+1 For transportation purposes, definitely true. A lot of current lower end components are very durable and functional.

A Brooks saddle on my camouflaged Huffy? Have to think about that one...

What saddlebag and support is that?

Looks good!

It doesn't have to be ugly, just remove the stickers with a blow drier, if they were clear coated over is where it gets tricky...

Carradice SQR Tour. The quick-release clamp comes with the bag. The rescue tape is functional (and not just camo) as it protects the seatpost from getting scratched or gouged by the clamps.

Growing up, I remember bike messengers riding disguised racing bikes with high-end components. A high-end steel frame looks no different from a low end one if you can't see any branding.

Of course these days high-end stuff is mostly carbon, and most carbon has a distinct shape that gives it away even without branding. So for me rule #1 of stealth is avoiding carbon. A decent steel frame with no branding fitted with the best aluminum components I can afford is how I roll.

The commute is often the best part of my day. Having a decent bike is a big part of that.

Yeah, they look extremely ergonomic. Too bad there aren't more options like that out there...Or are there?

+1 to this. The bottom line is, when I finish this project I want something I love riding, but doesn't draw a lot of attention.

It seems like a lot of people are advocating the idea that the bike doesn't have to be ugly...just needs to draw very little attention to itself by removing branding and not having any parts that stand out as being expensive. Totally want to work some rescue tape into the project too...It is genius!

Just be prepared to shed the occasional tear when you ding your nice components in daily use. I of course got a good gouge today on one crank-arm today. Ouch.

I was bragging to an office-mate (and fellow bike commuter) that my bike was uglier and my lock bigger, when he pointed out my pedals weren't covered by the lock. I park the bike in a covered (car) parking garage, which theoretically has cameras, and has moderate traffic and a dozen other bikes daily. I feel relatively comfortable about the bike (and I _do_ have the biggest lock on the rack).

There are a lot of components one could remove from a "locked" bike, if one desired. The conversation did make me ponder pedal choice. Personally, I wouldn't do blingy components (XTR, Dura Ace, Record), even if I did camouflage them. On the other hand, my commuter is a SS built from an '80s MTB, complete with chainstay-mounted U-brake. There aren't too many components on it one _could_ re-sell, (other than the pedals).

If I had more secure indoor parking on the work end, I may reconsider.

Yeah, I was wondering about that. I usually like using decent SPD pedals but I have always wondered if they draw attention since they make the bike look like it has "higher-end" stuff on it. I put some crappy plastic platform attachments on one side of the spds of one of my bikes to make them look cheaper.

On another note: a couple of you who said you like to stick with cheaper new components on a commuter bike: Are we talking Altus level or not that abysmal? I can't see a huge resale market for Altus components (potentially discouraging theft) but I'm not sure how well they work now. 15 years ago I ditched off Acera components for XT and haven't dared go below Deore ever since...

I can't for the life of me remember the name, but a guy recently posted a very promising looking add on that essentially put DT shifters vertically and pointed downwards on the brake lever. It looked like a very good option...but for most people I think STI/Ergo would make more sense. I'm not able to use STI/Ergo because I wanted to have full size v-brakes.

If I had it to do all over, I'd probably have used STI and cantis (even though I LOVE the v-brake with drops combo). You have to give it this - it's a unique rig

Retroshift.

That sounds right! Thanks!

His upgrade might have only worked with Shimano levers...it had limitations, but I don't recall what they were. A member in C/V got a pair as a test dummy and he liked them.

I think the Coloniel got a set, if I recall that thread. They are for sale on the retroshift website now, but they are kinda expensive. They are a whole new lever that is based off a tektro lever, and then milled down.

I was eyeballing them for a drop bar MTB I'm doing, but the recent cheap shimano brifters are really making me sway that way.

Got it. My weird'o build required particular Tektro brake levers that were compatible with v-brakes, so this option wouldn't have worked.

Shimano released a new set of brifters that have a switchable brake pivot point so that you can run either caliper/canti or v-brake/mechancial disc. Its a fairly low end set but its doable. They are only 3x7 speeds though.

Thanks. Found a review online. They look cool. Supposedly they work with Shimano 7 thru 10 speed and should work with SRAM and Campy...I like this idea--especially with the goals I have for this project. It gives you a rough equivalent to STIs but cheaper if they get destroyed (or stolen...)

EDIT: Just saw Jesse's post...not a super cheap option at the present...

My bike is 3x7

I might have to try that!

No doubt! I love a bike that doesn't look punched from the mold. One that makes you stop and say, "Oh, wait. What is that? That's cool!"

THe threads were somewhere in the Classic and Vintage where they linked to the amazon listing. Pretty inexpensive too!

The Shimano Tourney brifter set, right around $90 dollars. I cant imagine they will last forever, but at $90 I'd be willing to try them out. I can see using them to take an older road bike and modernizing it without doing anything else. Pretty cheap upgrade for people who aren't comfortable with the downtube shifters.

https://www.amazon.com/Shimano-ST-A07...ourney+shifter

here ya go

Thanks gang - checking them out now..

I see what you mean. I recommend brand new Campagnolo Super Record 11 components on a Raleigh Sports frame.

Now we're talking!

this may be a little extreme but

"DO NOT LEAVE ANY BIKE UNATTENDED THAT YOU DONT WANT STOLEN!"

If you do have to use a bike for transportation and leave it locked up for long periods of time, buy a $100 POS on craigslist, make it functionally perfect, ride it until someone steals it, start over. Sorry.