Finally got a rear rack and panniers on my Kona (now in full commuter mode):

Nice look - color, snazzy sidewalls and leather touches!

Heading home at 4:30pm. It was a very wet ride.

I realized after I took this that it's not a great picture of the bike. Oh well, next time!

When do I get the beer?

Over the years Marin has made so many changes to Larkspurs, that the only thing they have in common is the name. We have 2 larkspurs in Cozumel, and they have polished aluminum frames and rigid forks. We've also brought to Cozumel and sold numerous Larkspurs over the years and no two are the same. steel frames, suspension forks, and all manor of component changes in them over the years.

That's just all class. Nicely done.

About the bell down on the fork - actually convenient enough?

I love the specialized rockhopper with ORTEB panniers

Thanks RT- the bell....a bit more form than function in that position. I love the look, and it's easy to use, but not as easy as when it's mounted higher. It's temporary; I've asked Mrs. Claus for a small hand crafted bell from King Kage that will mount on the handlebar after Christmas. (if I've been good I suppose...)

First wet commute was this morning; so much for having a clean bike.

This is my usual commuter.

I love your ride! Is this your primary commuter?

Wife's daily driver - 1979 Raleigh Lady Sports. Found it in great shape on CL. Added baskets, put on all new rubber bits, changed wheels from steel to alloys for braking purposes. The seat is a standard gel seat, probably will replace with a Brooks at a later date.

4.25 mile commute each way. Luckily, employer lets her keep it secured inside as she is of of very few bike commuters (5 or so out of 500+ employees) and they have no bike racks. She takes it slow and rides in normal work attire. She ties up her skirts with the penny trick.

+1 for running a front brake. I love the minimalist, no cables clean look of a fixie as much as the next hippie, but tires are expensive man (especially when you're not an ambidextrous skidder!).

That's a pretty sweet looking ride for commuting in NYC. Am I right to assume that you have a safe indoor place for it at work?

It killed me to put it on, but I am not insane. I don't skid either, nor do I really ever want to.

Thanks, but I am not in NYC. I would love to ride there one day, but for now, I am in Michigan. Bike is locked up at work under 24 hour surveillance luckily.

Just took my shake-down ride with my new bike. It is a Soma Double Cross. Plan on it being my commuter/gravel/light touring bike. Need to fit fenders next and then settle on what rack I want to use, using a clip-on rack right now as you can see.

[MENTION=323524]Paul J[/MENTION], what crank is that?

[MENTION=394949]TenSpeedV2[/MENTION], that's a well composed shot.

Thank you kindly. I like the shot as well

I just picked up my new bike tonight. Trek 520 Disc.
Bad picture; it's dark out. I left my other bike at the shop and rode this one home. Other than needing to get used to bar end shifters it's great....well, I only rode it 1.6 miles.

Congrats! It's always so much fun getting a new bike!

The crank is a Sugino RD3000 triple. We built it up with a mishmash of parts.

Congrats on the new purchase!! New bike day is always fun!

Nice -- your lime green accents are much better coordinated than mine:



Since that pic I have added a fourth shade of green with some sickly-pale lime-ish green shifter&brake cables.

I'm getting my new Soma Saga close to how I want it set up. Added some SKS Longboard fenders and swapped the silver rear rack for a black one that matches the frame better. Came across a new Soma stem on eBay for about $7 and it was too good to pass up. Bought a Louis Garneau racktop bag to carry my gear. Finally, I've got a new wheelset with black Velocity Dyad rims that I still need to install, and then it will be complete.

I bought the Saga to be my go-to bike for loaded touring, but it will also make a great commuter and MUT-rider. It was baptized last week when I had to ride home through a nor'easter and the fenders worked great.

I love it too! Indeed it is! I am also looking at an SE tripel for non-cargo trips whenever i can get the funds together.

- Andy

a spring loaded bail on the rack makes hauling things so much easier. I often leave the panniers when my daily stuff will fit in a small messenger bag. But stopping for a 6er on the way home is NEVER a problem.

Cool. What kind of bike is your commuter? It looks sort of compact and agile and yet still looks like a smooth riding bike. Sorry, I'm still sort of bike ignorant at t his point.