If something's worth building, it's worth building right.
For instance, when I decided to convert the Bianchi to touring duty, I knew I was going to need fenders. I think I spent 3 weeks just looking at fenders. And I don't even like the ones I decided on that much. I might paint them in the future.
So continue to enjoy your beats and smile when you see the sucker on the shiny bike who paid too much. I'll be smiling back.
But I truly envy people who can rides beasts. I'd love to rock a $100 CL special. It would also make my wife extremely happy. But if I get my hands on something, it has to be a beauty. If something's worth building, it's worth building right.
For instance, when I decided to convert the Bianchi to touring duty, I knew I was going to need fenders. I think I spent 3 weeks just looking at fenders. And I don't even like the ones I decided on that much. I might paint them in the future.
So continue to enjoy your beats and smile when you see the sucker on the shiny bike who paid too much. I'll be smiling back.
05-07-15, 08:39 PM
#55
contiuniously variable
Well, my uptown is made from the frame of one model and the components of another model. Fortunately i really dig the color scheme. To make it even more interesting, the paint is color-shift, and at some angles is a rich burgundy, and most other angles a deep rich green, both with a metallic glint. So in that sense, it's definitely a beauty. On the other hand, it has a huge N360 in the back, the dyno on the front wheel, and the lights, rack, fenders, the wiring for the lighting system, dual shift cables, and sapim strong spokes on the rear.
It also has a blue reflective wrist snap bracelet wrapped onto the stationary part of the shock absorbing seat post..
So, in total, i'd say it was a beautiful beast.......??
- Andy
It also has a blue reflective wrist snap bracelet wrapped onto the stationary part of the shock absorbing seat post..
So, in total, i'd say it was a beautiful beast.......??
- Andy
05-07-15, 08:56 PM
#56
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Exchange of ideas and disagreements by people who are pretty passionate about their bikes is a big part of the fun of BF. But I do think you took my comments out of context, .
As a reminder, I'll quote your language
"The typical reaction is for people to look at it momentarily and then studiously ignore it because they are embarrassed (for it and me). It also receives raised eyebrows, pitying head shakes, and occasional snide comments."
People on this list don't look down on others because of their bikes. I am highly skeptical that people do this in real life. You own a beautiful bike. You should enjoy it.
. As a reminder, I'll quote your language
"The typical reaction is for people to look at it momentarily and then studiously ignore it because they are embarrassed (for it and me). It also receives raised eyebrows, pitying head shakes, and occasional snide comments."
People on this list don't look down on others because of their bikes. I am highly skeptical that people do this in real life. You own a beautiful bike. You should enjoy it.
actually when you live in a city where tens of thousands of people commute by bike, they do (albeit a small minority). honestly, being judged for my bike does not bother me at all. i was just being humorous.
Last edited by spare_wheel; 05-08-15 at 02:27 PM.
05-07-15, 09:51 PM
#57
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Only Have one bike at the moment. but will be building my old Giant boulder back up for a "bad weather Beater bike" for now tho i commute on my 2015 Giant escape 3. and according to the Homeless guy rummaging thru the dumpster at 6 am when i got to work yesterday Its quite a beauty ... lol
20150505_142425 by Dj Fantom, on Flickr
20150505_142425 by Dj Fantom, on Flickr
05-07-15, 11:02 PM
#58
contiuniously variable
@tjspiel. That may be the only bike my wife will let me ride nowadays.
I love the 80-90s specialized mountain bikes, I miss my beasty old 1994 Schwinn Frontier GS. It got donated on a move a few years ago and I've regretted it ever since.
In my eyes my beast is a beauty... ohh wait bikes not wives.
I have not seen my bike in a while but I figure it looks like a cross between Frankenstein and Humpy Dumpty.
I love the 80-90s specialized mountain bikes, I miss my beasty old 1994 Schwinn Frontier GS. It got donated on a move a few years ago and I've regretted it ever since.
In my eyes my beast is a beauty... ohh wait bikes not wives.
I have not seen my bike in a while but I figure it looks like a cross between Frankenstein and Humpy Dumpty.
- Andy
05-07-15, 11:48 PM
#59
Anywhere I roam
05-09-15, 01:11 PM
#60
Junior Member
My commuter is also a cross check - here it is in its current configuration but this bike has had many "looks" over the years. Not too much of a beauty - more of a tool - it just gets the job done year after year.
05-09-15, 05:09 PM
#62
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Before:
After. (Still a beast, but a more elegant one)
Just completed today. Haven't put the fenders and rack back onto it yet.
After. (Still a beast, but a more elegant one)
Just completed today. Haven't put the fenders and rack back onto it yet.
05-11-15, 02:39 PM
#63
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when i think of whether a commuter is a beauty or a beast i think of the way it rides.
my roadie rides like a beauty
my commuter (cyclocross) rides like a beast
it's fun to ride both. both give a different ride.
my roadie rides like a beauty
my commuter (cyclocross) rides like a beast
it's fun to ride both. both give a different ride.
05-30-15, 07:51 PM
#64
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Last edited by BicycleNutsy701; 05-30-15 at 08:03 PM.
05-30-15, 08:30 PM
#65
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I love checking out other commuters' rides.
I gave my beast to my son as a present, to make room for my current commuter ride, a twitchy black beauty. But when she gets dirty, I like how boring she looks compared to the glittering single speeds parked nearby.
I gave my beast to my son as a present, to make room for my current commuter ride, a twitchy black beauty. But when she gets dirty, I like how boring she looks compared to the glittering single speeds parked nearby.
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05-31-15, 02:58 PM
#67
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sI can't believe that all those beautiful bikes are for your daily commutes! Mine 30 years old and used to be my tourer as well. After all those bikes this is definately my dearest. Help me go through my darkest hours...
05-31-15, 05:09 PM
#69
The bike plague
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05-31-15, 08:20 PM
#71
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My '76 Grand Jubile has three original parts: frame, fork, fixed cup. Paint is "rough". The front fender is a hacked up rear fender, and slightly wider than the rear. It sports flat bars mounted to a hybrid's adjustable stem. The front wheel was eBay sourced with a Sanyo dynohub, and the rear came from the co-op. The Nashbar trunk is severely sun faded. Recently I installed some humongous platform pedals, also from the co-op. The bearings, though, are all smooth as butter. Looks beastly but rides beautifully.
06-01-15, 03:43 AM
#72
Senior Member
My primary commuter is a Soma Buena Vista mixte with a Nuvinci rear hub, Sanyo Dyno on the front, BM Toplight Brake Plus rear light and BM Eyc senso on the front. Although it's the techiest bike I have, it looks like an old French delivery bike.
06-01-15, 11:18 PM
#73
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Before I bought my Breezer I'd assumed that biking on ice, or at least snow was out. Then I heard about special tires and/or fat bikes. I saw a fat bike at Target the other day - a Huffy - and was sorely tempted to ride it inside the store.
Last edited by GovernorSilver; 06-02-15 at 09:00 AM.
06-02-15, 03:14 PM
#75
contiuniously variable
Did you stick to the stock tires for winter use or did you replace the original tires? Handsome beast, btw.
Before I bought my Breezer I'd assumed that biking on ice, or at least snow was out. Then I heard about special tires and/or fat bikes. I saw a fat bike at Target the other day - a Huffy - and was sorely tempted to ride it inside the store.
Before I bought my Breezer I'd assumed that biking on ice, or at least snow was out. Then I heard about special tires and/or fat bikes. I saw a fat bike at Target the other day - a Huffy - and was sorely tempted to ride it inside the store.
- Andy