Done and done. Go get your kicks, and let me know what you think! I'm sometimes timid to create new threads for stuff that others may not consider newsworthy. On the other hand, I've drawn so much inspiration from random stuff on the forum, hopefully I can offer some up for someone else. I'm really pleased (and proud) with how this bike turned out.

Pleased all my ramblings about them helped... have them on 2 bikes now that my hybrid has gone to a new home and it's owner also loves the trekking bars and after experiencing an injury that makes riding in the drops impossible, this offered the next best choice.

Have refitted many bicycles with these over the past 3 years, most were mid eighties ATB's that are seeing new life as commuters and touring bikes as well as one tandem.

Trekking bars FTW!

http://i.imgur.com/T1tAy.jpg

Just need to sort out the wiring.

The Grocery Getter
 

Don't know if I ever posted this one here, but I love riding it so much that I post it again anyway....... It is still my favorite day-to-day ride.

After years of swapping out part with some of my other bikes and picking up on screaming deals when they popped up, most of the parts are now carbon fiber except for the XTR derailleurs and shifters, and the Ritchey SPD pedals. It is a bit retro, and I would never have started out building it with all the carbon (because I never planned to spend much for a bike that I just use for commuting), but over the years the deals just kept showing up.

I get a kick out of all of the guys that I find hanging outside of the supermarket, etc. that want to talk about all of the carbon parts on such an old frame or where did I find the wheels, etc. Most seem to be either younger guys who can't quite 'WHY?", or guys in their late 40s or 50s who used to ride before they started a family, but now have their old race bikes just hanging on the garage wall.

It's kind of a conversation starter like an old Camero or Cuda that you use as an errand runner because it's just too much fun to leave at home when ever I don't have a good reason to take the one of the other road bikes or mountain bikes.


I've never had any issues with the older Spinergy bladed wheels like the ones on this bike (or several older road bikes I no longer own) except that they are a bit heavy. I actually just picked these up used about a year off eBay and swapped them out to used its previous much lighter set of Spinergy spoked newer versions to use on another bike. Weight has never been an issue with this bike, but even with the steel frame and these wheels the bike barely weighs 20lb.

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/d...erotta_02a.jpg

So I guess those wheels hold up pretty well, eh? I've always wondered about them. What's the advantage to those for commuting, any?

Wow! :thumb:

Attachment 217570

My recently rattle canned Giant Sedona circa 1987.

I got this 2010 Cannondale Quick Rigid bike about two months back and I didn`t know what to expect with the disc brakes and the SRAM shifting components. I learned how to adjust the brakes and they stop in a hurry. The sram shifting surprised me how easy it shifts, I think I like it better than the shimano shifting components on my other bikes. Its my go to bike.

Beautiful!!!
FWIW you can cut the kickstand legs so the rear tire is only .5"-1" off the ground :thumb: EDIT: Just saw your update - looks like you've got it covered.

How are you liking the 11?

Cool bike. I'll have to keep an eye out for it in town, of course it is camouflaged, so I'll never see it :)

BTW, when I was in the Navy, a guy in my class in Orlando bought a huge old Cadillac and spray painted it camouflage. Wish I had a picture of that. He also flunked out of Nuke School, but he was one hell of an artist.

New kid... will soon be 40 years old.

http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment...2&d=1315248266

My "new" commuter - a rebuilt 1980 Schwinn World Tourist. It's a pretty decent light touring bike with a CrMo frame and a nice upright geometry. I originally bought it for my wife to ride, but she has never ridden a bike before, and due to ongoing health issues, will do better learning on the Huffy, with it's fat tires and lower step-over.

In the mean time, I get a much nicer ride for my commute! At least until I get the Romic that a friend gave me rebuilt. :3 Then I'll have a REALLY nice ride~

These are my bikes, both of which get used for commuting. The left one is my 3-speed 'thing' which started as a cheap mtb I rescued from the dump and repainted. The modifications began from there. Since taking this, it's also gained some proper slick tyres to replace the semi-slicks on there. By now it's assumed the role of a dutch-style city bike which I use for everyday commuting and general riding around. Sometimes I bolt a wooden crate to the rear rack to carry shopping or bulky stuff.

