Commuter Bicycle Pics
bill nyecycles
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Houston TX
Posts: 3,328
Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 789 Post(s)
Liked 350 Times
in
190 Posts
how did you mount it? i'd be up for doing something like that on my cross check
Tawp Dawg
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Anchorage, AK
Posts: 1,221
Bikes: '06 Surly Pugsley, '14 Surly Straggler, '88 Kuwahara Xtracycle, '10 Motobecane Outcast 29er, '?? Surly Cross Check (wife's), '00 Trek 4500 (wife's), '12 Windsor Oxford 3-speed (dogs')
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Well, it finally happened: I jumped aboard the fat bike bandwagon. Surly Necromancer, limited edition yellow Rolling Darryl rims, Alfine 8 hub, 45 North Dillinger tires.
Drive side (pannier set as far back as possible because of serious heel strike):
Non-drive side:
Front side:
Backside (lol):
Puppy side (oh god that sounds terrible, like a poison made specifically for puppies):
See how nicely they're sitting? That's because this is at mile 5 of the 6 miles of single track that we run or bike every day out to the dog park and back. You want obedient dogs, you gotta wear the SOBs down (or DOB, in the black dog's case).
I've gotten by for over a decade now riding all winter with studded mountain bike tires and studded 'cross tires, opting to ski or take the bus on snow days, but this summer my commute went from 2 miles to 7 miles, which is farther than I'm willing to ski to work, my bus ride went from 10 minutes to 50 minutes, and 45 North (go Canada!) released a studded fat tire this season, the lack of which had been a deal breaker for me when considering a fat bike as a commuter. I'm incredibly lucky in that 6 miles of my route is on groomed ski trail, like this:
But the remaining street mile looks like this pretty much all winter:
Not to mention spring daytime melt/nighttime freeze conditions in the tunnels and underpasses (if it isn't obvious, that tunnel is solid, smooth, skate-able ice):
Seriously icy:
So yeah, studs are a must for me, and now they come in fat! This bike is so much fun, and there's loads of winter only single track around my end of town, so this has become one of my favorite winter toys as well as my daily beast of burden. The only thing it's missing is full wrap fenders, which is why it's so dirty; we're in full breakup here, 40's during the day and single digits at night, so it's a frozen ride to work in the morning and a slushy ride home in the afternoon. I tried the SKS grandmom and granddad clip on fenders, but they sucked, so I've got a set of full wraps on order from MK Fenders. He's really backed up though, 8 to 12 weeks for production and delivery, and it's been 9 weeks since I ordered; at this rate, they'll arrive just in time for the road bike to come out.
Drive side (pannier set as far back as possible because of serious heel strike):
Non-drive side:
Front side:
Backside (lol):
Puppy side (oh god that sounds terrible, like a poison made specifically for puppies):
See how nicely they're sitting? That's because this is at mile 5 of the 6 miles of single track that we run or bike every day out to the dog park and back. You want obedient dogs, you gotta wear the SOBs down (or DOB, in the black dog's case).
I've gotten by for over a decade now riding all winter with studded mountain bike tires and studded 'cross tires, opting to ski or take the bus on snow days, but this summer my commute went from 2 miles to 7 miles, which is farther than I'm willing to ski to work, my bus ride went from 10 minutes to 50 minutes, and 45 North (go Canada!) released a studded fat tire this season, the lack of which had been a deal breaker for me when considering a fat bike as a commuter. I'm incredibly lucky in that 6 miles of my route is on groomed ski trail, like this:
But the remaining street mile looks like this pretty much all winter:
Not to mention spring daytime melt/nighttime freeze conditions in the tunnels and underpasses (if it isn't obvious, that tunnel is solid, smooth, skate-able ice):
Seriously icy:
So yeah, studs are a must for me, and now they come in fat! This bike is so much fun, and there's loads of winter only single track around my end of town, so this has become one of my favorite winter toys as well as my daily beast of burden. The only thing it's missing is full wrap fenders, which is why it's so dirty; we're in full breakup here, 40's during the day and single digits at night, so it's a frozen ride to work in the morning and a slushy ride home in the afternoon. I tried the SKS grandmom and granddad clip on fenders, but they sucked, so I've got a set of full wraps on order from MK Fenders. He's really backed up though, 8 to 12 weeks for production and delivery, and it's been 9 weeks since I ordered; at this rate, they'll arrive just in time for the road bike to come out.
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 13,445
Mentioned: 33 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4234 Post(s)
Liked 2,949 Times
in
1,808 Posts
Ah well, at least you'll have them for next winter.
