Townie build on the cheap
 

Hey guys, im trying to convert my Kilo tt to a townie bike,
http://www.pedalroom.com/p/dark-gree...le-7754_13.jpg

I've already set up the gear ratio for comfortable commuting, and im going single speed with two brakes this week. My question is, what are some good townie bars and a basket that will be good for this bike.

I have neard good things of the nitto bars, but those are quiet expensive, at my local bike shop they have velo orange bars, but they are 26.0 i believe, my current stem is 25.4

Also, i have heard about WALD baskets being able to do the job for light stuff. but! my question is clearnce issues, my 1st basket didnt fit because my clearance between tire and basket was all off. im thinking of getting a new stem that will help aid this issue.

any one know what wald basket i should try? i will be going to the LBS sunday to see what he says too

Steal some cruiser bars off an abandoned bike and zip-tie a milk crate to it.

I was definitely thinking of doing that, I have alot of bullhorns i dont use, i was considering cutting the ends off and flipping it, and making my own basket out of something i have at home- just gotta make a hook for the mounts.

What about an cheap older steel bike (trek, schwinn, etc)? you could get one and fix it how you want...

gears and a piece of mind locking it up would probably be nice on a townie commuter too, since you didnt spend a small fortune on it trying to get it to "look" a certain way.

you've already got a reasonably solid bike, why change it so drastically?

Have you looked at his PedalRoom? This is his beater. :rolleyes:

I think the OP should convert this bike into a townie:

http://www.pedalroom.com/p/carbon-tr...ke-10645_5.jpg

It's already there

sure looks that way. judging by the stable (car included), he's got money coming out of his ears.


with that being said, ignore any and all sound advice and do whatever you want.

nobody really cares.

Couple of issues: that's a super tiny frame (47cm?) so the short head tube means you're going to need to either raise the stem to max height, and if that doesn't work, get a Nitto tallux stem from Rivendell bikes so you can get some space to fit a basket in there. I wouldn't recommend a handlebar that sweeps back because the handling will get super twitchy, especially with weight loaded on the front in a basket. You should go with a riser bar or maybe something like a VO Milano bar. For a WALD basket, I like the model # 139

...or you could slap one of these bad boys on your bike without changing a thing, and be done with it:
https://www.ridepdw.com/goods/cargo/takeout-basket

only this will keep the build looking as clean as it does.
http://copenhagenparts.com/products/bike-porter

OP is using a quill stem...can't use that ^


Unless *shudder* he uses a quill stem with removable face plate.

With that you can look as perplexed as this guy!

http://imageshack.us/a/img121/2315/c...sforside02.jpg

I too chop wood in my finest tweed

You'll need a long stem with a lot of positive rise in order to fit a wald basket, and you'll probably need to shorten the struts.

I think OP could afford this beauty from Nitto:

http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4071/4...664_z.jpg?zz=1