Commuter Bicycle Pics
#3776
Buh'wah?!

Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,086
Likes: 2
From: Charlottesville VA
Bikes: 2014 Giant Trance
Either way...
That's a nice looking bike. And is it JUST your winter commuter? Or is it your year-round commuter?
-Gene-
#3777
Junior Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
Just so long as it's not out past the mininmum insertion point/line, it's fine. That's the problem with sloping top tubes is that the seatpost always sticks out so god-awful far. But, a lot of people like them, me, I prefer horizontal top tubes.
Either way...
That's a nice looking bike. And is it JUST your winter commuter? Or is it your year-round commuter?
-Gene-
Either way...
That's a nice looking bike. And is it JUST your winter commuter? Or is it your year-round commuter?
-Gene-
I have a road bike for when the weather is nice to me.
#3780
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 463
Likes: 2
From: Woodstock, GA
Bikes: 2006 Specialized Langster Comp, 2005 Schwinn DBX Super Sport, 2004 Trek 5900 Superlight
Yeah, I think the gadgets are worth more than the bike
Seriously, the GPS has been really fun for taking detours, running errands, and finding new routes home. It's also displays a scad of trip info on one backlit display including: compass direction, current and max velocity, moving and overall averages, distance, distance to destination, as well as stopped and moving time, which frees up the Polar for things like elevation and Calories. It can also give voice prompts and adjusts backlighting at sunrise and sunset. It's more useful than I thought it would be, but it's a poor man's Garmin 705.
Seriously, the GPS has been really fun for taking detours, running errands, and finding new routes home. It's also displays a scad of trip info on one backlit display including: compass direction, current and max velocity, moving and overall averages, distance, distance to destination, as well as stopped and moving time, which frees up the Polar for things like elevation and Calories. It can also give voice prompts and adjusts backlighting at sunrise and sunset. It's more useful than I thought it would be, but it's a poor man's Garmin 705.
#3782
beatz down lo|seatz up hi
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,062
Likes: 0
From: Missouri, USA
Bikes: A 2007 Trek 4300. 22.5", 1981 Trek 610 24" (61cm)
#3783
Pedal faster not harder.
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 576
Likes: 0
From: Thunder Bay
Bikes: Ummmm...Cannondale F4000..Ummmmm...Yeti ARC-X Cyclocross..Ummmm...Rocky Mountain Vertex TO with a BionX PL350 Electric Conversion...Ummmmm..Rocky Mountain Cardiac..Ummmm..thats it for now I think. I'd have to go look in the basement to be sure.
Here is mine.
I think it's about a 2000ish Rocky Mountain Vertex TO, don't quite remember. Scandium Frame, 9speed XTR with assorted RaceFace Goodies. The original Bomber fork blew up and I decided to turn it into a commuter bike. I installed a DMR Trailblade 4130 fork to replace the bomber. It is a fast nimble machine. As technology marched forwards and newer bikes got my attention I forgot about my 20 pound commuter rocket.
One day while visiting a LBS I noticed a few bikes with the BionX systems on them. I had been looking at gas powered scooters for awhile with gas in my town hitting over $1.50 a litre this summer. I took one for a boot and had a hoot. I bought a system that same day and knew I had the perfect bike to mount it on.




It has a BionX PL350 electric conversion kit on it. I have disabled the speed limiter, which in my province means the motor would normally stop assisting at 32kph. It allows me to ride at a sweet spot of 36-38kph pedalling at a heartrate of 130-140bpm on the flats. My commute to work is only 10.3km from my house, but with the electric assist I get to work about 5mins faster then without at the same effort.
Don't be jealous, drooling allowed and encouraged. Oh yeah...it's no where near 20pounds anymore......lol...try double that.
Yours in cycling,
LesMcLuffAlot
One day while visiting a LBS I noticed a few bikes with the BionX systems on them. I had been looking at gas powered scooters for awhile with gas in my town hitting over $1.50 a litre this summer. I took one for a boot and had a hoot. I bought a system that same day and knew I had the perfect bike to mount it on.




