PatrickGSR94

There ya go, someone on here recently posted her bike with one she got off Etsy:

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...1#post14258014

https://www.etsy.com/search?q=bike%20...ZZ&min=0&max=0

himespau 

Yeah, but those are cloth and wouldn't do to well in the wet (not that this will every be ridden in the rain, but still). The ones in that catalog that I liked had patterns, but were polycarbonate (plastic).

Thanks for posting that though. In my case, I don't think they'll be necessary, just like the idea.

caloso

My new race it on Sunday, commute it on Monday SSCX bike.

nashcommguy

Here are pics of my combined commuter rig:

Motobecane Fantom Cx 2x9


80s Fuji Del-Rey FG


Specialized Crossroads Cruz 3x6


The Cruz isn't used very much. It's my back-up in case something goes wrong w/t other 2. Since purchasing it from Bikes Direct in May of 2008 the Motobecane has more than 24,000 commuter/utility miles. Just replaced the bb, cassette, chain, cables, brake pads and rear der last month. A friend of mine did the 'harlequin wrap' hb taping. The rear tire is new and the front has over 23,000. They're both Schwalbe Marathon Plus 28mm. So are the tires on the FG. 25mm. They've got about 4,000 miles. The tires on the hybrid are Nashbar 32mm w maybe 2000 miles in 6 years.

I've got 2 more helmets and several more pairs of gloves I use regularly. Lots of gear and accessories for year-round commuting. I'm a lifer.

PatrickGSR94

What about the Motobecane makes it NOT a road bike with fenders? It has drop bars, narrow tires, and appears to have road bike frame geometry. Is it not considered a road bike?

megalowmatt

I think it's safe to say you can commute on just about anything. Out of those three I would choose the Fantom for my commute.

And to my eye they all seem to have the same width tires.

bigbenaugust 

Yay, another SSCX bike!

nashcommguy

Well, it's got all the look of a rb, but I think cantilever calipers and a slightly heavier frameset w/rack bosses put it into the CX/Utility catagory. 28mm tires, especialy SMPs are prettty big/heavy for a true rb which would have dual-pivot calipers, lighter wheelset, 53/39-25x12 gearing, lighter fork, no rack bosses, etc. And I consider 23mm and smaller to be rb tires. The way the cables are run across the top-tube, too. It's more like an mtb than a rb. My gearing is 50/40-26x12 w/Alex R500 32h rims. A rb would have 20h and 24h front and rear, respectively. Or maybe 24/28h. There are alot of differences, but mostly in the comps.

Like I stated in my previous post it's been a real workhorse since I obtained it. Couldn't be more pleased.

nashcommguy

I agree. That's why it's my main commuter. The fg gets used consistantly, but not for my commute much as I've got an 18% 0.4 mile climb w/a 500ft elevation difference total on my homeward leg. Doing 10-13 minutes of swtchbacks in the dark w/barking dogs on both sides of the climb is not my idea of a good time. Most of the time I use it on off days for various small package errands and on Firday nights when I can take the longer and more fg friendly route of 27 mles. The gearing is 48x15(85 GI). I work 2nd shift.

The fg has a higher profile set of rims which give the illusion of being the same size as the one's on the MB. The rims on the hybrid are wide and flat making the 32mm tires seem smaller as they have a lower profile.

Thanks for your comments and observations.

PatrickGSR94

Man that Fantom is almost completely sold out on BD, except for a few sizes of the chrome frame (icky). But I do see one difference between it and most RB's in that the head tube is a bit shorter than what you see on most RB's.

nashcommguy

Could only find blue, gray and yellow in the CX2x9 model. I have seen MB chrome framesets on BD, but can't remember the models.

Btw, forgot to mention my commute is 33 miles rt daily. Clothing for the week is taken in on Mondays. Lunch daily. My soiled work clothes and lunch containers are taken homeward every day. The MB bags are a set of Jandd front bags I bought at a swap meet for 10.00USD w/rain covers and frt rack. The steerer tube is partially covered w/my 'dog dealer'. It's an old cell phone holster zip-tied and has an air-horn and 'Shield Spray' from Pet Smart. The airhorn works pretty well for the most part. The spray can go any direction and I rarely use it. The dog has to be right on top of me.

