BarracksSi both of those are nice bikes.

How did you like that Topeak basket? I put one on my wife's commuter bike and except its hard for her to put it back on she seems to like it. I got a motorcycle net to go over the top of it to hold things in. I would be somewhat jealous of it if it wasn't kinda big and heavy. She gets alot of compliments on the basket, but its probably because she has any kind of basket on her bike. =)

trying to figure out what kind of basket to buy...it has to fit inside of the drop bars as i really like grabbing onto the bottom of the bars and pumping up hills...1 gear sucks in that situation:)

I've had a bit of a time putting it on sometimes, too, but as long as I line it up right and don't force it, it's fine.

The only thing I don't like about it is that it makes me wish I had bought a step-thru frame. It's a long ways for me to swing my leg over it, even when tilting the bike. ;)

Yeah I would have a problem swinging my leg over it too. In fact I got my favorite shorts caught in the hooks of the motorcycle net swinging my leg over when I was riding her bike and ripped little holes in them. =( Fortunately for her she only does step through frames. She professes clumsiness and its reality. Step through frame are kinda underrated.

Finally finished the frame swap. The result:

http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment...5&d=1286755595

My Commute machine, 1984 Miyata Street Runner.
A very nice riding bike.

After being inspired by Fizzaly and Sixty Fiver with their Mountain bikes with drop bars I decided to try one for myself.

So here is the project, its a Schwinn Paramont frame I have had for quite awhile and wanted to do something cool with it. Here are the pics of most of the pieces before I started.

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/a...e/IMG_2011.jpg

Closer shot of the frame

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/a...e/IMG_2014.jpg

How it looks so far

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/a...e/IMG_2023.jpg

It has some junky components like the crank and bars, but I can add nicer stuff later if I like the setup. I like how its coming together. I was happy the suspension seatpost I had lying around fit in this frame. I was most worried I would get it together and not like the fit, but after throwing it on the trainer tonight when I got to a good stopping point if felt pretty good right away. Pretty much all I have to do now is run some cables and find a couple little items to finish it off. I am experimenting with thumbshifters placed by the brake levers on the road bars. Its been something I have thought about doing for a while but never tried it. It seems like it will work pretty good actually. I'll find out soon enough. Its got to be better than stem shifters.

Finally got my new panniers. Yes I bought the hybrid specifically to do my VERY short commute. But alas, I still have only ridden to work once this month.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=173399

eventually i put in fenders (planet bike cascadia 45mm hybrid) and loaded up the whole frame, rack, fenders, wheel, and spokes with black reflective tape (i love how its invisible on the black frame).

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4129/...1c0485ee_z.jpghttp://farm5.static.flickr.com/4104/...bfaa5f47_z.jpg

i loved it, but then there was a minor issue with the rack-braze on (it came loose) and it they tried to fix it (honestly I never planned to actually take off the rack on this commuter) and the braze on would not be salvaged.... so they ordered a replacement bike for me!

but the diabolical managers at the bike shop said that I could have store credit for the old bike and buy a new one if i wanted. they had a 09' Mendota in storage... and offered it at a price i couldn't refuse (well for NYC prices anyway). I watched a movie/did some errands walked back 3 hours later and it was ready:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/239/5...74b2e418_z.jpg

I've bought a origin 8 space bar and a looong stem (to offset the bar) which are arriving this week. And white reflective tape is on the way.

Those are lovely.

Did you have those made?

The month's still young!

Can you balance your drink like that for the whole commute?

Don't feel too bad; I've only done the commute a couple of times this month because we're in that problematic temperature range where if you dress warmly enough to not be too cold starting out, you'll sweat too much after the first mile and freeze on the downhills.

Dress more lightly, and pedal downhill to prevent cooling.

I've never been trouble by extra-moderate temperatures!

Looking good, Drop bar MTBs are great so versatile, you do have to worry whats gonna work with what, Hopefully ill get my frame swap done sometime soon i just ordered a bunch of new stuff for the event, but i gotta finish building my 3spd back up bike before i really do anything.

I am a bad influence... that Schwinn is coming together nicely.

My friend already has a Kuwahara like mine equipped with trekking bars and what used to be a fixed gear is now a 3 spd that now makes it's own power... :)

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/uav3spd1.JPG

Hope to pick up and install the new fenders later today.

Thanks for the feedback. I hope I can get it done this weekend.

I don't take it as a bad influence its probably a good one. I have thought about some projects too long its time to just do one.

I am interested in 3-speed bikes that don't seemingly double as achors although I likes those old bikes too.

One of the visions for this Schwinn frame was making it a 3-speed partly because of the cable stop issue. I have a couple old SA hubs laying around and some used rims that would work, but I haven't mustered up the courage, effort or patience to build my own wheel yet. This Schwinn frame has vertical dropouts so that might make it more of a challenge if I ever decide to go that direction for this bike.

A couple months ago I was considering getting an old road bike with a 3-speed SA wheel and putting it on a nicer lighter vintage road bike, but after I got a single speed that idea moved farther back on the interest meter. I am still intruiged by it and it would be pretty easy to do.

My two commuters (the FG is a cross-post if you hang out in SSFG at all):

Motobecane Fantom Cross:
http://i55.tinypic.com/2zsma8w.jpg
Completely stock except the Brooks, Planet Bike fenders and Campus SPD pedals. Going on 3 years of ownership - still happy with my purchase. It's no LHT, but I've gotten it to the point that I can ride it for pretty substantial distances. I commute on it 3/4 times a week, when I'm not riding my FG.

My Fixed Gear:
http://i54.tinypic.com/2gxk6q0.jpg
Performance SSR frame, Michelin City 28c tires (about as big as you can fit), Formula hubs laced to CXP22's and a bunch of other parts I had laying around. I'm pretty hip.

Yes it is, and yes you are. The "guys with MTBs with drop bars" club keeps growing...

Trekking bars count? I'm in, then...

Now it looks like a proper commuter...

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/uav3spd3.JPG

I joined recently, but I'm still waiting to get my membership card in the mail...

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_TIeBxBH6dXI/TK...s800/rh_13.jpg

We get membership cards? who's holding out on us?

Got my commuter all setup for grocery shopping:


http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4058/...bc82bce2_z.jpg

There are memebership cards? Sweet, this just gets better and better. Don't tell me, you have to own 2 drop bar bikes to be in the club right? Darn I'll have to build another one. =)

Is it still true that we get a free toaster if we recruit five more?