http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...y/P1010113.jpgMy new Raleigh Sojourn, ready for the 5 mile commute to school everyday. The bike's a little on the heavy side, but when I'm on flatland or a hill, this thing flies.

Rules for ordering a Brodie:
1) Find a dealership.
2) Be patient.
3) Realize that their sizing chart is about 1 size off (order a size smaller, IMO)
4) Be patient.
5) Love your LBS for being patient with you and helping you get an awesome bike.

So this has been a long time coming, but I figured I’d post a few pics and the build sheet as this is to be my main commuter. The commute is 6.5 miles, 99% on road, 5 days a week. I wanted to build something that could be robust all season, take panniers and fenders, and be pretty fast for the occasional group ride/sprint tri/overnight tour. And if the local cyclocross circuit would let an amateur run a commuter with disc brakes, then that too. Pretty wide range of tasks, but I think it’s a nice compromise all together.

The 2007 Romax frame got the call because of the sloping top tube, disc tabs, rack mounts, cyclocross geometry, all at the right price. The Spinergy wheels were an ebay find prior to settling on a frame, and I haven’t seen anything like them anywhere (700c 32h disc wheels below 1700g). Avid BB7’s, FSA crankset, Xpedo pedals, allen skewers and the Selle Italia were the logical choices. For my commute that is mostly all pavement, I could have gone with a true touring/road tire, but I wanted to keep it a little ‘cross, hence the Vittorias. I’ll probably end up on some Schwalbe touring tire in a few months, but these are fun for now. Great in grass/hard pack dirt. The SRAM Rival group was probably a deviation from common logic (and my LBS’s love for Shimano), but the solid feel of the brake levers, aero cabling look, weight, and wanting to be different made that selection. The Salsa bars are HUGE, but I’m loving the many hand positions they offer. The LBS owner commented that they’re nearly MTB bar width if you grab them like they’re bar ends, offering some really useful leverage.

He is a smidge over 21# in current form, and the racks and fenders are going on in a few days. The LBS has dubbed him “Cry Baby”, because that’s what they called me when I whined about my bike not being here for 3 months. I think it suits the blue well. I ordered a 56cm, which should be way too small by their sizing chart as I’m 6’1”, with a 33” inseam, but the standover is perfect. I went with a 130mm stem to get me a little over the bars, but that might be overkill, so we’ll see if I need to go back to the 100mm after riding it a bit fully loaded.

Build sheet:

SRAM Rival Shifters
SRAM Rival rear derailleur
SRAM Force front derailleur
SRAM PC1070 10sp chain
SRAM OG1070 cassette
Avid BB7 Road Front Brake
Avid BB7 Road Rear Brake
Thomson Elite Stem
Ritchey comp seatpost
Selle Italia Gel Flow Black
seatpost clamp
FSA Gossamer Compact
xpedo SS pedals
Vittoria EVO Cross XN
tubes
Skewers (allen)
Headset
bar tape
Spinergy Xyclone wheelset
Salsa Moto Ace Bell Lap Handlebar
2007 Brodie Romax Frame & Fork


I’ll post some pics of it loaded up with the fenders and panniers later this week, but for now, here’s what I got:

http://www.davidandjemma.com/images/...l/IMG_9025.jpg
http://www.davidandjemma.com/images/...l/IMG_9039.jpg
http://www.davidandjemma.com/images/...l/IMG_9041.jpg
http://www.davidandjemma.com/images/...l/IMG_9049.jpg
http://www.davidandjemma.com/images/...l/IMG_9052.jpg
http://www.davidandjemma.com/images/...l/IMG_9059.jpg
http://www.davidandjemma.com/images/...l/IMG_9084.jpg

For more pics (including ones of me being a dumbass and crashing it), click here.

Comments, suggestions, and general heckling is always welcome :)

My Rob Roy (Bluebelle I think I'll call it :)) is complete (initial build anyway, pedals and chain to be swapped and fenders added when rain comes)

(pic below)

I'll try to get a nice daylight picture today/soon.

wow pinkpowa, that bike looks amazing. Awesome!

