Sixty Fiver, what handlebars are those? They look cool.

Such pretty bikes. Such good ideas. You guys have works of art.

I've been commuting on my 2010 Specialized Sirrus Sport for the last couple weeks. I really like the faster and more nimble ride. It's a lot more fun on my long commute than prodding along with a 40 pound mountain bike.

Looks sharp, but that cable looks pretty short.

It's actually about three inches longer than I was going to cut it, I keep the cables a little shorter to prevent the bars from spinning when on a stand or trunk mounted car rack

Just some nameless steel north road style bars I flipped and then wrapped with cloth and shellac... tried a few styles before I got a set that felt right.

How many hand positions do you get? Obviously the drops, but is there a way to ride on the hoods or something?

My daily commuter

*Worksman Industrial Tricycle (500-pound capacity).
*36-volt SLA battery
*500-watt hub motor (front wheel)
*22 amp controller (inside wooden box on back deck with battery).

*Top Speed: 22mph.
*Can handle most hills unassisted (but I pedal frequently to help the motor and to maintain good speed on hills).
*Total outfit weighs 130, plus my 200 pounds.
*Can easily pull another adult sitting on the back (they sit on the box facing away from me with feet on platform). I usually just haul one of my kids around the neighborhood for fun.
*Range: About 12 miles in a hilly environment, 20 miles on the flats.
* My commute is 4 miles by paved bike path each way. No mingling with cars.





This is another E-bike I built (www.ebikekit.com).

Same specs as the tricycle (in terms of the motor and battery kit). Very fun and effective, and easy to balance if you can get the weight in the frame instead of on a rear rack.





My next project will be must more powerful, will use LifePo batteries (48-volt) and will have offroad capability. It will be based on this bike model (cromoly frame):

Fairmont, you seem to have missed the point....

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I only have one brake hood...

Ride with my hand in the bend of the bar most of the time... also use the ends for a wider lower position (acceleration and climbs) and can sit up and ride with my hands at centre where the bars are un-wrapped as even with a narrow hand position the bike is really stable.

The wide position is good for track stands too...

Is that a centerpull?

Nothing special here.

Well, what about fresh air, having fun, saving money? Those don't mean much?

Actually I get the point quite well.

I didnt really get the objectionable quote either. If he chooses to use e-assist to commute more power to him. We are talking commuter bikes here arent we?

Exactly. Although I don't want an e-bike, I also don't want carbon fiber, or a whole lot of other common things.

I would love to get my wife to bike to work, even it means an e-bike.

I agree. If that's what he can handle for now. let him do it. It's better than him driving a car or something... the whole point is to make us not look like elitists, so people won't feel like they'll be rejected if they start commuting. If we start criticizing people for their bike choices, saying they aren't really bike commuting, then we look like ******bags. Sure, we can suggest types of bike for them to buy, or upgrades, to make their commute easier, but we can't be all pissy when they make their own decisions.

Made a few changes - swapped to 'stache bars, changed to downtube friction shifters, changed the mounting configuration of bottle cages/pump, added fenders, added toe clips, and made a few other minor changes since the last pic...

I added some fenders the last couple of days from my Dahon to the Shetland. I had to squeeze them in there and make some extra mounting thingys to get them to fit, but they work great. Its now totally ready for long rides or commuting.

I started commuting a couple years ago and took a break for a while for miscellaneous reasons. Started up again this past April with a Schwinn Cimarron. I decided to take the plunge and invest in a new commuter which I picked up last Thursday. My daily commute is 7.5 miles each way.

2011 Giant Cypress:


I've put about 40 miles on it so far and it has been by far the best riding bike I've owned yet.

Added a sunlite rear rack and a Co2 inflation and patch kit

Yep.

"Special" is in the eye of the beholder. I love commuterized Hardrocks (it's also "Specialized" )

Classy!

Thank you! I only have the cash for one bike, so I have to set this one up the way I want with a balance between form and function (and different functions at that - this is my commuter, recreational, and touring bike in one ). I'm still wanting to swap out the saddle for a Brooks B17 (for both form and function), and maybe add some of those Velo Orange "nub" thingies on the handlebars to give myself a more comfortable upright position. I think that will do me for awhile (har har har).

At long last, not only have I built up my Surly, but I remembered to take a camera with me to take some decent photos. I took these today. I didn't go to work, so it wasn't my commute, but this is a common commuting configuration for me now. If it's not full panniers on the rear rack it's my Topeak rack trunk. Looking forward to years of happy commuting and touring on this bike!

There's still a lot of steerer tube and spacers, I know; I left it mostly uncut until I dial in the fit a bit better. I'm guessing the handlebars will be coming down another spacer or two before all is said and done.

Those bars look familiar...

Yeah, those handlebars are definitely among the best cycling-related acquisitions I've made. Thanks again!!!