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-   -   Commuter Bicycle Pics (https://www.bikeforums.net/commuting/49471-commuter-bicycle-pics.html)

noglider 04-05-25 07:18 PM


Originally Posted by Smokinapankake (Post 23491782)
My basket bike commuter to be:

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...13db2255d.jpeg

I’d like to lace a dynamo hub in up front; just haven’t bought spokes yet.

You can carry a lot on that. You can mount the headlight under the basket.

I have two bikes with dynamo hubs. I love them! At 20 mph or so, I can feel a vibration, but it doesn't bother me.

locolobo13 04-07-25 08:48 AM

Not my commute but a weekend ride.
http://i.imgur.com/sFaFqIIl.jpg

governorgeneral 06-02-25 10:09 PM


Originally Posted by NWsushi (Post 23475858)
The largest tire I can fit is 32mm with fenders. Front bag is a Berthoud bag sitting on a VO rack and is secured by rene herse decaleur. Front wheel is laced to a dynamo which powers the headlight (rack mounted, on the left side) and rear light (seatpost mounted). The crankset is a triple with half step. Seat condom is for protection, of course 😉. I helped build a neighbor’s 91/92? Voyageur (a $75 CL find) that can easily accept 38mm tires with fenders and is wonderful to ride.

Absolutely lovely! Does the decaleur actually lock the bag to the rack? Or do you just take it off when leaving the bike unattended?

governorgeneral 06-02-25 10:13 PM


Originally Posted by Timbeau (Post 23410500)
I have a super cheap light set I got from AliExpress that turned out to be perform far better than I expected

​​​It's powered by a Busch & Muller Dymotec bottle generator that I think is really cool; I'm a big fan of bottle generators.

Very practical set up, and convenient to not have to take off the lights when parked. How do you find the light - bright enough as a headlight, or mainly just to be seen? Does the bottle generator put much drag?

governorgeneral 06-02-25 10:22 PM


Originally Posted by irwin7638 (Post 23435421)
I currently have three that I use in town; a Rivendell Yves Gomez, Soma Buena Vista and Brompton.

Nice fleet, covers all potential commuting types from transit to trails!

governorgeneral 06-02-25 10:34 PM

My Kona Smoke is now 19 years old! It's neat to see the progression over time - from when I had first picked it up brand new (page 49) in 2006:


Originally Posted by governorgeneral (Post 3010641)
New to the forum, and new to bike commuting too... actually haven't been on a bike much in eight years 'til now. Lucky riding a bike is one of those things you never forget, like, well, riding a bike.

Nice to see everyone's rides, getting some ideas on stuff to think about getting. Here's my Kona Smoke:

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y24...e/DSCF2889.jpg

to the first year (page 86):


Originally Posted by governorgeneral (Post 5146500)

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y24...e/DSCF7369.jpg

Overall I've been pretty happy with the Kona Smoke. Sure it's not as fast and is heavier than more hard-core commuters, and even though it's black it hasn't the style points of those Dutch bikes, and I really wish it had a chainguard, or at least a chainring thingy to keep pants from catching, but it gets me where I'm going.

to a move from the West Coast to the Prairies (page 102):


Originally Posted by caveat.doctor (Post 6093713)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2316/...72e903df_o.jpg

I've never really biked in the winter before, and even in the summer Regina isn't exactly the best place to commute, but I was told lowering the seat (to lower your centre of gravity) and deflating the tires (to increase traction surface area) can be helpful. I was actually surprised how stable it was, especially at stops where I'd put my foot down and my leg would slide right out, though the bike held firm.

Proper studded tires would've been helpful, but as long as the roads are clear of high snow and not totally iced over, it's manageable with regular slicks. Disc brakes would be nice too, in case your rims get caked with ice and make rim brakes useless.

and then to the East (page 268):


Originally Posted by governorgeneral (Post 11126988)
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4117/...0b6cc391_o.jpg

Some minor cosmetic and comfort changes over the years:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4079/...1f1812be_o.jpg

Still have the Dollar Store 9-LED headlights and Victoria Police "This could be a Bait Bike" sticker, and added on a pair of "Dapper Dan" leather ergonomic handlebar grips from Portland Design Works (available at MEC). Comfy, though with the Grip Shift I should've gotten the short version (which exist - but not at MEC when I was shopping, unfortunately). These full-size versions make the handlebar wider at either end by about 2-3cm, which makes cutting between cars in traffic a bit dodgy, but does yield a bit of extra room to play with for hand placement - nothing as useful as drops or a mustache, but the ergo shape is comfy on my ~23km commute.

