@ascherer Beautiful machines

what kind of tires are you running? Love the tan sidewalls and large volume!

What kind of tires are you running there? I love the tan sidewalls and large volume!
Thanks!

Hows the quality of this bike? Their website has some nice bikes at cheap prices, but I am afraid of the headaches of ordering without sitting on one and sizing it up. Did you need to do much of the assembly?

My Trek 6500 that I am building up into a commuter. So far just a Topeak explorer rack, kenda 838 tires, and ortlieb front rollers. Fenders are next but I haven't gotten that far with it
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y22...s/IMAG0557.jpg

And my baby that I sometimes ride to work. She is a CAAD 10 4. A timbuk2 bag hauls what I need.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y22...s/IMAG0418.jpg

My only comment there is to watch out how you load those racks:

http://www.longlandclan.id.au/~stuar...2711-360px.jpg

That was with a 16kg load, and it's not the first time I've had it happen.

My Specialized HardRock.. starting to love that bike!

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a58...psz2cqbq75.jpg

Just finished rebuilding my Bianchi into a drop bar.

Here's the before:

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=450123
3x6 speed with twist shifters
I rotated the riser bar forward and added bar ends to give a more aero rising position. Had wider hybrid rims and 32mm urban touring tires.


Here's the after:

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=450124http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=450125http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=450126http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=450127http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=450128http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=450129

Don't comment on the bar tape. It's the only one I have in my bin. It'll be changed to white as soon as I order a set.

Double 8 speed, sort of a mish mash of parts: Ultegra compact crankset, Sora 8x3 shifters, seems to work fine on a double, 105 RD and Sora FD, Alexrims on the same 32mm tires.

I'm in the process of procuring a set of matching emerald green fenders; rack will also be installed.

Had some difficulty with the shifter adjustment, but all good now.

I might upgrade the stock cantilever brakes at some point. I waited just in case I didn't like the ride. Haven't ridden it save for a brief test ride after the rebuild, but it feels pretty good. Riding position feels the same as my vintage Gardin racing bike.

They are Rivendell Jack Brown tires. Labeled 700x33.33, mine measure out to 35 mm wide, with a beautifully round profile.
I got the green version which are insanely light for their size, but are paper thin and have zero flat protection. They're by far the best fast tires I've ever used, but I'd probably take the blue version next time since i live in thorn central.

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

How do tan sidewalls work for you folks? Most of the ones i see have mild cracking.. Maybe it's from UV exposure??

- Andy

That's been my experience too, and I believe you're right that it's UV. I noticed the difference between bikes stored indoors and outdoors, back when the "ten speed" first became prevalent. The carbon black that helps tires resist wear, is also opaque to the UV. That's why, when black wall tires made their comeback, I never bought another gumwall.

But my general advice is to avoid storing a bike outdoors if possible, or at least, to find a shady place for it. Any plastic parts are subject to degradation from UV over time.

My commuter (and only) bicycle against a mural.

http://i.imgur.com/5IZ9PvX.jpg

Interesting. Just goes to show you that the sun means business! :eek:

- Andy

Gave my Huffy commuter a "classic" look with some gumwall Kenda tires and different rims...........

http://i1272.photobucket.com/albums/...ps4uhwtben.jpg

Yup, the UV photon has enough energy to break some kinds of chemical bonds, such as those holding together bike tire rubber and your DNA.

Not to drag photo thread too of topic, but yeah, just underscores the importance of proper eye-ware and being mindful of how long you're out in the sun. I don't ride with SPF cream, but i don't really get burned because i try to keep my rides under 25-30 minutes at a time. Sometimes i'll duck into a place and out of the sun and give my skin a chance to get some pigment going, then head back out. Proper hydration really helps too in my experience for whatever reason.

- Andy

Can an I get some close ups of your rack and brake set up? Also the front brake and the rear tire chain stay clearance?

It it looks very interesting to me. Thank you for sharing.

Sorry I have to comment of the bar tape. I've always had an affinity towards red bar tape, it is just a nice contrast to most colors, especially blues and greens.

I think it looks far better with red than it would with white.

The rack was another Huffy. This mountain bike frame has lots of clearance........

http://www.bikeforums.net/mountain-b...tml?highlight=

http://www.bikeforums.net/commuting/...tml?highlight=

There is some single track on the way to work and on the way back. This makes for a fun commute to work.

http://i1324.photobucket.com/albums/...pss5mua8k2.jpg

Thanks. :-)

Red and green just says 'Christmas' to me, for some reason. I was thinking if not white then perhaps black, or even lime green might provide some nice contrast and flash.

Nice bike, I have the same bags, but more importantly where's that mural?

Skinwall tires don't last as long, but they look better, so they're worth it. :)

Here's mine. Nothing fancy, stock Trek Lync 5

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=450626

2015 Raleigh Roper, Reynolds 525 steel frame and fork. 1x9 drive train.

http://i586.photobucket.com/albums/s...ps38nfrpv7.jpg

http://i586.photobucket.com/albums/s...psm4zyoi0i.jpg

Compass 700 x 32 tan walls

http://i586.photobucket.com/albums/s...ps59wrg1ak.jpg

Had a woman on a group ride ask me how old my nice looking "Classic" bike was! :thumb: