There was just a thread recently about this exact bike, and how the owner was scratching his head over how to mount a rack. There's a lack of eyelets near the drop out on the rear, only the bolts for the split stays. Here's the thread:
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...or-disc-brakes

Yes...that was me.

Problem has been solved with Axiom Odyssee rack (clamps to seat tubes), on its way.
*Further investigation of the internal threaded split stay bolt reveals 3/16" of M5 thread (more than most eyelets & in hardened steel); sufficient to secure fender braces and the rack (with a spacer to clear caliper) if desired.
O-stand front rack will attach to fork crown hole (along with fender mount) and to mid fork eyelets. Eyelets on fork drop outs for fender braces.
Planet Bike fenders have been ordered as well.

I'm learning a lot from your responses. For example I did not know that you need a split stay for the Gates belt. Thought that would limit a lot of bikes, but now that I see how it's done maybe not such a big deal. Also, it looks like it would work with an Alphine and no need for the Rohloff. My guess is that Seven would easily split the rear stay as I have seen a bike on their website with a Gates belt.

Any other bikes that have straight top tubes, steel or titanium, that you guys know about and that already has the split? Doesn't have to be disc.

EDIT: Just went out and thoroughly cleaned the Vaya and too the fenders off. Not sure why, but changing the bike around and cleaning always makes me fall back in love! Bummer that I cannot ride in to work tomorrow since I have an out of town meeting (and no transit option).

Still ogling over the Seven with IGH and Gates Drive.

Thanks!

I do wish that both has an IGH though.

A titanium Cross Check, and, oh, please keep the rim brakes, no go on the disc things. Thanks.

LC

My Surly Long Haul Trucker has made an excellent commuting bike, but with benefit of hindsight, I definitely would probably go with a Troll or a Salsa Vaya next time. The LHT is a dream on paved roads, but terrible off road.

Of course I'd love that Seven Four Season, but unless I hit the lottery, I'm not going to spend more on a bike than a car.

My ultimate bike would certainly have an IGH after using one for a year now on my Windsor. I absolutely love the Shimano Nexus 8-Speed.

This would pretty much be it for me. The only things I would change is to use a Di2 Alfine 11 with the new hydraulic drop levers.

http://www.englishcycles.com/wp-cont...s_011_3127.jpg

English Cycles

I can vouch for the Alfine Di2. Awesome stuff, incredibly fun to ride and it's a great combination with the Carbon Drive belt. Hydro brakes would be the piece de resistance.

I ride a full suspension Trek Rumblefish for commuting. I don't understand why more folks don't think full suspension is a good commuter. I have done 1200 miles two years ago, 1600 miles last year and am shooting for 2000 miles this year, I'm at 1300 so far.
i have Serfas 2.1" smooth tires now, I have some 700 x 38 on order.

Oh and this is my first post....:thumb:

Welcome to Bike Forum. You've put some serious mileage on your bike.
I think the issue with suspension for most commuters is additional weight. Everyone has different preferences, road/traffic/weather conditions and distances to cover. The common bond is that we are all cyclists and enjoy the ride.

For short commutes and general around town riding (10 mi or less) where it is relatively flat and snow in the winter:

I would go with a steel frame IGH and dyno set up, folding baskets, fender, brooks flyer, stem captain watch, bmx pedals, cyclecross tires...

[IMG]http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/k...psa2a5cd7b.jpg[/IMG]

The ultimate bike depends on the use. If I'm commuting mostly road, this one is pretty close

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r...s/IMGP2558.jpg

Aluminum/Scandium frame, Phil Wood hubs, King headset, Brooks Pro saddle, Ultegra shifter, 105 triple crank with a 9 speed 11-34 cassette. I actually use the bike for most of my riding that is not commuting related. The racer dudes struggling up the Colorado Monument ride last fall were very envious of my gears on the switchbacks.

If I'm going to do some mountain biking on the way to work I ride either of these

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r...s/IMGP2562.jpg
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r...psfed86719.jpg

The red one is my winter commuter most of the time.

If I want to go over the mountain behind work I'll occasionally commute on this one

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r...s/IMGP2566.jpg

And if I want style points, this is the ultimate bike

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r...s/IMGP2556.jpg

Philll isn't a steel framed boat anchor either. He's got an aluminum frame and is capable of street racing with the best of them. A roadie tried and even at 24 mph, I stayed out in front of him. Hacked out a spleen but I stayed in front of the racer dude:D

Nice collection cycco! It must be pretty sweet when all of your bikes are ultimate bikes!

What Salsa frame is that? I can't read from your pic.

