My first commute!
 

I've been wanting to start riding to work, and I finally (1) found a bike I love and (2) got off my ass and did it! Only about a 5 mile ride. I took it pretty easy and got to work in 30 minutes.

Here's what I rode in on. It's old (sorry, "Classic & Vintage"), but it's light, and a smooth ride.

https://i.imgur.com/SeZDZFA.jpg?1

Excellent job! Getting started is half the battle. Keeping it up is the other half. Now pull off those crazy huge reflectors, get some good lights, fenders, maybe a rack and panniers and enjoy commuting! I'd personally want to do something about the weird cable routing out of those brake hoods, but I know that's how they were "back in the day". Not sure there's any easy way to change it, without changing a ton of stuff.

*edit* [MENTION=334484]deadllama[/MENTION] well hello there fellow Memphian! I'm not in Memphis proper but still in and around the area all the time. I rode some of the Wolf River Trails for the first time on Tuesday morning. What areas do you ride through to get to work?

Welcome to the club. Don't forget the secret wave

:)

Yeah, this one was almost all original when it came to me. The reflectors are HUGE. Lights/fenders are on the purchase list next but for now I’m going to keep it to dry/daylight only. It does seem like a lot of housing between the hoods and the first clip on the top tube (this frame doesn’t have any braze-ons at all, everything is clamped) but that’s how it came to me. The brakes are the orignal (early) Shimano 600 like the rest of the group and I’m really not crazy about them. Will probably try to find some that are close to period-correct but work better.

Nah, and this bike is old enough I want to keep it “vintage” looking.

Midtown to South Main. I’m actually a little north of Midtown so I take North Parkway to Main and go all the way through Downtown. Scenic!

Good job. Really nice bike. Don't change anything on it that you don't need to.

well done! leather saddle too! commuting in daylight? good luck with that! tick tock, tick tock :innocent:

I used to live in Crosstown off of N. Parkway and ride to UTHSC, N. Parkway is a nice ride.

It wouldn't be that hard or expensive to replace the levers, but you would have to replace the cable housing and re-tape the bars too. It would probably be an hour or so of work. But I agree that it is a cool bike. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Love the brown and drillium trp levers - mine are black and grey. Work great. Current build I only did one cross lever for the rear, but that's right up my alley.

Awesome! Yeah, the weather was so beautiful this morning that Parkway seemed even more scenic.

I know. It works for now, but not for much longer. Fortunately I have really flexible hours... I work a lot of nights so often it’s no big deal to leave at 4 when there’s still plenty of sun. (Again, for now. Lights are definitely one of the first things I’ll purchase once I get the drivetrain a little more sorted.)

PS I was saving that Brooks saddle for the right bike and this definitely seems like the right bike.

Definitely the right bike. What's up drivetrain? You mention brakes, where there are a ciuple steps:
1. Get aluminum rims if you have chrome. (I can't tell from the picture )
2. You could try looks too pads ( salmon colour)
3. Dual pivot, long reach (I assume) brakes. Something like the tektro 559 in silver looks not too out of place. 539 in don't need more than 57mm drop. If you are on 27" wheels, good time to switch to 700c if you are thinking about it is while changing brakes, or at least for your brakes for both.

I like that 600 group. I run shimano 105 (1056) downtube shifting - slightly newer than my frame, but only a couple years.

Nice, have you seen what they've done with the Sears Crosstown building? I checked it out for the first time last weekend and it's awesome!!

@deadllama have you ever been to Revolutions Community Bike Shop co-op in the basement of First Congregational Church at Cooper/Young? If not you should check it out. You can join for a small fee and use their full range of Park shop tools during their open shop hours. And they have a MASSIVE assortment of used parts, many of which would be perfect for a C&V bike like that, if you need them.

I have not, but I've been thinking about it. Sounds like I should check it out!

go,Go,GO!

awesome bike and welcome to the fold man!

Cycling is a great feeling! Hope you'll have many more rides. Great bike