danimal

i'm looking to buy or put-together a commute bike that will also do okay in the winter. i have a lemond poprad frame and fork (the orange one from 06) and some OLD wheels i could use and am considering building that up as a single-ring in the front with 9speed in the back (besides the wheels and cassette, i'd need to buy the rest). i figure i could do it pretty cheaply with a tiagra rd and a cheap-o crankset.

OR, should i just lay down the cash for a bianchi san jose (you all on this forum seem to really like it).....also, i work at a shop, so it'd be a pretty cheap purchase.

does anyone here commute on a 1X9 setup? i got the idea when i saw the castro valley.

toucci

I commute with a 38t crank and an 11-26t cassette. I have to muscle up the ~15% grade on part of my commute and spin 140 rpm if I want to go fast down, but I like it overall and prefer the simplicity and cost effectiveness for commuting. If you have easier hills it will work even better for you.

bfromcolo

I live in Monument, Co and I think a 1x9 would work great here. I would set it up for climbing since I can coast downhill, something like a 38x32-13 would be fine. I am toying with the idea of doing something similar with a Nexus-8, and get all gears out of the elements. For a while I ran my old Schwinn as a 1x7 with a 42x32-14 and it was fine, seems like its always going up or down, never get a chance to pedal on the flats and see how fast a big ring would be anyway. My only concern would be chainline over such a wide range, but this is a popular setup for 29ers so its probably fine.

pj7

Any reason you don't want a double/tripple up front? For a commuter bike the weight is...well, ngeligable.

pro4aa

Get a San Jos8 from https://sheldonbrown.com/harris/bianc...os8/index.html

JeffS

He lives nowhere near Harris, who will not ship.

I see no problem with the 1x9. I have a compact double that's NEVER seen the bottom ten gears. If I were building up a new bike I wouldn't bother with the front derailleur.

Gordiep

Though you couldn't buy the Harris San Jos8, you could easily make one, especially if you work at a shop and have access to cost parts. The 1x9 conversion is certainly easier and cheaper, but the San Jose is a great ride (I have one), and adding the Nexus (or similar) setup wouldn't be too expensive. In addition, you would have an option for using it just as SS down the road. I guess that it all depends upon how much you're willing to spend...

danimal

for starters, i'd rather not bother with buying and maintaining a front derailer and shifter, but beyond that the 1x9 setup just always looked interesting to me.

glad to hear everyone likes the san jose as well....i put my frame on craigslist and if i end up selling it then that will cover the cost of the san jose, and while i like that lemond frame, new bikes are always fun.

sucka free

I was in the same position as you. I commuted on a Bianchi San jose, but wanted some gears. At the same time I wanted to keep the clean lines of a single speed. So seeing Sheldon Brown's set up and with the assistance of my LBS building a wheel, I came up with my own San JoGR8. Nexus premium band (8 speed) thrown onto my San Jose. Almost 200 miles so far and no problems.

danimal

^ nice!

i actually really like where you placed the shifter as well...that was my one problem (albeit an admittedly minor, cosmetic, and silly problem) with sheldon's san jos8.

and it looks like i've got a buyer for my lemond frame, so now i can afford the san jose!

ch9862

Nice looking bike

sucka free

Not silly at all. I didn't like the placement of the shifter placement either; cosmetically didn't look good, but functionally it made more sense to put it closer to the stem (for me at least).

Good luck on the SJ. I actually had to buy the shifter from Harris Cyclery cause I couldn't find it out here on the west coast!

1ply

Now you just have to change the sticker and you're finished.

Good job btw.

adrien

are those deep v's? never seen that color...