I bought a 62cm '09 Aurora Elite in June for a comfy, longer-distance weekender. I'm a 15-16mph rider, not a lot of interest for hard Cannondales here. Plus I like its traditional lines. This would be a great commuter if you can store it out of the rain & prying eyes. My commuter parking is outside, I ride an '86 Bridgestone 500 for that.

I've since removed one stem spacer, the Acorn saddlebag is in, and the honey B-17 & silver SKS P45s will be in this week. :love:

http://trancelab.com/bike/IMG_0978web.jpg

My first Jamis was a leftover '07 Quest. Brilliant ride, price, and spec, but I took a chance and bought it too small. :(

WOAH! Big Fella coming through! They should make 900 wheel size bikes for you guys. ;) Black is the new black. :thumb:

This is what i'm currently commuting on. Pretty barebones at the moment but is a nice ride, needs some slicks and mudguards (fenders).

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3503/...a5a70c6c_b.jpg

some other angles.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jaredce/3811449885/

and

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jaredce/3812270792/

heres mine:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2464/...24ac62dc_o.jpg

Prepare for awesome. This is my bike. The frame is too small, but it fits great stretched all the way up like that. It used to be a Novara Ariba mountain bike, but that way many moons ago. Behold:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2637/...a53f0f_b_d.jpg

Here is my PIMPED Commuter. Stock except the Rear Rack / Red tires / White Grips and some red paint.
http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/z...dTirePudle.jpg

It's been a while since I posted new pics of my main commuter, a 1994 Nishiki Sport XRS hybrid that I got as NOS just about a year ago. I changed out the seat, handlebars (for Origin8 Space Bars), added full fenders, a rack, panniers and, of course, lights.

The sun was setting as I took the pictures on my commute home tonight, and changing angles had a big effect on the hues in the pictures so they look kind of inconsistent from one to the next.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...1092001-00.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...1092001-02.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...1092001-04.jpg

................

I guess it's finally time for me to post my new commuter...

(also this is my first run posting pictures, so if this doesn't work, please blame the clogged tubes of the intarwebs)

So here is Darkness:

http://i634.photobucket.com/albums/u...9/IMG_0795.jpg
http://i634.photobucket.com/albums/u...9/IMG_0796.jpg
http://i634.photobucket.com/albums/u...9/IMG_0797.jpg

Since these pics, I've put a PB Blaze 1/2 Watt headlight and my PB Superflash on. Up next is a disc brake-compatible rear rack, so I can get my junk off my back and back into my panniers.

That's a serious commuter bike. Are you going to continue through the winter? If so, what tires do you think you'll use?

Thanks, Tom. I am planning to use this year-round. I did my first 2 rain commutes on it today and yesterday, and those disc brakes make so much difference.

This is my first year really commuting, so please advise me if I'm making any mistakes. I hadn't planned on running different tires in the winter. Here in NC, we only get maybe a couple weeks of snow/ice/sleet in the winter. Most of the time it's just cold, so I'm not sure I see a need for a whole 'nother set of tires just for that.

In that case, those tires should be fine. Have you seen what people in the north run? Some run tires with metal studs for snow and ice. They often get snow that doesn't melt for months.

I have seen those tires... pretty wild looking.

That does bring to mind a question though- Will I be carbound on the few days it does snow here, or can I get away with riding (very carefully) in the snow on those tires?

FYI, Vittoria Randonneur Cross 26"x1.75"

I don't know. It depends on what things are like there and how daring and tough you are. I tend not to ride when there's snow or ice on the ground, which some winters means very few days. Here in New Jersey, we get some real winters with real snow falls, but we also get some winters with scarcely anything. It varies a lot from year to year.

Now that I'm active on bikeforums and I see how people in Minnesota and Alberta manage, I might try riding in the snow and ice.

Well, I'm sure I'll give it a try as long as my wife doesn't find out first. It sounds like an adventure.

Also, if sometime in January I stop posting on here due to two broken arms, you'll all know why.

DJFlowe:
I like your Novara Buzz!!!! Love the fenders and black theme. Looks like a near perfect commuter!

Sometimes the commute takes me places where there are no roads... am thinking that on Saturday I will ride down to the shop via some single track in the valley aka "the best commute ever".

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikep...izzardnew2.jpg

Just built it up last weekend.
LHT, Tiagra groupo, OpenPros, and bunch of Nitto/VO parts.
http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/9117/lhtt.jpg

Thanks, Timber 8. Funnily enough, I just ordered that exact rack from Nashbar yesterday. I've already got a set of panniers, but I may look into a trunk bag if I need more space.

Nice job installing the fenders. They look perfect. One thing that you might want to do is knock the ends of the stays off so they don't stick past the fender and then put the rubber tips back on. I use a Dremel tool with a cutoff wheel. Adds a nice finishing touch.

Nice bike, BTW. Looks very serious and purpose built. Should provide you with many years of commuting duty.

Thanks, XB. I had to mock up some spacers to get them mounted around the disc brakes.

I had wanted to cut them, but wasn't sure how... I don't have a dremel. I guess a hacksaw and a file would work ok though. Does anyone have any neat suggestions?

Did you get the Super tourist? The Explorer wont work with the Topeak trunk bag and any quick release panniers at the same time. The Super tourist will.
Sharp bike. :thumb:

I've been commuting for the last 3 weeks on this craigslist find: It's a 1979-81 Fuji Royalle. It was in almost new condition when I picked it up...just a few scratches on the frame.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...t/P1010044.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...t/P1010046.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...t/P1010047.jpg

Damn! :love:

Lucky Dog!:thumb:

My beater bike
 

I wanted to build a beater bike for the upcoming school year. I found this Raleigh MTB on Kijiji (a group of free, local, community classifieds websites in Canada) for 40 bucks. I added riser bars, a comfortable seat, and a rack that I scored from my LBS for 5 bucks (it bolts right up to the original frame holes!) I also added some tires I had kicking around and since the pics some reflectors, lights, and a bell. Next some fenders and a pannier. Total investment: about half of what I plan to pay for the pannier that I want.

Bad weather commuter/tourer, 2x8 IGH setup

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3526/...48f7e2b7_b.jpg