Thats it I am going to have to build a budget LHT-like bike from a well picked 90's mountain bike or frame which I have some possible frames and access to plenty of options to build from at the bike charity. I think I have all the parts I need to do it except some bar end shifters and some bar tape. So many fun bike projects so little time.

I'm thinking it's about time the fizz get started on another project, so many beautiful builds lately keep it up guys:)

Will do. I haven't been able to find a sticker on it with any information as to model or anything like that and at this point i've checked pretty well. The bike has a good deal of sticker damage though so who knows it might have been stripped off at this point.

I like pugs too. I don't know why, I'm only in my late 20's and as such don't remember anything about Peugeots in the United States, but it just feels right being on a French bicycle and Peugeot, to me, seems like the royalty of French bicycles. I know this isn't fact but it feels correct.

Hey guys…That isn’t the titanium Vaya, just the steel in charcoal. Originally I heard that the orange comes as a complete and the frame comes as charcoal. I am not sure if that it true or not. I just know there seems to be less of the charcoal running around. Then again it could be because the orange is an AWESOME color for an "adventure" bike! Funny that I was really disappointed as I wanted the orange, but wanted to buy just the frame and the only color I could get ni a 56cm was charcoal. When I saw the charcoal in person, I was really blown away by the paint. Pics do not do it justice. I MUCH prefer the charcoal after seeing both in person (but I would take ANY of the Vaya colors!)

I have since added 700X37c All Terrain tires and a Selle SMP saddle. The Brooks is killer looking, but I prefer the SMP. I ride this bike a lot, so function before looks.

Let me know next time you're here and I'll buy you a beer (or two).

EDIT: I'm sure my wife will be cool with it when I say "hey babe I'm going to hang out with my internet friend".

Maybe we can all hang out... plan to marry that girl in Portland in July so might bring my fiancee or might bring my wife with me.

:)

There are some incredibly nice bikes here. My 2007 Specialized Hardrock turned commyter cannot complete with the awesomeness of FunkyStickMan's LHT or Terry66's Salsa Vaya. Beautiful machines!

Nonetheless, the Hardrock has what I need, is comfortable, and most importantly, it's the vehicle I most frequently take during the work week, no matter the destination.

But even I will admit... God it is an ugly machine! =D

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1354909/spec...k_commuter.jpg

Form follows function. Looks good to me.

"Ugly" is such an ugly word, I prefer to say "it looks purposeful." That's how my wife describes me. :)

Nice job!

Not sure that I have ever seen an "ugly" bike or a bike I didn't like.

Awesome ride! Enjoy the heck out of it!

about bike looks: early in my bike commuting career I was nursing my first road bike at a local shop. it was an old bike I got cheap and I was working out the details of commuting. anyway it wasn't pretty including my homemade front rack. as I was picking up the bike I was a little embarrassed by my beast and I apologized for it's appearance. the tech was so nice he chuckled and said: "it's a bike" i felt so much better and realized, especially with commuters, bikes are ingenious inventions that lend themselves to further personal modification and creativity. here's the rack I made that I didn't use very long. but it was fun making it.

That is a cool looking bike -- I love the color scheme. Looks practically cartoonish (not in a bad way)

Here's pretty much the final rendition of my "disposable" commuter bike (although I've come to like this bike so much that at the end of this assignment I'm going to fork over the $150.00 or so it will cost to ship it home!).

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...e/IMG_0407.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...e/IMG_0405.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...e/IMG_0406.jpg

Since last I posted I've upgraded the tires and tubes (Since a cut tire-shaped-object forced me to walk 6-1/2 miles on a 95-degree day to get home!), added an Italian Racing Bike mirror, a rack and panniers, and a Greenfield kickstand. I also replaced the stem with one that's a little shorter and higher, as I had too much weight on my hands. Much better now!

This is my only bike with a kickstand, besides my 40 year old Ross 10-speed, and I have to say that these things my be appearing on ALL of my bikes after this. It is SO NICE not having to lay the bike down in the grass, or to look around for a tree or signpost or utility pole to lean it against! And, if I use the bike for an errand, it's so much more convenient to have the bike stand up by itself while I'm loading something in the panniers or strapping it to the rack!

I know kickstands are so Fred, but for a bike that is really used for real transportation, I think they can't be beat!

