It's been about a year since I bought my Kona Smoke and rediscovered biking after a decade-long hiatus. Thought after my last post I might do an update. One year, two cities and no idea how many kilometres later:





I used to have two MEC Turtle blinkies and a Planet Bike 5-LED headlight, but they got stolen. Managed to find these 9-LED lights at a dollar store though (actually 4$ each):



I also had my Planet Bike Micromite tire pump stolen, but at least the bike itself never disappeared. Still have a Victoria Police "This could be a bait bike" sticker even though I'm in Vancouver now, maybe it still has some deterrent effect (maybe because the bait car programme is so high profile in Vancouver):



For some reason the bike came with these weird fender mounts -



- that make regular racks not fit, so I just use this seat post one instead:



Overall I've been pretty happy with the Kona Smoke. Sure it's not as fast and is heavier than more hard-core commuters, and even though it's black it hasn't the style points of those Dutch bikes, and I really wish it had a chainguard, or at least a chainring thingy to keep pants from catching, but it gets me where I'm going. From the LBS - free oil and air! -



- to the airport (why don't airports have bike racks?! People really look at you weird when you walk in with a bike, and even more weird when you ask them for a bike rack) -



- to the country -



- and back to town -



- it gets the job done.

governor, very nice bike!
are those lights just regular flashlights with a special mounting bracket?

this has been my year-round commuter for a few years now. i have since taken the fenders off the rear and put the rat-tail-esque one back on. new york lock not shown, although lately i've been able to keep it unlocked in a secured stairwell at work. unfortunately the rubber just snapped on my rib-cage bottle holder, but i'm using it for now anyway. i inherited the wheelset a couple years ago when my partner upgraded his road bike; so nice and fast and light and responsive! yay!

Thanks! They were sold as bike lights (came with the brackets), but they make good regular lights too. They're bright, but don't focus well - lots of scatter. Good to be noticed, but not so good to pick out potholes and gaps ahead on unlit paths. That's why I got two, it helps a bit, and for 4$ each I can't complain.

Here is my primary commuter.

Its an '84 Centurion Accordo Rs that I bought from a garage sale. It was too big for the guy and besides the overtightened skewers, some scratches and flat tires the bike was in excellent condition. I've since replaced the stem and handlebars with a Nitto stem and a 44 cm Noodles. The original handlebar was only 30 cm. Got rid of the clips and put on Power Grips. She is joy to ride and fast for a 28 pound behemoth.

that's one hot bike you've got there guv'nor!

Got my new panniers. Now my back is free of weight.

Cool... i'm sporting the same panniers. Ortlieb, right?
Here is my commuter bike (without panniers and rack)

Yup! I love the Ortlieb panniers. They go on and off the rack so quickly and easily.

Hi, Donna. Sort of. I didn't like the feeling of "reaching" for the Breezer bars. Even so, I don't find myself riding upright with the bigger sweep. My stance is still pretty "aggressive," if that makes sense.

DVC - if I ever need a folder I want one like yours!

IPSC? Standard division?? Cheers!

Thanks! I like it a lot. If, in an unforeseen reason, I can't ride back (heavy down pour), friends, buses and cabs don't mind 'em at all, since it can fold.


USPSA only. B class in Production, L10 and Limited. C class in Open.
DVC!

Beware this derailleur. I ran this one for about 7 months and then the junction between the silver metal and black plastic body snapped completely apart.

It looks like you converted your folder from durailleur to hub gears. That must be an improvement because the durailleur would be the most fragile part of the bike.

IPSC B class in standard for me. I will try open one of these days. DVC!

The bike came that way. Its almost stock as it is.

I quit shooting open 10 years ago. Iron sights are more exciting.
See ya at the range sometime!
DVC!

this is my recreational bike, turned commuter, with the view out my window i started riding it because its faster and lighter. now on the ride home (which mostly uphill) i am much happier. its basically a 2004 cannondale r600 with a new frame (bent the original top tube in a race) and ksryium elite wheels.

My daily commuter, a 1970 Raleigh DL1 3spd. I make a weekday 4 mile round trip and 30 to 40 miles on the weekends. It is heavy(47.8 lbs with saddlebag full of tools and such), very comfortable and very stable yet nimble enough for kicking around town. The rod brakes work adequately if they are adjusted properly and new pads kept on them. One bit of wetness though and they are gone! I would like to find a Sturmey Archer front hub brake so I can ride in wet weather. I have been on it for nearly ten years.

I have a large frame 1978 Ross road bike that is reserved for wet weather but I don't enjoy riding it much. For $10.00 at the thrift store it was hard to resist.

^^ I dig it .

^^ I very much dig it, I have been wanting a bike like this lately. I know it will only be a living room decoration (I live in an apartment) because I think the weight weenie-ness is starting to rub off on me They are works of art though!

a few pics from the early stages of my cross/commuter build...

1999 Surly Cross Check

Southern Gothic, are you an O'Connor reader at all?

Surley cross-check commuter. 38 mi rt. Durham-New Haven-Durham, CT.

70's something Fuji converted to a 3 speed.
In spite of its non-Britannic heritage, the geometry makes a very sweet riding bike.
I'm running 27x1 1/4" tires on it, and the bike is much quicker than I'd expected.
Am thinking about replacing the bars with a set of moustache, or maybe a longer rise & some drops... Don't know.

Have a Sturmey dyno-drum brake hub that I expect to have laced up to a rim within a couple of weeks.

Cool ride, is it rocket powered?