Here's my latest commuter. It's a Raleigh...it's a 3-speed, but not the one you think. Came in around 18lbs without even trying to be weight weenie.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-i...87971922_n.jpg

Retroshift.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-f...96639836_n.jpg

It's still in the transition phase from MTB to full time commuter, but she fulfills my needs. 1x9 with some newly acquired Zero Lite's and some new brake pads. She should suit well for this wet weather season. Just need to get the rack and panniers back on and we will be good to go.

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2854/1...49b6583d_z.jpg

My Bridgestone RB-2 with 30mm cross tires and a flatbar.

That's a pretty slick setup. What else can you tell us about the drivetrain and shifter? I have a Raleigh Tripper, (also a 3-speed) which I've been considering converting to drop bars, and thought my only good option was a Sturmey-Archer bar end shifter.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=346999
My daily commuter, upright seating position.

very clever shift mounting - you just drill a hole in the lever housing?

He didn't invent those himself; they're Retroshift. (However, that's the first time I've seen them used for an IGH)

FYI, here's my review.

aha! I read it as "retro" shift!

You are correct sir. Only modification I had to make was to stack a couple small washers under the bolt. I could have also shortened the bolt, but I fear commitment. I'm now wondering if a J-tek/retroshift combo might be possible with an 8-speed.

I got the build kit from Traitor Cycles. It's your basic Sturmey S-RF3 and the Sturmey barend shifter mounted to a Retroshift lever. After today's commute, I can tell you it works beautifully. I am going to be embarrassing some roadies on the group rides in the spring. I can hear it now,

"Is your hub broken? It's clicking."
"Nah it's a 3-speed."

I did not need this information. If only I could just pick up the wheelset and shifter...

My 2 commuting bikes for now:
MTB soon to be upgraded to a Surly Big Dummy.

1974 Apollo Deelite.....35lbs
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=347204

2008 Giant Rincon.....40lbs without pannier
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=347205

I had very little luck finding someone who would sell me a wheelset with the bar end shifter. What I paid for the build kit was not much more than I would have to buy the parts to build only the rear and have it built up.

It's not the most beautiful thing on earth, but it's mine. It gets me through Beijing traffic and country roads with sheep, too.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=348745

and, yes, I know the picture's blurry. My phone has its limits. That, or I was afraid of the sheep.

http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...ps5abfb7a4.jpg

kona jake with borrowed pannier

It looks like you stole the basket from a balcony in Venice! Nice bike, surprised about the weight though, thought it'd be at least 5lb less.

Looks pretty beautiful to me, especially for China. My buddy spent a year in Beijing teaching English (and wrote a fantastic book about it!), and he was paranoid about bike theft. He wrapped his entire frame in duct tape to disguise it, and I think it was just a Mongoose, not a tricked-out commuter with fenders and a leather saddle!

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=348756 Here's my commuter bike http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=348757 here it is in Saturday form http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=348758

Love the DIY trunk. Probably what, $5 from home despot? Did you just cut holes and ziptie it to the rack? Is it waterproof enough that way?

RubeRad: Thanks! neon single speeds are all the rage now. Plus, I live and work somewhat near the airport - hence the lack of skyscrapers in this picture - and keep my bike locked in my apartment or office.

When I was living in busier areas, I had a Forever that nobody would've wanted anyway.

Thought it was supposed to be the sheep that were nervous.
I like the bike.

I have the same basic trunk on my foul weather/beater bike so my cargo won't get wet. Mine is solid black though, $6 at Wal Mart, I put Adel clamps around the rack frame then drilled through the bottom of the tub and used machine screws with fender washers to attach it through the clamps then put a layer of high density foam in the bottom. Mine has a carrying handle in the middle of the lid that rattled, I wrapped it with electrical tape until the tape was thick enough to wedge it against the side of the recess it sits in, no more rattle. I could have removed the handle but it makes a nice additional attaching loop for light items that are to big to go inside.

Cool! I also considered using screws and large washers, but went with heavy duty zip ties instead (simple yet effective). I've been using the same tub and same zip ties for about a year now ~ 3-4 thousand miles of carrying full loads on pretty rough terrain and its still in great condition. I actually got mine from wal-mart as well $6 + a little change. I am actually surprised that I don't see this more often, in fact I have never seen anyone else do the same thing, your the first. It's so freaking cheap and works really well. It is a bit ugly but IMHO looks better than a milk crate, which I have seen a lot of. Good idea on the foam, I have thought about putting something soft on the bottom but haven't bothered yet. One draw back to mine is noise if hard objects get loose inside, but I try not to let that happen.

To answer RubeRad's question above, yes it is waterproof, I've been through some crazy rain storms with that thing. A month or so back when Colorado was flooding everywhere, I was carrying my textbooks and other valuables in that thing without any problems. I guess a few drops of water got in from the small zip tie holes underneath but it was extremely minimal and that could be easily rectified with a bit of silicone caulking (hasn't been enough of an issue for me to bother with it yet). I did just install the rear light so a bit of water might be able to get in where it is attached, so I think I will give it the silicone treatment soon. The tub also works as a fender .

Yeah, same here, I figured it was probably pretty common so I never bothered to post and never gave it any more thought. When I saw yours tonight it hit me that it is the only other one I've seen so far. I prefer to think of it as "utilitarian" rather than ugly however. ;)

I was originally going to use J-bolts to make it so I could remove it fairly quickly but then realized I really had no need for that feature. I also had no J-bolts but I did have a bin full of Adel clamps just the right size I'd probably never use, I had bought an assortment for an automotive project 15-20 years ago and these were the leftovers. Zip ties would have worked just as well though and had I not had the clamps would have been my next choice. Glad to hear it's as weatherproof as I had hoped, I haven't had to test mine yet.

I finally carried a camera on a ride.

http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s...5060f49f20.jpg

Details and a few more pics here.

Welp, I did it...I went through this entire thread, starting from page 1. Took me about a month and a half, but I have thoroughly enjoyed seeing all of your lovely/new/old/beautiful/unique/hardworking commuter rigs. I haven't taken many proper pics of my fleet, but I'll drop a quick snap from this morning, taken after the ride into work:

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=349334

Rode the Tank today...not pictured: Topeak MTX Beamrack (E-type) and MTX trunk bag (the one without side panniers). The roads here are a mix of loose gravel, cracked magma field-like asphalt, and smooth sailing fresh paving...with a surprising number of hills, so the Tank's gearing and big, balloon-y Fat Frank's were perfect for an easy cruise this morning.

Bonus pic: The sunrise this morning over Columbia Metro Airport:
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=349335