Sooooo i got some more work done, isn't my bar tape lovely. got the rear rack and fenders installed. So do you guys think my "bar end" shifters are gonna work, ive never used them before so i dont know if them being on the out side instead of behind is gonna make a difference or not. The cranks and frame decided to be difficult and it took two other test fit BB to find the right one. Hopefully tomorrow ill get some more done, i need to get a new rear brake cable, and find my spacers so i can mount the front rack, my goal is to take on a test ride sat or sun.

GriddleCakes is exactly right- It's quite strange that Kona removed the eyelets from the dropouts for this year's model, which is the best option they have for commuting IMHO (at least with an IGH). They couldn't explain it to me when I got in touch with them; I think it's basically an oversight. They are still primarily an MTB brand, so they may not be fully adjusted to the commuter market.

As GC said, I don't have the option of changing the rear axle with a Tubus-style QR skewer mount. I think that the Axiom rack might be a good option, although I've gotten kind of spoiled by the MTX slide-n-click mounting system on the Topeak beam rack, and I have the Topeak trunk bag to match. Got the rack at REI, so they'll take it back no questions asked, but might be out of luck with the trunk bag. Do Axiom racks have any similar system, and what are people's favorite trunk bags (Axiom or otherwise) that would work well with the suggested Axiom rack?

Thanks for everyone's input so far!

Hmmmm....

I don't know if the Axiom rack will work with the Alfine's axle. I didn't think about that part.

I also don't know of any other rack-bag system that's as handy as Topeak's. I haven't used the trunk bag much since I got panniers, but I've also used Topeak's basket, and I also like how easily I can swap them to the beam rack on my FS MTB rig.

So... ergh... you may be stuck with P-clips. Unless you can swap the Kona for something else..

Kind of a cool take on "bar ends" but I would have mounted them with the toggles inboard of the bars.

That Twenty has been kitted out to the nth degree and I am still not finished... with winter upon us I can now look at tearing the bike down, doing a little more brazing, and will then be powder coating the frame and fork.

Am reading your blog with great interest and enthusiasm now...

I still can thats why i used the temp bar tape first, i think i may end up just getting a normal set of barends, i can mount them on the inside but then they're gonna be upside down.

The bike I've been commuting on most since July is a 2010 Raleigh Superbe Roadster. It's still completely unmodified aside from a rack, but it's going to get lights, new hammered steel fenders with matching chain guard, and a paint job in the next few months. (The paint job is really the worst thing about the bike. It's very thick but was essentially smearing off the bike in the Philly heat this summer. There are multiple bad gouges in the paint that are rusty already, and I haven't even had the bike six months.)



Still, it looks nice from a distance. Sometime this winter or early spring, it will be repainted a spring-y green.

My other commuter bikes are the Raleigh Twenty I share with phillyskyline and a 2006 Surly Steamroller. The Steamroller will likely get more use in the cold weather, when I'm more about getting to and from where I need to go and less about enjoying the ride and taking my time and being comfortable.



The Twenty is my leisure/really nice weather/backup commuter/grocery-getter bike. It's likely going to get more commuting miles on it in the coming months as long as the weather's good... and perhaps there will be another added to the stable... maybe.

I cant tell 65er is the rear of that a loop tail?

On the bag... yes.

And no... it has never caused a problem on my bike and I am not aware of anyone else having a problem with their MEC bags which are ubiquitous up here in Canuckistan.

The expansion straps never come close to the wheel spokes during normal riding and when I have taken these bags off road have tied down the loops so they don't catch on things in the environment.

Nice... if you cover this cork with clear shellac it will maintain it's appearance, last longer, and will be very easy to keep clean.

here is my new commuter/around town bike its a specialized sirrus so far so good just got some new panniers and rear rack to replace the trek trunk bag and rack i had.
i think i like this setup a whole lot better.

Sorry i meant the frame

Is at the Axiom Streamliner Road DLX rack? I'm looking at getting one myself to replace the cheap aluminum POS from Walmart I currently have. If I've identified the rack correctly, how do you like it? Any flex at heavy-ish loads?

