Here is the finished build. I've only ridden it ~6mi. but have yet to notice anything that bugs me.
I decided to go with a synthetic cork tape...no regrets yet. Seems to do well in the rain and is super cushy and comfy on Seattle's pockmarked streets.


My tektro linear pull brakes. I only remember my c.1980's canti's so these are AWESOME comparatively.


Thanks everyone for the inspiration. Next up is a CETMA 3-rail rack for the front. That should work just fine with the LHT fork, right?

rigid mtb + xtracycle + studs = my winter commuter

My backup commuter:

Nice back-up, is a that a banjo brothers saddle bag?

Like the wald racks, just picked mine up and put them on during my lunch hour. Amazingly easy to bolt onto a schwinn.

Thanks! I'm really excited!

Here's my commuter. The location shown in the pic (Ala Moana Beach Park with Waikiki Beach and Diamond Head in the background) isn't on my commute, but this is only about 7 miles away. I went for a ride into town today after work. My normal commute is about 12 miles round trip. After transferring here from Virginia, I am loving the "winter" here. Sometimes it gets all the way down to the 60's at night!

I bought the Globe after my Electra Townie got "lost" by the movers. I love my Globe, it's much more versatile than the Townie, plus it has white tires. It came with a white seat too, but it was about the size of a coffee table so I switched it out.

Here's mine. It's a 2010 Felt F95x. Too bad they dropped this model for 2011 it makes a great commuter. I've had to take some time off due to the roads just getting too narrow from all the snow to feel safe. The pic is from a test ride into work this morning to check my route and test out the new Innova studs. Weather looks good all week so I'm hoping to ride all week and leave the car at home.

SAM_0035 by Flsimages, on Flickr

SAM_0032 by Flsimages, on Flickr

My Singular build. I only have about about two miles on it due to weather (it's standing upright in the snow Today's weather was really nice, so I went for a ride with my daughter and it feels pretty good.

A pic of the Cross Check decked out with WTB 700X37 All Terrain tires. It was a bit over 40 yesterday....still a good bit of snow/slush on the path outside of town...

Hi jtelford,
nice looking bike. how is your EBB secured? looks like a clamp style? which dtswiss rims are you using?

I don't understand the new rack. Why is it lower than the fender.
I was very interested in getting a Detour Deluxe until the changes for this year.

Help, your opinion would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Paul

Ahem. It is vintage Schwinn-approved, sir.

My guess is that the rack is intended for hanging panniers only. It's kind of funny though, huh?

My bad, it was not my intent to disparage a classic, I just don't have the education to know the difference.

Hi Throsteno,
Thank you- I appreciate that.

The EBB is fixed by 2 set screws, not a clamp.

The rims are DTSwiss X470. Apparently they changed their stick-on logo- these (logos) look different than my other set.
Cheers,
J

What makes it look slightly 'off' is the fender mounts, if they were mounted horizontally it would have looked just that tiny bit cleaner.

Oh and Doohickie, I subbed to your new blog

It's all good. I was going to say something like, "Do I look like the kind of guy that can afford Banjo Brothers?" but after checking their prices... yes I am; their prices are very reasonable. They're larger under seat bag costs roughly the same as what I paid for this old Schwinn thing.

Paul,

Check out Alan's blog.....www.ecovelo.info

He did a write up on the bike yesterday I think.

Yup. That crate is gone now. It wasn't sturdy enough and too big. I would like something slightly smaller and stiffer. But since this bike will get overhauled when my Big Dummy goes into service I don't want to do anything now. Ideally, I'd like to find a used Topeak rackpack with a locking mechanism that's compatible with the rear rack and hack that mechanism onto a basket to make it easily removable.

The commuter will get all new cables (compressionless Nokon brake cables and sealed Gore derailleur cables), 180mm rotors and metallic pads, new RD, new cassette, crankset and chain and maybe a DIY lighting kit like the one you have. Then it might get a proper basket too. It'll be my backup bike.

This bike evolved kind of organically over time with function and comfort as top priorities. I was making changes to it gradually as I saw a need. It may not be pretty (although, like you, I like the way it looks!) but it's reliable, strong, it handles great, can haul lots of stuff and is certainly visible I can do 40+ mile rides on it comfortably too. I may even swap the frame for the Troll frame if I have the money. The current frame is too small.

Oh, and my Stem Captain clock arrived yesterday:

COOOOL! I've been wanting the thermometer one for a while now, just so I can brag to my buddies exactly how cold it was outside!

Major cool points!

I just looked up the captain stem cap, never thought I would have stem cap envy. That is the coolest, and there is a LBS in town that carries them.

I love it. I'm brainstorming how to get their thermometer somewhere there too BTW, they have them with a white face too, if you'd prefer and gold, blue and red case colors. I ordered mine directly from them. I got two, one for my Big Dummy too!

Here is a better picture:

This is my bike for when I need to ride the train during peak hours, and can't take my good commuter on board. Its a pink/green Kent Avalanche!

How does that little clock secure into the steerer? Do you have to remove the top cap completely? I'd like to get one myself, but I'm wondering how the headset doesn't work loose (I've got a rental MTB at the moment whose stem simply will not stay straight; it needs the top cap to keep the fork in place).