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Just put new tape, finally figured a way to get a bottle cage on here (not pictured), new pedals (with clips), and topeak rear rack!

Really nice!

Thanks all! The gearing on this is 46/30 up front; 11-36, 10 speed in the rear. The front derailer is an old Campagnolo record from the early 1970's (friction). The rear is a new, 9 speed, Shimano XT. The crankset an old Sugino copy of a TA crankset, requires a fd with a flat cage. A modern shaped cage would hit the crank arm. Shifting is great. The front has no issues and it is a mix of 10 speed chain, 1970's fd with 6/7 speed chainrings. The rear is shifted in 10 speed index mode from a Shimano barend. The bike will be in my office with me so no theft issues to worry about

Excuse the lousy photography, but here are my commuters. The Surly Cross Check has been my commuter, but it's being replaced by the Trek Triton (single speed) so I can keep the Cross Check purely for joy rides, touring, etc.




The Triton is getting new tires next week. I'll be swapping out the 23c tires for 28c gatorskins, which should make for a better commute. The Surly will keep the semi-knobby CX tires for now, since they're comfy for long rides, and handy for a bit of off-roading/rough trail riding on the weekends.

Can't even express how much I love these two bikes, for totally different reasons. I also like how the designs/colors compliment each other nicely. The Surly is de-decaled except for the two you see in the photo, and all the (surprisingly tasteful) decals on the Triton are not visible from the side. They're all on the insides/front of the seat tube, down tube, etc. Both are currently rocking different models of Shimano clipless/platform pedals. The A530 and the M324. FYI, for anyone who's interested, I absolutely prefer the A530s. Way lighter, much easier to flip with your toe, due to a wider platform, and WAY less painful when it smacks into your shin/calf when your foot slips compared to the cheese-grater M324s.

I've been commuting on this since January. I took the fenders off and tried a couple bags. Finally settled on a small Acorn.

Its fine for commuting and riding around town but at some point I'll switch the crank to a triple.

Well guys, I am new to the scene and the forums. I started commuting to work last week after getting fed up with gas prices and insurance hikes. I live in Clemson, SC, and my home is only around 7 miles from the office. I went in to the whole thing not knowing what I was getting in to, and thought it was only around a 2 mile ride Never the less, I managed to do it the first day, and have had no issues thus far! My commuter is a Diamondback Edgewood LX, but I wish I had read more in to the lifestyle, because I would have went far higher end if I had known all the benefits of a better bike (not that this one is terrible, per se). I will be taking delivery of a Raleigh Alley Way this next week, and it will become my "fair weather" commuter, with the Diamondback remaining the beater. Anyway, heres the picture!

edsmemberships about your butterfly handlebars....Can I ask a few question about these bars? I bought it. Did you replace all the components yourself and was it hard? Or did you take it to a bike store to do it. Was it expensive if you did? Thanks! It looks great!

Sweet rides, my crosscheck is backed up by a 1979 Schwinn LeTour converted to single speed, but that trek is gorgeous. Also, what rack is that on your surly? I have been looking for something I can strap a couple of panniers to without heel strike issues.

There's many a sweet bike on this thread. I have to keep telling myself I love my bike (bikes) and I don't need another one (or two).

Yep thats the biggest problem with BF is they make you want more/other bikes.

Just built this up but will have to decide on whether to keep it or sell another bike (I have a limit)... will be sweet and simple for those trips that rate nothing more than a backpack.



Have put 40 km on it since Sunday night and just love it and since it was free and built up with spare bits owes me nothing.

Dammit Sixty, you put that up just to tempt me, didn't you? (looking through couch for spare change)...Add me to the list of interested parties if you decide to sell...

Thanks! Yeah, I'm genuinely surprised how tastefully and gorgeously painted the Trek is. Such a fun bike to ride.

And the rack on the Surly is a Bontrager Back Rack (https://bontrager.com/model/08243). The nice thing about this rack is that it comes in sizes for large and small bikes. Since my Cross Check is a 52cm, the guy at the LBS suggested the small-bike version because even on a compact-ish frame like the Cross Check in a small-ish size like my 52, there's very little chance of heel-strike except with exceptionally large panniers. My panniers are coming in the mail soon, so I can't attest to that, but I have tied stuffed grocery bags over the rack, pannier-style, and have never touched them with my heel, even with them loosely swaying. It's a really nice rack, and the LBS has it for about $40, and offered to install it for free. It's got much beefier seat-stay supports than a lot of other racks I've seen, so it feels almost sturdy enough for another person to stand on. It's also got a nice spot for a tail-light attachment that's well shielded by the rear edges of the rack.

newbie here,



My Boomer ready for duty. =]

I've got one that looks just like it. All this time I thought it was a cat.

Update: I just got my panniers in the mail today (Timbuk2 Tandem Pannier), and I can verify that on my 52cm Cross Check, with the Bontrager Back Rack and the Tandem Pannier, there is absolutely no heel strike. I have size 11.5 feet, and even with my feet pushed so far back on the pedal as possible, while still being able to pedal with my toes there's still at least a couple inches of clearance, or more. Pedaling with my feet in a normal position (clipped in on the balls of my feet), there's got to be at least 4-5 inches of clearance. Of course, it's worth pointing out that the Timbuk2 Tandem Panniers DO angle upwards towards the back a few degrees, to give more clearance, but I'm confident that similar sized panniers, even without this feature, will fit just fine.

Very pleased with this setup, and highly recommend it!

It's good to hear how much you like your setup. I actually have a very inexpensive generic rack on my cross check and I ride with a timbuk 2 shift pannier with no problems, but it sits pretty high up so I am afraid that if I put on a set of proper panniers that I will start hitting them with my heels. My crosscheck is being upgraded from commuter to tourer this summer so I am looking to outfit it properly.

You can pop by anytime to take the bike out for a ride... and if you want to play with it for a few days let me know.

Should be pretty much plug and play since we have nearly identical proportions.

Hehe heres mine... usually traveling pretty light. Panniers coming though

O RLY? And just what is that magic number? :-)

Added a new stem (nitto technomic) and new bars (VO rando), next is some yellow cloth tape and some amber shellac.

Will do, probably next week sometime.

I'm new to commuting on two wheels and I'm hooked!

Here's a shot of my first ride to work on my new(old) Novara Buzz.

It's a 1x9 setup with what seem to be decent components? SRAM X5/7, 26" Slickasaurus on Alex rims, Ritchey headset/bars, Ergon grips...

I'm really loving the ride so far.

Last commute on the old Trek... she's going to a new home after a total refit.

If this bike could talk...

3 great looking bikes in a row. And I just convinced myself that I do not need a new bike until next spring.

Like the coffee cup on the Buzz, I use a similar set-up in the winter. Hard to find a good traveller mug that fits the bottle cages.