My BMC's frame cracked (was under warranty, never got a replacement but that's another story....). I've been commuting on my road bike since, but here in the north the road season is coming to end for this year so I needed a new bike.

Got a killer deal on a Cube Cross Disc frameset, and built it up. Stripped some pats off the BMC, and bought some new.
Components:
- Shimano 5700 (shifters, FD, cassette 12-25, chain), 6700 RD, CX50 crankset (46/36).
- Avid BB7 road brakes (160mm).
- Wheels are Mavic A317 disc rims, Sapim Race spokes, DT Pro Lock nipples and Novatec hubs.
- Ritchey Comp post, WCS saddle and WCS Evo Curve bar. Scor stem.
- Schwalbe CX Comp 35mm tyres

Took it for a spin this afternoon. I'm pleased with the outcome. Tyre clearance seems to tighter than on my old bike, don't know if the 40mm studded winter tyres will fit or not.

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Yesterday, I commuted on my Twenty.

This picture is from New Jersey a few months ago.

crazy looking stem setup..

It was rhm's idea. The bike came with a horrific headset. The upper part had merely nylon bushings instead of a ball bearing. rhm said to put on in an Aheadset headset, so I did. I also tweaked the fork to have less rake, also on his recommendation.

Studded tires???? No, problem.

Put 'em on and go for a ride. The further you go, the better they fit.

Had some tinker time in the garage today so decided to fashion some fork mounts for my Cygolights from some spare Greenfield kickstand parts I had lying around.

New commute, new commuter bike:





Bike-bus-bike commute. The Birdy fits well under the bus, drivers who usually hate dealing with full size bikes love it. Since the parking lot is huge and usually full, lots of envious looks when I whip this thing together and ride off.

Ravenhog, that's excellent work!

Besides being my heavy hauler and winter ride extraordinaire, "Stretch" also serves as my mobile shop...





I don't have to worry about any mechanical issues with this set up and even took the bike and trailer through our river valley en route to yesterday's worksite.

Yikes, how long before that RD hits something and gets destroyed?

well since that's about the lowest it can get... probably never!

My folder has a derailleur that sits a few inches above the ground... if it hits the ground in a turn I am going to be crashing.

That derailleur is quite the low-dangling dingle dongle doodle.

Is that a skateboard deck on the rear rack? What an awesome rig!

Yep... save for the consumables and the handlebars the entire bike was built up from salvaged parts, my friend donated the retired skateboard deck.

The bags are German military surplus that cost me $2.00 each and were re-configured to serve as supersize panniers... I could have carried everything I needed without the trailer but that makes carrying things so easy and does not really have much effect unless you are dragging it up steep hills.

\

Yes, the dongle dangles...

So far, not an issue. One of the better things about the Birdy is how well it corners, suspension sticking the tires to the road. I have a tendency to take corners fast and lean into them. So far, no derailleur strike in a couple weeks of riding, and was/is not even a worry on my end.

It's a full-suspension folder, but definitely not an offroad bike. I'd be worried if I was riding New England single track with a derailleur hanging low like that, but no issues on the road.

If any derailleur strike ever does happen, I'll just swap it out for a more tucked-away derailleur design, like the Capreo or any of numerous Shimano shadow offerings.

Maybe it's the camera angle, but it looks to me the tip of the RD extends just past the rim, which would mean a sharp curb or pothole, anything that would bottom out the tire, may also hit the RD. Or if you steer just left of a rock, or just fall into the right edge of a pothole... But hey, if your commute is new, maybe it hasn't gotten all worn out with holes and rocks yet!

I used a SRAM X series derailleur on my custom P20... have never had a problem with things striking the derailleur and many a Bike Friday is also built like this. The Sram does sit higher than a traditional long cage rear d.

One should always strive to stay out of potholes and avoid rocks big enough to take out your rear derailleur.

^^^This.

If it's ever a problem, I will find a way to deal with it. I doubt it will be.

This is theoretically a much bigger issue than it is in reality. This seems to happen a lot online.

I will dutifully report back in if I ever hit the derailleur on anything during the normal course of riding.

PS. 65r, your 20 (or whatever the Phillips equivalent is) rocks hard, always has, definitely an inspiration and fantastic build.

. Here's my 20 buck yard sale trek 800 I have added michlean 1.4 tires and bar ends.so far I love this bike it does everything I need and was dirt cheap.I do plan to add a rear rack and some taller bars other than that I am gonna beat the snot out of it.

New fenders on my Fargo:



A close up of the custom made front hanger, made by a machinist friend:

Haven't been able to ride for about 5 yrs. due to health problems, but finally got the Dr's. blessing. My old bike was basically a frame with a stem and bars after sitting up unused for so long. Found this bike, Schwinn Trailway, at the local Target and after the fenders rack etc. only had around $300 in it which was the high end of my budget. Not the best bike but rides good and my local LBS's couldn't get me on something comparable for less than $600 on up.

I brought my bike inside to my choral rehearsal last night. Someone said, "Wow, that's some serious machine." Heh.

(This picture is from a few months ago in New Jersey.)

This is the best thing I have read all day.