Commuter Bicycle Pics
09-03-14 | 01:25 PM
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,647
Likes: 6
From: Sudbury, ON, CA
Bikes: 2012 Kona Sutra, 2002 Look AL 384, 2018 Moose Fat bike
I am always a bit perplexed as to the best spot to post my bike pics. Commuter vs. Clyde vs. Road forums. I think I'll go with the commuter forum today, since my most recent changes are geared more toward day-to-day comfort/"adventure bike" aesthetics. Here is a pic of my bike, (KHS flite 747) for which I am quite fond:
For those not already in the know, the 747 is for tall folk, I am 6'7". It is the only production bike tall folk can buy with proportional cranks. It happens to come from the factory with extremely ugly decals. I figured I would just live with that, perhaps get it powder coated in few years to a nice solid color. Then it occurred to me I could simply "black out" the decals with some gorilla tape. I am really surprised at how well this worked. The gorilla tape matches the black color very well, and also provides a nice protective layer to the paint. I am sure it will degrade with some weathering, but I can easily just replace the tape as it starts to look bad. Since that worked out so well, I then put on some brown Charge U-Bend (synthetic leather) bar tape to match the seat. It used to be a perfect match, but I have since put too many treatments of proofhide on the leather saddle and it is a bit dark. Maybe I'll try proofhide on the bar tape, but I suspect that wont work out well.
I have also changed the stock chainring to a forged version to avoid the bending chainring problem. I think thats about it terms of upgrades from stock.
running a Specialized Roubaix 25/28c tire in the rear which so far is very nice. (older vittoria rubino pro III 28c in the front, also good)
For those not already in the know, the 747 is for tall folk, I am 6'7". It is the only production bike tall folk can buy with proportional cranks. It happens to come from the factory with extremely ugly decals. I figured I would just live with that, perhaps get it powder coated in few years to a nice solid color. Then it occurred to me I could simply "black out" the decals with some gorilla tape. I am really surprised at how well this worked. The gorilla tape matches the black color very well, and also provides a nice protective layer to the paint. I am sure it will degrade with some weathering, but I can easily just replace the tape as it starts to look bad. Since that worked out so well, I then put on some brown Charge U-Bend (synthetic leather) bar tape to match the seat. It used to be a perfect match, but I have since put too many treatments of proofhide on the leather saddle and it is a bit dark. Maybe I'll try proofhide on the bar tape, but I suspect that wont work out well.
I have also changed the stock chainring to a forged version to avoid the bending chainring problem. I think thats about it terms of upgrades from stock.
running a Specialized Roubaix 25/28c tire in the rear which so far is very nice. (older vittoria rubino pro III 28c in the front, also good)
This is a beauty!!!
09-03-14 | 01:39 PM
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 150
Likes: 3
From: Lakewood, CO
Bikes: 2013 KHS 747 (by Lennard Zinn), 1987 Nishiki Sport, 1983 Sanwa 700
09-03-14 | 01:41 PM
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 497
Likes: 0
From: Honolulu, Hawaii
Bikes: 2013 Lynskey R340, 2014 Specialized Tricross
I got a 2014 Tricross at my LBS yearly 20% off sale. I swapped out the Sora for an Ultegra 6703 set I had, and left the Avid BB7 brakes. Velo Transit Panniers.
09-03-14 | 01:42 PM
Keepin it Wheel
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 10,963
Likes: 5,210
From: San Diego
Bikes: Surly CrossCheck, Krampus
Well they'd need longer chainstays and forks too, so maybe it wouldn't be so easy. But yes, this is a beauty! The black gorilla tape really hides well -- it was only at full-zoom on photobucket that I could even begin to guess where you had applied it! And the rest is very elegantly simple and understated. Looks fantastic. Makes me think of removing the decals from my crosscheck (one is damaged already anyways), but black on "dark dirty blue" is not too obnoxious.
09-03-14 | 03:14 PM
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 150
Likes: 3
From: Lakewood, CO
Bikes: 2013 KHS 747 (by Lennard Zinn), 1987 Nishiki Sport, 1983 Sanwa 700
Good point, Lennard Zinn has written a few articles about this very problem, where bikes built for tall folk need to be both longer AND stronger, so pretty much impossible. I'll just think of my bike as a proportional upsize of a 650b road bike.
