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New year - new commuter

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Old 01-02-18 | 09:01 AM
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New year - new commuter

Just wanted to share my new commuter. Most of the parts are reused from a previous bike but the frame is new. Surly is discontinuing this Disc Trucker color for 2018, so I grabbed one on sale.

Is is equipped with disc brakes and dynamo lightning. Gearing is a Shimergo setup.

Things to do:
  • Shorten steerer
  • Come up with idea for nice dynamo wire routing on fork leg
  • Change saddle to something comfier
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Old 01-02-18 | 09:38 AM
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Originally Posted by Boye
Just wanted to share my new commuter. Most of the parts are reused from a previous bike but the frame is new. Surly is discontinuing this Disc Trucker color for 2018, so I grabbed one on sale.

Is is equipped with disc brakes and dynamo lightning. Gearing is a Shimergo setup.

Things to do:
  • Shorten steerer
  • Come up with idea for nice dynamo wire routing on fork leg
  • Change saddle to something comfier
Looks nice. That’s the color i would have got.

Whats the deal with the things on the seat stays? Mini mortar launchers?
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Old 01-02-18 | 09:52 AM
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Originally Posted by Abe_Froman
Looks nice. That’s the color i would have got.

Whats the deal with the things on the seat stays? Mini mortar launchers?
Yes, the Bituminous Gray and Hi-Viz Black look boring compared to this one, IMO.

The thing mounted on the seat stays is a frame lock - easy to use and makes sure that theft is covered by insurance (here in Denmark you need an insurance company approved lock for that).
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Old 01-02-18 | 09:58 AM
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Bikes: Marin Four Corners, 1960's Schwinn Racer in middle of restoration, mid 70s Motobecane Grand Touring, various other heaps.

Originally Posted by Boye
Yes, the Bituminous Gray and Hi-Viz Black look boring compared to this one, IMO.

The thing mounted on the seat stays is a frame lock - easy to use and makes sure that theft is covered by insurance (here in Denmark you need an insurance company approved lock for that).
Ahh gotcha...the dealie shoots through the wheel.

I nearly got a Surly back in 2011 when my previous commuter was stolen. Ended up with a Marin 4 Corners on clearance which is basically the same thing...long chainstay steel tourer. It has disc brake mounts...have never bothered upgrading though.
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Old 01-02-18 | 10:08 AM
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Originally Posted by Abe_Froman
Ahh gotcha...the dealie shoots through the wheel.
Exactly!
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Old 01-02-18 | 10:25 AM
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really nice! jealous!

you wanna knock off that stem extension in case it's an impalement risk?
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Old 01-02-18 | 01:18 PM
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Originally Posted by rumrunn6
really nice! jealous!

you wanna knock off that stem extension in case it's an impalement risk?
Thanks. I'm going to cut down that steerer as soon as I have ridden it a couple of times to find the right handlebar height.
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Old 01-02-18 | 01:23 PM
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Greetings fellow Shimergoer. What’s the FD?
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Old 01-02-18 | 02:37 PM
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Originally Posted by Darth Lefty
Greetings fellow Shimergoer. What’s the FD?
Greetings! It is an XT FD-M773-3.

I had to hunt down a 28.6mm adapter for it today - the bike shop owners I visited couldn't remember when they last needed such an old thing, but eventually we found one that had come with an Altus FD.
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Old 01-02-18 | 04:00 PM
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Originally Posted by Boye
Things to do:Come up with idea for nice dynamo wire routing on fork leg
I would take advantage of those threaded mounting bosses on the fork. I'd get some small washers and wrap the wire around them to string a fairly straight and taut wire from one to the other, or even just use the washer (perhaps in conjunction with a soft rubber grommet, or just a grommet) to gently hold the wire against the fork, being careful not to crush the wire. If you were to find some blue-insulated wire that may even look less obtrusive. Or if you found replacement bolts with slightly larger heads, you may not need the washers. Or of you just used some sort of looped hanger that could be secured with the bolts.
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Old 01-02-18 | 05:52 PM
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Originally Posted by Boye
Greetings! It is an XT FD-M773-3.

I had to hunt down a 28.6mm adapter for it today - the bike shop owners I visited couldn't remember when they last needed such an old thing, but eventually we found one that had come with an Altus FD.
I’ve found using a MTB FD that the inner-middle shift works great because it relies on the stop screw but the pull isn’t quite enough for middle-outer. It hasn’t been much of an issue since I don’t use the outer much, but I have a big road crankset and not a medium trekking crankset.
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Old 01-03-18 | 01:45 AM
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Originally Posted by BobbyG
I would take advantage of those threaded mounting bosses on the fork. I'd get some small washers and wrap the wire around them to string a fairly straight and taut wire from one to the other, or even just use the washer (perhaps in conjunction with a soft rubber grommet, or just a grommet) to gently hold the wire against the fork, being careful not to crush the wire. If you were to find some blue-insulated wire that may even look less obtrusive. Or if you found replacement bolts with slightly larger heads, you may not need the washers. Or of you just used some sort of looped hanger that could be secured with the bolts.
Thanks for the ideas. Using to threaded mounting boss on the inside of the fork might turn out good!

The current wire is integrated into the light (no connectors at that end) so I prefer not to introduce an extra connection. Otherwise blue wire could be nice, if I could find it. Maybe I'll wrap it in blue electrical tape
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Old 01-03-18 | 01:49 AM
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Originally Posted by Darth Lefty
I’ve found using a MTB FD that the inner-middle shift works great because it relies on the stop screw but the pull isn’t quite enough for middle-outer. It hasn’t been much of an issue since I don’t use the outer much, but I have a big road crankset and not a medium trekking crankset.
Maybe is it because of the crankset, I don't know. But I have no issues. My FD and crankset are made for each other and I can run small-big and big-small without any rubbing. I haven't modified the shift ratio in any way. The shifter is a 2009 PowerShift mechanism.
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Old 01-03-18 | 07:41 AM
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Originally Posted by Boye
Thanks for the ideas. Using to threaded mounting boss on the inside of the fork might turn out good!

The current wire is integrated into the light (no connectors at that end) so I prefer not to introduce an extra connection. Otherwise blue wire could be nice, if I could find it. Maybe I'll wrap it in blue electrical tape
Electrical tape won't hold well in the wet and cold and end up a gooey mess (trust me, I know).
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Old 01-03-18 | 08:32 AM
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Fantastic setup. Wishing you many happy miles!
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Old 01-04-18 | 01:33 AM
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Originally Posted by bmthom.gis
Fantastic setup. Wishing you many happy miles!
Thank you!
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