Finally found someone with a Milano. I'm considering one. How do you like it?

Thx

(Crossposted)

After two years of riding my 40 mile round trip commute on a fixed gear- carrying a backpack, I finally unconverted one of my fixed gears and made a commuter frankenbike. This will be my car when I relocate overseas.

Generic Nitto wannabe moustaches from Ben's Bike in Milwaukee, a Nitto stem, lugged steel mystery frameset, clamp-on Shimano 600 downtube friction shifters (only used for the rear), single 42 FSA chainring up front, square taper BB and crankset of unknown origin, Shimano 105 front brake, Tektro rear, front wheel is a Campy hub laced to an Ambrosio rim, rear is a 105 7-speed hub with a Wolber rim, Gary Fisher rack from a swap meet holding half of the Trans-It panniers, Selle Italia XO saddle, assorted lights, Topeak Road Morph pump, Crank Borthers Eggbeater pedals.

I'm having almost as much fun deconverting one of my fixers as I had converting it. Kinda wish I hadn't lopped off the derailleur hanger, though.

Classic. Love'em skinny tubes.

Can you make a hanger that attaches to the axel?

Hey nice bike. I'm looking at a new Volpe, but it doesn't come with eyelets on the back for both rack and fender. Does yours? If not, did you have any trouble installing both rack and fender?

thanks FraAngelico

Here is my current commuter: Approximately 1973 Nishiki road bike with kangaroo panniers, took off the toe clips cause they were more of a problem than a help in my commute. I got it a year ago after a friend died and I went to his estate auction, picking it up for only $8.00. I made the homemade fenders (old bike tire) I added plenty of reflective tape and a new cheapo reflective $10.00 Wal Mart tire. Gets me my 12.5 miles to work and in the evening it gets me back again. I went from a mountain bike several years ago to a hybrid 4 1/2 years ago to this road bike. The road bike is much faster. I avoid riding in rain or snow or when snow is still encroaching on the roads because of heavy traffic, but have been caught in rain/snow at times & it seems to work well, even in the winter down to zero or below.

My commuting speed machine (and comfy, too). Easy Racers Ti-Rush with many mods, including "in your face" daylight-visible lighting.

Bill.

What an incredibly cool machine! It looks like Bruce Wayne's bike.

I don't do much commuting anymore since I'm now self-employed and work at home, but I've been riding this bike EVERYWHERE as my main ride for six years now. Used it for messenger work in Chicago, L.A., and San Francisco. Seven speeds with flat pedals and a CETMArack. All I need. It is the perfect ride for me.

Here's Super Fred, my craptastic 80s-vintage all-rigid, steel GT Outpost mountain bike. I rescued him from the rafters of my parents' garage where he hung for many years after my sister abandoned him for a fancy Gary Fisher. I needed a dedicated child-trailer hauler and this fit the bill perfectly.

To make him rideable, all I had to do was replace the bottom bracket, replace the rotted tires, and lube and tighten. I added a few things: first the Chariot hitch since the main purpose was to pull the twins' trailer. Then the bar ends, but that wasn't enough so I threw on an old set of aerobars. It makes the handlebars look like a hat rack but they're a big help when pulling the kids into a headwind.

I started riding Super Fred to work, just for fun. I tend to race whenever I'm on my road bike and this was a nice alternative. I thought I'd make Super Fred my bad weather commuter, so I added the rack and fenders. The milk crate is a nice dorky touch, don't you think?

Here's my Specialized Roubaix rigged for commuting. Performance seatpost rack, Trans-it rack trunk and mini-panniers, Viewpoint dual front light, cateye computer and bell.

Needs a bath!

Mike

Here's my commuter. An old Diamondback mtn bike with Old Man Mountain racks.

Hi all,

Well, now that I'm not commuting anymore (temporarily I hope), here's a picture of my baby. I just got it in July and was really able to ramp up my commuting (7 very hilly miles each way; previous commuter: 1971 Schwinn Varsity ladies' frame with a big steel basket up front...and one original tire!).



14 mi/day for 4 days a week is the most consistent exercise I've ever gotten. Boy, do I miss that. I quit my job last Tuesday and started a series of all-nighters to finish up a hobby project that I've been working on that I hope to turn into a career. So I've only had time to run short errands for the past week. Then next Tuesday my bikes get packed up and put into storage while I fly out to NYC to work for six weeks (guess I'll go back to jogging), then I fly down to LA to get my stuff out of storage and look for an apartment and a job. At least November in Southern California should be a pleasant time to ride. Although I won't get to find out what it's like to commute through the rainy season here in Seattle.

So anyway, I thought I'd better post this picture now so I can look at it while I'm bikeless in New York these next couple of months. Then I'll get back in the swing of things down in LA. (NB: I hate riding in hot sunny weather. Hopefully it won't be too bad until next spring/summer when I'll be more accustomed to it.)

Good riding,
ecclescake

Here's the latest iteration of my Soma Double Cross. Changed to SKS fenders, added the Tubus Vega rack. Next I'm stripping the 105 brifters off and going to barcons with Nitto Noodle bars and a Nitto threadless stem with Tektro 221 aero brake levers and cloth tape.

Then I think I'm done.

Bring all your rain gear. November is usually when the rain starts with a vengeance in California, and SoCal gets a LOT of it. Not like Seattle, but ...

Nice looking commuter Michael. Good component selection and build. I think it'll be even better with the Nitto Noodle/Bar-end shifter conversion! Enjoy your ride!

My Surly LHT -- Peter White wheels w/ Schmidt hub and headlight -- Tubus racks -- B17 Saddle -- Thomson stem and seatpost -- TA chainrings -- Nitto Randonneur bars up high where I can get to 'em.

Thank you. I don't like the current bars. They're ugly and not comfortable (Salsa Short & Shallow or something like that). And I've just never liked the feel of Shimano SIS brifters. The 105s work well, but I just find them awkward. I had barcons on my Atlantis and much preferred them. I think I'll prefer them on this bike too.

Nice LHT! Peter builds the best wheels in the biz, IMO. He built a set for my Atlantis with a Phil touring rear hub and the Schmidt front, using Mavic T519 rims (same rims I built the wheels on my Soma with) and Wheelsmith DB spokes (again, what I used building my Soma wheels). His wheels were absolutely bulletproof, and never required any truing even though I toured on them with 90# of total bike & load (not counting my 250lb svelte body) and rode on lots of rough roads. I also had that Tubus Cargo rack like you have, although I had a Bruce Gordon front rack.

Enjoy that wonderful bike, I wish it was mine!

i commute about 11 miles in a day on average to work. love it.
this is my new bike. it's a 2005 motobecane gigi that i will hopefully have for the rest of my life. yeah, it's pink. it's in the parking spot in my room. (yes, my room is orange)

Here's mine sans the removal headlight. Also, I'm using a Timex Bodylink System for measuring my mileage and effort.

Currently, I'm carrying a backpack with waist and chest cinches.

.

m.e.nunu30030 -- cool looking bike! enjoy it. It is usually advisable to avoid the big-big and small-small gears ... the chain looks pretty tight on the big ring on front and the big ring (or 2nd) on back. Usually the chain is a little slack also if you run smallest in front and small in back.

Here's mine... Finally got a picture.

My touring, commuter, recreational and poseur-droppin darlin - Mariko san. She has many outfits (what woman doesn't?), in this she is in her summer short-shorts, ready for a nice long day trip (some folks call it a century).