If the decals are on top of the clear coat, I say go for it. My decals were underneath the clear coat, so I was stuck with them. The gorrilla tape may work if you use it add black stripes. They also sell various different colors and designs of duck brand duct tape which might be cool.
If the decals are on top of the clear coat, I say go for it. My decals were underneath the clear coat, so I was stuck with them. The gorrilla tape may work if you use it add black stripes. They also sell various different colors and designs of duck brand duct tape which might be cool.
09-03-14 | 04:29 PM
aka Tom Reingold
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 44,141
Likes: 6,366
From: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
When you have a minute (make one) remove the front wheel and look at the bottom of the fork crown to confirm that yours has the steel dowel pin that was added to prevent unannounced steerer tube separation.
It's very obvious and if you don't see it, consider that fork to be a micro-second away from a face plant. Not the next micro second, just any some time down the road.
It's very obvious and if you don't see it, consider that fork to be a micro-second away from a face plant. Not the next micro second, just any some time down the road.
Thanks for the warning.
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
09-03-14 | 04:32 PM
aka Tom Reingold
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 44,141
Likes: 6,366
From: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
[MENTION=310818]H.S.Clydesdale[/MENTION], I want to know more about that bike. For instance, what bell is it? Is that a good height for your handlebar, i.e. have you tried higher handlebars, somehow? How long are your cranks? Where did you get that handlebar tape?
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
09-03-14 | 05:14 PM
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 150
Likes: 3
From: Lakewood, CO
Bikes: 2013 KHS 747 (by Lennard Zinn), 1987 Nishiki Sport, 1983 Sanwa 700
@H.S.Clydesdale, I want to know more about that bike. For instance, what bell is it? Is that a good height for your handlebar, i.e. have you tried higher handlebars, somehow? How long are your cranks? Where did you get that handlebar tape?
I need to polish mine...
I have tried the handelbars lower and higher, and this is a good setting for me. I might actually prefer them a bit lower, but I do have an aggressive riding style.
Cranks are 200mm. Perfect size for me. Andel makes the crankset special for this bike, but other companies also make longer cranks, most are found at bigandtallbike.com
I got the bar tape here: Charge Bikes U-Bend 45 bar tape, brown syn leather, Handlebar Tape
The link is actually a newer version which looks a bit superior to the one I bought about a year ago.
09-03-14 | 05:26 PM
Keepin it Wheel
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 10,963
Likes: 5,210
From: San Diego
Bikes: Surly CrossCheck, Krampus
Wow, the chainstays appear to have a normal angle, and yet it looks like there's still plenty of clearance. Do you ever have problems with pedal strike?
09-03-14 | 06:16 PM
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 3,902
Likes: 680
Forum newbie here. Here are my two bikes. The Schwinn is my official commuter, a lug frame made by Giant in the early 80's. My commute is just over 8 miles round trip on fairly tame terrain -- roughly 300 feet elevation range, all on side streets or paved bike path. I also use it for shopping, etc. Not shown: Bag with rain gear.
The Trek is my "fun" bike, but I ride it to work if I know the weather will be clear and I have no payload. Both have home-built wheels with old 3 speed Sturmey Archer hubs.
The Trek is my "fun" bike, but I ride it to work if I know the weather will be clear and I have no payload. Both have home-built wheels with old 3 speed Sturmey Archer hubs.
Last edited by Gresp15C; 12-10-16 at 08:42 AM.
09-03-14 | 07:01 PM
Keepin it Wheel
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 10,963
Likes: 5,210
From: San Diego
Bikes: Surly CrossCheck, Krampus
Nice! Welcome to the forum. Vintage steel, sensible spoke-counts, IGH, fenders, townie handlebars, you'll fit right in around here!
Also, you're really tall -- unless those are 16" wheels...
Also, you're really tall -- unless those are 16" wheels...
09-03-14 | 07:38 PM
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 3,902
Likes: 680
The Schwinn is a couple inches lower, so it's well inside the safety zone, even if still a bit on the tall side compared to how bikes are typically fitted today.
09-03-14 | 09:24 PM
Full Member
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 343
Likes: 2
From: California
I bought a Brompton M6R a month ago to start commuting with. I added a Brooks B67 saddle and the Shimano dynamo hub with Schmidt Edeluxe II headlight and Toplight.