Some additional minor changes over time:

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...552a98feca.jpg

Saddle was of course initially stiff, but is now nicely worn in and comfy. It's also probably now worth more than the bike too (Smoke is now long discontinued), so I do loop a cable through the seat rails when locking up, which also doubles as a cargo strap when riding

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...8f0c050e6b.jpg

Finally got around to cutting down the handgrips so they didn't stick out so far (with the grip shift, they originally were an inch or two beyond the bar end); also got a new cheerful brass bell. Still got that Victoria Police bait bike sticker - seems to have worked so far, never been stolen!

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...35398a138c.jpg

Also added knog Cobber lights front and back. The curve allows for some good visibility to the sides as well as fore and aft.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...adec4bd638.jpg

Did not realise that when I got the bike 19 years ago I'd eventually still be riding years later, commuting with my son!

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d3649b9e7b.jpg

Looking forward to the next 19 years!

noglider 06-03-25 06:23 AM


Originally Posted by governorgeneral (Post 23534510)
Very practical set up, and convenient to not have to take off the lights when parked. How do you find the light - bright enough as a headlight, or mainly just to be seen? Does the bottle generator put much drag?

I can't answer for Timbeau, but I can tell you a few things about dynamo lights. I have read that they were required on all bikes in Germany until 2013. The requirements were stringent and still are except about the source of power. The beam must be shaped like a car headlight's beam with a sharp cutoff at the top to prevent blinding people. The power is limited, and I think this is silly, but the engineers who design the lights have been extremely clever with the lenses and reflectors to get the most light out of a small output. People have told me that my headlight is bright, but it's because it's so well focused.

It really is great not to need to remove and install my lights at every ride. Bike thieves are weird and seem not to be very smart. They carry bolt cutters and other tools but they don't carry wrenches. I have no idea why that is. I once had a thief try to remove my headlight using brute force. He succeeded in bending the bracket but nothing else, and I was able to bend it back into shape. It's also great not to worry about the charge of my lights. I hadn't realized how helpful it is until I no longer had to do it. I've seen bikes locked up on NYC streets with bolted-on (dynamo) lights, and they don't get stolen, proving my theory about thieves not carrying wrenches.

I use a dynamo hub, not a bottle generator. Bottle generators used to add a lot of drag (and noise). The B&M unit claims to be much better, and it probably is, but I'm sure dynamo hubs still have less drag than the B&M bottle generators. They're also silent, though I can feel a vibration above about 15 or 20 mph.

Timbeau, your bike is beautiful in its practicality. I know it's a bit late to point it out, but Sturmey Archer makes a front hub with a drum brake and a dynamo.

noglider 06-03-25 06:39 AM

Here are some bikes locked up at the college where I'm attending graduate school. I don't know who owns them, but I like these bikes.

Heavy duty cargo e-bike made by Tern. Tern makes very nice bikes. I might have heard that they have switched to only e-bikes, but I'm not sure if that's true.


https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...8812ba00f5.jpg

Old fashioned street fixie with front basket and very wide handlebar. Fixies were popular in the City until a few years ago.


https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...321d933c33.jpg


Modern road? gravel? bike with all the things. Nice bike and very practical except maybe for the riding position, depending on your point of view or style.


https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...779f472285.jpg


Small-wheeled cargo bike, not electric. I don't know who made it. It has room for two children. I love seeing kids riding on cargo bikes here. They're having so much fun.


https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...6035a22f57.jpg

RubeRad 06-03-25 09:11 AM


Originally Posted by noglider (Post 23534622)
It really is great not to need to remove and install my lights at every ride. Bike thieves are weird and seem not to be very smart. They carry bolt cutters and other tools but they don't carry wrenches. I have no idea why that is. I once had a thief try to remove my headlight using brute force.

In my suburban area, I'm fortunate that bike theft doesn't seem to be a problem at all. I've given up locking my bike at work (gated facility with 24/7 security; I just leave it in a parking deck stairwell, tucked under an overhang where it's not in anybody's way), and although I do lock it up if I'm doing errands about town, I feel like I could probably get away with just leaving it in bike racks unlocked (but don't want to find out the hard way I'm wrong!)

Anyways, lights. I have a cheap but very effective LED flashlight "permanently" mounted onto my handlebars with interlocking hose clamps. Anybody with an adjustable wrench or flathead screwdriver could get it off in a minute, but I doubt anybody around here has even noticed it's there. I feel like the car-centric SoCal culture has bike blindness.

noglider 06-03-25 11:50 AM


Originally Posted by RubeRad (Post 23534765)
In my suburban area, I'm fortunate that bike theft doesn't seem to be a problem at all. I've given up locking my bike at work (gated facility with 24/7 security; I just leave it in a parking deck stairwell, tucked under an overhang where it's not in anybody's way), and although I do lock it up if I'm doing errands about town, I feel like I could probably get away with just leaving it in bike racks unlocked (but don't want to find out the hard way I'm wrong!)

