Well, I am finally got my commuter (which happens to be my only bike) ready to go again. A rear wheel replacement was in order. Between the bum wheel that necessitated it and a few feet of snow, I haven't commuted in two weeks, and I'm going nuts!!!

I've had the new wheel for a several days now, but couldn't mount it until the 4.5 mm spacer I needed to use my 7 spd cassette on the 8/9 speed hub arrived. I finally got it Friday. So, no commuting lately, but at least I was able to get some wrenching time in this weekend and install the new wheel, cassette, some new brake pads, and some other general maintenance.

Anyway, I've been posting here a while, and I hadn't properly introduced my ride, so here she is, w/o further ado. The bike is a garden-variety Target-bought Schwinn Trailway hybrid (LBS types, please forgive me - I didn't know better at the time). Over time I've had to replace the stock wheels. The front is an old Hoopster wheel from an old Giant MTB I picked up used from a local bike co-op, and the rear is a 36h Velocity Dyad built up around a Deore LX hub. The Dyad replaces the front Hoopster's opposite, which had a freewheel (not a freehub/cassette) but which was giving me problems w/ spokes. The Hoopster, in turn, had replaced the stock rear wheel - which was really crappy.

Over time, I've also added a Topeak Explorer rack, rack trunk, MiniMorph pump, mirror, bell, and Cascadia fenders. I run PB flashers on the back and have a 1 LED blinkie as my be-seen light up front and a Terrlaux 220 lumen flashlight mounted on TwoFish lockblocks as my headlight.

Links to pics below. I live in an apartment w/o access to a good garage door, so I've substituted the white cinder block wall of the basement/laundry/bike storage room in our building.
Profile view
My dash
Cassette/RD/Wheel
From Behind
3/4 Profile
Lights

As with any bike, this is a work in progress. Some planned and/or imagined upgrades and improvements:
*Swap out the pedals for a another set with toe clips that's laying around (this could be my first step towards going clipless)
*Grommet for front wheel valve hole and switch it to Presta tubes, too (so I don't have to carry two spare tubes anymore and since I think I really like the Presta valve)
*Bar ends for more hand positions
*New saddle (and suspension-less seat post?)
*Computer
*Go with flatter handlebars w/ no riser or so I have a little more room for my "dashboard"
*Replace the front fork with something rigid (current suspension fork doesn't even lock)

*Keep this as a beater bike and buy an LHT! (Some day, perhaps...)

Except for the horrible stock wheels, this bike has actually served me quite well for my 14 miles of round-trip commuting daily (when my route isn't buried under a foot of snow, that is). Last year I put over 1,500 miles on it, and I'm gunning for at least 3,000 miles this year. Might even attempt some overnight weekend camping touring sometime this summer.