Vote on my next commuter build!
11-19-10 | 09:25 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,414
Likes: 0
From: Central CA
Bikes: A little of everything
Vote on my next commuter build!
OK, maybe not 'vote' so much as 'pick out components for' my next build.
Winter is coming, and I'm going to need a bike to ride on my 30-mile-per-day round-trip commute (half of that if I use public transit). I have a couple of nice bikes that I commute on currently- a steel drop-bar touring bike with XT components, disc brake, bar-end friction shifting, and front and rear racks, and an aluminuim full-Tiagra road bike. I love those bikes too much- my winter beater is going to be nice enough, but something that, on the whole, I don't really care about.
I have my hands on most of a Jamis Cross Country mountain bike- its just your average cheap hefty aluminum mountain bike with RST shocks and cheap heavy disc-only wheels. I don't care if I beat this thing into the ground.
~~~~
*Drivetrain choices:
-3x7 or 8
-1x7 or 8
-Singlespeed w/tensioner (choice of 16 and 18t cogs; splined freehub).
Cranks are Aceras with a 44t large or 32t middle chainring. I have a bashguard to accompany the 32t middle ring if its singlespeeded. Rear derailer, if used, will be either an Acera or Deore LX, both high-normal.
*Brake/shifter choices
-Cheap Tektro mechanical disc set
-Hayes So1e hydraulic disc set, freshly bled.
-Shimano RSX lever- 7spd, rear only (and I have a travel agent to hook it to mechanical disc caliper)
-Deore shifter- 8-speed, rear only, and some v-brake levers)
-Acera brake/shifter units, 8-speed
*Bar choices:
-Risers
-Drops
-Albatross
*Cargo
-Rear rack (though my panniers are not waterproof!)
-Front metal basket
My messenger bag is reliably waterproof.
~~~~
Vote away!
Winter is coming, and I'm going to need a bike to ride on my 30-mile-per-day round-trip commute (half of that if I use public transit). I have a couple of nice bikes that I commute on currently- a steel drop-bar touring bike with XT components, disc brake, bar-end friction shifting, and front and rear racks, and an aluminuim full-Tiagra road bike. I love those bikes too much- my winter beater is going to be nice enough, but something that, on the whole, I don't really care about.
I have my hands on most of a Jamis Cross Country mountain bike- its just your average cheap hefty aluminum mountain bike with RST shocks and cheap heavy disc-only wheels. I don't care if I beat this thing into the ground.
~~~~
*Drivetrain choices:
-3x7 or 8
-1x7 or 8
-Singlespeed w/tensioner (choice of 16 and 18t cogs; splined freehub).
Cranks are Aceras with a 44t large or 32t middle chainring. I have a bashguard to accompany the 32t middle ring if its singlespeeded. Rear derailer, if used, will be either an Acera or Deore LX, both high-normal.
*Brake/shifter choices
-Cheap Tektro mechanical disc set
-Hayes So1e hydraulic disc set, freshly bled.
-Shimano RSX lever- 7spd, rear only (and I have a travel agent to hook it to mechanical disc caliper)
-Deore shifter- 8-speed, rear only, and some v-brake levers)
-Acera brake/shifter units, 8-speed
*Bar choices:
-Risers
-Drops
-Albatross
*Cargo
-Rear rack (though my panniers are not waterproof!)
-Front metal basket
My messenger bag is reliably waterproof.
~~~~
Vote away!
11-19-10 | 10:41 PM
#2
Tawp Dawg
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,221
Likes: 0
From: Anchorage, AK
Bikes: '06 Surly Pugsley, '14 Surly Straggler, '88 Kuwahara Xtracycle, '10 Motobecane Outcast 29er, '?? Surly Cross Check (wife's), '00 Trek 4500 (wife's), '12 Windsor Oxford 3-speed (dogs')
Drivetrain: Single speed. Not that I've ever run one personally, but if you're riding in snow then it becomes single speed by default. Might as well get used to it and save your derailleurs the wear and tear.
Brakes: Disc, although I don't know between mechanical and hydraulic (never had 'em).
Bar: Risers work great, and have gotten me through 10 winters now. But this winter I'm running Albatross bars, which so far have rocked just as hard as they did this summer. No experience with drop bars. I guess that my vote would be for Albatross bars, mostly for the company.
Cargo: Rear rack and panniers work great, helping keep weight on the rear wheel for additional traction on the ice and snow. And if your panniers aren't waterproof, you can always strap your waterproof messenger bag to the rear rack on wet days.
Brakes: Disc, although I don't know between mechanical and hydraulic (never had 'em).
Bar: Risers work great, and have gotten me through 10 winters now. But this winter I'm running Albatross bars, which so far have rocked just as hard as they did this summer. No experience with drop bars. I guess that my vote would be for Albatross bars, mostly for the company.
Cargo: Rear rack and panniers work great, helping keep weight on the rear wheel for additional traction on the ice and snow. And if your panniers aren't waterproof, you can always strap your waterproof messenger bag to the rear rack on wet days.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
magicmack384
General Cycling Discussion
2
05-14-19 06:40 PM
