Since someone just quoted you, I just noticed your post. Your bike makes me smile.

I've built a lot of bikes for myself that were like that: no effort at aesthetics, only high functionality. The result is very pleasing: a bike that people won't think to steal but offer very high performance.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...28b15b2678.jpg
Picked up a new commuter. I'll be working overnight, so I decided to make the commute as easy as possible in the mornings after work. This thing was a steal at $2k.

Definitely worth it. Makes loading and parking the bike far easier. I'm not a weight weenie at all - this bike isn't for that, and at 11.5kg without rack or bags (or stand), it's not light enough that adding a 500g kickstand is going to be at all noticeable.

Bike is still reasonably quick in this commuter guise regardless - I average over 28km/h on it most days on a 35-45km daily commute round trip.

The short distance daily beater 1993 Peugeot Chenonceaux made in France and very very reliable
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...0fd0460d_o.jpg
The medium long haul commuter made for gravelly roads and that goes on medium to long distances, the 1993 Giant Tourer but upgraded with Mavic A719 Top of the range gravel/hybrid brake rim and XT 780 T 30 speeds Transmission and XT 780 TVbrake, tires are Schwalbe Marathon Tour Kevlar and it has slime anti puncture tubes. It is very comfortable, very manoeuvrable and fast everytime I ride , it is an absolutely relaxing, secure and stable ride.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...7e164dde_o.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...6c5d3d49_o.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...89c5270e_o.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...13f00d21_o.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/lfDA6rpl.jpg
My old panniers were getting worn. Replaced them with a REI pannier that was on sale.

Changed the wheelset on my mtb Peugeot commuter. These are Deore Xt hubs with Dt Swiss 535 rims. The bike rolls now like a brand new one.

https://i.postimg.cc/Jy4PdsYV/20250112_174736.jpg

Your pic is way too small; what is it? A Peugeot what?

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...5cff32c7be.jpg
Fixed.
This is a 1990 Peugeot Mojave Desert. Only frame and seat tube are genuine ones.

What lights are those?

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...99174e8662.jpg
Pic from December. I don't ride it much lately, it feels like I'm losing power somewhere in the drivetrain, so I've just been commuting on fixed gear. Only main difference right now is I'm running Time Link pedals on it (Time atac combo pedals)

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a09ddc27a3.jpg
My second commuter bike - a 17 year old Dahon Boardwalk that I've rebuilt as a minivelo style with drop bars. It's a load of fun to ride, and can fit the same pannier I use on my other 700c commuter without heel strike.

My do everything bike in it’s final form, for now :-)
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...dc0cd0cd1.jpeg

Looks really great! Do you find that front fender flap is low enough to keep spray off your shoes?

I haven't ridden in the rain since getting the fenders. I do have the longer leather flaps waiting to be installed when the time comes.

The original Trek 720, love it! Reynolds 531, and I love the original Suntour Barcons! Great job on the build :)

Thanks! mine isn’t the original suntour barcon but a Dia-Compe version with OEM suntour barcon rubber insert.

That's gorgeous. Congratulations.

Thank you. It’s been a therapeutic journey I don’t wish to repeat anytime soon. Now, I have to find some time to get out and ride 😅.

Yes, now definitely make a habit of it. The rewards will keep on coming.

I love it.

1. What is the widest tires it will take?
2. How about some more details on that front bag? Is it a bar bag resting on the rack or a rack bag?
3. The chainrings; are they triple, with the middle one being a half step?
4. Is that a dynamo front hub?
5. Where does the headlight go?
6. What's the story with the seat condom? That's kind of janky, compared to the rest of the bike.I'm kind of on the hunt for a bike like this: lugged steel with rack & fender mounts, but that doesn't require tires narrower than 30 mm.

A Schwinn Voyageur (Panasonic, I think) came up locally, but it may be a size too small and it's an hour's drive to go see it, plus he wants $500 and it has downtube shifters. Not sure about tire size either. Downtube shifters, I could deal with, but not a too-small frame, nor too-narrow tires.

