Commuter Bicycle Pics
Member
The hub bearings on my commuter are starting to fail, probably because the cups are damaged (I guess that's why the wheels were so cheap). I'm not going to get around to replacing the hubs until about Christmas, so the Hardrock mentioned in component list will be doing the commuting until then. Here it is:
It started its life as a regular 2008 Specialized Hardrock XC Disc that I got in April, 2009 for my 13th birthday. All that's left of that now is the frame, the headset cups and the fork. Almost everything else has been swapped from my MTB whose frame cracked in June, probably in a small crash that I had on the way from work. I only bought a new saddle (the old one was destroyed in said crash) and a seatpost (which is smaller that the one from the MTB). And yes, those are 27.5" wheels in a 26" frame, still having more than enough clearance. At 12.5 kg it's also quite a bit lighter than I thought it would be with that fork.
The photo is from the day I built it. I have since replaced the tires (from Schwalbe Hurricanes to CST Soft Sevens) and the stem (from 60 mm to 80, because this frame is REALLY short) and done about 1000 km on it.
It started its life as a regular 2008 Specialized Hardrock XC Disc that I got in April, 2009 for my 13th birthday. All that's left of that now is the frame, the headset cups and the fork. Almost everything else has been swapped from my MTB whose frame cracked in June, probably in a small crash that I had on the way from work. I only bought a new saddle (the old one was destroyed in said crash) and a seatpost (which is smaller that the one from the MTB). And yes, those are 27.5" wheels in a 26" frame, still having more than enough clearance. At 12.5 kg it's also quite a bit lighter than I thought it would be with that fork.
The photo is from the day I built it. I have since replaced the tires (from Schwalbe Hurricanes to CST Soft Sevens) and the stem (from 60 mm to 80, because this frame is REALLY short) and done about 1000 km on it.
I decided to keep the single chainring and ordered a 10-speed 11-42 cassette and a RD extender, but I had to have the bike ready to ride before they arrived, hence the old 11-36t CS-HG50 from my parts drawer. I'm using an old LX (M570) derailer that surprisingly handles the 36-tooth cog perfectly fine,
I'm still trying to figure out the best position of the handlebar and the brake levers (I've never had a drop-bar bike that actually fit me, so this is my very first time doing it), but so far it seems to be working quite well. The hoods of the brake levers feel a bit too small to be comfortable, but I've already ordered a pair of Tektro RL520s anyway (to be used with my Avid BB5 MTB calipers - short-pull levers like the ones I'm using now can be made to work but the setup gets VERY finicky and prone to misalignment), so I hope that'll help.
I like the Microshift bar-end shifter (BS-A10, sold as a pair) a lot. It's in a comfortable position, indexes very nicely, and can be switched over to friction mode if there are any problems with the indexing (which is extremely useful since I don't have an inline barrel adjuster and the one on the derailer refuses to move). The build quality is also very good and the shifter indexes with little to no preload, making shifting a lot easier than I expected.
Other planned changes not mentioned above are a rigid fork (still can't decide whether a CF fork would make sense or not), a sealed-bearing headset (for said fork), and a bigger chainring (36t instead of 34).
Overdoing projects
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Rotterdam, former republic of the Netherlands
Posts: 2,397
Bikes: Batavus Randonneur GL, Gazelle Orange Excellent, Gazelle Super Licht, Gazelle Grand Tourist, Gazelle Lausanne, Gazelle Tandem, Koga-Miyata SilverAce, Koga-Miyata WorldTraveller
Mentioned: 58 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 784 Post(s)
Liked 1,238 Times
in
686 Posts
My soon to be Commuter. 1996 Koga-Miyata SilverAce (project thread), a 5-speed IGH 90mm drum brake commuter. Just waiting for the final parts.
Optional Ikea Sladda Trailer below.
Optional Ikea Sladda Trailer below.
Likes For JaccoW:
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Bronx, NYC
Posts: 1,885
Bikes: '19 Fuji Gran Fondo 1.5, '72 Peugeot PX10, '71ish Gitane Super Corsa, '78 Fuji Newest, '89 Fuji Ace, '94 Cannondale R600, early '70s LeJeune Pro project
Mentioned: 87 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 293 Post(s)
Liked 218 Times
in
101 Posts
I have been commuting solely on this Ace build for the past 2 years and it has undergone many tweaks. Usually my commute is around 21 miles round trip and the panniers are loaded down. It serves every purpose that I need. 200Ks on the side are just great too.
Likes For greg3rd48:
Member
I've made some progress on the Hardrock gravel/do-it-all build:
I replaced the crappy Force brake levers (which also had the wrong pull ratio) with a pair of Tektro RL520s and also got rid of the old bar tape that had been reused several times while I was figuring out the position of the levers and no longer felt very nice.
