Super commuter
 

I got a great price on this large Softride Solo on ebay. I added SRAM twist grip shifters and rear derailleur, a more comfortable Giant seat, a Blackburn rack, and a Nashbar Trekking handlebar. Although I really like the SRAM shifters (I will never go back to trigger shifters), the handlebar has been my best upgrade.

I have the trekking bars on one of my bikes and the only knock on them is how to mount your controls. I love the many hand positions they afford, and I think they look cool.

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...r/IMG_9687.jpg

There she is!

I only do 16 miles round trip 3 to 4 times a week. It is also my recreational ride, bike path ride, off road ride, etc.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1085/...40d681263d.jpg

That rear wheel looks bigger than the front. Is that a 69er?

Nope. Just the perspective, I imagine. Both are 26x1.5 Nimbus Armadillos.

1988 Voyageur Attachment 54631


1985 UnivegaAttachment 54632

Model number? :D

Of course it counts. As long as you ride it for commuting, it's a commuter.

I don't think I could keep my commuter that clean. Your bike is just gleaming with the white wheelset.

Just noticed that...of course it's a model 000001...
Actually the Univega is an Alpinia Uno-LX. I do most of the commuting on the Voyageur but love the Univega and can't seem to part with it. Used it on XX single track trails and then for exercise on the road & now setting it up for commuting and weekend camping/touring. It has the pink splatter paint on pearl black. Says Lawlee Design on the chain stay.

So I have to ask. How do the road bar ends work for you? Others complained that they weren't quite right, and I've always been a skeptic.

This bike's actually been suprising me lately. I've been doing a decent bit of trail riding with it after work and it's just been tearing it up. It'll jostle me around a bit on the rocks and roots, but those wheels have been bombproof and the bike is super nimble and responsive. I put about 25 miles on it after work today (9 of that on trails) and besides a ripped pair of pants and some sore palms (I'd forgotten my gloves) I was none the worse for wear.

As for the wheels, a paper towel with a light spray of degreaser does that in a single wipe.

Wow. That's a pretty unorthodox bike. :)

I have had them a week or so and I like them so far. I bought them for 2 reasons...to give a couple extra hand positions to help with numbness and to give a different back position. They seem to work for both issues for me. I would say when I am riding, I am pretty evenly split between the down position, the top position and my regular MTB bar positions.

I think if you bought them thinking they would be just like using drop handlebars on a road bike, you would probably be disappointed. Do to the width and design of an MTB handlebar, the geometry of an MTB bike and the fairly small size of the bar ends, I do not think it feels like being in the drops on a road bike. No brake hoods either for that position. But as bar ends for a mostly road ridden MTB, they feel pretty good for my issues.

I didn't really like any of the regular bar ends I have looked at. Getting more upright with the longer ones or just having a small nub on the end didn't seem like it would help me for what I was looking for. I decided to try these first instead of trekking bars. When I installed them, I moved my brifters in an inch and put handlebar tape over the bar ends.

Now picture a 41 year old, fat guy on it. :D

Started commuting in July. The bike is a Raleigh Detour 3.0 Was in a hurry to get a bike and the little research I had done pointed me to a hybrid. Road bikes sounded too fragile and I'm on a budget. Bor Yeuh rack, Cateye EL530 headlight, PB SuperFlash blinky taillight. SKS Fenders. The panniers were installed today and are Transit Metros which may seem a little overkill but I use this bike for groceries too - car free right now.
Future upgrades: studded tires for winter, mudflaps, computer with cadence because I tend to mash, MInewt x2 dual headlight; The streets are lit enough that the EL530 is sufficient for now.
http://members.buckeye-express.com/b...s/DSCN0640.JPG

Stujoe's Hardrock inspired me to post a pic of mine.

2003 Specialized Hardrock -- Mostly stock, but with Crank Bros Mallet pedals, Jandd expedition rack, and Michelin 26x1.5 semi-slicks:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1283/...749bd18486.jpg

Nice to see another one with a rack, bag and skinnies on it!

