Jawbone

Stubacca, I've been using a Farrago too for the past several years and have had nothing but a miserable time with it. I've had to replace the rear wheel, the saddle... all kinds of things. But still, I put thousands of kilometres on that thing commuting 32km/day. I need to replace the BB and a bunch of other things, but the frame is sturdy enough. Any suggestions for reviving this rig in terms of drive train, rear wheel etc?

Stubacca

I just pulled mine down to a box of spare parts last week. When I have a couple of hundred bucks to spare, I'm thinking about rebuilding it as a single-speed grocery getter. I picked up a new Surly Cross Check last week to use as a commuting bike, and so far love it. Will post pics when I can muster the energy to take them...

I looked at rebuilding the Farrago, which would have been entirely possible. I just couldn't justify the money on it when I'd rather a better fitting frame. I needed wheels, BB, cassette, chain, headset, shifters and cables. If you really like the frame, it may be worth doing a rebuild with new 9-spd components, possible even with a drop bar (which is what I considered).

Jawbone

thanks, I'm thinking it's easier and less costly in the long run to just buy a new bike for commuting and relegate the Farrago to family tours around the hood. It was one of those hybrids that wasn't very good at anything but, whatever, I drove the guts out of it anway

GT_juju

I just got my first bike and intended on using it for commuting to work and riding for excercise and endurance training in a local park (Flushing Meadows for those from NYC). I took some pictures of it just now and would like to share them. Maybe I can get some advice on how to make it better/safer or more fun to ride.

FlippingHades

I finally got around to taking a decent picture of my commuter. It's a 1997 Redline Conquest CX frame, with a motley assortment of components (Deore cranks, 105 levers, Ultegra derailleurs, Dura-Ace gears & hubs) . I bought it used and have been slowly tweaking it to my taste. Most of my ride is in big city traffic, so I swapped the drop handlebars for cowhorns, since I spent all my time on the flat or hoods anyway. At the same time I removed the front derailleur and shifter since I never used the big ring, either.

rykoala

I just picked this bike up used. Its a 88 or 89 Specialized RockHopper large frame. It now has a bike computer and 1.5" slicks on it. It'll be a "real" commuter soon with a rack on the back, saddlebags, and fenders.

bagel

My commuter.

A 1996 Specialized Hardrock GX. Used to do XC mountain duty until I decided to make it the most comfortable 1996 Specialized Hardrock GX in Santa Cruz. As pictured, it has a Jandd Commuter Pack and folding basket on no-name rack on semi-slicks. I also fit it with a 5V NiteHawk headlight (heavy battery but what a value!) and blinky Cateye tails.


Plotting revenge is fun.

super-douper

Here's mine.

1994 Gary Fisher Mamba. My first MTB, served me well on the trail. After I upgraded to a 2001 GF Sugar 4 I put 1.5" slicks on it and use it for commuting.

I'm a big fan of velcro, so I velcro'd my lock to the bike, and the blue velcro strap is for my pant leg. I upgraded the brakes on my Sugar and put the stock v-braks on the mamba. In '94 I cracked the frame about a week after I bought it, but took it to LBS and they helped me warranty it, rock shox also warrantied the forks too. I was bombing down a trail and got off the path a little bit, hit a hole with my front tire and went OTB, cracked the frame, bent the forks. The bike has been solid ever since.

Kodama

Hey I also am a big fan of velcro, but I have not been able to find a place to buy velcro straps. Where do you get yours?

super-douper

I'm a network admin by trade....at work they call this stuff "Velcro cable ties".... but it also keeps grease off my pants. I also used it to shim the mounting thingy for my seatpost light cause it was made for a thicker seatpost.

It's great stuff.

ollo_ollo

"so I velcro'd my lock to the bike, and the blue velcro strap is for my pant leg"

Last couple times I bought lettuce at the supermarket, it was bundled with a strip of velcro. I'm going to try some out on my bike! (the velcro, not the lettuce) Don

GreenFix

ChezJfrey,

What fenders are you running on your bike? I have an old Cannondale frame with short reach brakes and 700X28 tires I would like to put fenders on, but the LBS does not seem to be able to help me out.

Thanks

phamby

here's my commuter and townie bike

bradw

Over the last 2 years I mostly used my Trek 6500 MTB for commuting. I used a backpack to carry my clothes and supplies.

Recently I decided to use my Trek 520 for hot weather commuting. The rack allows me to put a decent sized pannier (one Arkel T42 rear bag) on it and keep my back a little drier.

The bike is fairly modified from stock. Deore LX cranks instead of 105. LX thumb shifters instead of Dura Ace barends. Flat bars with bar-ends instead of drops. Conti Top Touring Tires instead of Bontragers. Jannd Expedition rack instead of Trek. Trek saddle instead of Bontrager. And fenders, too. This photo's a couple months old. I had just returned from a two-day, 150-mile tour, where I caught a stick in the rear wheel and tore off the fender. I recently replaced that Planet Bike rear fender with a cheaper Zefal plastic fender.

meradi

Here's my commuter, a Schwinn "Phoenix" - since when I got it, it was pretty much destroyed and useless. Not anymore!

Raiyn

Here's my '99 Hardrock commuter conversion please excuse the glare from the reflect-o tape.




I usually also run an EL-300 5 LED headlight that's not shown

FRAME-- 1999 Specialized Hardrock Comp FS

FORK-- Rock Shox Jett C retrofitted with MRP Speed Springs Swapped for a Surly 1x1 Rigid fork 6/05 (Not pictured)

HEADSET-- Cane Creek C2

STEM-- Ritchey Comp Threadless, Forged Aluminum

HANDLEBARS-- Titec Hellbent Narrowed 2.25"

TAPE / GRIPS-- ODI "Rogue" Lock On grips

FRONT BRAKE-- Avid Arch 40 with Kool Stop cartridge pads

REAR BRAKE-- Shimano Nexave with Kool Stop cartridge pads
BRAKE LEVERS-- Avid SD 2.0L

FRONT DÉRAILLEUR-- Shimano M-570 LX

REAR DÉRAILLEUR-- Shimano M-570 LX

SHIFT LEVERS-- Shimano M-510 Deore, 9 speed

CASSETTE-- SRAM R-9 11-23

CHAIN-- SRAM PC-59

BOTTOM BRACKET Shimano UN-25, 68mm shell width, 113mm spindle length

CRANKSET-- Specialized Strongarm II, square taper

CHAINRINGS-- 44Ax32Sx22S, 4 bolt, 104/64mm pattern, steel chainring bolts

PEDALS-- TIME Control-Z

RIMS-- Sun Rhynolytes built to XT 750 disc (not pictured)
FRONT TIRE-- Specialized Nimbus EX 26"x1.5"

REAR TIRE--Specialized Nimbus EX 26"x1.5"

TUBES-- Specialized, schraeder valve

SADDLE-- Specialized Body Geometry technology, steel rails

SEAT POST-- Stock aluminum

NOTES -- Nervz Teflon cables, Profile Design Kages, Cateye Mity 3

All in all a far cry from stock


edit: fixed contrast

Patrick A

The pink must keep the thieves away! Way cool, awesome ride none the less!

I have since gotten a new steed, an old Specialized Hardrock, junkified edition. I really love this bike, especially since it was free! The darn front fender is all warped, though.





When I get around to it I'll gear up my old Japanese Bianchi Sport DX for commuting as well, especially since my girlfriend wants it out of the living room where it's been a fixture for a couple of months!



Man, she hates bike stuff all over!

mcavana

how in the world do i put my picture on here? it is currently saved on my hard drive.

cyclezealot

When I get around to it I'll gear up my old Japanese Bianchi Sport DX for commuting as well, especially since my girlfriend wants it out of the living room

Man, she hates bike stuff all over![/QUOTE]
I just do not understand women...I consider bike stuff all over..Nouveau Art..Why not the real thing..Instead of just posters.

mcavana

attached is a picture of "The Beast" IMHO the dream commuter set up. I ride 26 miles round trip. I shed a few pounds on the weekend when I ride my Giant TCR composite 2 rodie.

The Rob

My new Trek 7500FX

Rogerinchrist

Dig the Hoover in the background of photo 3!

arctic hawk

Here's my contribution to this thread. I commute daily starting in early March & ending in early December. After that the snow & ice is too much for me, personally.
I also use this bike for racing in fall/winter cyclocross (2nd set of wheels at home with CX knobbies) & duathlons in the summer, not that I am any good at either sport, but just to participate for the fun of it & pre/post race comeraderie is great. Most competitors would have blown by me like the wind but, after all that's said & done, we raced the same course after all & did the same mileage.

Have a great day!

colinm

Here's my $25 garage sale Moto Jubile Sport. New wheels, seat, post and tape. I have a somewhat easy 8 mile one way. My wife works in the same building and she starts when I get off - in the evening I come back, give her the car, and I ride home. Nice setup.

dobber

I actually commute on a variety of bikes, dependent upon the weather, my mood and the distance I intend to travel.

But this is my first purpose built long haul commuter, which I have named

Fat Tired Rider



Its a SR Litage bonded aluminum frame, circa 1990. Running with a Suntour XC Pro rear and Deore XT front derailleurs. The Suntour Barcon shifters are in friction mode to work with the Shimano 12-21 cassette. Mavic cranks mounted on a Phil Wood bracket sport 46-36-24 chain rings. Salsa stem with Dia-Compe levers. Old-school Mafac canti brakes.

https://home.twcny.rr.com/dobber/ftr_bar.jpg

The Deore LX hubs are laced onto Rhyno-Lite rims with IRC Metro 1.5" tires. The seat is a 14 yr old leather San Marco Turbo, Bernard Hinault signature series. Seat post is some massive billy club made by Sakre.

Haven't decided on pedals yet, right now I'm using a set off my Peugeot SingleSpeeder.