Thank you. I use a little toe strap that I trimmed to keep it from flopping around too much. Works like a charm. I keep the bike inside the bike room at work (where else?), but I like to be prepared to stop at the store on the way home. So far that has been just a "what if?" though.

What do you win if you win?

That is an excellent question!

To win I have to ride to work 80% of the time for the rest of the year, but I don't actually know what I win.

I should probably work on my negotiating skills.

I often carry my locks this way too, the strap is a good idea as I have had locks eject themselves, the velcro straps used for pumps also works well for this.

That is where I keep the lock when I am running with one pannier. But the lock I have I actually lock up around the rack legs, so flopping and ejecting are not possible.

Here's my ride. Its a 2012 Giant Avail 3 Composite. I ride about 19 miles each way once a week for now. I'm working on adding another day but my wife isn't always happy about having to watch our daughter by herself for an extra hour so I can commute.

Man, I really like that Raleigh...

M.

TheDavid, when I see those bikes (and your avatar), I just want to say sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

t!

my new commuter!

TheDavid, if you like that actor, you'll enjoy his very different character in the movie Cedar Rapids. Or here's a clip at least... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIxh2j8JBtg

Very nice!!! Where do you work? Where do you keep the bike lock keys?

Funny thing is I don't watch TV and rarely watch movies. I remember stumbling into a clip of him saying 'sheeeeeeee' years ago and I loved it. Have been saying it since then.

Out west my friend. I'm out west. I have yet to take this one out for a spin this year. It was hibernating during winter and last week I changed the shifters, cables, RD, chain and cassette. Looking forward to commuting with it once the roads are cleaned up.

Just built up, want to ride it in stock trim for awhile before adding a rear rack and more pavement worthy tires. Saw dirt/gravel/rocks for the first time today. I have to say the bike is much more capable than I am in dealing with that terrain.

I heard that. I can only ride Tues/Thurs because my wife teaches Zumba on Mon/Wed, and the days I don't ride she's like "oh you'll be home earlier then!"

I really like that Cannondale. I will own one someday.

Hey guys, new to the forum. I wanted to post my a pic of my bike but I wasn't sure if I should revive this thread or just start my own. Anyways, here's my commuter. It's a cyclocross rig i picked up on CL. I don't need fenders as I live in Phoenix and it NEVER rains (just moved out from TN so i'm still in shock.) but other than that what would you guys recommend for her? Thanks

Looks pretty nice. I would start by getting that seat closer to level -- but seat config is a very personal preference. Before that even, red blinky light for the rear. This one is (like most) pretty cheap, plenty effective and (unlike most) comes with not just a seatpost clamp, but also a bracket for attaching to the back of your rack if it has a tab sticking down. Then, depending on whether you EVER ride in the dark, you'll be wanting a headlight. Opinions in that department are even more personal and contentious, but my personal (and not very contentious) recommendation is this reg'lr flashlight, attached with two interlocking hose clamps. It's as bright as the sun, and with the adjustable 'focus', I find I can get a really good beam pattern from it. 12 minutes left on the auction, if you hurry you might get that one! Or another just like it for $25 or better. At that price, expect the batteries to be crap, and spend $10-15 from a better pair of 18650s (from an American company), and you'll be set.

Thanks for the advice. As for the seat, I like it really downturned and was actually wishing it would go further. You should see my mtn bike seat lol. I ride with the chair up pretty high because i have long legs but it also causes it to hurt my "gooch" after a while if it's level. I actually do have a tiny little red blinker attached to the bottom of the rack, although it's a little hard to see in the pic. I'm definitely in the market for some better front and rear lights though. Too bad I missed that auction lol.

There's lights like that one available all the time. Just search for CREE XML T6 BATTERY CHARGER ULTRAFIRE and pluck one out of the neverending stream flowing out of fleabay.

Here are mine. The red one is a bike from a small German manufacturer in Bremen. I bought in 1994. 28" wheels. Solid steel frame. Brought with me when I moved to the US in 2001. A few years ago I thought I needed to replace it with a more modern mountain bike. Well I discovered that this bike is actually the much better bike and the mountain bike is now sitting in my garage.
What I like about the bike is the shifter. Unusual but great. Ideal for city driving. 21 speed with 7 speed derailleur in the back and 3 speed hub shifter in the back. I still have a chain guard for bad weather and I can shift the gears when stopped or driving. Great when you have to start at a traffic light and did not have time to shift down before stopping.
The paniers (Ortlieb backrollers) are as old as the bike and still in great shape. One carries my laptop and the other my clothes and lunch.
The white one is my wife's old bike. An original 28" Gazelle from the 80s. We also brought this from Gemany when we came here. She did not like it anymore because this bike is really heavy. Everything is steel except the chain guard. We replaced it with a more modern hybrid some years ago. After years in storage I got the bike back out and decided to make it my shopping bike. Only 3 speed but hey, it is flat here in Texas. ;-)
I replaced the saddle with Brooks saddle which I brought back from Germany and also the fender skirts. The original ones were clear yellowish plastic and ripped and broken. These with news paper prints I got in Germany. I also added the foldable baskets, the front basket and the center kick stand. Perfect bike for short trips to the local grocery store.

Here's my commuter. Kona Paddy Wagon.

Nice scenery. I would take almost any bike to commute here.... ;-)