thanks hikelite , yes i did paint it... spray can. lot of degreasing, lots of sanding, primer, then paint...
it is definitely my new favourite color!
if i could do it over, I would have given it a few more coats... thats about 2-3.

awesome bikes on this page, loving that paint boro... and I might have to look for some glow in the dark grips too thanks to cody!

Here is mine loaded for a ride out in the forest and how it looks every morning for the ride to work:


and how it looks after a bath:

hey
hope i can post my pic soon still have got to change and add something

That looks really nice and I am sure you will be able to work out your issues. Whatever poor looks you perceived were probably jealousy or as my friend always says they were just constipated.

Figured I would add a few gears to the Beast and commute through the river valley today... t'was awesome.

What frame is that? You tempt me with all kinds of project ideas. =)

Thanks, i have sort of been thinking about it still but the more i do the more i like the red ha.

It is a "there's one and I have it" frame.

It is a '96-ish Jim Moulden custom (local builder), filet brazed with Reynold's 853 / Prestige tubes.

Friend gave it to me after using it as his winter beater...

My commuter/errand bike, updated. Put the stock handlebars back on, added fenders, rack and Wald folding baskets. The bike came with the giant front basket.

Her eis an update, I rode the Prelude to work and around a bit and I didn't really like it all that well. I was going to switch stems, but realized I didn't have what I needed. I did like the seat alot so I put it on my faithful Trek commuter. Its like a pillow. Not sure it would be great for long rides, but I like it alot on my short commute so far. One thing it seems like people have mentioned about the Prelude/Varsity is the spongy brakes. I suspect its because to get them adjusted right I had to move the almost all the way down to the end of the brake caliper. Honestly if I was trying to get the most out of this bike I would put an old 27 inch wheelset on it and it would be better braking from the brakes on the bike. It wouldn't be hard to find a lighter wheelset in my basement than what is on there. The wheels are almost anchors. I am not ripping on the bike, but just some thoughts. I am offering for sale at work and I already have a bite.

A big complaint of mine is the brakes, for sure - they work well enough, though, and it works well enough for my needs. I also grabbed mine originally off Craigslist, I've probably only got $300 total into it including the cost of the bike, initial tuneup, and some Conti Gatorskins/pumps/tools/etc. I'm coming up on mile 800 and I think its been worth it so far.

Here's my CX bike with its commuter outfit on.
Schwinn Crosscut with homemade redwood crate.

That sounds like you have gotten your money's worth already. Its a decent base to build from really. Some people might rip on something like that, but despite everything a bike is a bike and if you ride it thats what matters.

I was just thinking last night if you wanted to improve the brakes for little investment and a bit of time you could get some nicer brake shoes that also have longer studs and maybe fashion a insert out of some type of thick metal (maybe someting as simple as an eletrical box plate) to stiffen up those calipers so they don't flex as much. On the Prelude I got them so they are more than acceptable after fiddling with them for a few minutes. I actually got a compliment from someone Monday night about how nice it looked from someone that actually rides alot. Target Schwinn Pride!!!...soon for some lucky college student I think. =)

For me I am going back to my Trek mountain bike commuter. Its amazing how much stronger and quicker a newer chain makes it feel. I waited way to long to do that. I know I have at least 500 miles on it, but based on my very small investment on the bike and to outfit it for commuting with. I think its been more than worthwhile. I started out riding to work to save money on gas, get excercise and maybe save the planet a bit, but now I would actually rather just ride to work possibly even without other those benfits. =)

I suspects that what happened to most of us. It did for me at least
Are you to the point yet where you don't like to drive? hehe

Ditto. To me, the greatest aspect of cycling is how it is both a functional means of transportation, and wicked fun at the same time. I used to try to have fun in my car, but the cops and my insurance provider put the kybosh on that pretty quick. Driving is drudgery, cycling is enjoyment.

i live in portland Oregon and they actually have racks inside to hold bikes.

the coffee cup holder, man after my own heart

Yeah, I have started disliking driving especially going to work. In fact the last road trip I was on for Labor Day weekend I let my wife drive alot more than usual. She could have driven the whole trip for all I cared. I generally like driving especially long distances, but various more local trips in the car I dream of what route I would take if I was taking a bike. =) Often I wonder why we drove some places instead of just taking a bike. I am just getting used to my newer car and its more fun that when I first got it, but my bikes are way more fun than my car except when its raining on my way to work. I actually feel this disconcerting feeling and guilty because its been 2 days in a row I have driven to work instead of biking. It just feels more normal or at least as much so to ride a bike than get in the car. I know a couple that over the last couple of years slowly weaned themselves off their car and now totally ride bikes everywhere. I am quite jealous of them. Bike racks inside would be awesome.

Here's a pic of my son on his new KaZAM run bike!

He looks so cool with the gloves and the shades
Great pic!

Gary Fischer Wingra. I really wanted to get a nice cyclocross bike and splurge but living in NYC everything can get stolen. So the entry level gary fisher city bike/commuter it was. Brooklyn has so many bike lanes now it is really changing the culture down here - drivers know what to expect for the most part. Manhattan's getting better too.

I ended up just asking my LBS to install the cheapest rack they had and i'm actually happy i ended up with a topeak. the propriety bags work with a system that really is secure and tight.

now i'll just add some black reflective tape and rear/front lights and it will be complete...

the only thing i totally hate is having to lug a huge kryptonite lock (of course the NYC model) and then the steel rope for the wheels/ect.. its like over 10lbs of extra weight.

That's a nice looking bike. Not too flashy; simple, and purposeful. You might want to consider fenders, if you plan on riding in the wet.

Heavy load = strong rider. It's good for you, and you'll get used to it. The only time that I notice my 9 pound lock and chain is when I pick up someone else's bike. Plus, it's certainly better than having no bike at all.

thats what caught my eye... nice monochrome black inconspicuous and not flashy. yup i'll put some fenders on too. keep em black as well. its going to be a 5 mile commute for me through brooklyn. i'm lucky that 90% has a bike lane (but its right next to parked cars and traffic), but as i said before the culture is changing down here and drivers are a lot nicer to bikes in the lane.

I rode the Varsity to work for the first time this year. I used to ride it once in a while when my commute was 7 miles, but now it's 17 miles. Riding this bike took 20 minutes longer than my usual ride. This pic is after work, just before the Critical Mass ride. Full details about that on my blog.

She may be slow, but she sure is good looking. I liked your account of the Critical Mass ride, too. It contrasts a bit with my one experience with Crit Mass, back in April. The music sucked, and after about an hour I was really bored with riding in circles through downtown at 10 mph. By the end of it, I felt kind of embarrassed to be involved.