NOS88

The Ortliebs are actually their front panniers. The bike is a Frankenstein build. Front fork from trashed Cannondale 800T, frame a used Trek/Gray Fisher cross bike, the Bontrager came with the used frrameset. The seatpost, bars, stem and crankset were all used and purchased from my LBS, which will sometimes have an abundance of these things they're eager to part with. The only thing I'm not really crazy about is the higher bottom bracket height that comes with the cross frame. I'd prefer one a bit lower in the touring frame range. It can get a bit rear heavy when loaded on the higher bottom bracket doesn't help much.

the_tool_man

That's a great bike. I just got through rebuilding one for my daughter to commute on:



I'd love to find another for myself.

Blylan

Wow! Great rebuild!
I'm sure she'll love it, theyre perfect commuter bikes, so comfy and light.

noglider 

That's a really nice bike, and the fender line is really strange. There must be a reason you have them so far from the wheels. What is it?

noglider 

My McLean has been my pride-and-joy bike since I bought it in 1983. It was about a year old when I bought the frameset.

I've decided to stop treasuring it and start riding it again. I'm now doing commuting and errands on it.

revcp 

@noglider, no good reason, Tom. I was in a hurry to finish so I could get out for a test. There are a few things like the fender lines that I just haven't dialed in yet.

Agent4834

I know I'm about to get picked apart, I know its a "BSO". But the bike was free, the rack was free, and the bags were free..



For a little background. I have been unemployed for over a year and half. I am now biking everywhere! (my 69 VW, and 73 Triumph are in need of work) I have put over 500 miles on this bike in the past month (job hunting/ running errands/ for fun). It has had a little bit of an issue... The rear wheel's hub started to come apart and the bearing fell out. But all it took was a single call to Schwinn, and 3 days later I had a new wheel, for Free.

I know its a big box store bike, but if they will just send you a wheel, shiftier upgrade, and new handlebar steam, all for free... I don't have a problem with that.

HydroG33r 

That duct tape on the bars?

SpotOn

After further studies, it seems like the silver portion of Mr. Reingold's handlebars is composed of a clean, regular silver bar tape.

- SpotOn

RubeRad

Hey, don't beat yourself up! That is an actual bike, or at worst you could describe it as a "high-end BSO" -- certainly better than anything bearing a Magna or Next label. And that's great that Schwinn followed up with a replacement wheel! With a little research, you might have been able to rebuild the hub with a few cheap parts, but there's no reason to do that since a whole replacement wheel materialized. Unless of course you still have the bad wheel, and apparently some time on your hands...

noglider 

@Agent4834, I agree, it doesn't look bad in the least bit.

@HydroG33r and @SpotOn, it is, in fact, silver handlebar tape. It's all I found lying around, and it's ugly. I'm trying to decide between Brooks leather and yellow Benotto. What do you suggest? I have both on hand.

HydroG33r 

On that bike, I think the yellow Benotto would look pretty hot.

By the by, how do you mention people in a post?

noglider 

I just put an @-sign in front of their names. It works great, so I've started doing it lately.

RubeRad

Brooks leather will match the seat. Yellow will match the bottle cage. Now what? I recommend ditching the yellow bottle cage for something more neutral, and going with leather. Or at least I think that is what would look better. It is entirely subjective what anybody else would think looks better, and whether the cost of brooks leather is worth that much looking better. Didn't I see somewhere on BF a post about how to use cheaper leather to make nice bar tape?

edit: you have both on hand; I would go Brooks. It cost money, why let that money go to waste? Your bar tape is not appreciating in value...

Lurch

Bianchi Bergamo used for past 5 years to commute about 15 miles round trip to volunteer job 2 or 3 days per week.

bigbenaugust 

Yay for North Carolinians!

Mint Sauce

Here's my 2013 Hoy Shizuoka 004 commuter, with SKS chromoplastic mudguards and Tubus titanium rack. 11.6kg as shown. Hoy is the brand of Sir Chris Hoy, the track rider, hence the blue and red ribbons, referring to the lines on the track.

I've done about 1k miles on it now, and it's a great ride, plenty fast for my 2x20mile commute. It has needed no maintenance besides some oil on the chain so far, in spite of many rides in very wet conditions.

abergdorf

my daily ride (mon-fri)

RubeRad

That looks purty. Is that a dogma? (pinarello or chinese clone?)

Nick MxW

This is my baby, gets to around town without a problem daily! Sold my car a year ago and haven't missed it since. I've been considering changing the frame, I want to customize the bike to make it feel unique. I like the look of fixie bikes but a fixie or singlespeed doesn't make sense for me - I live in a very hilly area. I'm looking for a simple frame either green or red, without decals. Haven't had much luck finding one yet though.

sbs z31

83' Schwinn Sprint conversion commuter is almost done, can't wait to start biking to work again.

RubeRad

Your bike seems to be missing something, but I can't quite put my finger on it. Water bottle cage?

Montrose

Front fender?

RubeRad

No, the front fender is partially visible in the foreground, it's just not installed yet. I think it's that one of the ball bearings in the front hub is missing.

the sci guy 

clearly its missing a spoke on the rear wheel