Here's a bike I like to call The Bruiser. I have ridden to and from the shop (4 miles each way) a few times, so I'm posting it. It is a Murray Fox River All Terrain. I haven't researched its vintage, but it has to be around 30 years old.

I stripped it from stock form, with U-brakes and a 15 speed drive train and installed a coaster brake rear wheel. I think it is much happier. I sure like it. Then I installed the baskets. One thing that boggles me is the 165 mm cranks! It's just nutty! Makes hills even more challenging. I haven't weighed the bike, but I'm confident it is over 40 pounds.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1168/...3e295267_b.jpg

It looks like low quality frame manufacture, but still pretty stout. I enjoy this sticker on the seat tube which reads: HURCULITE 20 MICRO ALLOY STRONGER AND LIGHTER

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1354/...b97c920d_b.jpg

I bought this one the otherday on craigslist for $50, of course my gf stole it and claimed it as her "bike to get the the neighborhood gym and pool" bike. At least she is finally riding one!!! :D

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o...ffsbike001.jpg

I used to have one of those that looked just like that one. I would think it is more like 15 - 18 years old, unless they made the bike with the same look for many years.

Sasss'n frasss!
 

Question before I go ballistic about what sweet steal you got:
Did it come with the milk crate?
Now I will go ape****:

MOTHA FF....!
SON OF A....!
FUUUUHHH!
$50 for that?
Maaaaaan! I've been wishin on getting a folding bike, because... well because they fold up! It's cool!

And you got a good attitude about the gf swiping IT from you. A killer $50 CL bike and she's riding now. It might have required a spendy glam bike to get her pedaling.

striker_dj - Yeah, the bruiser is probably not 30 years old, but I figure it has to be at least 20 years old.

Explain that one.

Cody, it did not come with the milk crate, it was actualy installed by me on her request. she even found "apretty green one" in her words. I did pay $50 for it but it cost me an hour drive which also turned into a very nice drive to parts I have not been to in this area. It was this dudes sailboat bike that he didnt ride (or sail the boat) since he bought it in 1997(?). Still had the paperwork and reciept for it. Oh, and I did buy her a nice bike, I sold it though cuz she didnt like it and rode 3 miles in 6 months. Thats how she gets away with "stealing" my folder!

BTW, your bike is looking alot like my bike, the one she lets me drive.... I have since added slicks and trekking bars just havent got any pics since then.

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o...bikes022-1.jpg

i think the love for milk crates in starting to rub off on her.

I get the impression that it has to be about ten years newer, max. I had a very similar bike around 1992. It was a bit heavy, but managed to survive quite a bit, including riding along the water at the beach, and a muddy area near my house. Nearly fanatic care kept it running like a new bike. I think I had to have a dérailleur replaced at some point. I know it's odd, but I can't remember what happened to it. I probably traded it to a friend.

You know it occurrs to me that low quality bikes are probably built with old crappy components, and that plus the sloppy welds on the frame and the crazy paint job make it look much older to me than it really is. I sure would like to learn what range of years it was manufactured. My wild guess is early 80's.

Drive, shmive I always say. Fifty bones for a cherry Dahon (which looks to have a bomber frame) is a shrewd deal. Nice job.

If the lady wants a pretty green milk crate on her (your) bike, than a pretty green milk crate she shall have. I hope she knows how lucky she is to have a fine gentleman looking after her. And it speaks well for her character to prefer a practical little run-about bike over a spendy glam bike.

Your bike is of a much finer breed than the bruiser, but it does look rugged and no-nonsense. Built to get the job done, come what may. I like it. How do you like the trekking bars? Besides the challenges of installing controls, I love them. So many hand positions.

My new bike. It's Rossano 105 Touring with disc brakes. I use it for commuting, touring, utility cycling and for fun. We didn't have any extra room for more than one bike per person, so I made the best possible compromise.

http://rumien-ukkojen.kiva-mesta.net...si-fillari.jpg

Teme

What a beaut!! What kind of fenders did you get to work with your discs? I can't seem to find a set that works. Those are cherry.