Anyways, lights. I have a cheap but very effective LED flashlight "permanently" mounted onto my handlebars with interlocking hose clamps. Anybody with an adjustable wrench or flathead screwdriver could get it off in a minute, but I doubt anybody around here has even noticed it's there. I feel like the car-centric SoCal culture has bike blindness.

Yup, I lived where bike theft was not a big problem, and it sure is nice. Once I went shopping in a suburban supermarket where I would use a lock. I had forgotten to bring it, so I tethered my bike to the bike rack using a bungee cord. Silly, and it probably didn't deter theft, but it certainly didn't cause one, either.

I used those generic flashlights. Some of them put out a lot of light, but I don't like the round beams they have because I have to point it down, and when I do, it forms a bright circle on the ground which attracts my eyes. I realized that for me, lights intended for bikes are best.

Hose clamps are a good idea. Right now, I have security skewers to prevent wheel theft, and they are hugely convenient. I should have gotten them sooner. I just toss my U lock over a convenient part of the frame, and I'm done.

NWsushi 06-09-25 08:16 AM


Originally Posted by The Chemist (Post 23482039)
That's a downright beautiful ride. I'd ride the heck out of that. Only change I'd personally make is changing the saddle to a Brooks Cambium so you don't need to put the protective cover on it (and because my C15 is by far the most comfortable saddle I've ever ridden on).

I’d live to try the Cambiums someday.

NWsushi 06-09-25 10:04 AM


Originally Posted by governorgeneral (Post 23534507)
Absolutely lovely! Does the decaleur actually lock the bag to the rack? Or do you just take it off when leaving the bike unattended?

I take the bag with me when the bike is unattended. The decaleur does lock the bag down in its position but is easily removed with a press of a release button.

HardyWeinberg 06-20-25 08:50 AM

ongoing drought, been riding this since May, usually don't get it out until July


https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...719b41e31f.jpg

spambait11 06-29-25 10:38 AM

Lynskey GR300 Gravel Commuter
 
Shakedown build:
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3ed1ca157.jpeg


Final build:
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ae8431777.jpeg


- 2024 Lynskey GR300 Ti frame (Black Friday blowout)
- Bearclaw Ti 100 Gravel Fork
- Cane Creek 110 headset
- Cane Creek 165 eewings
- Spinergy MXX Gravel wheelset (Black Friday sale)
​​​- Cane Creek Hellbender 70 bottom bracket (wanted 110s but ran out of $$)
- Panaracer 45mm gravel tires (sale)
- Shimano XT 10-speed
- Tanaka Lift-Loc rack and basket (sale)
- Juin brakes (‘cause I really ran out of $$)

It’s alright. 😉

noglider 06-29-25 03:57 PM

That's quite special for a commuter bike!

spambait11 06-30-25 07:06 PM


Originally Posted by noglider (Post 23552326)
That's quiet special for a commuter bike!

At a point in life where I get to say “I want a quality ride, and I’m not gettin’ any younger.” :)

phx1973 07-14-25 05:44 AM


Originally Posted by governorgeneral (Post 23534520)
My Kona Smoke is now 19 years old! It's neat to see the progression over time - from when I had first picked it up brand new (page 49) in 2006:



to the first year (page 86):



to a move from the West Coast to the Prairies (page 102):



and then to the East (page 268):



Some additional minor changes over time:

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...552a98feca.jpg

Saddle was of course initially stiff, but is now nicely worn in and comfy. It's also probably now worth more than the bike too (Smoke is now long discontinued), so I do loop a cable through the seat rails when locking up, which also doubles as a cargo strap when riding

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...8f0c050e6b.jpg

Finally got around to cutting down the handgrips so they didn't stick out so far (with the grip shift, they originally were an inch or two beyond the bar end); also got a new cheerful brass bell. Still got that Victoria Police bait bike sticker - seems to have worked so far, never been stolen!

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...35398a138c.jpg

Also added knog Cobber lights front and back. The curve allows for some good visibility to the sides as well as fore and aft.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...adec4bd638.jpg

Did not realise that when I got the bike 19 years ago I'd eventually still be riding years later, commuting with my son!

