what panniers are these? nice Elance!

Thanks! The panniers are old Cannondales that I got off CL for $20 for the set. They're actually front rack bags but I run them off the back. I hardly even notice that they're there.

When funding becomes available I am going to switch to a trunk bag and move the HB bag to another bike.

I got this Giant used a couple years ago at a local bike shop for $150. It is by far the smoothest, highest quality bike I've ever had. I love it! I'd like to swap out the tires for some nice street slicks and maybe get a nice cpu to measure my distance/speed etc. I think this is technically a mountain bike. Am I right? I ride this about 4 miles each way to work. And I'm thinking of entering a triathalon next month.
Mike

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images...628scaled.jpg/

Looks like a mountain bike to me.

You are correct. It is a mountain bike. :thumb:

It will make a dandy commuter, but is not the best choice for a triathalon.

1988 scott sawtooth
 

YEP:rolleyes: Ol' School mountain bikes make killer commuters !check out the long stays and stretched out front fork on this oldie! i slapped a set of Forte 26x1.25 slicks on the vintage Ayara wheels and a Topeak rack with slide in bag with built in panniers, i got rid of a HEAVY 2010 GT Traffic that i had been commuting on to purchase a vintage roadbike i had been wanting , so the old Sawtooth sitting in the back of the garage was put back into action!http://i833.photobucket.com/albums/z...Picture721.jpg

Thanks for the response. Why wouldn't this be very good for a triathalon? It's all I've got so I'm going to have to use it either way. I figure some new slicks should some.
Thanks
Mike

Yes, it's the 49cm. I could also ride the 54cm fine, but I had a racer friend advise me that given a choice between two frame sizes always pick the smaller frame as it's easier to make a smaller frame fit then it is to do the same with a larger one.

As for the color, yes the photos on BD are definitely a darker green. I couldn't say if they changed the color, or if their lighting just makes it look much darker. In person it's definitely green and not the almost black color on the BD website.

The reason that your current bike wouldn't work well for a Tri is because, a Tri is meant to be a road race. At the very least, you'd need a 80's era road bike, and put on some aerobars. While slick tires would help, and you would need to get them for commuting regularly, for a Tri, it wouldn't be sufficent. (Depending on the length, it could be very short, but I don't know) Go check out the Triathalon boards, and see what they use, I'd look for an old road bike on your local Craigslist, and see what they think. Not to knock your current bike, it'll do very well for you currently. Good luck!

Edit: Found this thread, it could help with Triathlon aspirations, this is kinda what I had in mind: http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...mber-s-example

Nice mini velo. I just couldn't get into my Dahon Hammerhead, so I decided to try to sell it.
http://i914.photobucket.com/albums/a...e/IMG_1890.jpg

Hello everyone,

Here's my budget commuter (newbie here; wanted to try out commuting first before sinking hard cash on a descent bike):

http://www.specialbikes.gr/eshop/ima...?productid=267

German engineering, Romanian built, costs 185 euros ($260 US) and so far has coped with my 310lbs without having anything fly off! lol

It looks well suited for commuting. Around here you'd probably pay $500 for a similar bike at a local shop, so I think you got a deal. I started off on a very similar bike and after 3years it actually feels smoother than new.

I initially ordered an Electra Townie 3i which is absolutely the best bike I've ever ridden, but decided to go for something cheaper (Electra's cost around $1000 US here!) since I didn't have a safe place to store the bike and also having learned that Electra's are the #1 bike on thieves lists. The guy I ordered the Electra told me that 1 week before my order, an Electra was stolen when someone actually cut down a full size road lamp-post! The police were baffled as to why no-one saw the thief... this on a city corner!!!

It looks perfect for commuting.

+1 looks like some awesome (IMO) relaxed geometry.

I finally have my little Peugeot pretty much finished. This thing is a blast to bomb around in and its really comfy. The bar end shifters work so much better than the old thumbshifters did. I haven't decided yet what I am putting on the rack to haul things yet. I am leaning toward a folding basket on one side and my Jadd trunk bag like I had on my Trek. I really like this bike alot. It been kind of a pain in some ways to get it all together and taken a while, but I think its worth it. Its going to be my "new" primary commuter.

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/a...e/IMG_2406.jpg

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/a...e/IMG_2405.jpg

+2 Just perfect! Comfy and I love the blue and silver.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=202986http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=202985http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=202984WTB pro gel seat,Blackburn mars 3.0 blinkie,rear luggage rack w/multiple tie down options,green reflective straps,3M reflective tape front to back,on the wheels,and on the pedals,and lighting the way with a 90 lumen,and a 144 lumen coleman flashlight(s).On the ride a green reflective vest accompanies it all,with a helmet that also has the 3M tape all over it.Now I have only had all this done 2 days now but my girl went riding behind me earlier and said I look similar to a carnival ride going down the road o.O

Finally got my Novara Transfer commuter set up the way I want it. Here is a pic of how it looked when it was fairly close to stock:
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f9...8/IMG_6819.jpg

I didn't mind how it looked and rode while stock, I just wanted to swap out some parts to make it a bit more comfortable and personalized. This is how it looks now:
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f9.../IMG_03331.jpg
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f9.../IMG_03321.jpg

I change up the panniers depending on how much I have to carry for the day so I still have and use the Axioms. I am quite satisfied with the Transfer so far.

How about that, three mini velos on the same page.

Great bikes! Love the reduce, reuse, and recycle theme of the Specialized and the clean lines of the Mercier. Kudos! :thumb:

http://i.imgur.com/GyO07.jpg

After I get my Velo Orange Model 1 leather saddle in, I figure my only bike will finally be complete! (well, maybe some reflective sidewall tires. And new bottle cages. And a third chainring....)

Everytime I see a singlespeed cross bike I want one.

^ If it's not too hilly where you ride, go for it. I love the San Jose for commuting, but I'm a bit weary to even do some light touring with it. Currently running 42x17 so I'm not sure how well I can climb with it if I'm carrying a load.