Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Commuting
Reload this Page >

the latest upgrade to my SS Commuter/Townie bike

Notices
Commuting Bicycle commuting is easier than you think, before you know it, you'll be hooked. Learn the tips, hints, equipment, safety requirements for safely riding your bike to work.

the latest upgrade to my SS Commuter/Townie bike

Old 07-29-05, 07:54 PM
  #1  
Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 27
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
The latest upgrade to my SS Commuter/Townie bike....

[Homer Simpson]
Uhh...did anybody ever see that movie Tron?
[/Homer]

my latest upgrade to my singlespeed commuter/townie bike...









and a QuickTime movie of me driving up my driveway to illuminate the bike, it's not a perfect angle as the bike's leaning on the kickstand, but you get the idea (DIALUP WARNING, 4 MB)

think i overdid it a little?, i was going for the Tron "Lightcycle" look....

the best part of it is in normal daylight at a distance, the tape's nearly undetectable, it blends in perfectly with the bike's paint job....
MacTech is offline  
Old 07-29-05, 08:02 PM
  #2  
E. Peterbus Unum
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: NW Houston, Texas
Posts: 118

Bikes: 2008 Scattante XRL Cross, 2007 Fuji Team, 2002 Fuji Ace, 80's Novara Randonee, 80's Nishiki Prestige SingleSpeed

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Do you have the matching suite? Hey...wasn't red the color for the bad guys???

Looks great. Checked out the video too. Classic.
TxBiker is offline  
Old 07-29-05, 08:20 PM
  #3  
Banned.
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 4,416
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Uhh. Cool. Do you have pics in the daylight of the bike?
BostonFixed is offline  
Old 07-29-05, 08:25 PM
  #4  
sorry
 
apologetic's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: us
Posts: 96
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by BostonFixed
Uhh. Cool. Do you have pics in the daylight of the bike?

yes i need to see pics of it in the day time, but it looks hot
apologetic is offline  
Old 07-29-05, 10:26 PM
  #5  
I'd rather be riding
 
Noif666's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 144
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Awesome! Not only is it eye-catchingly-painfully-bright but when lit up defines the shape of the bike. There's no way a driver could mistake you for anything but a cyclist.
I hope it reduces close calls and the old "gee I didn't see you there" exuse for you.
Noif666 is offline  
Old 07-29-05, 10:27 PM
  #6  
Is trigger happy
 
bodegabandit's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: not quite sure yet
Posts: 233

Bikes: langster,73 varsity,trek atb converted to ss

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I bet that bike will cause at least three different accidents in its time. btw you really shouldnt put your bike on a car like that, it might get upset.
bodegabandit is offline  
Old 07-30-05, 12:40 AM
  #7  
Shadow Member
 
simple312's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: brooklyn (chicago until july07)
Posts: 189

Bikes: bareknuckle fixed, cannondale track, nishiki conversion

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
nice. i have some white reflective tape on my bike, though nothing compared to yours. i also put the tabs on my rims but i don't think i would do it again. i think it crossed the line of being too ugly for the results. i generally don't really expect the tape to do much other than keep me from being completely invisible.

it also looks like you have a chain tensionor (sp? i cant spell), i thought i read somewhere that its better to have the chain on the top, keeps tension on the cog tighter.
simple312 is offline  
Old 07-30-05, 01:08 AM
  #8  
Immoderator
 
KrisPistofferson's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: POS Tennessee
Posts: 7,630

Bikes: Gary Fisher Simple City 8, Litespeed Obed

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts
It would be funny if you didn't have any reflectors on the front or rear of the bike.
__________________
Originally Posted by Bikeforums
Your rights end where another poster's feelings begin.
KrisPistofferson is offline  
Old 07-30-05, 10:52 AM
  #9  
Zee
Just Say No! (to gas) =0P
 
Zee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Goshen, Indiana... but eventually I want to buy the farm! er... "A" farm... and grow/sell organic fruits, veggies, eggs, chickens, sheep, goats... =0D
Posts: 159

Bikes: Schwinn Traveler (70's), Western Galaxy Flyer (60's?)

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Wow... that looks pretty cool... this from someone who saw Tron in the theater

Where do you get that tape? Is it just reflective?

