Did today's commute on this:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2.../GiantTCR2.jpg
.
It was much more comfortable and I felt like I had more control than when I commute on this one:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...kesideview.jpg
.
I didn't miss the triple crank much. The lighter weight of the TCR C2 made up for the lack of one.

.

and here is my urban warrior

This is a dutch bike Gazelle Medeo Hybride.

700x32 tires 22/32/42 crankset, 11-28 7 speed casette.
Alivio Shifters, brakelevers, and both deraileurs.

Im dreaming about converting it to drop down handlebar.

What kind of bag is that?

Nice bike and set up.
Regarding going to drops...
Of course it's up to you but I went the other way. I found in the traffic I frequent, the drops were a hindrance. Because of the lower vision level I had, I spent most of the time on the top of the bars. I used auxiliary levers on my drops when in traffic, but found going to flat bar the easiest and safest solution. If you end up going to drops, consider the aux. levers when you convert. Many will tell you they look crappy, but I think safety first. Just my thoughts :)
Steve.

Suicide levers?

Looks like a Carradice, the model is either a Camper or a Nelson (I think).

Yes, I have noticed that when I ride my bicycle in your daughter's room I need lots of lights too. Dark in there!

This is my bicycle. I'm about as good a cyclist as I am a photographer.

It's an early Specialized Globe from about 1998.

The rack is the Topeak baby carrier rack. The pannier is the commuter pannier from Two Wheel Gear. I use a bungee cord to attach it. I've changed the tires to 1.25 inch (it came with 1.9 inch tires). The pedals are Performance Campus/SPD. Other than that it's pretty much as I got it in 1998. It's my only bike, and I put my two year-old daughter on the back on Saturdays.

I ride about 7 miles each way from Irvine to Newport Beach. I pack my work clothes in the pannier, and Blackberry, keys, and wallet in the handlebar map bag. My commute is almost entirely on dedicated bike paths, mostly along the Upper Newport Bay. I see a lot of birds every day. I shower and dress at the health club next to my office. (When I told them that I wanted to join just for the shower I think they thought I was a pervert.)

The car is my wife's minivan.

Slightly different in looks and design.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y21...sforweb003.jpg
Suicide Lever:
http://wandel.ca/bikes/0620-170639.jpg
Steve.

Steve, thanks for a positive comment.

Well, I agree, the straight handlebar is good for precise steering in traffic and gives good control.

The main reason I dislike it, is because if you look at the picture, in such straight sitting position, all the body weight is supported by the freaking butt.

It not only makes it tired and/or numb on a long ride, but it's also bad from aerodynamic point of view.

I know it's not easy to convert. I would love those what you call suicide levers (additional brakes, right?).

Maybe a longer stem could take the bar further away...

For right now, I am going to leave it the way it is, since aero bars help with two aforementioned problems...

but take away stability to some extent...


I used to have an old road bike with this kind of brake levers, and they performed nicely while having hands on top or bottom of the bar.

Best regards,
Mikhail.

P.S. I didn't receive new post notifications, hence a late reply.

Yes, your stem is quite short, and the handlebars are swept back making it effectively shorter, AND the handlebars are positioned quite high, as well.

My 9 Year Old Schwinn HighPlains. Steel with thick tubes and heavy! Trying to find specs on it, only clues some opinions on it; estimated 35lbs without anyhing added. I can guess its well over 40lbs with work clothes and loaded as it is.

Changes from Stock:
Performance Campus Clipless Pedals
Transit Rack and Panniers
Blinky Taillight
Evo Dual Viewpoint Headlights
Michelin Transworld City Puncture Protector Slicks

http://www.geocities.com/rpc180/6x4bikes.jpg

And this is how it looks at night when car headlights flash it. I really feel alot safer with all the reflective stuff lighting up like a christmas tree!
http://www.geocities.com/rpc180/6x4bikes1.jpg

RPC180, !

I have the same tire, Michelin Transworld City with reflective stripe in 700x32.

There is basically one review on the whole internet on this tire. And if I remember correctly, the reviewer was from somewhere on the East Coast, maybe even Virginia!

Was is it you? Did you review this tire?

And by the way, how is it???

Does puncture protection work effectively? Had any punctures? How many?

Mikhail.

Correct, it's a Carradice Camper Longflap. My saddle is a Brooks B17 (which has been 'chopped and modifed'), in the pic the saddle looks really angled nose up, but it must be the perspective of the photo because it is not like that in real life!

Wasn't me! I got the tires new from a bike swap sale. They ride very nicely and I haven't gotten a puncture yet. However, I've only been using them for about a month. I'll admit they stop effectively; I flew over my bars last week in Baltimore during Tour Du Port.

Do any of you commuter folks work in high rises in major cities? Anyone have any luck talking the building management into letting you up to the office with your bike without having to go through the back entrance to the freight elevator?

They won't even let me bring it indoors - the only way to the freight elevators is to go through the parking garage and the security guy there won't let me in. If you're allowed to use the back entrance count yourself lucky!

Here's my commuter. A 2001 Schwinn Mesa GS that I've upgraded with XT front and rear deraillers, LX cranks, XT shifters, cane creek levers, race face seat post, and a garage sale Selle San Marco seat ($2).
About the only thing left from original is the handlebars and brakes. Last upgrade was a set of wheels and an XT cassette. I don't go off road as much as I'd like so I went to some discount store slicks. I had some thinner ones I liked better, but at 6.99 for two, I couldn't pass these up.

http://bronson.smugmug.com/photos/41362986-M.jpg

Here are the obligatory in-front-of-the-garage-door pics of mine. An 80's-something Schwinn Cimarron.


http://img456.imageshack.us/img456/8977/front5lx.jpg

http://img456.imageshack.us/img456/2388/rear0qs.jpg

Hello all, I'm new here. This seemed to be the first thread that struck my attention and also i think a good one to introduce myself.

I currently live in Cornelius, OR. (Portland Metro area). I commute on the average of about 37 miles a day by bicycle, and soon to be only 13 mile per day with a new job starting next week :o :( . I ride a 2005 Fuji Royal Flat Bar Road bike. I've had the bike a few months and so far I love it. I would post a pic, but unsure on how to do so. The bike is currently equiped with Egg Beater pedals, Carbon flat bar, Night Rider digital light, full fenders, and bar ends.



Thanks for letting me share! :)

Brian

How's that Fuji Royale? I was going to get one but the chain kept falling off under load and the mechanic tried everything to fix it but basically declared it unfixable.

I've been extremely happy with the Royale. It sounds like you have a chain line issue or possibly a bent frame? I would recommend taking it to a few different mechanics. I am a mechanic in training at a local shop here. We've had many customers bring bikes in saying other shops deemed them unrepairable, our lead mechanic has been able to repair most of them, he's been a mechanic for longer than I been alive, I'm 31 yrs. old. Also, I'm sure Fuji would warranty that issue if it were unrepairable.

I was weighing the options, it was within 2 days of buying the bike. In the end, I returned it and picked up a Giant road bike instead. But have to admit that I was really impressed with the Fuji!

Should you happen to run across a very tall, track bike-riding messenger named Tom up there, tell him to get back in touch with his cousin, will ya please?