While im sure a full-suspension MTB has a comfy cozy ride, i dont think it is best suited for commuting. It just looks weird with the slicks on it. I say you use your other bike as the commuter, throw some knobbies on the santa cruz, and rip up the mountiain!

Saturday Dec 15,2007 Coming home from a Ice storm

Here's the current incarnation of my winter commuter:

(might change pic if I get access to better camera)

http://www.kunicki.net/~tom/on-one/on-one.pompino.jpg

Of note:

On-One Il Pompino (gift from wife for my birthday!)
Nokian W106 700x35 (excellent in winter on compact snow and ice)
Avid BB7 Disc Brake (again excellent when snow/ice starts to stick to everything including bike)
Bontrager Grippy Tape (always grippy even when wet!)
Surly Dingle, 17t/19t (for those days when conditions change while at work, my derailleur is a 15mm wrench)
Crank Bros. Smarty Pedals (were cheap, but I can tell these will die quickly)
NiteRider BlowTorch HID (people seem to take me a bit more seriously with the 40W of light)
Planet Bike SpeedEZ fenders (a little too small for tires, but do the job...)
Surly hubs laced to Salsa Delgado Cross rims (my first wheel build!)

It makes sense to me, though. Those skinny tires are definitely better for going fast on pavement, and the suspension helps deal with curbs and potholes better than a rigid bike can.

Here'y my winter commuter. I just finished all my christmas shopping with my "trunk"
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2299/...170ee2ea_b.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2068/...c77a09bd_b.jpg

I put up a similar post in today's ride report, but wanted to add pictures:

This bike is still mid transition from the state it was in when an awesome co-worker gave it to me. I put my new studs on last week, but was then disappointed to not need them... until a very frosty ride today!

The real fun was the ride home, though. Roads were thawed, and I was feeling confident on the studded knobbies, so dove off the pavement and bombed down the lawn (1/3 mile with 250 ft drop; rocks, roots, tall grass...) I've done this before on my MTB, but never with this bike. I couldn't believe how well it handled! I hopped off the road several more times on the way home - even rode through a flooded culvert. Now I just need the snow to come down a little lower...

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2075/...8e7bc1.jpg?v=0

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2113/...8c99e2.jpg?v=0

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2387/...3d4f51.jpg?v=0

My Commuter. (Actually, it is my "Go everywhere" bike.)

Schwinn Super Sport DBX. Now that it's all outfitted for wet weather, and we finally have had some wet weather, I'm digging it.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2118/...7bf05a.jpg?v=0

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2366/...925217.jpg?v=0

My bicycle
 

This is my bicycle. Maybe you think it's so mini.
Yes. It's a mini bicycle.
Because I'm a girl!:) It is light so I can take it easily.
What do you think about my bike?

Lovely! I like folders too.

I finally bought a bike specifically for commuting this year. During the good weather I would ride my Trek 5200 Triathlon bike into work, and ride my mountain bike in the bad weather. I had put studs on the mountain bike, (Cannondale Rush) but the snow and road salt was killing it.
I bought a Surly 1X1 on Craig's list for $300, and have to admit it has become my favorite bike to ride into work. There are very few moving parts, so even with the snow and road salt there is very little maintence. I think that even when the weather turns for the better I am still going to use this bike for my year round cummuter.

http://homepage.mac.com/horrij/FileSharing6.html

I love the peugeot. I also have one that I have converted to a single speed. It remains one of my favorite bikes. What are those brake calipers? Are they better than the old center pull originals? Looks like there is some significant clearance on those? I would love to hear more about them as both myself and my father are looking to replace our old weinmann center pulls on our peogeots but need a long reach caliper.

I also love the open pros with black spokes. I just received a pair of black spoked open pro/ultegras for christmas!!! :)

Very nice. Sometimes I wish I had a folder, just so it took up less room in the house.

Here's mine. I know, no fenders. Doesn't rain here much and I drive to work when it does. Only two days since September. Early 80's Fuji, resurrected with 8sp drive train, bar end shifters, 700c wheels and new long reach brakes.

You commute on drums? Me too!

http://www.330studios.co.uk/images/Marcus1big.jpg

after months on the board i finally took pics of my bike


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...i/IMG_7299.jpg
overall bike pic

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...i/IMG_7313.jpg
horn and headlight

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...i/IMG_7297.jpg
front of bike and headlight on

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...i/IMG_7311.jpg
side marker, theres another on the other side

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...i/IMG_7306.jpg
battery in the trunk 7ah, 12v

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...i/IMG_7305.jpg
front headlight plug

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...i/IMG_7302.jpg
taillight 21 watt, 1157 bulb, makes me look like a motorcylce

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...i/IMG_7304.jpg
back and mounting of headlight, drilled hole in swamp light from harbor freight.

any questions?? suggestions, welcome.

My new winter ride: SOMA Double Cross 1x9 (42thfront w/11-34 in the rear) w/ Schmidt hub & Supernova 3w LED headlight. Planet bike Super flash in the back. I am really liking the Powergrips. I put the studded tires on 2 weeks ago and as you can see by the green grass in the pics, winter has not really shown itself in southeastern PA yet.:p

[IMG]http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k2...ikePics206.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k2...ikePics207.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k2...ikePics209.jpg[/IMG]

That's a beauty. How do you like the double cross frame?

Thanks! I really like the Double Cross frame. It has all of the needed eyelets & braze ons, plenty of clearance for large tires and I was able to get the handlle bars to the right height without a bunch of spacers. SOMA makes the head tube a bit longer for this reason. I find it very comfortable and would reccomend it to anyone looking at building a commuter/do-everything bike. I find it stiff enough when climbing with very little flex. I am a bigger rider 6'1'' 185lbs.

I got this 2007 double cross as a complete build from ebay and made changes to suit my needs. The previous owner had it set up w/ full Ultegra. It had brifters, deep v's etc. I had all of the current parts on hand as I was gathering parts to build a new winter bike. I flipped a couple of old Trek touring bikes (not my size) I got locally from craigslist on ebay and had the money for this bike. I paid $600 including shipping for the whole thing as the auction was mislisted and had no other bidders. Now I have all of the Ultegra stuff so I think I need to make another bike for myself!:D

Sans panniers, front light and 2nd rear light.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2130/...ee214883a7.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2269/...38ecb9a479.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2056/...be006447cf.jpg

My Trek 7100 commuter - with some mods :D.

@conurejade Nice bike. Is the handlebar pouch for bird feed!

My commuter in the desert.

http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/8080/cc2ac9.jpg


http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/1017/bikeuo7.jpg

Very nice. How do you like it?

Nah....I use if for my cell phone, ID, anything I need to get to really quickly without getting off the bike. The birds get enough food as it is :p