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.
http://i.imgur.com/FpFUIfUh.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/OtvNQi8h.jpg

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 :thumb:

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.
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=379364http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=379365http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=379366

Here's my commuter. Kona Paddy Wagon.
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=379796

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

Alright, I'll finally jump in after lurking on this site for waaay too long...recently picked up this Lemond Croix de Fer in great shape ('06 I think?). So nice to be rolling on steel again after commuting on an aluminum Allez for the past few years. I had the guys at WaterField customize one of their SleeveCases for me so I can strap my laptop directly to the frame, allowing me to ditch the rear rack from my prior commuting rig (since my computer is really the only big thing I need to carry). Works great.
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=379859

That looks pretty cool. The customization is adding the straps? They should make that a regularly-offered model for cyclists, looks like a great fit!

I had them add webbing tabs to the back of the case, allowing me to pass through my own straps (I use voile ski straps) to cinch the case to the frame. They even angled the tabs to match my down tube and seat tube angles, although it turns out I only really need the seat tube strap to keep the laptop locked down. Here's a photo from the back side:
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=379910

Nice bike and nice solution to your portage problem.

Super nice.

I still have a MTB in Germany. And a German city bike in Hungary. I do miss them both and love it when I get to ride them!

Keep them going!

Just me and my kuwie, I entered it into a local Builders gallery show in the daily rider catagory I didn't win got beat out by a really nice rivendale. Part of the enterance fee was getting a little photo shoot.

http://i.imgur.com/AW5CbLs.jpg

The bike's nice, but the commute seems really special. Where are you?

Napa, CA. Granted, I can get to work on about 2.5 miles of pavement, I usually stretch it out closer to ten miles either before or after work. Since having this bike I take a small detour at this "park" which has some gravel climbing, non technical single track, or a bunch of hard pack like you see here.

It would be awesome if I actually had to traverse rich, wine valley country side to get to work, though.

My wife's new commuter:

http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/y...y/IMG_1019.jpg

That's a fine looking whip, Fizz, fast and functional. Cool t-thirt, too.

He builds some nice stuff.

This new acquisition replaces my trusty, well loved cross check. Compared to the CC The Stigmata is a CX race bike so its stiff, light, really responsive, remarkably comfortable. It's fast and a it's a blast.

It doesn't have rack and fender mounts, but I have other bikes for rain and winter. Using a Carradice nelson long flap with a bagman rack for my commuting junk, (holds plenty including my laptop) Have some race blade XL clip on fenders for rain. Shimano DA 7900 10sp group, Kysrium equip wheels, kenda small block 8's 35mm.

This is my 3 season commuter/gravel bike. Weeee!

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=380194http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=380195http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=380196

its only fast downhill, but that's due to it weighting a ton and a half. :)

Very cool bike. Where does one fine one of those keep-the-front-wheel-straight-springy-things that clamps to the downtube?

I get mine from velo orange,

VO Wheel Stabilizer - Chainguards, Frame Protectors, Kickstands - Accessories

Awesome, thanks! Methinks my days of front wheel turning and bike trying to tip over while I load it might finally be over!