Hey, I could be wrong, but i think the brake cable should engage the brake swing-arm's bolt in a clockwise manor (referencing your second picture), so as you tighten that bolt, it strengthens the grip on the cable, just hate to see people with bikes were they have loose brakes that constantly have "stretchy cables" even though they just need to wire them up a bit more solid.

...... whose that to?

Maybe this post?

https://www.bikeforums.net/showpost.p...postcount=2866

What you write makes sense (I think he's referring to the pic on the previous page of my Xtracycle's Paul cantilever front brakes). I just took a close look at it, and it appears that I have it set up the way "Paul" intended. There is a little "valley" in the cable clamp that accomodates the cable on the side I'm using. If I just stare at it a little longer . . .

Finally got round to taking a picture of my Dawes with all the commuting stuff on.

Finally got a chance to upload pictures ! Please dont laugh for the funny setup !!

Why would we laugh? If it works for you then more power to you!

Truly Amazing Setup you have there, and after reading the site seems it could be done with anything hmm possibilities.

Wow, I dig it! Kudos for doing something unique, I really like it! How's the Bontrager leather tape?

Thanks ! Glad you like it. Love the brown and white combination ! The milk crate solution has been working pretty awsome for me so far !

Finally got off my lazy butt and started commuting to work. My rides pretty quick, about 15 minutes depending on how lazy I am. It does have a couple good hills though.

Here's my converted road bike. I put an eco-rack on it and my sunlite traveler panniers. I have been having issues with keeping the panniers out of the back wheel. I think I solved it with cardboard in the bottom, but we'll see. Supposedly the eco-rack acts as a sudo fender, so I hope I don't need a rear fender. I got a grunge board for the front in the event I have bad weather. Haven't fitted it though. I also added the adjustable water bottle cage to hold my coffee mug.

I want to go to clipless pedals eventually, or at least power grips. I have to figure out how to do that with combat boots though, since I'm in uniform (army) more often then not.

I have the same panniers and the same problem. Let us know what helps and I'll do the same, if I ever get around to messing with them. At this point I"m thinking of just selling them and getting something different.

Not my commuter, but I thought I'd post my fun bike - a modified Jamis Nova.



I modified it with 45mm fenders, 44/32/22 crankset, and SRAM Xgen front derailleur. Got nice LOW gears now! I'll eventually get a steel front fork with disk brake. I have some 35mm tires for off-roading. https://www.pbase.com/image/96715790/original

I just picked up my first bike today. I found it on Craigslist. The guy I got it from had a whole garage full of bikes: road bikes, mountain bikes, touring bikes, bmx bikes, cruisers, etc. And they were all name brand bikes.
I traded him my old snowboard for it. I haven't done anything to it yet. I'm going to buy the Zinn book and kinda look over the whole thing before I go on my 13 mile round trip commute. I think I'll take it for a short ride this evening just to get a feel for it.
I have a few things to buy before I commute anyways:

panniers or trunk bag
rack
Light (commuting in the morning before sun-up)
Helmet
flat tire kit
the essentials.

But I'm totally excited! It may not be as pretty as a lot of the bikes here, but it's functional and it's mine. For a starter bike I'm happy with it. I have been scouring CL for a couple of weeks now and haven't found a bike. I was getting desperate...so much that I was looking at a Schwinn bike at Wal-Mart, in spite of everything I've read here.

That'll make a nice tough commutermobile. Dump that chunky saddle, though.

talleymonster: Was that the guy on Nellis? And have you been the one posting the snowboard ad? Haha, that's so funny. I was not only debating emailing that guy, but also wishing I had my old commuter to trade you!

Yes, I'm the snowboard guy. I've been spamming that ad for about two weeks now!
No, he wasn't the guy on Nellis. I tried to call that guy a couple of times, but he never returned my calls.

Here's a couple of shots of my ride on the university of Oklahoma campus this evening. It was a gorgeous night...

That bike looks ready for the commute, just loose the gelpad on the saddle, they are evil. You don't really want the saddle that soft and the pad will move around and chafe.
That's not a big bike though, does it fit you well? No idea how tall you are naturally.
edit: This is in response to talleymonster's post.

I found an old 1980 Nishiki road bike at the side of my inlaws' garage starting to rust and generally falling apart, so I decided to turn it into my commuter bike. I've done plenty to it over the past year such as having it powder coated red, because red bikes are faster. I bought the bar end converters to move the stem clamp-on shifters to the bar-ends. I also rebult the wheels to be 622mm rims which are smaller than the old steel couldn't-stop-in-wet-weather 630mm rims, which let me put on fatter tires.

My commute is 17 km each way mostly on MUP by the river, but I've found a dirt and rock shortcut up the hill that makes use of the 38 mm tires.





MKS touring pedals
Cheap Nashbar mustache bars
Brooks B-17 saddle
SKS Fenders

I plan on adding some B&M bottle dynamo lights in the next few months

I used to ride with a backpack until I realized that the weight was just being transfered down my back and ultimately to the saddle. You really are getting hit twice for it. If your carrying a heavy enough load why not let the bicycle hadle it? Thats what its built for after all, and it wont complain. I still use a backpack on occasions where Im not carrying much/ short trips.

keep the good pictures flowing and glad to hear about the new commuter that is good news.

You are my kinda guy. I love your bike, and I admire what you have done with it.

I am a fan of tall wheels and fat tires. Good on ya taking advantage of a 27" wheel frame to get both.

Here's a few of my ride, along with what's keeping me off the bike for the time being.










Ride on!

Sheik:

May the Cycling Gods smile upon you for taking a neglected bike and resurrecting it into a truly utilitarian beauty. Kudos.