http://40.media.tumblr.com/5dd3c36f0...pv4o1_1280.jpg

My bike, i have a 14 mile commute i normally use a back pack to carry everything, but i want to get a front rack for my lunch box.

I ride from my home to my school, Lots of hilly conditions and sweet country side.

Hot!

Great pic too. The green background pops, and I actually really like that the back of the rear wheel was cropped off, it makes for a unique composition. And the common line of the stem/bars, seat, cranks all say GO!

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=430775
Right after arriving at work. My commute is 8-10 miles, and I like going as fast as possible both ways, so I ride a fast bike.

Before our "blizzard".

http://i975.photobucket.com/albums/a...psa2jtjee8.jpg

http://i975.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps3swztmoz.jpg

I say "blizzard" because the forecast called for 26 inches and we got 3-4. ;) :D

The blue bit on the seat post is a reflective wrist band, and since i have the bones of an elephant, it won't fit me, so i decided it'd be best used where it gets 180+ degrees of visibility. Braking was fine. :)

- Andy

Just started commuting in Seattle this week. Last time I bike commuted regularly was in Philadelphia back in 2011, and my legs (and lungs) are definitely protesting.

This was my first complete bike build (including wheels). Quite a journey! Given the many gray days in Seattle, I was going for high visibility.

* Soma Double Cross Disc (stripped and powder coated)
* Ultegra 6800 drivetrain
* Shimano ST-RS685 mechanical/hydro brifters and calipers
* White Industries CLD rear hub, SP PL-8 front dynamo hub
* B&M Luxos U headlight and matching tail light

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7424/...efe6f62b_b.jpg
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7336/...2cb14bd2_b.jpg

@dwango, I love that rack. What is it?

Here's one from Saturday morning's ride to work...it seems that my particular fender/tire combination isn't particularly effective at preventing spray from light, powdery snow:

https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.n...bb60ea3271075a

The rack is a tubus Logo evo. tubus - Logo evo

@dwango that's a pretty bad@$$ bike build! Can you share how much it set you back when it was finished?

Fortunately I didn't keep track... :)

Definitely not cost effective compared to buying a bike off-the-shelf, but I enjoyed the experience and will do it again.

I will say that I saved about $440 by ordering the drive train, lights, and brakes/shifters from bike24.de. That was also the only place I was able to find the RS685 kit in stock at the time.

I'm going to hazard a guess that it's your fenders. You need some SKS Longboards!

https://velofinds.files.wordpress.co...pg?w=676&h=676

It's a couple things, but you're definitely not wrong! The front fender is a Toba of some sort that I got for free after destroying my original Blackburn Cloudburst (longer than the Toba, but not quite as long as yours) when the original fork decided to suddenly and inexplicably bend. The clearance is also quite tight with the tires I've got on it right now, so there was some snow building up near the stays and then spraying upward.

Upgraded the commuter with carbon wheels. It's a lot quicker and certainly more fun to ride. :thumb:

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=431113


The seat is next but I have to say that old one sure is comfy.

I love those funky green Bianchis.

Celeste, used to be the ONLY color you could get for a bianchi!

We have the same bike!!! :thumb:
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=431232

New Wheels!
 

We had a couple warmer days here recently, and that inspired me to get prepped for the 2015 commuting season. Got a new wheelset (on clearance from velomine, love that company), along with new koolstop salmon brake pads. Is there anything more fun than a new wheelset?

The rims are a marginal improvement over my previous set, (old=Weinmann DA-17, new=Mavic CXP22 with eyelets), but the hubs are the reason for the upgrade (old=no name, "formula" hubs, new=Shimano 105). I know some formula hubs are good, but I think "formula" is not an official brand name, so some claimed "formula" hubs really are just generic cup and cone deallies. My old hubs were not that great, and the dust cap fell off the front hub about 1k miles ago (an indication of their quality). My old wheels were also black, but with a machined (bare metal) braking surface. The silver CXP22s have a more classic, clean look that I like, and the silver highlights the 200mm cranks which is the whole point of the bike. (Search KHS 747 on this forum for more info on the bike) Super excited about the new setup, wish I could be riding it right now, but I cant, so I am making a post about it instead....

http://i760.photobucket.com/albums/x...130_154339.jpg
http://i760.photobucket.com/albums/x...130_154332.jpg
http://i760.photobucket.com/albums/x...130_154303.jpg

So far the wheels do feel stiffer, I am getting more road feel. I used to inflate my tires to max pressure, because that reduced the feeling of a squishy ride, made me feel more in control. But I think with the new wheelset, I might not need full pressure. I seem to have plenty of control/feel without running full pressure. Not sure... still just first impressions. I actually was not expecting these wheels to be any stiffer than the old ones, so maybe this is just a placebo effect related to the fun of a new wheelset.

Oh, and I really like the gunmetal color of the 105 hubs. Looks great in person.

These are my two commuters.http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=431817http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=431816
The orange one is a 2007 Bianchi Castro Valley, a workhorse ready for anything with Carradice saddlebag in the rear and Wald front basket. Lots of changes from stock, notably drop handlebars and Shimano bar-end shifters, Brooks B17.
The white one is a 1985 Specialized Sequoia, used for fair weather commuting when clothes have already been transported, and also used for most of my weekend rides. Great CL find, changes include wider handlebars, Suntour barcons, Selle Anatomica saddle, Acorn saddlebag, new 105 rd, new tektro brakes, and other drivetrain parts swapped out in the last year or so.
Both ride great, but the Sequoia is zippier, a better climber. The Bianchi makes short work of my 32 mile (round trip) commute, which is mostly flat.

Ah wonderful fresh snow...that brings back so many great memories . :D :love:

On my old cruiser i'd ride into town with the main streets unplowed.... honestly i think just letting the snow melt vs plow is a better idea than plowing & making dangerous berms & narrow spots.

- Andy

My 2015 Fairdale Weekender
http://i413.photobucket.com/albums/p...le_creek_2.jpg

2014 Surly Straggler out for a bit of fun...


http://s12.postimg.org/xj7l42e7x/Commutocrosser.jpg

Beater bike work in progress
http://i.imgur.com/8dxWNWb.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/gb689d3.jpg

Seriously thinking of getting a Weekender Drop. Have you used yours in bad weather, like snow (don't know where you live). Impressions?