Then a couple of weeks ago, the office I work in added bike lockers to the garage. So I reserved one and bought a used Jamis Nova Sport to also use to commute to the office with. I have ordered a rack for it and the seller had some fenders for it already that I will install this weekend. I also ordered a wheel for it with a Shimano dynamo hub. The Brompton has been a lot of fun to ride, But I think the Jamis will be better in the rain and for longer weekend rides.
Then a couple of weeks ago, the office I work in added bike lockers to the garage. So I reserved one and bought a used Jamis Nova Sport to also use to commute to the office with. I have ordered a rack for it and the seller had some fenders for it already that I will install this weekend. I also ordered a wheel for it with a Shimano dynamo hub. The Brompton has been a lot of fun to ride, But I think the Jamis will be better in the rain and for longer weekend rides.
09-03-14 | 09:32 PM
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 150
Likes: 3
From: Lakewood, CO
Bikes: 2013 KHS 747 (by Lennard Zinn), 1987 Nishiki Sport, 1983 Sanwa 700
No problems with pedal strike, the frame does have a higher bottom bracket to acommodate the longer cranks. The chainstays probably just look normal due to the picture angle.
09-03-14 | 10:45 PM
It's MY mountain
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 10,169
Likes: 4,214
From: Mt.Diablo
Bikes: Klein, Merckx, Trek
Friend of mine has that same bike... likes the decals. Likes it better than his 65cm Cannondale. On tonight's ride, another guy passed us with the same bike, newer model year - the blue one. Never seen two of these in the same place at the same time before.
09-03-14 | 10:49 PM
It's MY mountain
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 10,169
Likes: 4,214
From: Mt.Diablo
Bikes: Klein, Merckx, Trek
Thanks, yeah it's a great commuter. It is a Trek! District S fixed gear.
My product review:
Diablo Scott's Bike Blog: Product Review: 2014 Trek District S
My product review:
Diablo Scott's Bike Blog: Product Review: 2014 Trek District S
09-04-14 | 10:09 AM
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 150
Likes: 3
From: Lakewood, CO
Bikes: 2013 KHS 747 (by Lennard Zinn), 1987 Nishiki Sport, 1983 Sanwa 700
Cool, glad to hear more folks on this bike. If sales are good enough, one of the big names might take notice and offer a 200mm crank carbon fiber bike. They already offer the same size bikes, just not with the proportional cranks.
09-04-14 | 11:26 AM
Let's Ride!
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,588
Likes: 42
From: Lexington, VA USA
Bikes: --2010 Jamis 650b1-- 2016 Cervelo R2-- 2018 Salsa Journeyman 650B
09-04-14 | 11:28 AM
Let's Ride!
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,588
Likes: 42
From: Lexington, VA USA
Bikes: --2010 Jamis 650b1-- 2016 Cervelo R2-- 2018 Salsa Journeyman 650B
I bought a Brompton M6R a month ago to start commuting with. I added a Brooks B67 saddle and the Shimano dynamo hub with Schmidt Edeluxe II headlight and Toplight.
Then a couple of weeks ago, the office I work in added bike lockers to the garage. So I reserved one and bought a used Jamis Nova Sport to also use to commute to the office with. I have ordered a rack for it and the seller had some fenders for it already that I will install this weekend. I also ordered a wheel for it with a Shimano dynamo hub. The Brompton has been a lot of fun to ride, But I think the Jamis will be better in the rain and for longer weekend rides.
Then a couple of weeks ago, the office I work in added bike lockers to the garage. So I reserved one and bought a used Jamis Nova Sport to also use to commute to the office with. I have ordered a rack for it and the seller had some fenders for it already that I will install this weekend. I also ordered a wheel for it with a Shimano dynamo hub. The Brompton has been a lot of fun to ride, But I think the Jamis will be better in the rain and for longer weekend rides.
09-04-14 | 01:15 PM
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 681
Likes: 6
From: SF Bay Area
Bikes: the bikes own me
I've been working on converting my Motobecane Jubilee to a commuter all summer. I'm pretty sure I've got it dialed in now. I converted it from springer front end to rigid fork, from flat to drop bars (OnOne Midge) and swapped in a Sora Groupset. I'm pretty happy with it.
Last edited by eastbay71; 09-04-14 at 01:20 PM.
09-04-14 | 03:40 PM
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 497
Likes: 0
From: Honolulu, Hawaii
Bikes: 2013 Lynskey R340, 2014 Specialized Tricross