Commuter Bicycle Pics
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Not mine but I was talking commuter bikes on a skateboard website and a guy responded with his fathers bike built by a local custom shop. There are some things I would do differently 700c over 26" is the main thing but given that this guy live in western CT and commutes year round this is an interesting build, Alfine 11 spd belt drive, disks, that's pure simplicity in my mind
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Hey iFold, I am guessing I saw your bike a couple weeks ago on MTBR forum. I have to say that them 28c's look a lot better than I thought they would. Sweet Bike! I am planning on installing the 11 speed Alfine on mine. I believe I got all the parts except the hub. This will be the 1st time I've done anything like this.
Are you using the original wheels? And is there any reason why you ran the cable under the bottom bracket? I will continue to run a chain because of ease of changing sprocket or chainring. It's 1X9 with 36t now and I will use 36/20 to start off.
Are you using the original wheels? And is there any reason why you ran the cable under the bottom bracket? I will continue to run a chain because of ease of changing sprocket or chainring. It's 1X9 with 36t now and I will use 36/20 to start off.
Flying Under the Radar
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Commuter without any of the bags...
Rocketship Underpants
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I think now my commuter is done. Got some Planet Bike Cascadia fenders for it, and switched out the 1.25" slicks to some really nice Schwalbe Big Apple 2.15", much more comfortable, and to my amazement 99% as fast. Feels different, but according to the computer, time to work was still under an hour (typical commute is 55-59 minutes). I've got some reflective tape on the seatstays and the fender, but I'll be adding some more on the fork and maybe a few other places.
The bright thing hanging on my door is my safety vest.
one life on two wheels
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My 1986 Specialized Rockhopper. Getting everything dialed in, I added a LED front light and removed the full fenders for now. Next I'd like to upgrade the handlbar bag to something more stable, maybe with a decaleur and with a little more room. I'm holding off on a rear rack for now, I like the sporty feel of the bike so I want to keep the add-on to a minimum...and with the cooler weather coming up I can go back to using my Banjo Bros. commuter backpack
also notice the handy tool roll a friend created for me. It holds everything I need for tools and a flat kit.
also notice the handy tool roll a friend created for me. It holds everything I need for tools and a flat kit.
aka Tom Reingold
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This is my new commuter bike, which is nice for my new commute. I got a new job, about 12 miles from home. I'm not riding every day, but I rode in Friday and today.
I got it a little less than a year ago, and now I'm outfitting it with year-round commuting gear. It now has a dynamo-powered headlight and will soon have a headlight. I will add fenders, too.
Yesterday I rode it with a very heavy load, bringing the bike plus cargo up to 60 pounds. It rode well.
I got it a little less than a year ago, and now I'm outfitting it with year-round commuting gear. It now has a dynamo-powered headlight and will soon have a headlight. I will add fenders, too.
Yesterday I rode it with a very heavy load, bringing the bike plus cargo up to 60 pounds. It rode well.
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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.
master of bottom licks
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Bicycle Repair Man !!!
My B bike in Portland... 100.00 for a new old stock Giant that still had the owner's manual zip tied to the handlebars, 40.00 of this amount was for the new slicks.
Last edited by Sixty Fiver; 09-10-12 at 07:05 PM.
Born Again Pagan
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Hi irclean,
Thanks for the compliment.
I used to put the Gates’ CDX belt drive on the sawyer when I run it singlespeed for commuting and off-road riding. But when I installed the IGH, the rear sprocket didn’t fit anymore coz what I have was a non Alfine specific sprocket. I am from Japan so it’s really hard to deal with the Gates people because they don’t have dealers here (it actually took me 6 months to get the CDX belt drive parts). I like running it with belt drive though.
Thanks for the compliment.
I used to put the Gates’ CDX belt drive on the sawyer when I run it singlespeed for commuting and off-road riding. But when I installed the IGH, the rear sprocket didn’t fit anymore coz what I have was a non Alfine specific sprocket. I am from Japan so it’s really hard to deal with the Gates people because they don’t have dealers here (it actually took me 6 months to get the CDX belt drive parts). I like running it with belt drive though.
I just got the parts to upgrade my bike to the new CenterTrack system. I can't wait to try it out!
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As a fellow broke college student, I've gotta say that Nashbar is a sweet Craigslist find. How much did you pay for it? Were the fenders included?
