so im a bit unconventional
i like my track bikes (rode around tokyo forever when i was there) so decided to keep it goin
i just got back from grocery shopping, i live in saudi arabia lol.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5209/...5b1e35c232.jpg
IMG_9285 by Flsimages, on Flickr

Awesome.

That is a gorgeous bike. For me, weight is not the "be all, end all". Although weight is critical if you compete and need to keep your bike as light as possible, for a commuter or for long ride applications, weight is not my top priority. Your bike practically screams " I'm comfortable and a pleasure to ride on". You are right... steel ins't light... but man is it comfortable!

Happy trails ;-)

So I got my bike finally. I had a 2009 or 2010 Specialized Allez previously but it was totaled in an accident back in December. This here is my 2011 Allez. Some different specs but the cable sheathing is white (not black like my old bike), brakes and brake levers are white and silver, respectively (instead of both black on the earlier model.) My main annoyance aesthetically is the white cables. They look bad but I'll change it sometime soon.

As for the rest of the bike, I also took the opportunity to upgrade some items I was looking to upgrade anyway. In addition to getting the new bike, I added an Axiom Streamliner DLX rear rack, Axiom Kootenay panniers, SKS P35 fenders in silver, Planet Bike SuperFlash in the rear and Blaze 1 Watt up front. I also added the Mirrycle MTB Bar End mirror, which is pretty nice IMO.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._3760189_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._6379750_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._2998419_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._8022506_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._4179729_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._3392994_n.jpg

To round out the day, I also bought a frame and several other parts from a local gent who was selling them for $50. It's a late 80's Schwinn Voyager, and it's a rear derailleur, seat, cables and a wheelset away from being a whole new bike. It's even in my size too.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._2452485_n.jpg

Its not THAT heavy either. It all the junk you put on it :) If you did that build on a carbon fiber frame, it would probably be, what, 27-28lbs? It looks fantastic though - very similar to what I'm building for my wife in Robin's egg blue minus racks and fenders. I'm hoping we can get it around 20lbs. Weight isn't the ultimate goal, but she's wanting something sportier and better for long rides than her current 35lb commuter.

Thanks for all the kind words about the Surly.

Pallen...yeah, the "junk" certainly contributes to the weight. I almost went with the Robin Egg blue color. I was thinking blue/chrome, but in the end, opted for the all black look like the other thousand all blacked out Surlys! :lol:

Raleigh Detour Deluxe
 

I'm having fun with the new Raleigh Detour Deluxe.

http://www.ecovelo.info/images/detour-deluxe-08-485.jpg

http://www.ecovelo.info/images/detour-deluxe-06-485.jpg

I knew I'd seen that Detour somewhere. I've been following EcoVelo for a while. Very nice bike.

Good to see you back in the saddle:) I think i like that one better with the white

Sharp! That is a nice looking bike.

I like that Allez.

The Voyageur has some real potential, too!!!!!

@ecovelo that is a beautiful bike. I love the simplicity of it. What is that under the rear stays? Is that a lock or the rear brake?

Rebuilding my 1994 Trek Mtn Track 850 for commuting. Posted a while ago and wanted to show the progress.
http://i.imgur.com/68ntm.jpg" alt="Hosted by imgur.com
The "white" is actually reflective sidewalls on the tires and reflective tape on the top tube.
http://i.imgur.com/46FJO.jpg" alt="Hosted by imgur.com
Got a sweet deal on this cassette and was excited that it wouldn't be the shiny chrome-looking things on most bikes since that would look funny with the rest of the bike.

I need to replace the rear derailer since the OEM derailer I have seems to only work 7 of my 8 gears. The range is just a wee bit small. Other things left to do: Front derailer needs to be put on and I will probably need brakes and bar tape before I start riding. (No backup bike)

**edited the img link**

Are those Velocity Halo wheels? I'm thinkning about getting some of those. Got better pics?

They are Vuelta's actually. I peeled the stickers off because I really didn't want lots of garish branding. I think they are the 26" MTB pro (as opposed to the comp.
Maybe these are better?
http://i.imgur.com/vemxQ.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/yAWbz.jpg

* saw the Velocity's. The reflective stuff is actually part of the tire, not the rim. The Schwalbe tires I got didn't mention anything about reflective sidewalls, but I actually am happier that they have it. I think it looks really cool. the tape on the frame is from BrightBike and I actually cut the 1/4" strips into 1/8" strips and made three different stripes (Big, small, small).

http://ompldr.org/vNzZpNA/bike.jpg

Updates: fenders, dynamo hub (Novatech) and lights (Lumotec Lyt and Toplight Line Plus), rear rack and waterproof pannier (Banjo Brothers).

If you want to buy them for the reflectivity, you'd do better to buy tires with reflective sidewalls, or to apply reflective tape to your current rim. The reflectivity of the Halo rims is kind of underwhelming.

Light coming from an angle:

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/y...idley/rim1.jpg

Lit from straight on:

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/y...idley/rim2.jpg

From 20 ft away:

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/y...idley/rim3.jpg

The further from the light source, the more weakly the Halo reflects compared to decently retro-reflective tape. Even from across the apartment, the tape on the fork is noticeably brighter. The rim is better than nothing, but there're cheaper and more effective ways to light up your bike.

I'm not ecovelo, but I thought I'd respond to that anyway. It's a lock made by Axa, pretty common here in the Netherlands. Outside the Netherlands I've noticed U-locks are more common.

Thanks FreddyV! I'm going to check and see if it's available here in the States. I like the
thought of having a "built-in" lock for quick lock ups.

** Edit: I just saw all sorts of info about how easy it is to pick this lock with a blank key or even just a regular key. Youtube vid here. I think I'll pass on this lock even though it looks cool. DANG.

Damn, didn't know about that yet.

Luckily my lock's harder to break, it's the same style, but different internals, so blank keys won't work. Still need to replace the Mrs' lock though...

I would LOVE to post a pic of my machine, but it simply has NOTHING on these. *drools*

Post it up...

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder... I'd say post it up, and let us decide :)

My daily ride to college bike and my long saturday ride :) http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/6057/a3mgh.jpg

That is a winter riding postcard.. great pic!!