It has a BionX PL350 electric conversion kit on it. I have disabled the speed limiter, which in my province means the motor would normally stop assisting at 32kph. It allows me to ride at a sweet spot of 36-38kph pedalling at a heartrate of 130-140bpm on the flats. My commute to work is only 10.3km from my house, but with the electric assist I get to work about 5mins faster then without at the same effort.
Don't be jealous, drooling allowed and encouraged. Oh yeah...it's no where near 20pounds anymore......lol...try double that.
Yours in cycling,
LesMcLuffAlot
Last edited by LesMcLuffAlot; 10-21-08 at 04:41 PM. Reason: adding more stuff
#3785
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,745
Likes: 0
From: Chicago, IL
Bikes: S-Works Roubaix SL2^H4, Secteur Sport, TriCross, Kaffenback, Lurcher 29er
#3786
Senior Moment
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 279
Likes: 4
From: Middle Maine
Bikes: 2014 Surly LHT, 2003 Giant NRS 3, 1991 Trek 7000, 2022 Surly Bridge Club, 1985 Miyata 210, 1999 Schwinn Moab 2
#3787
Get on your bikes & ride!
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,069
Likes: 1
From: Lextown
Bikes: See signature (it varys day to day)
#3788
Where did whooooo go

Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 455
Likes: 0
From: UTOPIA
Bikes: trek 7100, 70's schwinn free spirit.{building into the second commuter}
it appears to be a mod of the one that comes with the garmin. usually has a large suction cup on the end for sticking it to you windshield or whatever. ironically I use that same model ever day on our delivery/ pickup vehicles.
#3789
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 463
Likes: 2
From: Woodstock, GA
Bikes: 2006 Specialized Langster Comp, 2005 Schwinn DBX Super Sport, 2004 Trek 5900 Superlight
I have a mount for the road bike, as well, but it has the potential to interfere with your finger space and/or knee clearance when out of the saddle, so caveat emptor. The bar spacer is what makes it workable for me, in addition to getting the TriNewt farther out in front of the control cables.
#3790
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 463
Likes: 2
From: Woodstock, GA
Bikes: 2006 Specialized Langster Comp, 2005 Schwinn DBX Super Sport, 2004 Trek 5900 Superlight
Correct. I couldn't find a better spot for it. I'm not happy with the non-weather proof connector that has to be removed to charge the battery facing upwards, though. I noticed a small amount of corrosion from the contacts, but that's pretty good considering the amount of rain I rode through in the last couple weeks.
#3791
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 463
Likes: 2
From: Woodstock, GA
Bikes: 2006 Specialized Langster Comp, 2005 Schwinn DBX Super Sport, 2004 Trek 5900 Superlight
Ask your LBS about clearances on your road bike. Most road bikes these days only have clearance for 700x23 and a piece of gum, not fenders, so make sure you measure carefully before buying. Planet Bike makes an identical set for road bikes that are narrower. Since mine is a mutant road/touring/cyclocross mostrosity, I had room for bigger tires and fenders.
#3792
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 463
Likes: 2
From: Woodstock, GA
Bikes: 2006 Specialized Langster Comp, 2005 Schwinn DBX Super Sport, 2004 Trek 5900 Superlight
#3794
Rebel Thousandaire
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 733
Likes: 1
From: Hartford, CT
Bikes: Public D8, Yuba Mundo (cargo), Novara Buzz (1-speed, soon to be 2-speed w/ a kickback hub), Xootr 1-speed folder
Here is my new (to me) Mercier "Special Tour de France," the frame of which I inherited from a friend who was moving:

Getting the bike up and running without spending money has required some delightfully ghetto engineering solutions: I had some three-speed coaster brake wheels I wanted to use, but they have 26" rims (old Raleigh style), and I know that 26" rims on a bike made for larger wheels = pedal strike. So I took a flat steel rod ($6.99 at Home Depot) and cut two adapters that bolt into the rear dropouts and lower the axle about an inch:

Then I had to face the problem of the seatpost. When my friend gave me the bike, it had a very short seatpost with no diameter marking on it. Not wanting to spring for a new post (and also, feeling a little uncertain that I was measuring correctly), I just cut the old post into a long shim, then wedged a straight handlebar with a slight rise into the seat tube with the shim, cranked down the binder bolt really hard, and added a collar and quick release lever to squeeze the top part of the shim around the handlebar/post. If you look closely at the top picture of the bike, you can see that the post seems to lean forward - that is the slight rise of the handlebar. Here's a closeup of the two-clamp system:

So far, so good. I took it on a 40-mile ride on Sunday, and rode it three miles to work today. And most importantly, the bike looks smooth.