The red bike is my dad's old Raleigh Scorpion. This is my backup commuter bike for when the thing is out of action. It's mostly standard, apart from the handlebars which are the original bars from the thing, turned upside down. A rear rack is next on the list. It's a bit faster than the thing due to the slightly more stretched out position and higher gearing. I use this if I'm in a hurry or fancy a change of wheels.

What's covering the rear derailleur?

That is a grunge guard that I got off of ebay. For some reason they are very hard to get.
But it works. It keeps the rear de nice n' clean and operating smoothly, especially in winter.

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6182/...170cd2d9_z.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6209/...bb15428c_z.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6085/...10bc07d4_z.jpg

2011 Kona Jake
 

Here's my 2011 Kona Jake that I picked up on Friday! Went with the 2011 over the 2012 cause I prefer blue and they offered 15% discounts on remaining 2011 bikes.

Currently outfitted with Schwalbe Marathon Plus tires, full fenders, Topeak Explorer rack and about 200 lbs of locks (give or take). On order or will pick up very soon: Topeak DXP trunk bag, Topeak Mini 20 Pro toolkit, Planet Bikes Protege 9 Wireless computer, Planet Bikes Blaze 2 Watt headlight and PDW Radbot 1000 tail-light. Also picked up a cheap Giro Transfer helmet to replace my ~10 year old lid.

Love the bike! Only ever ridden and owned cheap economy mountain bikes so this thing is awesome to me.
http://i.imgur.com/3532S.jpg

Funky! Thanks for the info.

Scoatw,

I like your fenders' red and white relective add ons. Where'd you get them?

Very nice Jake! I really want to ride a 2011 or 2012.

That is reflective tape that I got at an Ace Hardware store. That's the only place that I've seen it, in town. You can get something similar online.

Here's my main bike - Fuji Grand SE. Pantographed cranks, and Fuji branded rear derailleur. Just recently replaced the bars/levers and I like the functionality of the new set-up. But I don't like the color of my bar wrap...trying to wait a little while before redoing it in either gold or cork. I'm also thinking of building a Nexus-8 rear wheel for it, and hooking it up with a bar end shifter and making this my "winter bike"...and then trying to build a pretty bike during the winter for next spring/summer.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...ikes/Fuji1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...ikes/Fuji2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...ikes/Fuji3.jpg

Here is the bike I commute on, a Jamis Citizen 3. Just added the rack and bar-ends yesterday.
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=218040

That looks like a capable commuter. I've spent many a weekend in Pensacola. Good memories.

I've decided I couldn't leave the three speed I built alone, so I'm transforming it into a cafe? style racer looking thing, almost a bit ratrod when I'm done maybe.:) I'm going to repaint it again though still not sure what color and I need to get some grips to match the seat.
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j2...s/100_0709.jpg

In its "parking spot" ridden hard and put away wet.

That bike is well fitted out... when it comes to friction shifter parts the Suntour Vx sits very highly on that list.

PS - Might have to keep an eye out for that bike in October when I will be in PDX... I will probably be riding a shiny green Raleigh Twenty (much like the one I have here) all over the place.

Just got this one off ebay. I paid too much, but what the hell - that's what money is for:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/270811304925...84.m1439.l2649

Judging by the pics it looks to be in great condition for its age! I just sold an old Raleigh with a full 100GS gruppo. Very reliable bike; I was sad to see it go.

The condition is what had me bidding on this one. The shipping price alone is way out there, from my experience. But the bike looks good and jibes with the sellers description about being stored over the years. When I get it, I'll be certain to go through the hidden places thoroughly.
I live in a region where most bikes start life at Walmart. A small percentage come from bike shops, and would be what we call "name brands." Overall, however, the used bike market is hit or miss. Like everyone else, I scrounge Craigslist and keep an eye out for thrift store and trash heap "rescues," of course.

To date, only two of my five bikes came from these sources.

1. Roadmaster MTB - given to me.
2. Specialized Hard Rock - thrift store find, $15
3. Specialized Hard Rock - ebay, $76 including shipping.
4. Gavin Acele, like new - Craigslist, $375
5. Nishiki Manitoba - ebay, $212 including shipping

The used commuter bike market is thin, around here.