What about the panniers? Make/model? They look nice. Great commuting setup.

Looks great. How do you like the A530 SPDs? I'm thinking of those for an upgrade soon.

That's a beauty! No fenders on a commuter, though? And, you might consider some more lighting for side visibility if you ever ride in lower light conditions. In the winter, I always end up going home at dusk, so lighting and reflectivity would be key, especially on an all-black bike. But, I'm a safety and lighting geek- see my posts around p.294-5 for pics and a video of my lighting set up as seen at night. I once heard a little girl yell something to her mother about Christmas when their SUV passed me (seriously).

it is an axiom streamliner dlx although i have not had the chance to load it down i just installed it today, the capacity is rated at 110lbs by the way it looks so far i would have to say this should not be a problem it is very tight and sturdy and for 40.00$ i dont see how you could go wrong.
the panniers are racktime travel it front panniers, they have the same mounting system as the ortlieb panniers so they lock on and should not come off.
i will try and write up a better review as i get some seat time and use out of everything,sorry i couldnt tell you more hope it helps -05kas05-

They work as advertised. They are my first clipless pedals, so I can't really compare with anything else but I do love them. I love to be able to take the bike for a ride with or without my SPD shoes.

i actually have plans for at least 3 more rear lights/ 1 mounted to the rear of the rack and 2 clipped to the bags themselves im on the fence about the
fenders im sure i will change my mind the first time it rains.i also have a very bright reflective vest i plan on wearing and some reflective stickers i might be putting on the bike just not sure about them yet.

nice bike and video, i was actually watching your light video before i posted the pics of my bike.i have been lurking around the forum for awhile reading and learning so i could make an informed decision on what i want in my bike and so far im very happy so i have to say thanks to all you guys.
also do you have a link for those bar wraps.

Loop tail ?

If you are referring to the rear dropouts they are cast and brazed.

are the seat stay and chain stay one singular tube, like the old and well i guess new SE pk ripper bmx frames, see how the chain and seat stays are one tube

No need to apologize. I really appreciate the info on the rack and the pannier setup. Good panniers are the way to go and I've heard nothing but great things about Racktime or Ortileb panniers, particularly their mounting systems.

Ride safe, have fun and thank you for the info.

Hi All- Following up on my puzzle about how to mount a traditional rack (like the Topeak SuperTourist DX) and fenders to a bike without eyelets on the dropouts, the tech at Kona responded with this advice:

"For a rack or fenders a clampset or extension off the dropout bolts will the way to go. On bikes with both a rack and fender I like to mount the fender to the rack and do away with the duplicate stays. That only works though if you don’t ever want to remove the rack and leave the fenders."

However, I don't know what he means by all of this. Is he saying that something like the Axiom Streamliner (disc) rack should work, or is he recommending some separate piece like the boomerang-shaped piece on the Tubus QR adapter? Any help, and especially photos, would be greatly appreciated.

Quake, I think by "clampset", the Kona tech means something of a P-clamp solution on the seat-stays. As for "extension off the dropout bolts", I think he's thinking of a bracket like the one used for the Axiom Streamliner Road DLX rack.

No matter which way you go, I'm sure you can use the same eyelets for both rack and fenders. My Specialized only has one set of eyelets in the back and they hold my SKS fenders and cheap Wal-Mart rack wonderfully.

However you go about it, The Topeak SuperTourist racks are pretty nice and real fenders are the only way to go in my opinion. Let those DIY skills lose and make it happen.

Thanks for the encouragement. I'm not particularly handy, but I'm willing to try this out. If you look at the three bolts pictured on the rear hub area in this photo, which would be the one to which I would attach the "extender" piece? Notice the big ol' disc brake thing on the other side of the hub.

https://files.konart.net/2011/hires/dr_fine.jpg (you can zoom in on the rear)

Here is the Tubus QR extender, but it seems to be designed for a very thin QR axle, which I can't use on my bike because it has the Alfine internal hub.

https://www.probikekit.com/iframe.php?code=B0064 (click on the small photo to zoom)

Thanks!