Started as Schwinn DBX frame, then built up with parts from Craigslist and Bike Swaps.

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/a...5/IMAG0249.jpg

This guy is pretty Franken. My life situation is changing (I'm going back to school), so I'm going to be able to get back to commuting starting in August. I picked up this '74 Schwinn Le Tour at a garage sale. It had been repainted at some point, and it had new wheels with flip flop hubs. There wasn't much original on the bike. I put on new (or stuff I had lying around) brakes/levers/cable/housing, headset, saddle, tires, handlebars and pedals. I'm also experimenting with using old tubes for handlebar tape, and I like it so far.

I have new Longboard fenders and and old rack to put on it. I also have a new chainring on the way. It's not set up to handle going uphill at the moment.

This is about as comfortable a bike as I've had. In the past, I've had chop and flop handlebars, but I splurged on bullhorns, and it's much nicer. I'm also really enjoying the cross levers. And the 35mm tires are cush. It's nice having the space for bigger tires and fenders.

http://i.imgur.com/YRp44Jr.png

http://i.imgur.com/ZHxWcXk.jpg

http://i936.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps82e25b3b.jpg

http://i936.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps17d4b714.jpg

Seems like a lot of slack in that chain. Also rear brake ahead of the seat stays? Is that how that's supposed to be? Seems odd.

There is a bit of extra slack in the chain, although I think the angle of the picture with the chain against the left chainstay gives the illusion that it's more slack than it is. Whoever had set it up before me left the chain a bit too long, and I was waiting until I get the new chainring to do anything about it.

Putting the rear brake ahead of the seat stays is not the convention, but it has zero effect on brake performance. I did it because the frame is old and not set up for recessed brake bolts, and it is much easier to drill out the rear side than the front, as the seat tube is in the way. As a bonus, the cable housing stop is on the right, so having the brake flipped around let me have cleaner cable routing. As a further bonus, mounting the brake in front of the stay gets it out of the way of the rack support arms that will be there soon.

Late nineties CAAD3 frame with 8-speed ultegra that was converted to a flat bar commuter. Topeak Explorer rack was retrofitted (thank you P-Clamps) and belt clip is attached to stem that holds my iphone. Really great setup that's a lot of fun to ride!

My "Frankendale"
Mods: 26" pizza cutter width rims/tires.... sugino touring crankset.... XT thumbshifters... 8 speed cassette... etc...etc..
I keep an extra wheelset with nobbies for weekend trail rides (last pic)


http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hUVQVpQupj...kenDale-01.jpghttp://1.bp.blogspot.com/-32jH2CwQ8U...s1600/f600.jpghttp://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sP2_y4soE8...kenDale-02.jpg