Powdercoated, slicks, road gearing and a thumb shifter from a halfords BSO. But I still love it!
Bike Forum
The Shame Of Commuting
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Posted 4 months ago #
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Drop me a line and I can put some spares in the post (in the interest of bike sartorial elegance)
Cheers djaustin, but I'll stick with crud catchers for now. Putting on "real" mudguards with bolts and stuff just seems a bit too permanent.
I don't want to spook her any more than I already have.
Posted 4 months ago # -
Oodles of reflective tape, sks guards (badly fitted by yours truely)
Three rear lights, cheap crap flashy front one and a magicshine eye burner.I like to think that this is more gopping...
Posted 4 months ago # -
"phone holder" you sad git. "I'm on me bike!"
Posted 4 months ago # -
As explained: phone = GPS logger + bike computer + tunes.(also I have no shame)
Posted 4 months ago # -
I've got a Genesis on one but it looks nothing like that samuri! got it as a fixed now, one front brake, full guards. I need to spend money on it TBH it's falling apart.
OP, would that saddle bag take a shirt well, IE would it crease it?
Posted 4 months ago # -
Yeah it'll take a laptop, shirt and trousers easily without crushing them. Here's a better photo:
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/carradice-sqr-slim-bag-including-sqr-bracket/But there are no dividers, straps or pockets inside it (other than a small zip pocket for tools/valuables) so you'd want to think about how to stop them moving around too much or sliding down to the end.
I just wear jeans an t-shirt to work so I just wrap them around the laptop and sling the lot in the bag - which has the added bonus of protecting the laptop from being bounced around too much.
You may also want to consider the Topeak Office Bag which may suit your needs better as it keeps everything flat.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ut8uvElicZABit more pricey though and I was put off by reports of the MTX bar swinging about a bit.
Posted 4 months ago # -
cheers Graham, might have a look at both of them, currently I'm coming into the office on a sunday with shirts for the week, and its getting right on my nerves!
Posted 4 months ago # -
One thing to note with the Carradice bag warton: They are very much a "some blokes in a shed" operation so they can be hard to find in stock and stock takes a looooong time to arrive (I ordered that bag in mid November and finally got it at the end of December).
Posted 4 months ago # -
Late but as promised a picture of my converted Cove Handjob to help share your pain. I usually have an Altura pannier bag attached to the rack. It works pretty well as it has a nice low centre of gravity.
Even have bar ends and pretty good mudguard coverage. Hangs head!
Posted 4 months ago # -
That's not too bad jp-t853.
The proper black front fork helps, rather than the Reba I have which looks a bit gangly when matched against skinny tyres
I thought about a pannier rack, but it would have to be P-clip mounted (as I think yours is) and it all seemed a bit permanent. The current arrangement means I can still kid myself on that I can remove it and take her back to the proper trails.
Posted 4 months ago # -
Too be fair p-clips do make things a bit permenant as it takes the best part of an hour to make the change
It therefore stays like this for a large part of the summer. It is then a MTB full time in winter.I keep thinking of switching to a full time commuter/tourer but I need the freedom of a ride on the hills every now and then and I only have room for one bike in my life.
Posted 4 months ago # -
Here's my commuterised Speccy Hardrock.I was running it with disc brakes,marzocchi forks & hope wheels.Now it's got a cheapo fork,full mudguards V-brakes and cheapo wheels
It's now been relieved of commuting duties as I got a Specialized Allez roadbike the other year.I use it when it's icy & snowy maybe get some ice tyres nextPosted 4 months ago # -
here's my Specialized Crosstrail which I converted into a decent hybrid commuter
replaced the crappy undamped Suntour suspension fork with a Kona P2 rigid fork
installed a SRAM 1 x 9 transmission, Shimano brakes, Thomson stem/seatpost, Pro Atherton bar, WTB Devo Ti saddle, SPD pedals, SLX crankset with M-Part chain device and Specialized Armadillo tires on Mavic 700c / Deore wheelset, and most importantly full length SKS mudguards for wet weather riding
only "original" part is the frame
it feels really confident to ride in heavy traffic and takes abuse from potholes without flinching, but also feels very spritely under power, like a big wheeled mountain bike
Posted 4 months ago # -
commute bike = mtb but with 2.35 SuperMoto tyres = brraaap and cush to the power of awesome.
Slicks so fat they work in the dirt.Posted 4 months ago # -
glad that this thread came up as I have been trying to find the right time to say it...
I have bought a rack and ortlieb panniers (2 yellow ones) and so I am now a bona fida commuter
the thing is I actually like it
Posted 4 months ago # -
I have bought a rack and ortlieb panniers (2 yellow ones) and so I am now a bona fida commuter
the thing is I actually like it
Well done headsup. I think we all agree that was very brave.