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d3649b9e7b.jpg

Looking forward to the next 19 years!

lots of change indeed. Looking great!

cat0020 09-11-25 04:35 PM

24 years later, I miss the Twin Towers.
The weather was just as today, sunny, clear day, not a cloud in the sky.
https://i.imgur.com/4gHkqE5.jpg

Smaug1 09-15-25 08:36 AM


Originally Posted by cat0020 (Post 23605163)
24 years later, I miss the Twin Towers.
The weather was just as today, sunny, clear day, not a cloud in the sky.
https://i.imgur.com/4gHkqE5.jpg

Good to see you posting again; hope you're well!

depechegore 10-11-25 01:36 PM

Ive just seen all the pics on the 633 pages
 
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...03ef54a219.jpg
about 4 weeks scrolling ...

noglider 10-12-25 10:49 AM


Originally Posted by depechegore (Post 23624238)

Is your brain full yet, or does it just keep expanding?

depechegore 10-12-25 08:11 PM

noglider hope expanding, once recovered i will spend some time scrolling in the post of pics of vintage road bikes lol

giangluongthi 10-27-25 09:19 PM

Very good bicycle

cyclomath 10-29-25 11:40 AM

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3dc301512c.jpg
If nothing unexpected happens, this bike will have gone 3000km (~1850mi) in 2025, on the way to my work and back, tomorrow. It's a good bike, dependable and comfortable.

RubeRad 10-29-25 12:34 PM

Good job with >3000km already in 2025, I bet you make it to 2000mi over the remaining 2 months!

I have a routine where every New Years I go around and record all the odometers (cars and my bike) and tally up the annual mileage. I had a good run in the late 20-teens where I was around 2600mi/yr on the bike (and one year with <1000 miles on "my" car), but then for 5 years my work situation changed and I wasn't able to ride as much, buncha years with only 1000 or so miles on the bike.

Work situation reverted starting this summer though, so I'm hoping for a big year of bike miles!

Smaug1 11-04-25 10:43 AM

I picked up a Topeak MTX BeamRack at the LBS the other day and installed it this morning before the commute. In doing so, I've added more weight to an already rear-heavy bike, (the IGH is heavy) but oh well. It doesn't spend much time airborne, so balance isn't as important. It has a built-in rubber cord, so if the MTX bag isn't brought along, the rack can still be used.

http://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikeforu...d63971c1fc.jpg

It clamps onto the seatpost with a 4 mm Allen bolt and two sets of clamp pads in different thicknesses are provided. I wound up using a thick one for one side and a thin one for the other. This will let me bring my favorite MTX trunk bag along for commuting duty, and if I do a serious gravel ride, I can just unclamp it with the one bolt and clip my rear fender back on.

You can see the snap on mount for the front fender by the front bottle cage, and one can tell by the state of my downtube that I was surprised without it recently.

The zip tie under the saddle was to hold a saddle pack up. It was slipping down so the zipper was inaccessible. I may be able to cram that under the saddle too if needed, so the zip tie stays for now.

The bar bag is the Burrito Bag from ROMP out of Duluth.

The bike is a Priority Apollo 11.

RubeRad 11-04-25 10:57 AM

Is the BeamRack stable? Some day I might put smooth(er) tires on my Krampus and make that my urban assault vehicle. Oddly for Surly the OG Krampus is lacking attachment points, so I'd have to do something like the BeamRack to be able to carry stuff.

belyin 11-04-25 09:58 PM

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...e88e888b9f.jpg

My T.S. Isaac Stratus fixed gear commuter. Highlights include a Gipiemme Crono Special pista crankset, Dura Ace track hub, Modolo bar and stem, and Brooks Swift saddle. Normally it has a Son dynamo, but it froze up and is being repaired by Peter White at this moment, so I am running a Superbe track hub on the front. Tires are Fairweather Travelers 32mm--no longer available stateside apparently unfortunately as they were the best value in supple tires.

Smaug1 11-05-25 08:36 AM


Originally Posted by RubeRad (Post 23638235)
Is the BeamRack stable?

It seems to be!


Originally Posted by RubeRad (Post 23638235)
Some day I might put smooth(er) tires on my Krampus and make that my urban assault vehicle. Oddly for Surly the OG Krampus is lacking attachment points, so I'd have to do something like the BeamRack to be able to carry stuff.

The only caveat is its 20 lb. weight limit; that's what the conspicuous marking sticker says. Oddly, I got a set of pannier supports for it too. I can't imagine needing panniers and a rack and not needing more than 20 lbs. capacity...
That could mean:
  • Panniers only, and bulky but light cargo
  • The rack is conservatively rated for the weakest possible seatpost at the longest extension
A nice bar bag might be a good idea for a Krampus. Something a bit bigger than my burrito bag. Maybe a fanny pack too?

RubeRad 11-05-25 10:22 AM


Originally Posted by Smaug1 (Post 23638709)
A nice bar bag might be a good idea for a Krampus. Something a bit bigger than my burrito bag. Maybe a fanny pack too?

Especially since my bar of choice is Jones H Loop, so there's that giant empty space just cryin out for a bag!

I should just suppress my cheapskate nature and spend invest $75 on the bag that Jones made to be perfect for their own bars


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