__________________
Bikes: 1996 Eddy Merckx Titanium EX, 1989/90 Colnago Super(issimo?) Piu(?),1990 Concorde Aquila(hit by car while riding), others in build queue "when I get the time"
Bikes: 1996 Eddy Merckx Titanium EX, 1989/90 Colnago Super(issimo?) Piu(?),
always rides with luggage
Ah, and there it is. I didn't know bikes like that existed. But after a quick google search, I think this is the one - 2001 Terry Isis - BikePedia
But Terry has made many bikes like that over the years also.
__________________
--Ben
2006 Trek SU100, 2009 Motobecane Fantom CX, 2011 Motobecane Fantom Cross Uno, and a Bakfiets
Previously: 2000 Trek 4500 (2000-2003), 2003 Novara Randonee (2003-2006), 2003 Giant Rainier (2003-2008), 2005 Xootr Swift (2005-2007), 2007 Nashbar 1x9 (2007-2011), 2011 Windsor Shetland (2011-2014), 2008 Citizen Folder (2015)
Non-Bike hardware: MX Linux / BunsenLabs Linux / Raspbian / Mac OS 10.6 / Android 7
--Ben
2006 Trek SU100, 2009 Motobecane Fantom CX, 2011 Motobecane Fantom Cross Uno, and a Bakfiets
Previously: 2000 Trek 4500 (2000-2003), 2003 Novara Randonee (2003-2006), 2003 Giant Rainier (2003-2008), 2005 Xootr Swift (2005-2007), 2007 Nashbar 1x9 (2007-2011), 2011 Windsor Shetland (2011-2014), 2008 Citizen Folder (2015)
Non-Bike hardware: MX Linux / BunsenLabs Linux / Raspbian / Mac OS 10.6 / Android 7
Keepin it Wheel
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: San Diego
Posts: 10,245
Bikes: Surly CrossCheck, Krampus
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 26 Post(s)
Liked 3,432 Times
in
2,539 Posts
Griddlecakes, loved your photojournal there! (I am so jealous of the groomed trail you get to ride every day to work! (And also jealous of those who get to ride MUPs every day to work (but also thankful I'm better off with my ample and clearly-marked bike lanes than so many commuters who have to fight cagers for their few inches of shoulder every day)))
Senior Member
Tawp Dawg
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Anchorage, AK
Posts: 1,221
Bikes: '06 Surly Pugsley, '14 Surly Straggler, '88 Kuwahara Xtracycle, '10 Motobecane Outcast 29er, '?? Surly Cross Check (wife's), '00 Trek 4500 (wife's), '12 Windsor Oxford 3-speed (dogs')
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
RubeRad, MUPs are mixed blessing. All winter traffic is sparse, mostly skiers either plodding along in the classic tracks or skating hard down the main lane, with enough room for all; but come summer it gets crowded enough that the ride can be joyless, with more time spent braking than pedaling. Sunny summer afternoons I often opt for the road route. Unfortunately all of the cross-town roads in Anch are 45 mph with no bike lane and often no shoulder, just sidewalk; so I'm stuck stitching together a ride from neighborhood to neighborhood, hitting sidewalks where I must, and stopping (or at least slowing) at all the stop signs and lights involved in a cross-town commute. However, in the early morning MUP traffic is light, and usually it's just me, the trees, ducks, moose, ravens, and occasional cyclist or runner; frequently I can forget that I'm riding through the middle of a city.
I would love to see bike lanes on every street in Anch, and would happily use them, to garner a bit more reliability in my commute time (ever been stuck behind a moose on a MUP?) and to help combat the "bikes belong on the path or the sidewalk, not on the road" mentality that is so pervasive in this town. But I would definitely miss the quiet and peaceful feeling of riding a nearly empty trail through the woods, creek running beside me, ravens quorking overhead, or along the coastal trail, with the sound of the inlet waters lapping the beach at high tide.
This is Alaska, winter ain't over yet. I mean, I could really use them right now, but we'll probably get more snow come late April, or early May.
I would love to see bike lanes on every street in Anch, and would happily use them, to garner a bit more reliability in my commute time (ever been stuck behind a moose on a MUP?) and to help combat the "bikes belong on the path or the sidewalk, not on the road" mentality that is so pervasive in this town. But I would definitely miss the quiet and peaceful feeling of riding a nearly empty trail through the woods, creek running beside me, ravens quorking overhead, or along the coastal trail, with the sound of the inlet waters lapping the beach at high tide.
This is Alaska, winter ain't over yet. I mean, I could really use them right now, but we'll probably get more snow come late April, or early May.
