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!

http://imgur.com/BIzXhl.jpg

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

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4133/...ede96b16_z.jpg

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.

http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...4101857-00.jpg

http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...4101857-01.jpg

http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...4101856-02.jpg http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...4101856-01.jpg http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...4101855-00.jpg

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.

+1 that's a nice old varsity. I'd love to find one around here for cheap to fix up and ride around.

My daily ride:http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=171299


Just a Surly frame with all parts I've either already had or later picked up. It's geared extremely low 44/32/22 13-32t cassette b/c I pull a trailer sometimes. I found that I hated my b17 saddle and had already cut the head tube too short...damn. I liked the b67 and drop bars, but needed to get them higher...so I went with an ugly stem riser -- that is hideous, but amazingly comfortable. Best bar/saddle I've ever ridden.

Notes: downtube friction shifters, planet bike fenders, wald 198 gb basket (love it), minoura fork-mounted flashlight holder.

Check the city dump. That's where I found this one- for free. All it needed was tubes, tires, and a little cleanup. It even had the fenders when I found it. I converted it to a townie style, changing out the drop bars for upright bars and putting a mattress saddle on, an I also added the baskets and saddle bag. I did put a different derailleur on the rear (mid-80s Suntour aR), and just over a week ago I finally took the old steelie wheels off and put on a set of alloy wheels. Everything on the bike, though, I either got free (including some stuff from BF members) or had laying around. The only purchase made specifically for the bike was the vintage Schwinn-approved touring saddle bag.

Just finished my "dream commuter" build.

On-One Pompetamine frame, Salsa LaCruz fork.
Diy belt-drive conversion.

Smooth ride.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4145/...0f5c98bf_z.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4150/...d4e3c5c3_m.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4096/...f901597b_m.jpg

Sweet! Did that frame come belt-drive-prepared, or did you actually have to do some frame hacking?

No, I cut drop-out and did some rod-welding .

That things sweet! I'm probably gonna get a Monona (next level up) sometime this week once my roadbike sells. I like what you've done with it so far, can't wait til you get the fenders on there.

-Connor

Sweeeeeet.

thats drop dead gorgeous. the fenders are almost invisible/unnoticeable even though they are full coverage.

truly amaze. internet hero.

Even with a chain, that bike would be awesome. Good job with it!

That's some nice metalwork! Congrats on a sweet ride.

U.A.V. V 2.0 - just fitted new wheels and faster rolling tyres after a failed theft attempt screwed up the ones I was running.

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikep...enmaviclx2.JPG

Well... I'd say its best of both worlds, 100% form 100% function.

100% form: it avoids all the dorkiness associated with bar end and helmet mirrors (which I've tried).

After or before the commute the bar end and helment mirrors always get banged on the walls, rack etc. and it it just a pain in the a$$ to adjust the angle everytime I start to ride.

100% function: With this though it is well tucked away from everything (but your knee, depending on reach), gives a clean view of everything behind you when you are on your upstroke on the side the mirror is mounted. It works like a charm. Gives the illusion of a clean setup too!

Zefal Spy btw.

Alright, that's cool :) If that works, I might actually think about getting a mirror as well. Ah well, I'll think about it, might not even be a bad idea as nearly all my distances are commuting rides.

I'll take a snap of what it looks like from the cockpit tomorrow morning, pic = 1000 words.

Given. But replace "everything behind you" with "your balls".