Thats a good looking bike in a rugged kind of way. Not every car needs to be a Ferrari and not every bike needs to be a Bianchi. I like what you've done to her. She looks butch in a good way.

+1 Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The Hardrock would be kick a$$ on poorly maintained roads or taking a game trail shortcut..

Man, that Motobecane is a steal for under $300. Looks like you've set it up nicely. :thumb:

Keepsake commuter:

http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment...0&d=1304100300

Frame: mconlonx/Geekhouse Woodville commuter custom, much built by me at Geekhouse framebuilding intensive. Based on 26" wheels, forward facing horizontal dropouts, can take up to 2" tire. True Temper Vs heat treated tubing, db where appropriate.
Fork: Yo Marty segmented, custom
Wheels: Rear Shimano 105, front Shimano Dyno hub, Wheelsmith 2.0 spokes laced 3x to 36h Velocity Synergy rims with machined sidewalls and stainless eyelets. Brass nipples. Wheels handbuilt custom by me.
Tires: Panaracer RiBMo 26" x 1.5"
Fenders: VO Smooth 26" x 60mm
Front rack: VO Constructuer
Headset: Chris King
Canti brake stop: Problem Solvers
Bell: VO spacer mount
Stem: VO Tallstack
Shim: Problem Solvers 26.0 to 31.8
Bars: Nitto Noodle 177 42cm
Bar Tape: Bontrager Gel black
Brake levers: Shimano
Shifters: Shimano Dura Ace bar end
Saddle: VO Model 6
Seatpost: Nitto Dynamic
Seatpost clamp: Problem Solvers
Front Derailleur: Shimano Ultegra 6500
Bottom Bracket: VO Grand Cru
Cranks: VO Grand Cru 48/34
Pedals: Shimano A-530
Chain: SRAM 1090
Cassette: SRAM 1070 10sp 11-32
Rear Derailleur: Shimano Dura Ace GS 7700
Brakes: VO Grand Cru Cantilever Mk2
Housing: Jagwire silver braid, with brass ferrules
Lighting: Supernova E3 front and rear, PDW Radbot 1000.

Dream build. Hopefully not the last frame I ever weld. Many bikes and parts sold to finance this; many hours overtime will be necessary to pay off residual debt.

Couple hundred commuting miles on this since completing the build, and it works flawlessly. Big grins.

I just realized how many parts go into a bike when you build it ground-up. Even my likely-will-never-be-raced race-ready road bike has only a few parts less than what you listed.

New commuter

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5141/...a56c8d28_b.jpg

WOW! :love:

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=200144 Just bought this 2010 Cross Check yesterday. I love it already!

I'm looking to put fenders on it this week sometime. Any suggestions?

Planet Bike Cascadias.. :thumb: Or of you want to go old school then Honjos or Velo-Orange.

Nice CrossCheck. Those are seriously awesome bikes. I second the Planet Bike fenders. I am running the regular fenders, but plan to go with the Cascadias in the near future.

I like the VO Hammered fenders. I wonder what they'd look like in black? I'm probably going to go with something a little more standard like the cascadias or these. Anyone have any experience with the SKS fenders?

http://www.rivbike.com/products/show...fenders/27-014

Best plastic fenders IMO. Cheaper and offer more coverage than PB Cascadias.

Someone needs to make this thread a sticky again asap

This is indeed one of my favorite threads! And thanks to everybody who commented on my bike... I am in love with it. Don't tell my wife. Keep posting up the pics, folks!

If you want ugly you need to go at your bike with a torch and a hammer... :)

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikep...orrestbug1.JPG

This was taken at my sister's house which is only significant because it's 100 km from my home... not my usual commute but the first mini tour of the season.

Work at the frame shop will be starting in a week and the ugly little bike and I will be knocking down some epic miles and somewhere between now and the end of the season there will be some powder coating going on.

That rack looks great to me. But, I like DIY ethic. :)

EDIT: is that the rack in pics?

I used to have PB but switched to the 45mm SKS fenders (silver - not black). I am very happy with them. I made the switch because I went to a 40mm studded tire for winter and wouldn't have enough clearance with the PB fender. The fender stays on the SKS fenders were much longer than I needed to I had to cut them to make them fit properly. Other than that, installation was simple. I like the look better than PB.