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Tampa Bay, FL
Posts: 237
Bikes: Surly Cross-Check, Torker U-District
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Run the bolt through a lock washer (to keep the mount from spinning) and through one of the bar plugs and then put the tube over that, and the cap on the other end.
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Napa, California
Posts: 470
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
1 Post
Back to backpack commuting. Not as bad as I remember, but I'm sure when I really start logging more commute miles and shopping I'll start really figuring out a good commute bike with rear rack.
Keepin it Wheel
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: San Diego
Posts: 10,245
Bikes: Surly CrossCheck, Krampus
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 26 Post(s)
Liked 3,432 Times
in
2,539 Posts
Haha no, not in San Diego. But I have run over a rattlesnake though (apparently they can only strike from coiled position, so when they're stretched across the trail, no worries). Also I chased a coyote once until he dropped what was in his mouth -- turned out to be the front half of a cat.
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Fontana, California USA
Posts: 228
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Wow, it's so beautiful there. I wish I could ride that beastly fat bike through the woods. Idk how well I'd ride on ice though. Lmfao
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,776
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 16 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
Is that a Throne frame/bike? It looks like one (but I don't see the logo on the frame).
Junior Member
Nothing fancy, but I have been very happy with it. Bought her new in 2011.
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Tampa Bay
Posts: 110
Bikes: Trek 8.4DS
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
Junior Member
Yes and the rack and bag work great. Much better than using a backpack for commuting in my opinion.
J3L 2404
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 1,075
Bikes: 2007 Jamis Nova
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
In the early morning MUP traffic is light, and usually it's just me, the trees, ducks, moose, ravens, and occasional cyclist or runner; frequently I can forget that I'm riding through the middle of a city.
....
the quiet and peaceful feeling of riding a nearly empty trail through the woods, creek running beside me, ravens quorking overhead, or along the coastal trail, with the sound of the inlet waters lapping the beach at high tide.
....
the quiet and peaceful feeling of riding a nearly empty trail through the woods, creek running beside me, ravens quorking overhead, or along the coastal trail, with the sound of the inlet waters lapping the beach at high tide.
__________________
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Memphis, TN
Posts: 1,050
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 69 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
Senior Member
aka Tom Reingold
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Posts: 40,503
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
Mentioned: 511 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7348 Post(s)
Liked 2,470 Times
in
1,435 Posts
That's a serious commuting machine, Raleigh Comp. I like the north road bars. Do you use both racks often?
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Fork and spoon operator
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Hopkins, Minnesota
Posts: 577
Bikes: 2013 Surly Crosscheck, 1990 Schwinn Impact, 1973 Schwinn Continental
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 37 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 11 Times
in
7 Posts
Senior Member
Yes and no. I use the rear a lot with my daughter, as it receives her kid seat. And when the rear is occupied by her, I keep whatever couple items I have up front. I would make much better use of them if I had a nice set of bags, but that is money to be spent later. I got a couple of plastic bins that I mount on them too, good for small store trips.
__________________
https://sundaybikeride.wordpress.com/
https://sundaybikeride.wordpress.com/
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
Thanks.
My wife wanted a lighter and faster bike and back in 2007 I found this Peugeot in bone stock condition, (which was okay), but she likes a very upright and laid back position so the stem and bars had to be changed, she only rides on Brooks saddles, and I upgraded the wheels to 700c with a dynohub and fitted a NOS Sachs 7 speed (index) system as she does not like friction shifting.
I also built the custom rack to accommodate her Carradice shopper which is a larger bag and this provides for better heel clearance.
She owned a Peugeot like this when she was younger and it was the same colour... I plan to strip it down in the fall and powdercoat it as the frame needs a refresh and she has asked that it becomes sage green.
I will also build a new rear rack and integrate that with the frame before it gets new powder.
I work for smoochies here...
My wife wanted a lighter and faster bike and back in 2007 I found this Peugeot in bone stock condition, (which was okay), but she likes a very upright and laid back position so the stem and bars had to be changed, she only rides on Brooks saddles, and I upgraded the wheels to 700c with a dynohub and fitted a NOS Sachs 7 speed (index) system as she does not like friction shifting.
I also built the custom rack to accommodate her Carradice shopper which is a larger bag and this provides for better heel clearance.
She owned a Peugeot like this when she was younger and it was the same colour... I plan to strip it down in the fall and powdercoat it as the frame needs a refresh and she has asked that it becomes sage green.
I will also build a new rear rack and integrate that with the frame before it gets new powder.
I work for smoochies here...