Mogens

This began as a Trek 730 Multitrack, now it's something else. I'm going to need to address the crank, but it's riding really well and my wife loves it.

due ruote 

I use one of those cargo nets with my Wald basket. I removed the back set of hooks and zip-tied the net to the basket, so I just unhook the front and sides and fold it back over the handlebars when loading.

tashi

I used a wine box on the back of my Jeunet for a while and while the look was perfect everything else about it was lame. I even went so far as to line the inside floor with soft material to keep the noise down. To me the basket wins for practical reasons and has a pretty good aesthetic anyway. A cute box is just a bit too, um, cute sometimes anyway.

Matadors

A friend had a front derailleur he was not using, so I added it to my bike even though I did not think I would need it. Works great.

BicycleSafari

@RALEIGH_COMP

I've been working on piecing this build together for a while, and here's the first iteration.
Still have some details and bits to change/refine, but it rides great as is.
I'm not sold on the Velo-Orange Porteur rack yet. I have the bag that goes with it, and it holds a ton of stuff which is great, but It throws the weight pretty far forward and makes the handling a little headstrong when I have it loaded with a camera and other bits.
I'm also not sold on the Paul Neo retro/touring canti's (I think I have a half set of each) a buddy gave them to me and I thought it'd be fun for this build to have a component that's a little fancier than what I normally go for, but they don't feel quite as good as some of the other setups I've put on my bikes in the past, but I'll see how they do after the pads and rims break in a little. The VO 60mm fenders work really well with the maxxis DTH 2.15's, despite the fact that the tire is 2mm larger than the largest recommended compatible size. This is my first time using the DTH tires and so far I'm really diggin them.

lorenzo_de_leon

Can't decide which is better; this build or the photos of this build...

BicycleSafari

HA! Thank you!
It was a hazy overcast afternoon, and I found a great parking garage that was part of an old apartment complex that I was biking through. It was a nice deep space so getting it to turn into an abyss was a snap.
I use to take photos for a living, but it's been a little while, so it's nice to know I still got it

BicycleSafari

I have a hard time passing up alternatives to baskets because it's really nice to switch things up once in a while; but when it comes down to the function I still haven't found anything that I like more than a good old wald basket as far as versatility, adaptability, and comfort.
I've been on the lookout for a good wooden box for a number of years, just to have around for the right build when it comes up. I'd never even thought about the sound factor though! Definitely glad to know about that now. With that in mind it might be time to call off my box search.

DQRider 

Very nice build! I used that same model porteur rack on an old Rockhopper 1 x 10 conversion that I renamed "Curbhopper". But I didn't use it as much as I thought I would, mainly because of the reasons you have identified, so it got traded for something else.

Still, if I had to rely on bicycles only for transportation, a rig like this would be very useful to have in the stable. Please keep us posted as this project evolves.

BicycleSafari

Thank you!
What did you end up putting on Curbhopper after you ditched the porteur rack?

DQRider 

Actually, I traded her in after I finished building her into a very unique utility/cargo bike. Here's the only photo I have with her fully built:



1 x 10 Shimano Deore drivetrain, the heavily-shellacked baskets had varnished pine slats laid into the bottom like a pickup truck bed. The bike ended up weighing about as much as a pickup truck, too. But I used it for a couple Farmer's Market runs, and it worked OK for that.

tashi

I have one bike that I'll probably put a wine box on, it's just too French to resist. I'll leave a small pack in it all the time however, and stuff will go in there. Should eliminate the rattle.

audiomagnate

I started with a 32 pound '94 MTB with a frozen suspension fork. New lightweight pedals, a carbon seatpost and seat, 1 1/2 inch Panaracer messenger tires and a $16 CroMoly rigid fork transformed it into a 26 pound curb hopper (including the Pletscher) that will take the worst that Atlanta's crumbling infrastructure can throw at it. I made the mistake of taking my Cannondale crit racer into town last week...never again!

JayNed

I've been following this thread for some time and as we speak I'm rebuilding a 1994 Trek 850 Mt. Track into a commuter/school-daycare drop-off/occasional trail riding combo. Not sure if im going for drop bars or an upright combo. To be continued!

Smokinapankake

Is that one of those Carver forks you see on eBay? I used one on my Peugeot Canyon Express conversion and they are very nice forks!

travgott

x post of my urban commuter conversion so far. new wheels on the way and gonna put thinner road/hybrid rubber on. you guys got me inspired!! '89 trek antelope 800 under all those stickers

BIGDCYCLES

Thats a pretty cool stickerbomb. Been thinking of doing that to a beater Specialized Hard Rock I have.

simmonsgc

Some really cool bikes here lately, so tastefully done. This thing, on the other hand, is a bit of a tank. But it's a comfortable tank. Steel stem, steel fenders, and the heaviest tires in the English-speaking world don't help. Rode it to work 3 times this week just to shake it down. It's a work out! But like they say, "you gotta want it..."




1988 Panasonic MC-6500 in "Dusty Rose"

audiomagnate

My '94 Bianchi (see a few posts above) is sporting the fork from your bike. I covered the dusty rose with rattle can flat black and everybody thinks I sprang for carbon LOL.

Clyde1820

Recently missed a vintage lugged Trek 950. Would have used many of the great-looking examples in this thread for inspiration, on an upright ride.

Early Trek 950, Brooks B17, Nitto Bosco bars, thumbie shifters, perhaps Paul canti brakes, full-length fenders over 26x2" tires. My own personal, comfortable, upright city machine. Yum.

cooperryder 

I recently finished up a lugged Trek 950.
It was originally a bright blue.
It is not as nicely decked out as described above but it rides real nice.

smoothness 

The fork is made by Surly for their Troll frames. The bike shop accidentally ordered the one to replace a 120mm suspension fork, so now I have two of these with different axle to crown lengths. It has way more eyelets than I need; I found out the other day that I can carry four bottle cages and still have a few eyelets left over.

gil_00000

Love looking at all these conversions! Makes me itch for another bike

smoothness 

Consider this a tasteful targeted advertisement:

If anyone is looking for a mtb frame to work on, I have a bunch of "nice" frames that need homes. Sizes range from 16.5" ctt to about 21", depending on your riding style/purpose. I've two S-Works (both aluminum, neither with a fork), one stumpjumper and four or five singletracks. I'm looking for nicer 26" rim brake wheels, 110 chainrings (ramped preferred), and verdant ink-laden cellulose composite sheets.

(If there's any question, I've paid for the "buy/sell" subscription. If this is still considered verbotem, my bad. Please don't lock the thread/ban me.)

Loose Chain

Not all that upright, I do not see how you guys do that upright thing without having to surgically remove the saddle from your certain nether regions, but, here she is, Specialized Rock Hopper. Still working out some issues with gearing, brakes and ergos but it is getting close at last. Very upright by my standards but still a good, comfortable forward lean for weight distribution and balance:



I am going to wrap the bars up to the IRD friction shifters. The brake levers are Grand Cru and PB fender set with Wald basket. This is a 19 inch C/C seat tube which is too big for me (my opinion) as an aggressive MTB but as a general purpose cruiser it is just right, installed a much shorter stem to account for the long TT and keep the ergos more gentle/upright (MTBs of this era had long TTs). Steers and ride fine.