I just got a can of that new reflective clearcoat in the automotive section of the spray paints. It will be awhile before I get to try it out -- I just picked up a free men's 26" something-or-other that I'm hoping to get my husband on when I get it fixed up. I called it a something-or-other because someone else did a really crappy spray paint job on it in flat black, and I intend to right that wrong, after I get it in riding condition Anyhoo, I'll try and remember to post some pics when it's done.

PS - does anybody who's more of a computer whiz than me know how I can fit this (moving) gif image in as my avatar? lol... it's too big... I can resize it but she don't pedal anymore when I do...
Zee is offline  
Old 07-30-05, 02:03 PM
  #10  
Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 27
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
it's the reflective tape used on 18-wheeler trailers, they carry it at good auto-supply stores, it's called "Trailblazer ultra reflective safety tape"

the best part is that the red trim is the same color red as the bike, so from a distance, in the daytime the red tape blends in almost *perfectly* with the bike's paint job, nearly undetectable






MacTech is offline  
Old 07-30-05, 02:07 PM
  #11  
Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 27
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by apologetic
yes i need to see pics of it in the day time, but it looks hot
it's the reflective tape used on 18-wheeler trailers, they carry it at good auto-supply stores, it's called "Trailblazer ultra reflective safety tape"

the best part is that the red trim is the same color red as the bike, so from a distance, in the daytime the red tape blends in almost *perfectly* with the bike's paint job, nearly undetectable






MacTech is offline  
Old 07-30-05, 03:49 PM
  #12  
Banned.
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 4,416
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
That's awesome.
BostonFixed is offline  
Old 08-06-05, 07:34 PM
  #13  
Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 27
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
My latest hack on the SS Fila....

parts;
a length of PVC piping, cut to the length of my old handlebars (got 2 just to be safe, in case i mess up the first
2 45 degree PVC elbows
2 hose clamps (i may not actually need these......)
Cinelii bar tape



step 1; measure distance between bullhorn ends and cut PVC to fit, find out it's still too long, and slowly cut it down a segment at a time, finally arrive at the right length
step 2; put on PVC elbows
step 3; Profit!!

actually, step 3; jam the crossbar onto the ends of the bullhorns and hammer it in to fit securely

step 4; find a spare piece of bar tape to put under the Cygolite clamp as a temporary fix
step 5; attach lights to the new lightbar to check for fit and positioning




i still cant decide if i want the lights to hang under the crossbar, or sit on top...

final step; wrap the crossbar with bar tape to give it that "one piece" look (final pics tomorrow)

total cost of building my own "lightbar".... $7.00
MacTech is offline  
Old 08-06-05, 07:35 PM
  #14  
Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 27
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
My latest hack on the SS Fila....

parts;
a length of PVC piping, cut to the length of my old handlebars (got 2 just to be safe, in case i mess up the first
2 45 degree PVC elbows
2 hose clamps (i may not actually need these......)
Cinelii bar tape



step 1; measure distance between bullhorn ends and cut PVC to fit, find out it's still too long, and slowly cut it down a segment at a time, finally arrive at the right length
step 2; put on PVC elbows
step 3; Profit!!

actually, step 3; jam the crossbar onto the ends of the bullhorns and hammer it in to fit securely

step 4; find a spare piece of bar tape to put under the Cygolite clamp as a temporary fix
step 5; attach lights to the new lightbar to check for fit and positioning




i still cant decide if i want the lights to hang under the crossbar, or sit on top...

final step; wrap the crossbar with bar tape to give it that "one piece" look (final pics tomorrow)

total cost of building my own "lightbar".... $7.00
MacTech is offline  
Old 08-06-05, 08:14 PM
  #15  
Retrogrouch in Training
 
bostontrevor's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Knee-deep in the day-to-day
Posts: 5,484
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Wow, that's so tacky.

Awesome!
bostontrevor is offline  
Old 08-06-05, 08:22 PM
  #16  
Guest
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Mentioned: Post(s)
Tagged: Thread(s)
Quoted: Post(s)
Sorry- we do not cross post here on bikeforums.

Koffee B.

Mod
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.