Show us your vintage commuters!
06-17-08 | 04:04 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,683
Likes: 13
From: Kansai
Show us your vintage commuters!
Beautiful day here in DC, heat wave finally broke. When I got home, I snapped some pix of my daily commuter in all its dusty and battered glory. I built this up about 7 years ago, have replaced a few things since then, but most of it is still original build despite lots of commuting, dirt bike paths, towpaths, and a lot of general abuse.
Frameset: Trek 620 - has the geometry of a 1985, but paint and markings like 1986 Treks, although no 620 is shown in online 1986 Trek catalog.
Headset: Hatta Vesta
Stem: Nitto Technomic
Bars: Nitto B115, 42cm
Wrap: Cinelli Black Cork (love that stuff!)
Bar Plugs: Velox
Saddle: Brooks Conquest
Seat Post: Sakae
Crankset/BB: Specialize "Flag" 110 Triple
Pedals: MKS Touring, cool buckle pads on Christophe straps
Brakes: Tektro Froglegs
Brake Levers: Generic Shimano
Rims: Sun CR18 27", polished silver
Tires: Specialized Armadillos, 27x1-1/4
Front Hub: Schmidt Dynohub (best bike part I've ever bought)
Rear Hub: Campagnolo Croce D'Aune
Front Derailleur: Shimano, maybe Deer Head
Rear Derailler: Dura Ace Triple, pretty cool with big jockey wheels
Freewheel: Shimano Hyperglide
Chain: SRAM
Shifters: Riv (Dia Compe) Silver Shifters
Fenders: Berthoud 40mm Stainless
Mudflap: Leather Berthoud
Front Rack: Unusual early Nitto, supports were made with a bend in them
Front Light: Schmidt E6
Rear Light: Coolest thing on the bike and a recent addition - a Bridgestone fender mounted solar powered taillight. Two hours of light exposure during the day gives 6 hours of blinky taillight. Motion and darkness sensors activate/deactivate the light, so between that and the solar charging, never even have to bother with on/off switch, much less batteries. Pretty bright. Only seems to be available in Japan.
Got a lot of miles on this bike, but it has tons left.
Frameset: Trek 620 - has the geometry of a 1985, but paint and markings like 1986 Treks, although no 620 is shown in online 1986 Trek catalog.
Headset: Hatta Vesta
Stem: Nitto Technomic
Bars: Nitto B115, 42cm
Wrap: Cinelli Black Cork (love that stuff!)
Bar Plugs: Velox
Saddle: Brooks Conquest
Seat Post: Sakae
Crankset/BB: Specialize "Flag" 110 Triple
Pedals: MKS Touring, cool buckle pads on Christophe straps
Brakes: Tektro Froglegs
Brake Levers: Generic Shimano
Rims: Sun CR18 27", polished silver
Tires: Specialized Armadillos, 27x1-1/4
Front Hub: Schmidt Dynohub (best bike part I've ever bought)
Rear Hub: Campagnolo Croce D'Aune
Front Derailleur: Shimano, maybe Deer Head
Rear Derailler: Dura Ace Triple, pretty cool with big jockey wheels
Freewheel: Shimano Hyperglide
Chain: SRAM
Shifters: Riv (Dia Compe) Silver Shifters
Fenders: Berthoud 40mm Stainless
Mudflap: Leather Berthoud
Front Rack: Unusual early Nitto, supports were made with a bend in them
Front Light: Schmidt E6
Rear Light: Coolest thing on the bike and a recent addition - a Bridgestone fender mounted solar powered taillight. Two hours of light exposure during the day gives 6 hours of blinky taillight. Motion and darkness sensors activate/deactivate the light, so between that and the solar charging, never even have to bother with on/off switch, much less batteries. Pretty bright. Only seems to be available in Japan.
Got a lot of miles on this bike, but it has tons left.
Last edited by robatsu; 06-17-08 at 04:19 PM.
06-17-08 | 04:45 PM
#3
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,683
Likes: 13
From: Kansai
The cable hangars came with the Tektro brakes, bought them from Velo Orange. I agree, they are very nice and blingy, finely detailed with a lot of little allen screws for locking the straddle wire in place, they actually work very well along with looking cool.
06-17-08 | 05:53 PM
#5
Membership Not Required
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 16,853
Likes: 18
From: On the road-USA
Bikes: Giant Excursion, Raleigh Sports, Raleigh R.S.W. Compact, Motobecane? and about 20 more! OMG
Looks like he has a Schmidt SON hub on there...nice!
Here is my vintage commuter...it has also been entered in the ugly commuter contest elsewhere
Aaron
Here is my vintage commuter...it has also been entered in the ugly commuter contest elsewhere
Aaron
__________________
Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
06-17-08 | 06:21 PM
#7
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,683
Likes: 13
From: Kansai
Indeed it is, a Schmidt Originalen NabenDynamo (SON), as another poster pointed out. Really an absolutely terrific piece of equipment. I have no idea how many miles I have on it, built the wheel in 2001, use it off road on gravel/dirt roads, absolutely no problems. This made me a convert to generator lights and I'm starting to look at the new crop of LED dynamo lights that put the Schmidt E6 to shame.
I did also have a dynamo powered taillight, a 4d Seculite, until I replaced it with the solar powered taillight.
