arsprod 

Ok I'll restate, I like seeing unused, unloved bikes gjven a second chance!

Brennan

Cross Check v2.0

anaheim flash

i joined the dark side...

InTheRain

Here are few of my touring/commuter:



Not the greatest pics, the bike isn't cleaned up (and it rarely gets cleaned up.) It has been a steady companion for 5+ years now. It will haul a load (me included.) It has fully met my expectations. I think the bike will out last me (I won't be able to resist buying a new commuter when I can get one with hydrolic disc brakes with a drop bar.)

The bike has some nice little bits and pieces. The fenders are stainless steel berthoud, powder coated to match the frame. The rear rack is a Tubus Cargo rack. I swapped the bar for an ergonomic drop bar that has a flatter section on the tops to spread out the pressure on my hands. A dynamo hub that powers the B & M front and rear lights. A brooks B17 champion saddle (it's covered... gotta keep it dry.) The drivetrain is a Shimano Tiagra 9-speed with STI integrated shifting (a bit unusual for a touring bike.) The frame is made from Reynolds 853 steel tubing... a stronger but lighter tubing than Reynolds 520 which is used on several touring bikes. I have shimano m520 pedals with an aluminum platform (for riding without cycling shoes) mounted on the other side. I use a set of Ortlieb classic panniers that just won't wear out. Tires are specialized armadillo all condition... only one flat in 5 years.

noglider 

InTheRain, that's very nice. I think I'll mount my battery-powered taillights similarly. I also have front and rear dynamo-powered lights, which are my primary lights.

InTheRain

I had to use some spare rubber tubing on the inside of the mounts to fit them snuggly to the rack. The flashing and the solid lights seem to get the attention of drivers.

arsprod 

That is nice!

acidfast7

The first things I noticed were the Shimano dynamo and integrated lights.

I didn't even need to make the pics large.

Nice to see people doing that with drops.

Yalc

my crosscheck in its current daily state.



I love this damn thing, sorry for the instagram seems to be the best way to get it from my phone to computer when I am at work. Yes its not properly locked up, I just stoped to get a espresso before the rest of my ride. I have come a long way from my $500 '09 schwinn, but really also kinda came right back arround... hmm..

novacommute

2013 Bianchi Volpe (55cm), replaced an older Trek 1000 that was my commuter (30 miles round trip, 3x per week). Only changes are Conti gatorskins 700X32, SKS fenders, Specialized Riva saddle, Trek interchange rack (and panniers) off of the old bike. Really enjoy this bike:

spivonious

Took this pic a few weeks ago after coming home from work. I stopped at the car dealership on the way home to pick up a new window regulator, hence the big box.

DVC45

My new (to me) Schwinn Sporterra.



Will soon get decked-out with commuting neccessities.

H.S.Clydesdale

New bar tape this evening required a few glamour shots:




New in v.4.0:
- IRD Super Long Cranks 200mm
- New Handelbars off a 1987 Nishiki Sport (though may not have been original to that bike). These are wider, and have a better drop geometry. They say "champion" but are of lower quality than the SR Road Champions which came with this bike.
- Kool Stop Eagle Claw Salmon brake pads. I am surprised at how well they integrate with the overall look of the bike, considering they are such a drastic change. MUCH better performance.
- New Bar Tape, Genetic Animal Skin or some something. It was the only brown tape the LBS had in stock. It was cheap enough I figured I'd give it a go.
- Laced my Nexus 7 internal hub to the Velocity Chukker rim with DT swiss 14G spokes. It is a marriage made in heaven.

new for v.3.0:
- Velocity Chukker rims with Formula/Origin8 front hub, courtesy velomine.
- Speciallized Nimbus Armadillo Tires, 38c
- Cane Creek SCR-5 aero levers
- Technomic Quill Stem, 13cm

new for v.2.0:
- Brooks B67, brown
- Nexus 7 internal hub with J-tek bar end shifter
- Wippermann 1R8 chain

still needs work;
el cheapo platform petals. Need to replace

From original, v.1.0;
- Dia Comp 500G brakes
- seat post
- chainring (sugino), and bottom bracket (JIS square taper)
- Headset (in very good condition, smooth as butter)
- Frame is a 1983 Sanwa 700, 67cm or 26.5" seat tube. Tange #2 main tubes, with high ten stays and fork, as near as I can tell. I cant seem to find any info on the Sanwas, other than they were Japanese bikes imported to Wisconsin. Frame was originally sold in Green Bay. It looks a LOT like a centurion lemans 12, and I suspect, whoever made centurion bikes also made these sanwa frames. But who knows. The serial number is on the bottom bracket; K3N6265

acidfast7

nice IGH, which one is it?

acidfast7

nice IGH ... interesting ride.

Commutersport

Nice bike H.S.Clydesdale! How tall are you?

DVC45

Nexus 8.

acidfast7

have you done any maintenance on it yet? i'm curious about the durability.

H.S.Clydesdale

I am 6'7", but I have short arms and legs for my height. I learned this on the highschool basketball team when a couple guys who were 6'3" actually had a higher reach than me. But I am not the weird one, they were lanky. Anyway, my inseam is 37". Many folks shorter than me have a similar inseam. This bike fits me quite well.

I am also 240lbs, which is why I went with the velocity chukkers (36h both), and the B67 saddle, as opposed to the more popular B17. I am not sure I'm sold on the seat springs though, I want to try a B17 and see if I like it better.

H.S.Clydesdale

yes, interesting would qualify I think. Thanks for the feedback.

fyi, I have not done any maintenance on the Nexus 7. It seems fine. I have personally put 2k miles on it, but bought it used so am unsure of its total mileage. I have read that all internal hubs can benefit from oil bath dips, and I want to try that, but have not gotten around to it yet. I am sure I'll post something about it when I do.

mikhalit

Nice ride, love the head tube height! I am 6'7" myself, and had troubles finding a tall frame. Actually tall road bikes aren't such a problem, but something for fatter tires isn't that easy to find...

I went with the 61cm frame on the end, Salsa fork with 35cm steerer was a deal saver. I am 265 pounds and like my B17, feels springy enough. Actually riding now Specialized Avatar, enough cushion for good pavement.

Sorry if the photo had appeared in this thread earlier. Summer mode, singlespeed and no dynamo lights, Alfine 8 and IQ cyo in winter time.



PS. The cranks on this photo are 205mm long, but went back to 175mm since I started road riding... And the whole cockpit got quite stretched out, I like it now. But if it was snow and slush, sand or towing kids then 200mm rock!

May I ask where have you got the IRD cranks and how much was it?

H.S.Clydesdale

Sweet! That is a nice fork, I'll keep it in mind as an option for any threadless frames I come across. What is that frame? Disc brake mount + lugs seems very rare. Also looks like a vertical dropout, has that been a problem, did you just get lucky with the chain tension?

I am also curious about the shallow drops on your bars. What are those? My drops are probably too deep.

If your curious, the headtube on my frame is 26cm.

Have you thought about longer cranks? The IRD 200mm cranks have completely changed my experience. I think IRD just came out with these, so they are new inexpensive option for tall riders. Previously, tall folk had to pay a lot of money for custom or semi-custom longer cranks. I highly recommend them. It feels as though I have never really had the full experience of riding a bicycle before the longer cranks. I can get SO much more of my legs into the pedaling motion. Its the difference between skipping and bounding, or hopping and leaping. With 170mm cranks, I was using the bottom of the quads only (vastus medialus?), and with 200mm cranks I am using all my quads, my hamstrings, and the good ole gluteous maxiumus, for maximus power. Its like the difference between a high revving 4 cylinder that might make 130 ft-lbs of low end torque and revs to 9k, and a V8 that make 500 ft-lbs of low end torque and revs to 5k. Granted, the power output might be the same (or better on the 4 pot), but a wholly different experience. For my purposes, commuting not racing, the V8 is by far the way to go.

DVC45

No. I just got it.
I will post if I find any problems with it. So far its been great.

mikhalit

The fork on the photo is Salsa Fargo V1, 440m axle to crown, I also got a more "road" like fork from them, Vaya, that is more like 400mm tall. Good for 42mm tires + fenders or 1.9" cross tires and the steerer is the same 350mm.
The frame is German Poison Chinin IGH, it has an excentric BB and vertical dropouts. I like the combination very much. I was lucky to get this frame for half the price off the German ebay, I can PM you the name of the seller if you like.

Salsa Cowbell 3, true 46 cm center to center. I think its meant for cyclocross, now it even feels a bit too wide for the road riding, but it's great for commuting and touring. I was looking specifically for a nice curve and shallow drops and couldn't find more alternatives. Deda and FSA make some nice short and shallow bars but they are narrower.

Yeah, I figured that is the desired height for my next bike. Thanks for mentioning.
This is exactly my impression as well. I got 205mm Kuosac cranks from Zinn cycles like 2 years ago, at that time it was the cheapest option. If i need power and slower cadence these cranks rock. My current ride is more like time trials (flat, straight country road riding) with strong head/tail winds and i've changed the long cranks back to 175mm. Your bike makes me want to try the long ones again. I think i'll swap them back for few rides.

H.S.Clydesdale

Oh hey, sorry, I completely missed the PS last time. I also did not know your cranks are 205mm in the photo (as you could probably tell from my comments). I was not aware of the Kuosac cranks, though I am very familiar with Zinn. I got the IRD cranks from my LBS, they were $120 US. You can find them listed on the interloc racing design website; https://store.interlocracing.com/irdexlocrar.html I think most major bike shops can place orders with interloc. You can order direct from the website, but I was able to find them cheaper at the store, plus no shipping charge.