Would anyone else in the group like to tell their story?
Posted 4 months ago # -
Mine's that gopping someone has even started a thread after seeing it....
singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/exeter-cyclists
Dialled PA with skinny tyres, fox floats (no lockout for that added climbing bob) and set up SS using a big ring and tensioner. I just feel sorry for it at times.
Posted 4 months ago # -
From this:
Inbred 013 by PeterPoddy, on FlickrThrough this:
IMG_1459 by PeterPoddy, on FlickrTo this:
IMG_7246 by PeterPoddy, on FlickrAnd now this:
IMG_1412 by PeterPoddy, on FlickrBut it's not SHAME. It's my favourite bike, and still the one I ride the most, the most versatile, and I'm always happy riding it.
What next????????????
EDIT
Huh! The only thing that's lasted through all those 4 builds is the cranks....
Posted 4 months ago # -
planning permission for the stem
LOL
Posted 4 months ago # -
Thanks guys. it is nice. It's a day-one Alfine. but I ditched the Alfine hub and went fixed because I'm a lot happier that way.
Posted 4 months ago # -
So can someone tell me about bar bags or even a basket?
I need to take my daughter on the back so no space for panniers so wondering about how to take her stuff on the bike. How do racks on the forks affect steering if only loading one side?
Would I be better with a bar bag? If so how big do they go? Her stuff is light and squash-able so it doesn't have to be too big. P-P what do you and Mrs P-P have there - they look about the right size
I did see a basket that just hooks over the bars which seems nice and easy and would really add to the thread if I got it...
Posted 4 months ago # -
Had to replace my busted Principia
for dog walking duties (sorry, not commuting), so bought a frame for £25 off Ebay.How vile is this? Thing is, as it's a Carrera, all the horrid things can probably be considered upgrades ..
Posted 4 months ago # -
If you want to build up some stamina then try commuting on a six inch AM bike. I regularly do a 20 mile commute on my Wolf Ridge, complete with Wotans and Nevegals up front. As a concession to sanity, I run an Ardent at the back and both tyres are pressurised to about 70psi.
I also commute on my old Spesh Enduro running on 2" wide tyres. It feels like a race bike in comparison and I've been known to reel in and catch a few of the roadie brigade on it. Again, the key is to run a lot of pressure in the tyres.
It's cheating, but the look on the faces of folk as you pass them is priceless.
Posted 4 months ago # -
My old '98 vintage Hardrock. Sadly now relieved of its commuting duties as the job has moved too far away. Normally wears crudcatchers front and rear. Still fun to ride around town. No apologies for the stem and bar ends - fast and low (well fast-ish... downhill anyway...), plus the bar ends give a little more leverage on the hills to compensate for the narrow bars.
Nothing reflective anywhere, and I usually ride in stealth black. Its a wonder I'm still alive really...Posted 4 months ago # -
I do feel sorry for thepoor bike. Its a genesis IOID under all the crap.
cheap cruddy fork, nasty tape job, nasty home made mudguards, intended to look crap to avoid the attention of theives. rides really well tho and some subtle upgrades.
sorry
commuter by TandemJeremy, on FlickrPosted 4 months ago # -
I don't think some of you are getting this at all. Some of those look like perfectly acceptable bikes to me
Wooooaah! TJ gets it! That is truly shameful. Top work that man. Loving the bumble bee effect.
So can someone tell me about bar bags or even a basket?
Dunno anything about front bags but have you considered moving your daughter into a child trailer instead? Depends how old she is, but our daughter started in one at 17 months and loved it.
Posted 4 months ago # -
Mine old 2001 hardrock is juuuuuust like bustaspoke's hardrock above, but mine is all black (still has huge spesh decal on downtube though) surly 1x1 fork, sks full mudguards and with a rack and pannier too. Many reflectors put back on it again too. I don't do cycle computers, but I am certain that it has the most miles on the clock of any bike I've had, and easily gets more miles on it per month than my xc bike.
Posted 4 months ago # -
day touring lite Swift by rOcKeTdOgUk, on FlickrPosted 4 months ago # -
Practical tho
Posted 4 months ago # -
barbags: i always think this looks cool. don't have the right bike for it though
Posted 4 months ago # -
GrahamS - The trouble with going for a trailer is storage at home and work
That basket looks way better than the wicker one I was looking at though
Posted 4 months ago # -
Yeah fair enough. They do fold up, but they are cumbersome and probably take up about the same room as an adult bike.
Great for trips to the pub though
Posted 4 months ago #
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