My thought is that all three of the bikes consitute a 'commuter rig'. They're all kept in top-notch mechanical condition and one is always available to use. Like I said I'm not a big fan of the hybrid, but it runs smooth, shifts well and does it's job as a back-up. This winter I'm adding a Univega mtb 3x7 that I found at Goodwill for 10.00. It'll be tricked out for commuting like the other 3 except I'm getting studded tires for it. It'll be used for snow/ice days here in Mid-TN. We live rural well beyond the plows and I've been house bound a couple of times because of road conditions. A bike w/studded tires should get me to and from work.

PatrickGSR94

Wow man that's pretty awesome. What area of Nashvegas are you? I used to live there myself when I was doing an architecture internship, sorta inner-city I guess. Dump of an apartment near Nolensville and Thompson Lane (aka south leg of Briley Parkway). I worked downtown, and towards the end also a 2nd job at Starbucks in the Cool Springs area.

Love Nashville, don't get up there as often as I would like.

ottawa_adam

Nice bike! Simple, elegant. I can't believe the quality of the frame welds and joints. Maybe one day, when I have enough disposable income to afford another bike, I'll look at Rivendell frames. How does it ride?

bulldogs2k

Here's my commuter on a post ride peace!

DVC45

Can't really see much of it, but it looks like a nice bike.

What make and model is it?

bulldogs2k

It's a Nashbar Steel CX. Ya sorry about that, I was going for a hipster/instagram feel

juggleaddict

Break in ride for my new commuter/touring rig :') She's my dream bike.

Mr. Hairy Legs

Drink Gatorade much?

nashcommguy

35 miles SW. 12 miles past Leiper's Fork close to the Maury County lin. 0.5 mi off the Natchez Trace Parkway. Cycling is really unbelievable in this area. Used to live in Music Row on 17th. Rode out to Charlotte Pike to Old Hickory Blvd. everyday for about 5 years. 20 miles rt. Heavy urban traffic both directions.

Now any commute is at least 15 miles and always starts and ends rural. Do alot of night rides out on the Trace w/my fg. It's always great. There's an added dimension as the traffic rate is so low on the Trace. Sometimes, I'll do a 40 mi rt fg ride at night and not see a car the whole time. I'm really, really blessed.

If you want to come up shoot me a PM as my wife and I have a cottage available. It's called Cycler's Rest. The guy across the road has 12-1500 acres w/50 head of cattle, so we're pretty far out.

Igo

That bike is just right.

juggleaddict

So new in fact that I haven't had a chance to buy water bottles O: ) one was water, one was tea, the gatorade sadly was poured out.

Thanks Igo : )

lungimsam

Thanks. I love the look of the lugs. It is the most comforable road bike I have ridden. Like sitting on a pillow. The Brooks saddle is really comfortable. It has 33m tires that are inflated to 75 psi,which helps soften the ride. Bumps don't jar my head anymore like they do on my road bike. Handling is great. Very stable on descents. Easy to drive, so to speak.

Only bad side is it seems slower than my road bike. But I don't think that is the bike's fault. I think it may be due to the lower air pressure, and wider tires than my 700 x 25, 120psi tires. The bike is only ~2 lbs. more than my road bike. So that gets lost in the mix when I sit on it.

I love the bike and hope to get another Rivendell one day. Great ride. Beautiful bike. I really can't say enough about the smoothness of the ride. Like riding on a cloud. Rivendells are apparently all they are cracked up to be.

BarracksSi

Not trying to get too personal, but how heavy are you? I was pumping my tires to 120+ psi when I weighed over 220 -- and they're 700x23, not 25. I'm down to 188-190 now and pump them to 105-110. If I had 25's, they'd be a bit lower than that.

lungimsam

I am 165 lbs. My 700c bike's tires said 120 max, so I would keep them between 110-120 on the road bike.

Zedoo

This Univega was my bus rack beater for a while. I gave it away years ago after buying a better second bike.