Need Advice on "Custom" Commuter
11-30-11 | 04:41 PM
#51
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,552
Likes: 135
By "custom commuter," do you mean you will do the building from the frame up with parts you source elsewhere? Asking because it sounds like a pretty standard Spot bike that you'd like to build, other than the bars. Check with Spot -- you may find you can save money buying a complete bike from them with the Gates center track setup than trying to piece everything together yourself.
11-30-11 | 04:51 PM
#52
Giftless Amateur
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,318
Likes: 844
From: MD / metro DC
Bikes: Cross-Check/Nexus commuter. Several others for various forms of play.
11-30-11 | 11:26 PM
#53
Thread Starter
Old & Getting Older Racer
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,343
Likes: 12
From: SoCal
Bikes: Bicycle Transportation: 2022 Hyundai Kona Electric, 2019 Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid
Dude, you have a couple of sweet bikes there that most commuters would no doubt be quite pleased to use for their daily commute. Of course it's your call,and only you know exactly what your after. A new build is very exciting indeed. 21 pounds would put me at the top of the world for sure. I rode a ss/fg Masi for my commute with hills and about 6 intersections with lights. I didn't feel great aout taking off from a stoplight. I felt it took to much time getting up to speed to avoid the guy in the cage making the left turn in front of me, so I started the bad habit of trying to ,and or blowing through controlled intersections. Not a good recipe for the longivity of the rider,and gives bicyclist a bad image. Single speeds ate great low maintenance machines for sure. Keep the chain line taught and lubed and your all good. You want a belt though and I have 0 experiance with them. Another thing to think about is a lot if not most ss/fg bicycles dont have quock release hubs. So if thats something you need for lock up or stowage it 's something to think about. Gearing is another issue. It might take several gear ratio changes to get your commute comfortable all around. With a ss/fg i don't think that exisits. Just my IMHO. Sounds like with your back ground and obvious eye for high end bicycles and skills you will probably come to a happy medium on all above. Good luck on your build.
something to consider is the weigh balance of a bag that is high and behind the saddle, especially if you are considering putting much weight into it. This is not quite as much of an issue for a smaller frame size, where everything is closer to the "axis", if you will. I have had horrible luck with any saddle/seatpost mounted bags, particularly for any "out of saddle" riding such as on hills or to pick up the pace on the flats.
For a lighter/faster setup (typically Summertime for me) I actually prefer wearing a backpack to the tail-wagging sensation that I get with a saddle/post bag. Again, this is largely due to the fact that I'm 6'2+ and on such setups the weight is way out from the axis of rotation, making for a very unpleasant dynamic.
If you are on a smaller frame (say, 56cm or smaller) then this may not be nearly as much of an issue.
For a lighter/faster setup (typically Summertime for me) I actually prefer wearing a backpack to the tail-wagging sensation that I get with a saddle/post bag. Again, this is largely due to the fact that I'm 6'2+ and on such setups the weight is way out from the axis of rotation, making for a very unpleasant dynamic.
If you are on a smaller frame (say, 56cm or smaller) then this may not be nearly as much of an issue.
If you decide not to go with the belt drive, I don't think you'll have too many issues with a single speed chain drive. I have had great results with a single speed chain drive in really fowl conditions. I built up a Surly 1X1 mountain bike with disc brakes & an Eno single speed freewheel. I spent a week riding daily for hours through mud, that nasty Georgia clay mud. I could not tell that the drivetrain was dirty. I specifically built a single speed so that I would have less issues in bad weather off road. It worked perfectly. I have nine bicycles (between my wife & I) to maintain & a tenth shortly, so I have little time to spend on each.
By "custom commuter," do you mean you will do the building from the frame up with parts you source elsewhere? Asking because it sounds like a pretty standard Spot bike that you'd like to build, other than the bars. Check with Spot -- you may find you can save money buying a complete bike from them with the Gates center track setup than trying to piece everything together yourself.
I ended up buying the frame, crank, CenterTrack parts, and headset from Joe Bike in Portland. I believe it should be shipping this week. I got the hubs and rims via mail order and I'll have my LBS build the wheels. The frame and drivetrain parts were a bit cheaper the Joe Bike than through Spot but the shipping is higher so overall its almost a wash.
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Thanks.
Cleave
"Real men still wear pink."
Visit my blog at https://cleavesblant.wordpress.com/
Lightning Velo Cycling Club: https://www.lightningvelo.org/
Learn about our Green Dream Home at https://www.lawville.org/
Thanks.
Cleave
"Real men still wear pink."
Visit my blog at https://cleavesblant.wordpress.com/
Lightning Velo Cycling Club: https://www.lightningvelo.org/
Learn about our Green Dream Home at https://www.lawville.org/
12-04-11 | 05:25 PM
#55
Thread Starter
Old & Getting Older Racer
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,343
Likes: 12
From: SoCal
Bikes: Bicycle Transportation: 2022 Hyundai Kona Electric, 2019 Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid
Hi, the fenders on the Roger are SKS Raceblade XL fenders (or mudguards as SKS calls them):
https://www.sks-germany.com/?l=en&a=p...ADE%20XL%20SET
I had to special order them from my LBS two years ago.
https://www.sks-germany.com/?l=en&a=p...ADE%20XL%20SET
I had to special order them from my LBS two years ago.
__________________
Thanks.
Cleave
"Real men still wear pink."
Visit my blog at https://cleavesblant.wordpress.com/
Lightning Velo Cycling Club: https://www.lightningvelo.org/
Learn about our Green Dream Home at https://www.lawville.org/
Thanks.
Cleave
"Real men still wear pink."
Visit my blog at https://cleavesblant.wordpress.com/
Lightning Velo Cycling Club: https://www.lightningvelo.org/
Learn about our Green Dream Home at https://www.lawville.org/