I just got this back from the dealer, it was having electrical fault problems that they've got sorted out now:

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a8a541895b.jpg
Yamaha Wabash RT.


Now, I think it's time to turn this into The Ultimate Commuter. I'm a big fan of eBikes for commuting, for a lot of reasons. Mostly, I'm a road cyclist too, so my legs are sometimes shot from a hard ride the day before, but I still don't want to drive or walk to work.

Here are my thoughts, I'd be interested to hear yours too:

1. Rear Rack: It has rack mounting holes. I have a Topeak MTX rack ready to go, but when I put it on my other gravel bike, there wasn't clearance between the back of the seat and the wheel for the trunk bag. It's because Topeak make the rack "one size fits all"; clearance for 29" wheels and there's all kinds of wasted space between the rack & fenders. so I'm thinking of looking for just a pannier rack that straddles the tire & fender.
2. Fenders: The tires are 45 mm gravel tread. It's going to need a bit bigger fenders I think. I'm thinking maybe to see what PlanetBike has. I'd like full fenders on this; I have the partial clip-ons on my other gravel bike.
3. Headlight: Between the eBike display, bell and dropper seat lever, the bars are crowded. I'm thinking of removing the dropper seat post and related hardware; I don't really have a use for it. That'll make room for a decent headlight.
4. Tail Light: To go on the rack. I hope I can find a pannier rack with a tail light mount. I'd buy another PlanetBike Grateful Red for it. It's my favorite tail light so far; I like that it takes AAAs, so I have the choice of disposable lithium for long life, NiMH rechargeable or alkaline and I can carry spares.
5. Saddle: Replace the stock, hard Yamaha seat with a sprung Brooks B67 saddle I have hanging around. That'll add some weight, but hey, it's an eBike! Probably lighter than the Suntour NCX seatpost I was thinking of adding.
6. Bottle Cages: The main triangle is kind of small. I'm going to need a side exit bottle cage.
7. Frame Bag?: Maybe a bolt-on frame bag to fill the triangle and put a soft-sided water bottle or two inside? (if I need more, I'll bring the panniers)
8. Tires: I'll wear out the stock gravel tires, but then I think I will look for tough road tires. I'm really liking the smooth ride of the 45 mm tires. I'll see what Schwalbe & Continental make in that size. (700c)
9. Bar Bag: I have a cheap Walmart insulated bar bag I'm going to try, but if it doesn't work out and there seems to be room, I'm open to buying a nicer one.
10. Kickstand: It lacks one, but has two holes toward the back of the left chain stay. Is this likely a standard size mount, where I could use something besides a Yamaha-branded kickstand?

I live in a medium size city, around 100k population. Crime's not bad, I'd be able to leave the bags on the bike. Yamaha accessories probably won't be an option, as they've left the US eBike market at the end of 2024, and everything costs 3X as much as it should. (The Yamaha fenders are $300, for example)

I have an Aventon Level.2 eBike that i use for commuting now; so this would be the faster/more aero alternative. Here's the Aventon:
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...5b8f5a174c.jpg
A Mosaic commemorating Kenosha's sesquicentennial (150th) birthday, which occurred in 2000.


What would you guys do to build this into a commuter?

Budget: I have $400 that I had started saving for a Brompton, but I think this bike will get a lot more use, so I think I'll stick with my cheaper folding bikes and put the money into converting this.

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.

Now that I'm at the DC Junction,I'm on one of these two beasties. First is my old 2010 S6,the other is my brand new T Line. Been using the S6 more since the Ones on the T really aren't meant for DC commuting.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b69060d31.jpeg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...08b424160.jpeg

Seems like kind of a shame; isn't most of your riding commuting?
:winter2:

Yeah,but it's my first Brommie and still my fav. It's like that old pair of boots that are perfectly broken in.

I think this Spring I need to start reducing the fleet since they're bikes I just never ride cuz I never ride them.