Gorgeous.

Nitpick: Where's your helmet?

Wow that brodie is the coolest! I like those SRAM shifters a lot too, I wonder why Campy and Shimano don't run the shift cables under the tape as well? (Or do they?)

My Miyata TripleCross:

- Standard Shimano Exage 300 Components
- Cannondale Computer
- Cannondale front and rear lights (front not mounted in this picture I believe, but the mount is there)
- Fizik seat
- New tires (forgot the brand at the moment.. nothing special)
- Side Mirror
- Rear Rack with bags
- Frame bag
- Lock "rack" :: don't know the exact term for it

Pretty basic bike, Im not one of those Uber-customizers. I just bought enough to get a great set up to get my anywhere across town, as I am trying to commute more with other means than my car. Gas prices are too high, and hey why not help out the environment while Im at it.

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e9...9/IMG_2177.jpg

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e9...9/IMG_2174.jpg

@pinkpowa

I'm sure the whole bike is worthy of praise but one thing stands out for me. I love those yellow spokes. Beautiful.

I too love that Brodie! Too bad that build is way out of my pricerange :(

As for the shifters, Campy runs the shift cables under the tape, but Shimano does not. I don't know why, though. I definitely prefer the Campy/SRAM look more.

Campy also runs their shift cables like that, but Shimano doesn't (although it's been said that the next Dura Ace will).

Anyway, yeah, that's a tasty bike. Not sure if I've seen yellow spokes before, but they look good on that frame.

Updated pic of my IRO all-purpose bike (minus fenders atm)

http://photos-f.ak.facebook.com/phot...95533_6380.jpg

Smooth Ride
 

Coffee Mug Holder - Why didn't I think of that. Instead I get my daily starbucks and try and drink while riding, the end result, well it spill onto the shifters and becomes something to clean that night.

My new commuter, a 2008 Brodie Infinity. Had to wait nearly 2 months to get it, but it's been worth it so far.

http://www.zenhiking.com/posts/brodie2.jpg

thanks!

The helmet was inside. I figured if I was just riding up and down my block (dead end road), I'd be ok. Luckily I was, but probably dumb to ride without it. I'll have to post pics of me and the bike in full commuter gear next week when I put the rack and fenders on it, as well as me with my 3W CREE headlight on my helmet :) Fully geeked out!

Thanks for the props! I'm loving it too!

I absolutely love the new Tiagra crankset. Goregous! How are you liking those discs?

You can run Shimano shifters under the tape if you use Nokon or some other super stiff housing. It comes out the side of the shifter and then you can route it back 180 deg under the cabling. Not the ideal solution like SRAM, but it's a solution if you've already got Shimano. Campy is more like SRAM, but I don't like the thumb levers, so that ruled them out. The SRAM shifts really nice, and was easier to setup than an Ultegra 10spd, IMO. Lighter and cheaper than Ultegra too...

Thanks for the comments on the Brodie!

My Mule
 

I added a box to the back because it is easier just to throw my back pack in and ride than mess with panniers. The back pack was needed because I had to secure my bike a few blocks from where I worked, and it was easier to carry my clothes that way. Then I added huge reflectors to the back of the box because my morning commute was before sun rise.

Fair weather commuter:
http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/5152/image14mx7.jpg

I have an exactly similar setup !! I have stuck a milk-crate behind and a reflector from home depot and cateye 1000 blinkie !!

Great setup. Very handy :D

Wow! Simple yet goregous! How's the ride on ti/carbon with cx geometry?

keeping it simple and functional good news all around :)

Both you guys should look into the nashbar grocery bag pannier or the transit/performance one. I had your set up and switched and have never looked back. I just throw my work bag in the grocery bag pannier and take off. The lower center of gravity makes your bike handle better and topple less often when leaving it unattended. Just a tip.;)

The Nashbar townie is always on sale for $10.

thx pinkpowa. Very comfortable. As good or better than the all steel one it replaced. Very relaxed stance as you can see. Theft is a concern but security seems good.