Does the Moots have like 1" of travel in the back there, or am I just seeing a clamp on a wishbone hardtail?

What is that seat you have on all three MTB?

And what is that last thing?! That looks really *****in, like a repurposed beach cruiser or something.

The Salsa is a 2006 Las Cruces.

The Moots is a 1998 YBBeat. That is an elastomer shock on the rear which is enough to take the edge off of hits but not enough to make the bike inchworm down trails.

The saddle is a Selle Italia Flite Titanium Gel. I actually have a Moots version on the Moots now. The one with the little alligator embroidered into the cover.

The last bike is a 1998 Nashbar Flashback. I've had 4 of them. The first one was stolen out of my garage on Christmas Eve in 1999. The second one was black and not quite the right size and this one is my version of the one that was stolen. I don't name my bikes with the exception of this one. It's name is Philll...Silver.

It's a Kinesis aluminum frame mountain bike like a Retrotec Classic of the same era. It rides really nice but without the boat anchorage of a beach cruiser frame. The rear rack is a Soma Deco Rack which matches the lines perfectly. Philll gets lots of comments and head turns when I go out riding on him. It doesn't hurt that he's wicked fast.

The 4th one I have is my daughter's.

The 4 Seasons is very nice. I have no need for the snow capabilities so this one s the one I love - http://www.sevencycles.com/bikes/expat-sl.php

I do have snow so the 4 seasons is the one I have been checking out. Talked to Seven today now I am trying to figure out how to afford it! It will have an IGH, dynamo front hub and possibly a front rack too. I already bought 2 bikes this year but fell in love with the 4 seasons model after running across it this past week, now the brain wheel is spinning again for this bike. :)

I know about the payment thing (Expat SL frame is $3,595). It always seems to work this way. I sold three bikes recently for a total of $2400. Nice down payment on a Seven. However, new garage door and opener is $1,800 before our next hurricane knocks out the old piece of crap.. New salt cell (generates chlorine for our salt water pool) for the one that died today is $460, and now my wife's van just stopped running and I think it's a timing belt. Probably a $600-800 job.

Regardless, that 4 Seasons is likely the Ultimate Bike. For me it would be the one I cited with a gates belt and IGH. Just got my catalogue in the mail today:thumb::cry:

Gotta say I love my Vaya which is set up with Metropolis albatross-type bars, hydraulic brakes and 40 spoke Dyad rims with White Industries hubs. Drop bars won't do it for me, my back or my gut. I'd like the stainless steel Vaya with couplers but that's for another life.

Does anyone except serious racers ever actually ride in the drops? I rarely see anyone using them. The hoods look comfortable but, for commuting in traffic, I like to be right on the (hydraulic) brakes so it's some variant of flat bar for me.

The internal hub with belt drive looks interesting -- something else for my next life. Another question: do internal hubs seriously complicate roadside tire changes?

Great advice for those of us who can't make up our minds, :).

I really like my Vaya as well and was considering putting the Albatrosses on as well. I had them on my Marin Highway One, but sold it with them:(. I'd need to change a lot though to go from Brifters on the drops. Do you have any pictures of yours that you can share? How did you settle your shifting? Bar ends?

Side note - I like my orange Vaya, but really like the brick red of the new frame. I would almost consider selling mine just to get the red (mine is like brand new).

As far as riding in the drops I did that once:lol: The rest is on the brake hoods and then the top. The drops do make a nice place for my mirror though.

Seconded! :) I love my new 520, but I do think that discs could be pretty nice. That being said, my stock linear pull brakes did a great job stopping me rather suddenly today at a red light with little warning as I was riding at a pretty good clip, so I can't complain too much. ;)

Answer to question 1: Yes, I ride in the drops all the time, I'm not a racer. I'm pretty fat. Mostly I do it because a) I can get more power out of my hamstrings and glutes for long flat stretches to give my quads a rest. and b) There tends to be wicked headwinds on those long flat stretches and the drops really do make a difference. Oh, I also do it in places where I might need to brake quickly, because I have more leverage on the brakes in that position. Also when descending, because it's more stable.

Answer to quest 2: Yes, IGH's make it a bit more difficult to change flats. My Nexus 8 uses nutted axles, so I have to carry a 15mm wrench and a spare spoke to undo the shifter cable from the hub. Except I don't do that anymore because I stopped worrying and learned to love the Schwalbe Marathon Plus. :D

I put on XT shifters and XT hydraulic brakes. I presume you'd just get shifters to match your derailleurs and regular brake levers for your bb7s.

Here is a link to some photos: http://sdrv.ms/14xUtnL

Looks good!