My commuter (well, my 'everything' bike, since I am a broke college student) is a 1995 Nashbar 6000t...I bought it off of Craigslist about a month ago. On the traffic-facing side, I have a Garneau Black Box Pannier (from Nashbar), and on the non-traffic-facing side, I have a Wald folding basket. Works well enough for my needs! I don't have a car so this is how I get around anywhere.
Don't judge too hard on my bar tape job! It was my first time.
Don't judge too hard on my bar tape job! It was my first time.
caaddict
Hey iFold, I am guessing I saw your bike a couple weeks ago on MTBR forum. I have to say that them 28c's look a lot better than I thought they would. Sweet Bike! I am planning on installing the 11 speed Alfine on mine. I believe I got all the parts except the hub. This will be the 1st time I've done anything like this.
Thanks! I also thought that the narrowest (yet safest) tire I can fit on the stock wheel was around 35 or 32c. but when I tried the 28c, it’s ok and seats well on the rim.
yes that’s the stock Bontrager Duster.
Last Sunday we did another 60km ride in Awaji Island and the hub was great. The IGH is soft to pedal & so quiet, almost perfect for my need. Now I’m toying with the idea of replacing the 32t/18t with bigger sprockets so it could give me more speed with lesser effort.
About the tires, the Verge Duo’s stock tire is Schwalbe Marathon Supreme. I like it for being puncture resistant (already have 1000kms on it). My one-way daily route is consisting of 1km fire /gravel road and 5km asphalt pavement. I use the Duo as my leisure/commuter bike. I’ve already got used of the coaster brake. This brake has better braking system than the stock kinetix caliper brake.
I like the belt drive, too. I did destroy a couple of aluminum rear pulleys on my Alfine 8, though. Replacements parts are easy for me to get; I source them through Spot Brand Bicycles. Ask for Steve Pardoe; you may have better luck with Spot than Gates. My parts are shipped to Canada within a day or two.
I just got the parts to upgrade my bike to the new CenterTrack system. I can't wait to try it out!
I just got the parts to upgrade my bike to the new CenterTrack system. I can't wait to try it out!
Well I’l try to contact the Spot and see if I can source parts through them. Thanks!
Last edited by iFold; 09-10-12 at 11:55 PM.
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what LED light is that on the front? It looks like one for a generator, but is this one battery? I'd like to find one.
My 1986 Specialized Rockhopper. Getting everything dialed in, I added a LED front light and removed the full fenders for now. Next I'd like to upgrade the handlbar bag to something more stable, maybe with a decaleur and with a little more room. I'm holding off on a rear rack for now, I like the sporty feel of the bike so I want to keep the add-on to a minimum...and with the cooler weather coming up I can go back to using my Banjo Bros. commuter backpack
also notice the handy tool roll a friend created for me. It holds everything I need for tools and a flat kit.
also notice the handy tool roll a friend created for me. It holds everything I need for tools and a flat kit.
one life on two wheels
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^Its very inexpensive ($11.99 @ my LBS, batteries included) and made by Sunlite. Model # HL-L301.
Rocketship Underpants
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Have you had a chance to see what kind of battery life it gets from a set of AAAs? I run two lights on my bars, but this one be a nice additional point of light lower down.
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I think now my commuter is done. Got some Planet Bike Cascadia fenders for it, and switched out the 1.25" slicks to some really nice Schwalbe Big Apple 2.15", much more comfortable, and to my amazement 99% as fast. Feels different, but according to the computer, time to work was still under an hour (typical commute is 55-59 minutes). I've got some reflective tape on the seatstays and the fender, but I'll be adding some more on the fork and maybe a few other places.
I just received a set of P50 SKS fenders to replace my narrower Planet Bikes and once they go on I will stick with the wider Supremes. I guess I have too much time to think while riding otherwise I wouldn't always be contemplating such things.
Rocketship Underpants
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Thank you for sharing your insight into the larger tires. I have been looking down on th 40mm Schwalbe Supremes on my Vaya and have been contemplating going to 35s just because I cannot get used to the idea of riding such wide tires. I have ridden skinny's for many many years and just need to accept the fact that the Salsa Vaya with these on is the nicest riding bike I have owned. Narrow would likely change that. Plus, at over $150 a set it is hard to just pop on a new set of Supremes!
I just received a set of P50 SKS fenders to replace my narrower Planet Bikes and once they go on I will stick with the wider Supremes. I guess I have too much time to think while riding otherwise I wouldn't always be contemplating such things.
I just received a set of P50 SKS fenders to replace my narrower Planet Bikes and once they go on I will stick with the wider Supremes. I guess I have too much time to think while riding otherwise I wouldn't always be contemplating such things.
