Hey guys,

I've been hinting at a new commuter/hauler build I've been getting ready to do for quite a few weeks, and I think it's finally ready for a build thread of its own. I've also been helping my girlfriend build herself a nice city bike for commuting and errand running, so I'll be outlining both builds in this thread. We've both been accumulating parts during our busy schedules and they'll finally be coming together during the next couple of weeks.

I've been commuting 5 days a week since January on my 2000 Jamis Nova CX bike. It's held up really well and it's a fantastic bike, but I wanted a dedicated commuter that I could throw some racks on and load up for errand running while keeping my Nova for more spirited rides. I started with a bike I already built up in college with a hodge-podge of parts aquired for next to nothing.

The frame was a 2002 Raleigh M50 and the fork was a mid-90's Cannondale Pepperoni. The goal of the first time I built it up in college was for a goofy, unusual, drop-bar, 1x7, fat slick-tired bike for fun.






I've decided to build it again, with better parts, as a goofy, unusual, drop-bar, 1x8, fat slick-tired bike for fun.....with front and rear racks for commuting . I've just completed the painting stage and will be playing the paint-curing wait game for the next 5 days or so. Here are some pics of the prep, paint and mock up. It should be a blast to ride once it's finished.


Shooting the fist primer coat

Two coats of black primer, one coat of gray. Baked for 2 hours between coats, on the garage roof under the California sun....

4 coats of satin Italian Olive paint, baked in the same fashion

Headbadge mock-up (still needs touch-ups)

New wheel and tire mock-up (Granted, just the bare frame). Wheels are Vuelta Zerolites and the tires are CST Cyclops 2.4" that I mentioned in an earlier thread