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.

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikep...13forrest1.JPG

^^^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.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=342606. 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:

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7315/9...a397f2b0_b.jpg

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

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7359/9...df5aa13c_b.jpg

My new bike
 

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.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=342712

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.)

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-3...6+14.21.36.jpg

This is the best thing I have read all day.

:)

Agreed. Riding is more important than the machine. You're riding. What could be bad about that?

Ride them like you stole them, gents. :)

:thumb:

I won't be losing any sleep at night about this and I think on my mini velo I use for commuting has lower hanging fruit than anything pictured. I am not worried.

+1, welcome back to the obsession

Nice! How well do they work like that?

Nice fargo set-up, I bought some PB cascadia fenders for mine and they are still not installed, too much customization involved. I threw a SKS shockboard on up front just to keep the sludge out of my eyes and gave up on the rest. What kind of fenders are those?

I finally decided to ditch the backpack for my commute, picked up a rack and panniers which I'll be installing tonight. Pics soon!

EDIT: wow, that was the easiest install ever. Rack lined up absolutely perfectly out of the box, and all the hardware was the ideal length as well. 10 minutes total including adjustment of pannier! Crappy cell phone pic:

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-F...926_200212.jpg

Excited for its maiden voyage tomorrow morning. Sweaty back and achy shoulders, no more!

It's a Blackburn TRX-1 Ultimate Touring rack, which is awesome: narrower, lighter, and better mounting positions than anything else I found; and Ortlieb Bike Packer Plus pannier set. Starting to get into touring, and will eventually pick up a new rig with gears to move them over to for that use.

Looks like a diy dynamo light, got anymore pics and details? I have a few diy dynamo lights myself.

Any reasons why you chose the birdy over a dahon (or other brands)?

My new fenders are these, from Peter White:

http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/berthoud.asp

They are the 700 x 60 mm size. My tires are 700 x 50 Schwalbe Supremes, and I could go bigger with those fenders. Not much, though. I had the Cascadia 29er fenders, and they don't cover quite as well. On a fast descent on wet pavement, the water would spray foward out from the front and I would ride through it. I haven't ridden these in the rain yet, because I've been a lazy wimp this week. Grr.

This is my dynolight setup. I have both headlight and tail light:

http://lightonlights.com/dynolight.html

I think it's made in Portland, OR.

Finally took her out for a ride in complete darkness. They work awesome and are very solid. I am aware that in a crash they are not mounted in the best position. My hopes are that I drilled the hole close enough to the edge that in the event of a crash the bolt would tear though the soft aluminum and not damage the braze of the fork. In the pictures I have the mount bolted directly to the braze on. I have been thinking about side to side adjustment altough with the wide beam pattern of the two lights its not necessary. But since I like to have options I have been thinking of using some disc caliper curved washer sets (in left half of below photo) to allow side to side adjustment. If I can find them in my parts bin ill try them out this weekend and post pictures and an update. Space was limited on my bars with a handlebar bag as well as the bag getting in the way of the lights.
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/i...85D-cmXqDtgdZX

Lol!

Sweet ride! Love the color.

Thanks. Its like a smokey blue. Here are some pics of it up close:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7023773...7633085407086/

Congratulations, you must be living right! Last time I installed a rear rack it took me so long I thought I had started a new career! ;)