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I was very skeptical, too. I use Conti GP4000S 23mm on my Cannondale Slice tri bike, a 23mm front and 25mm rear on the road bike, and I've worn out several sets of 1.25" slicks, so I was always in the "has to be skinny to be fast" camp until now. I did a lot of reading on how fat slicks ride, and decided I'd give it a try. Like I said, the clock doesn't lie, I'm just as fast on my commuter with the Big Apples as I was on the 1.25" slicks, it's not as "snappy" now, but a heckuva lot more comfortable on broken pavement, manholes, and potholes. The skinnies certainly have their place on the road and tri bike, but that's a different riding style, I'm very happy with my commuter now. I considered a few tires in the Schwalbe line, including the Supremes. I decided for the BAs based on value, I paid $88 with shipping for my pair, and they're the nicer "Performance Line" rather than the "Active Line," longer-lasting rubber compound, better puncture protection layer, and lighter. If you have any questions, feel free to PM me!
Just measured my Supremes (folding bead) and they are 34mm wide on Mavic TN719 29r rims. The side casing is marked as 42-622 and also says they are 28x1.60. I thought they were wider, but the tool does not lie.
Thanks again.
Last edited by Ridefreemc; 09-11-12 at 06:00 PM.
Let's Ride!
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Born Again Pagan
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CenterTrack Belt Drive!
After serving 4-season duty for 2 years (including the 2010/11 Snowpocalypse), I discovered that the set screws on the sliding dropouts of my Norco had seized. After stripping the head on one, I decided to have my LBS remove them instead. Since I had just received my new Gates CenterTrack goodies, I also asked them to install the parts and to overhaul the whole bike.
After the overhaul (which included an oil bath for the Alfine hub) the bike rides smooth as buttah!
After the overhaul (which included an oil bath for the Alfine hub) the bike rides smooth as buttah!
caaddict
Hi RidingMatthew!
I like how it rides, fun and easy. my daily commute is 12kms. There are lots of good info in folding bike forum.
There's one guy there who bought a Citizen folding bike, he's so happy with it.
Cheers!
I like how it rides, fun and easy. my daily commute is 12kms. There are lots of good info in folding bike forum.
There's one guy there who bought a Citizen folding bike, he's so happy with it.
Cheers!
always rides with luggage
all of this belt drive action. Maybe my next machine should have a belt...
__________________
--Ben
2006 Trek SU100, 2009 Motobecane Fantom CX, 2011 Motobecane Fantom Cross Uno, and a Bakfiets
Previously: 2000 Trek 4500 (2000-2003), 2003 Novara Randonee (2003-2006), 2003 Giant Rainier (2003-2008), 2005 Xootr Swift (2005-2007), 2007 Nashbar 1x9 (2007-2011), 2011 Windsor Shetland (2011-2014), 2008 Citizen Folder (2015)
Non-Bike hardware: MX Linux / BunsenLabs Linux / Raspbian / Mac OS 10.6 / Android 7
--Ben
2006 Trek SU100, 2009 Motobecane Fantom CX, 2011 Motobecane Fantom Cross Uno, and a Bakfiets
Previously: 2000 Trek 4500 (2000-2003), 2003 Novara Randonee (2003-2006), 2003 Giant Rainier (2003-2008), 2005 Xootr Swift (2005-2007), 2007 Nashbar 1x9 (2007-2011), 2011 Windsor Shetland (2011-2014), 2008 Citizen Folder (2015)
Non-Bike hardware: MX Linux / BunsenLabs Linux / Raspbian / Mac OS 10.6 / Android 7
one life on two wheels
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It's a new light to me, I've used it all this week and the light does provide plenty to be seen and see the road about 10-20 yards ahead of me...all the light I need in the small city I live in. Dynamo is a nice option, but unless I am changing batteries every week or two, I don't see myself making the investment soon, so this works great for me.
Senior Member
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1973 Mercian Pro on the way to work last week. Rode it to work today too.
Riv Homer Hilsen, parked at work. Commute on it about half the time, the other half on my Bob Jackson:
Bob Jackson, shown just outside where I work, set up similar to the Hilsen:
Riv Homer Hilsen, parked at work. Commute on it about half the time, the other half on my Bob Jackson:
Bob Jackson, shown just outside where I work, set up similar to the Hilsen:
Last edited by Mercian Rider; 09-12-12 at 11:52 AM.