I did also have a dynamo powered taillight, a 4d Seculite, until I replaced it with the solar powered taillight.
06-17-08 | 07:05 PM
#10
stringbreaker
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 4,463
Likes: 2
From: wa. State
Bikes: specialized crossroads hybrid 2006 Raleigh Cadent 2 1971 Schwinn Varsity, 1972 Schwinn Continental, 1977 Schwinn Volare (frame)
I've been riding this for a week now 
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(Life is too short to play crappy guitars) 2006 Raleigh Cadent 3.0, 1977 Schwinn Volare, 2010 Windsor tourist. ( I didn't fall , I attacked the floor)
(Life is too short to play crappy guitars) 2006 Raleigh Cadent 3.0, 1977 Schwinn Volare, 2010 Windsor tourist. ( I didn't fall , I attacked the floor)
06-17-08 | 07:12 PM
#11
feros ferio
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 22,417
Likes: 1,880
From: www.ci.encinitas.ca.us
Bikes: 1959 Capo Modell Campagnolo; 1960 Capo Sieger (2); 1962 Carlton Franco Suisse; 1970 Peugeot UO-8; 1982 Bianchi Campione d'Italia; 1988 Schwinn Project KOM-10;
You guys have seen my UO-8, a superb commuter with barcons, Brooks saddle, half-step 12-speed gearing, and 27 x 1-1/4" tires.
__________________
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
06-17-08 | 07:30 PM
#12
Velocommuter Commando
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,683
Likes: 38
From: Houston, Texas
Bikes: '88 Specialized Sirrus, '89 Alpine Monitor Pass, two '70 Raligh Twenties, '07 Schwinn Town & Country Trike, '07 Specialized Sirrus Hybrid
Well, she might not be a drop bar touring bike, but my '89 Alpine Monitor Pass has done yeoman duty as a heavy load commuter bike.
06-17-08 | 07:35 PM
#13
1980 silk hope w/ campy super record and carradice barley bag -
__________________
1989 Schwinn Paramount OS
1980 Mclean/Silk Hope Sport Touring
1983 Bianchi pista
1976 Fuji Feather track
1979 raleigh track
"I've consulted my sources and I'm pretty sure your derailleur does not exist"
1989 Schwinn Paramount OS
1980 Mclean/Silk Hope Sport Touring
1983 Bianchi pista
1976 Fuji Feather track
1979 raleigh track
"I've consulted my sources and I'm pretty sure your derailleur does not exist"
06-17-08 | 08:16 PM
#14
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 238
Likes: 6
From: Philadelphia's western 'burbs
Bikes: '89 Bridgestone MB-3, '91 Bridgestone CB-0, '92 Bridgestone RB-2, '94 Bridgestone MB-2, '96 Trek 8000, '05 Jamis Dakar XC Expert
Here's my commuter, a '91 Bridgestone CB-Zip. I bought this at a bike shop on M Street in Georgetown when I lived in D.C. many moons ago. It's never let me down...
06-17-08 | 09:14 PM
#15
stringbreaker
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 4,463
Likes: 2
From: wa. State
Bikes: specialized crossroads hybrid 2006 Raleigh Cadent 2 1971 Schwinn Varsity, 1972 Schwinn Continental, 1977 Schwinn Volare (frame)
I'd say there a lot of very nice vintage commuters out there. Maybe there should be a sub heading on the forum.
__________________
(Life is too short to play crappy guitars) 2006 Raleigh Cadent 3.0, 1977 Schwinn Volare, 2010 Windsor tourist. ( I didn't fall , I attacked the floor)
(Life is too short to play crappy guitars) 2006 Raleigh Cadent 3.0, 1977 Schwinn Volare, 2010 Windsor tourist. ( I didn't fall , I attacked the floor)
06-17-08 | 11:30 PM
#17
Bottecchia fan
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,520
Likes: 12
From: Colorado Springs, CO
Bikes: 1959 Bottecchia Milano-Sanremo (frame), 1966 Bottecchia Professional (frame), 1971 Bottecchia Professional (frame), 1973 Bottecchia Gran Turismo, 1974 Bottecchia Special, 1977 Bottecchia Special (frame), 1974 Peugeot UO-8
1988 Panasonic PT-3500. Not the best pic but it gets me to work every day.
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1959 Bottecchia Milano-Sanremo(frame), 1966 Bottecchia Professional (frame), 1971 Bottecchia Professional (frame),
1973 Bottecchia Gran Turismo, 1974 Bottecchia Special, 1977 Bottecchia Special (frame),
1974 Peugeot UO-8, 1988 Panasonic PT-3500, 2002 Bianchi Veloce, 2004 Bianchi Pista
1959 Bottecchia Milano-Sanremo(frame), 1966 Bottecchia Professional (frame), 1971 Bottecchia Professional (frame),
1973 Bottecchia Gran Turismo, 1974 Bottecchia Special, 1977 Bottecchia Special (frame),
1974 Peugeot UO-8, 1988 Panasonic PT-3500, 2002 Bianchi Veloce, 2004 Bianchi Pista
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06-18-08 | 08:20 AM
#19
the most recent incarnation of my 73 Raleigh Commuter/Beater:
