Commuter Bicycle Pics
03-10-23 | 09:15 AM
Keepin it Wheel
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 5,200
From: San Diego
Bikes: Surly CrossCheck, Krampus
What a great story, and a beautiful, crazy bike! A history like that gives it value to you that is way greater than it could ever be worth to anybody else (and I'm glad to see it here instead of as an overpriced ad on the Wacky CL thread!)
Can I get another pic of your cockpit? Is that red some kind of aerobar/trekking bar extension for a more forward handhold?
Also that blue bashguard, is that painted steel or blue plastic? I made a thread one time speculating about whether a 3D-printed plastic bashguard would be strong enough to withstand the pressure from the chainring bolts.
Can I get another pic of your cockpit? Is that red some kind of aerobar/trekking bar extension for a more forward handhold?
Also that blue bashguard, is that painted steel or blue plastic? I made a thread one time speculating about whether a 3D-printed plastic bashguard would be strong enough to withstand the pressure from the chainring bolts.
03-10-23 | 10:08 AM
Cantilever believer
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 3,089
Likes: 4,734
From: Phoenix, AZ
- The wife & kid can keep what they want (likely not much)
- The rest goes to the local co-op for resale or parting out (likely the latter)
The bike has an early-generation SR touring handlebar (also used on MTBs) with a pair of longer bar ends that provide an added "aero" position when needed. The mirror is screwed to the left-side one. At a bike swap decades ago, I got a bunch of Spenco grips really cheap, and I use them to pad the bar ends. Due to the curve of the bar, there aren't a lot of mounting points for stuff, so the bell tucks in under the left shifter. The tips of the bar ends are useful for mounting handlebar accessories such as a cell phone mount if one is needed for some reason.
__________________
Richard C. Moeur, PE - Phoenix AZ, USA
https://www.richardcmoeur.com/bikestuf.html
Richard C. Moeur, PE - Phoenix AZ, USA
https://www.richardcmoeur.com/bikestuf.html
03-10-23 | 12:35 PM
Keepin it Wheel
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 5,200
From: San Diego
Bikes: Surly CrossCheck, Krampus
Love it all, thanks for the more pics! That bar almost looks like a moustache bar.
You make me want to go crazy with my bike.
Here's an old pic with 'circus tent' bicolor bartape
Nowadays the accent color is red
You make me want to go crazy with my bike.
Here's an old pic with 'circus tent' bicolor bartape
Nowadays the accent color is red
03-10-23 | 02:00 PM
Happy banana slug
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 4,545
Likes: 2,493
From: Arcata, California, U.S., North America, Earth, Saggitarius Arm, Milky Way
Bikes: 1984 Araya MB 261, 1992 Specialized Rockhopper Sport, 1993 Hard Rock Ultra, 1994 Trek Multitrack 750, 1995 Trek Singletrack 930
You should practice believing three impossible things every day before breakfast. Down here on the coast in far NorCal it rarely snows and never for long. This year we had snow days. It's been a wild couple of months. BTW, nice bike. Looks like it handled surprise!snow just fine.
03-12-23 | 07:48 PM
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 168
Likes: 0
From: honolulu,hawaii
Bikes: giant
I'm a bit - no, very late to this thread, but here's my "commutocruiser". Even though I stopped commuting regularly 6 years ago tomorrow, it's still my "commuting bike".
Here's the story behind it: It's a Ross "Mt. Cruiser" sold in the mid-1990s - swingset tubing, threaded BB, stock 5 speed freewheel. I got a pair of them brand new for me and my new girlfriend for about $300 for both in August 1995 (the same week we bought a Santana tandem). And I've upgraded both of them steadily through the years - hers is an 18-speed city bike.
One thing I quickly noticed about the bike - it fit me better than any other bike I'd owned. Its handling isn't fast at all, but rock-solid predictable and dependable - just the thing for demonstrating emergency maneuvers when teaching skills classes. And with the proper saddle and high-pressure tires it's efficient and very comfortable. It was my primary bike from 1995 until 2010, and I put many miles on it.
15 years later in 2010, I finally built up a several-pounds-lighter version of this cruiser with an aluminum Nashbar frame, and this one became my "backup primary" bike. We took it on the back of our pickup our Big 2010 Road Trip to Chicago and upper Michigan, and it worked great with my son's trailercycle. But then disaster struck - somewhere in the South Dakota Badlands, an arm on our ancient hitch rack finally fatigued and snapped, and the bike tumbled to the pavement unseen by me in the truck cab, and secured by a stout chain lock, was dragged behind the truck at 65 mph.
For several miles.
When others finally alerted us to the problem, the bike was in sorry shape indeed - wheels tacoed, components and handlebars ground into stubs, and paint missing from a good chunk of one side. We tossed the wreckage onto the shell roof, drowned our sorrows in Wall, and plodded back to AZ.
Back home, I stripped the bike and assessed the damage. The fork was completely bent and the rear triangle was bent inward, but the main tubes were still in plane and didn't have too much abrasion damage. I resigned myself to making it a wall decoration, but something deep within me said: "can we resuscitate an old friend?"
And I pondered the issue for a while. And realized: We have the technology. We have the spare parts. We can rebuild it. We can make it better, stronger, and... no, not faster. And I acquired a replacement fork, took a broom handle to the frame until the strings looked identical on both sides, grabbed several rolls of 3M Super 33 colored electricians tape off the shelf, and began wrapping. And wrapping, And wrapping. And then rebuilding.
The result: a reborn buddy who now has nearly 21,000 miles under the wheels, many enjoyable commutes and other rides, and still the "#1 backup" to the other bikes.
The current component mix is "eclectic mixed with thrifty" - 26" wheels salvaged from a doomed Giant, a Suntour short-cage rear derailleur held on by a hex bolt, a 40-24 Deore crank I painted to hide the blotchies, a 13-25 7-speed freewheel shifted either by Suntour friction thumbies or whatever salvaged index-7 shifter I'm testing, a comfy double-sprung saddle, a side basket repurposed as a front basket (with water bottle and cup holders inside), a $6 Costco flashlight set up as a decent headlight, a kluged-together super-bright rear lighting system, front n' rear racks, and of course a bell. All set up in a manner to offend anyone's sensibilities to the point where they wouldn't dare steal it.
Behold the beloved mess:
As for the "new girlfriend" I bought the bike with: We'll celebrate our 24th wedding anniversary next month.
Here's the story behind it: It's a Ross "Mt. Cruiser" sold in the mid-1990s - swingset tubing, threaded BB, stock 5 speed freewheel. I got a pair of them brand new for me and my new girlfriend for about $300 for both in August 1995 (the same week we bought a Santana tandem). And I've upgraded both of them steadily through the years - hers is an 18-speed city bike.
One thing I quickly noticed about the bike - it fit me better than any other bike I'd owned. Its handling isn't fast at all, but rock-solid predictable and dependable - just the thing for demonstrating emergency maneuvers when teaching skills classes. And with the proper saddle and high-pressure tires it's efficient and very comfortable. It was my primary bike from 1995 until 2010, and I put many miles on it.
15 years later in 2010, I finally built up a several-pounds-lighter version of this cruiser with an aluminum Nashbar frame, and this one became my "backup primary" bike. We took it on the back of our pickup our Big 2010 Road Trip to Chicago and upper Michigan, and it worked great with my son's trailercycle. But then disaster struck - somewhere in the South Dakota Badlands, an arm on our ancient hitch rack finally fatigued and snapped, and the bike tumbled to the pavement unseen by me in the truck cab, and secured by a stout chain lock, was dragged behind the truck at 65 mph.
For several miles.
When others finally alerted us to the problem, the bike was in sorry shape indeed - wheels tacoed, components and handlebars ground into stubs, and paint missing from a good chunk of one side. We tossed the wreckage onto the shell roof, drowned our sorrows in Wall, and plodded back to AZ.
Back home, I stripped the bike and assessed the damage. The fork was completely bent and the rear triangle was bent inward, but the main tubes were still in plane and didn't have too much abrasion damage. I resigned myself to making it a wall decoration, but something deep within me said: "can we resuscitate an old friend?"
And I pondered the issue for a while. And realized: We have the technology. We have the spare parts. We can rebuild it. We can make it better, stronger, and... no, not faster. And I acquired a replacement fork, took a broom handle to the frame until the strings looked identical on both sides, grabbed several rolls of 3M Super 33 colored electricians tape off the shelf, and began wrapping. And wrapping, And wrapping. And then rebuilding.
The result: a reborn buddy who now has nearly 21,000 miles under the wheels, many enjoyable commutes and other rides, and still the "#1 backup" to the other bikes.
The current component mix is "eclectic mixed with thrifty" - 26" wheels salvaged from a doomed Giant, a Suntour short-cage rear derailleur held on by a hex bolt, a 40-24 Deore crank I painted to hide the blotchies, a 13-25 7-speed freewheel shifted either by Suntour friction thumbies or whatever salvaged index-7 shifter I'm testing, a comfy double-sprung saddle, a side basket repurposed as a front basket (with water bottle and cup holders inside), a $6 Costco flashlight set up as a decent headlight, a kluged-together super-bright rear lighting system, front n' rear racks, and of course a bell. All set up in a manner to offend anyone's sensibilities to the point where they wouldn't dare steal it.
Behold the beloved mess:
As for the "new girlfriend" I bought the bike with: We'll celebrate our 24th wedding anniversary next month.
03-15-23 | 08:07 PM
aka Tom Reingold
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 44,135
Likes: 6,360
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
I haven't managed to make a routine to cycle to my new job (started November 28). I'm still adjusting to having a job where punctuality is paramount and to getting up at 5:30 every morning. I used to work four blocks away from the current location, and at the time, I believed bike commuting took the same amount of time as subway commuting. It didn't matter that I was wrong. But now it matters since I have to be at work on time.
So for the time being, I take the subway every day, and even though it takes a whole hour, I really don't mind it. I just would like some more time on the bike. Maybe in the spring, I'll find the strength to renew the effort.
So for the time being, this is my "commuter pic."
So for the time being, I take the subway every day, and even though it takes a whole hour, I really don't mind it. I just would like some more time on the bike. Maybe in the spring, I'll find the strength to renew the effort.
So for the time being, this is my "commuter pic."
__________________
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.
04-07-23 | 07:21 AM
Hoards Thumbshifters
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,211
Likes: 429
From: Signal Mountain, TN
Bikes: '23 Black Mtn MC, '87 Bruce Gordon Chinook, '08 Jamis Aurora, '86 Trek 560, '97 Mongoose Rockadile, & '91 Trek 750
04-07-23 | 07:45 AM
Sunshine
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 18,699
Likes: 10,236
From: Des Moines, IA
Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo
The tires currently on it measure 38mm- Vittoria Hypers that sadly stopped being produced a few years ago.
Its been a really incredible frame- it spent 4 years as my gravel bike with 2x11 modern drivetrain, old 80s SunTour canti brakes, and 40-43mm tires.
It lived a short time as a single speed flatbar bike with 50mm tires that I used to ride river bottom flat singletrack with my kids.
It was then turned into a 3x9 touring bike with front and rear racks for panniers and a dry sack, only to be limited to a few weekend camping trips because covid hit.
And now its what you see here- same touring drivetrain with an old Sakae triple, but I now have some cheap and good vbrakes in place of the SunTour canti brakes, so the levers were changed to long pull too.
I looked for a long time to find a wide platform front rack that attaches to the mid-fork mounts, but there was nothing in stock for months and months(besides custom). If a porteur/pizza rack like that existed, I would have for sure picked it up and use a bag like an ILE rack bag.
But this setup works great. I need a Wald 139 basket because I carry a 15" laptop and thats too big for the 137 basket. The 139 is BIG(barely fits even with so much space due to the large frame and 44mm bars), but I got the Swift Motherloaf bag on deep discount and am happy with the result. There is no wonky handling, even when there is 10# of stuff in the bag.
04-11-23 | 10:18 PM
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2023
Posts: 13
Likes: 6
Bikes: Vanhawk, belt drive, Alfine11 di2, sram apex hrd, madone handlebar and custom infinity-style saddle
I'm also proud of my custom commuter:
Vanhawks - size XXL, Alfine 11 di2 belt gates drive. Total weight 12 kg, integral cable wiring etc.
Carbon Trek madone handlebars with custom pipe handle for light (knog), bike computer sigma 1609 and shimano di2 display
Handmade copy of infinity saddle
Vanhawks - size XXL, Alfine 11 di2 belt gates drive. Total weight 12 kg, integral cable wiring etc.
Carbon Trek madone handlebars with custom pipe handle for light (knog), bike computer sigma 1609 and shimano di2 display
Handmade copy of infinity saddle
Last edited by yabba235; 04-14-23 at 03:43 AM.
04-25-23 | 11:08 AM
Full Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 298
Likes: 17
From: Western Massachusetts
Bikes: 2020 Kona Rove ST, 2020 Kona Woo, 2013 Cannondale Caad 10 Rival, 2020 All-City Super Professional, 2023 Kona Honzo, 1991 Bridgestone CB-1
Having a really nice commuting season on two of my favorite bikes!
my bridgestone CB-1 wet/bad weather comfy commuter ($30 FB marketplace find!)
my all city super professional brings me to work via pavement or 'gravel' Microshift Advent loving the 44 x 11-46 9 speed drivetrain. clear odyssey pedals, TRP levers, surly racket and bag,
my bridgestone CB-1 wet/bad weather comfy commuter ($30 FB marketplace find!)
my all city super professional brings me to work via pavement or 'gravel' Microshift Advent loving the 44 x 11-46 9 speed drivetrain. clear odyssey pedals, TRP levers, surly racket and bag,
05-02-23 | 09:00 PM
Dedicated Detritus Dodger
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 485
Likes: 662
From: Fairfax, California
Bikes: Some mighty fine ones at that!
I've been riding this 72 Motobecane Grand Record for the last couple of weeks. It's mostly original save the crankset, saddle, brake levers, tires, pedals and consumables. It's a sweet ride!
05-15-23 | 12:37 AM
Commuter
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 42
Likes: 6
From: Australia
New Bag Day!
Last week I ordered the Ortlieb Commuter-Bag Two, which has arrived. It looks great!
I'm working from home for the next few days, but looking forward to trying it out on the commute later in the week.
I'm working from home for the next few days, but looking forward to trying it out on the commute later in the week.
08-04-23 | 01:03 PM
born again cyclist
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,412
Likes: 88
From: Chicago
Bikes: I have five of brikes
Had to post a shot of my old pony on her first day of commuting duty in over 3 years, at home in her new office.
9 years old this summer, and holding up very well for a mid-range BD.com cyclo-cross turned commuter rig.
9 years old this summer, and holding up very well for a mid-range BD.com cyclo-cross turned commuter rig.
08-11-23 | 01:15 PM
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 848
Likes: 21
From: Fort Collins CO
Bikes: Kona Dew, Kona Ute, Salsa Timberjack, Salsa Fargo, New belgium brewery cruisers-2014 and 2009 and 2007
Been off the forum and the bike for two years, 4 days in a row this week. It's good to get back on the Kona F-150
08-12-23 | 07:57 PM
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 20
Likes: 10
From: SF Bay Area
Bikes: Gunnar Sports, Mikkelsen, Paul Taylor, Soma Smoothie, Bianchi Vigorelli, Lemond Sarthe, Surly Bridge Club, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Jamis Dragon Sports, Cannondale Quick, Dahon Helios, Giant Yukon, Custom Triban RC520 with Shimano Alfine 8 Groupset
Triban RC520 Alfine 8
Triban RC520 Alfine 8