Getting the bike up and running without spending money has required some delightfully ghetto engineering solutions: I had some three-speed coaster brake wheels I wanted to use, but they have 26" rims (old Raleigh style), and I know that 26" rims on a bike made for larger wheels = pedal strike. So I took a flat steel rod ($6.99 at Home Depot) and cut two adapters that bolt into the rear dropouts and lower the axle about an inch:

Then I had to face the problem of the seatpost. When my friend gave me the bike, it had a very short seatpost with no diameter marking on it. Not wanting to spring for a new post (and also, feeling a little uncertain that I was measuring correctly), I just cut the old post into a long shim, then wedged a straight handlebar with a slight rise into the seat tube with the shim, cranked down the binder bolt really hard, and added a collar and quick release lever to squeeze the top part of the shim around the handlebar/post. If you look closely at the top picture of the bike, you can see that the post seems to lean forward - that is the slight rise of the handlebar. Here's a closeup of the two-clamp system:

So far, so good. I took it on a 40-mile ride on Sunday, and rode it three miles to work today. And most importantly, the bike looks smooth.
#3795
Fat Guy Rolling
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,434
Likes: 1
From: Louisville Kentucky
Bikes: Bacchetta Agio, 80s Raleigh Record single-speed, Surly Big Dummy
My recumbent commuter:

My hybrid, for short rides and partial commutes:

More here:
https://fatguy.org/my-bikes/

My hybrid, for short rides and partial commutes:

More here:
https://fatguy.org/my-bikes/
#3796
Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
From: oakland california
Bikes: giant fcr1
This is my new commuter. I'd been riding a 17" Trek (I'm 6'2") since my other Trek was stolen and my 15 mile avg. distance was killing my knees. Still very much a work in progress, a new seat is high on my list, also better tires.
https://img394.imageshack.us/img394/9413/giant001nc0.jpg
My milk crate carries the essentials plus lots of room for whatever else I need to transport.
https://img142.imageshack.us/img142/7117/giant002pu2.jpg
https://img394.imageshack.us/img394/9413/giant001nc0.jpg
My milk crate carries the essentials plus lots of room for whatever else I need to transport.
https://img142.imageshack.us/img142/7117/giant002pu2.jpg
#3797
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
I saw ELAD63's resurrection and I thought I'd give an update on mine. My 1220 has been out of the dark basement for 2 months now and has become the default mode of transportation. My goal of getting a cheap upright with road capability has been fully met. The 28s Michelins add comfort but are about as big as you can go with the brakes.
RC
RC
#3798
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,745
Likes: 0
From: Chicago, IL
Bikes: S-Works Roubaix SL2^H4, Secteur Sport, TriCross, Kaffenback, Lurcher 29er
Here's my commuter / main bike:
It's a 2008 Specialized TriCross Comp. I turn it into my commuter by putting the Topeak MTX beam rack on it; I've got the DX bag that slides into the beam rack.
Lights are Niterider Minewt X2 Duals in front and a Mars 3.0 in back clipped to the bag.
Tires are Specialized Borough CX Armadillo Elites.
It's a 2008 Specialized TriCross Comp. I turn it into my commuter by putting the Topeak MTX beam rack on it; I've got the DX bag that slides into the beam rack.
Lights are Niterider Minewt X2 Duals in front and a Mars 3.0 in back clipped to the bag.
Tires are Specialized Borough CX Armadillo Elites.
#3799
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 754
Likes: 0
From: Enola, PA
Bikes: Too many to count. Changes on a frequent basis.
love the flat bar on your 1220. I bought some fenders for my 1220 from LBS, front went on ok, but the rear didn't work due to the brake bridge being round. Have to come up with another way for a rear fender mount.
#3800
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Elad, Thanks for the comments on the flat bar set. I used a Zoom stem converter. I mention the Michelin 28 series tires because anything bigger would rub on the brake bridge. The do make the ride a little more plush without slowing it down too much.
RC
RC










