Yes it is.. I was surprised myself at how much brighter the Cateye is, and it's way more visible from the side too.

My brand new 2004 model Kona Smoke. Haven't ridden it yet...it's my spring/summer/fall commuter!

Chip, And the two lights you have on the side are?

Thanks.

Those are Mars 3.0s Nice little lights, multple modes, amber lens on the sides.

I got my new bad weather commuter finished today, no more abusing the Fuji in all the salt and muck.

https://www.bikeforums.net/commuting/163303-finally-my-lht.html

there...

What brand is the kickstand on Jamis?

It looks to me like it's not a kickstand. Instead, it's a little stand that is used for making quick repairs (usually on the road). It looks like the legs are foldable and there's a dial for adjusting the height.

Well, many two-legged kickstands can be used for repairs. I barely ever use anything else, whether on the road or at home. However, indeed the Jamis' stand appears to have some special feature.

I am happy to post below a pic of my bike used for commuting. It seems that here is a place where I can do that without an immediate ridicule. The bike was originally Trek 730 but now only the frame remains original.

Where did you get the rear basket? It looks like the type/size I bought in Germany many years ago and I could use some replacements.

Nice looking ride Andy. If you don't mind me asking, what is the standover height and what is your height? I am seriously loving the Smoke and would love to hear your reviews of your new ride; good or bad.

Thanks much,

thestoutdog

The basket is indeed from Germany, 5 euros or so, coming with a carrying handle. After a couple of months of heavy loads in the basket, the rack, from underneath, cracked the basket's bottom. I have then riveted a simple supporting alu frame which must be holding now for over 5 years without a problem. As with anything, once I find that something works, I try to get a backup quickly enough. For obvious reasons, I'm not now interested in getting rid of it.

I am also quite interested in the rear basket. Is there any way to get them here in the USA? I've been searching for a good-looking rear basket for a quite a long time now.

On Ebay, you could get some front baskets that can be adapted for the rear. There is also an overpriced rear Topic basket out of a fine mesh.

The mesh is not good if you want to carry heavy loads because it easily deforms. Better for heavy loads are baskets out of sparse thicker wire. On the other hand, fine-mesh baskets can be good in the front, since heavy loads there would affect steering, while you might want to have an option of containing small objects somewhere.

Some issue is of attaching a basket to a rack. In Germany you can get dedicated clamps for a few euro that attach quickly and work very well.

I actually use those wire baskets. I use bungy cords so I can easilly remove it because I mostly do utility cycling anyway. The only probelm is, it is white. I hate how it stands out on my mostly silver/dark green bike. I actually know that topeak basket you are talking about. I had my eyes on it until I saw yours.

Here is my commuter.

1986(?) Schwinn World Tour.
Originally a 12 spd, converted to Fixed Gear.
Gearing = 40x15.

I am still using the original size wheels (27x 1 1/4).

I ride it an average of 11 - 16 miles per day.

Sorry about the low-res pics.. Took them with an old sony digicam.

Hi. This is my first ever post and here is my commuter bike. It takes me between 12 and 24 miles every week day accross the worst bits of London. Fantastic bike and even better with a Rohloff and the slicks. Never going back to traditional gears or 26" wheels again. Needs a bit of a wipe though.

gizmoclunky... a Rohloff? I hate you.

No, seriously, that's a nice bike. I'm going internal hubs this year myself. Only it won't be a Rohloff. Not that I have anything against Rohloff.

This is my one and only, beloved '96 Fischer X-calibur. I've added a Cateye HL-EL500, a Cateye TL-LD1000, a Mars 3.0, slick tires, and standard pedals with toe clips. I replaced the grip shifters with trigger shifters (rapidfire?) when I bought the bike new. The gears have never worked quite right but I love the bike anyway.

My current commute is about 3 miles each way with a few gently rolling hills. Sometimes paved road, sometimes dirt. Here in the desert I don't have to worry too much about bad weather. It may be hard to notice from my photos but, I am especially proud of the matching maroon paint job, gold water bottle cage, and metallic pink pedals.

Thanks. I know that the Rohloff is overkill but I couldn't resist the fabulousness of it. It's great to know that there is one thing less to worry about.....

This is my new ride. It is an Avanti Blade (2006), base model with a few extras bolted on. Most came off the previous MTB (Diamondback Topanga).

Front Lights: Cateye HL510 1W LED (a beast) & a Kathmandu blinky, both on a Minoura space grip.
Rear Lights: Cateye TL1000 and TL500
Noisemakers: AirZound2 + Bell
Blackburn MTN-1 rack (yes it fits the road frame!), hold Ortleib Back Roller pannier (not shown).
No name plastic mudguard fitted properly to the front fork, but bolted onto the rear rack at the back.
Avocet Gell Flex saddle. This is the third bike its been on. Not sure whether it has moulded to my backside or visa versa, but sure is comfortable.

Last time it rained when I rode 25mm of rain fell during the 20min ride, so the mudguards were useless, but I don't think anything would cope

Holy smokes! Are you sure your seatpost is long enough!?

I'm 6' 6" and even though the bike is an XL (one of only 10 imported into Britain) I have to have the post quite high. Doesn't feel that way though. It's quite hard to find big bikes in the UK.

My wife would like to know where she can pick up one of those things you have in the cage.

This is a vacuum bottle JSB-500. Nothing else, that I know of, comes close to it. Unfortunately, to my knowledge, the bottle is not available right now in the US. For more info, see the Bicycle Coffee page:

https://www.nordicgroup.us/bikecoff/

chip,
how did you mount that rear rack with those disc brakes?? i've been trying to find one i could mount on my cannondale F600... local bike shop even said i couldn't do it. so... i sold the F600 and now i see this pic.

did you fabricate something or just tinker with it until it fit??

thanks,

Rich