The 11-36t cassette has been replaced by a 11-42. I did buy a cheap one which means it's really heavy (630 g, more than the NX 11-speed cassette) and the RD hanger extender means it's doesn't shift very well, but it gives me the range I need and I'll eventually get rid of all of this anyway when I have the money for a proper 12-speed setup.
I've now done about 220 km on the bike and I'm really happy about the way it turned out. I do still need to get a slightly shorter stem (probably a 70mm instead of the 80 I'm using now) because the handlebar feels a little bit too far, but I can already spend well over an hour on the bike every day without any significant discomfort.
I replaced the crappy Force brake levers (which also had the wrong pull ratio) with a pair of Tektro RL520s and also got rid of the old bar tape that had been reused several times while I was figuring out the position of the levers and no longer felt very nice.
The 11-36t cassette has been replaced by a 11-42. I did buy a cheap one which means it's really heavy (630 g, more than the NX 11-speed cassette) and the RD hanger extender means it's doesn't shift very well, but it gives me the range I need and I'll eventually get rid of all of this anyway when I have the money for a proper 12-speed setup.
I've now done about 220 km on the bike and I'm really happy about the way it turned out. I do still need to get a slightly shorter stem (probably a 70mm instead of the 80 I'm using now) because the handlebar feels a little bit too far, but I can already spend well over an hour on the bike every day without any significant discomfort.
Happy banana slug
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Arcata, California, U.S., North America, Earth, Saggitarius Arm, Milky Way
Posts: 3,695
Bikes: 1984 Araya MB 261, 1992 Specialized Rockhopper Sport, 1993 Hard Rock Ultra, 1994 Trek Multitrack 750, 1995 Trek Singletrack 930
Mentioned: 31 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1533 Post(s)
Liked 1,528 Times
in
916 Posts
praivo , what year is that Hard Rock? It's confusing my husband.
Member
It's a 2008, originally looked like this:
I guess they didn't sell very well because in the 11+ years of owning the thing I've never seen another one, not even online.
I guess they didn't sell very well because in the 11+ years of owning the thing I've never seen another one, not even online.
Junior Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 13
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
1 Post
My main commuter is this Dawes Galaxy, seen here in the work car park not long before lockdown. I drive about fifteen miles to the outskirts of Bristol, UK with this in the boot (trunk). front wheel off, and cycle about six miles in with some decent climbs. The heavy chain on the stand lives in the office since we had a couple of bikes get stolen from the car park. If you lost the black tool bottle last year in Ashton Court, let me know.
2011 Dawes Galaxy
I bought this 1974 Galaxy in Glasgow UK when I was working there for six months, commuting weekly by plane. I liked it well enough by the end to rent a car and drive it home where it is my backup commuter. This one has a cheap dynohub front wheel nowadays
1974 Dawes Galaxy
2011 Dawes Galaxy
I bought this 1974 Galaxy in Glasgow UK when I was working there for six months, commuting weekly by plane. I liked it well enough by the end to rent a car and drive it home where it is my backup commuter. This one has a cheap dynohub front wheel nowadays
1974 Dawes Galaxy
Likes For jamesdelap:
Full Member
I've made some progress on the Hardrock gravel/do-it-all build:
I replaced the crappy Force brake levers (which also had the wrong pull ratio) with a pair of Tektro RL520s and also got rid of the old bar tape that had been reused several times while I was figuring out the position of the levers and no longer felt very nice.
The 11-36t cassette has been replaced by a 11-42. I did buy a cheap one which means it's really heavy (630 g, more than the NX 11-speed cassette) and the RD hanger extender means it's doesn't shift very well, but it gives me the range I need and I'll eventually get rid of all of this anyway when I have the money for a proper 12-speed setup.
I've now done about 220 km on the bike and I'm really happy about the way it turned out. I do still need to get a slightly shorter stem (probably a 70mm instead of the 80 I'm using now) because the handlebar feels a little bit too far, but I can already spend well over an hour on the bike every day without any significant discomfort.
I replaced the crappy Force brake levers (which also had the wrong pull ratio) with a pair of Tektro RL520s and also got rid of the old bar tape that had been reused several times while I was figuring out the position of the levers and no longer felt very nice.
The 11-36t cassette has been replaced by a 11-42. I did buy a cheap one which means it's really heavy (630 g, more than the NX 11-speed cassette) and the RD hanger extender means it's doesn't shift very well, but it gives me the range I need and I'll eventually get rid of all of this anyway when I have the money for a proper 12-speed setup.
I've now done about 220 km on the bike and I'm really happy about the way it turned out. I do still need to get a slightly shorter stem (probably a 70mm instead of the 80 I'm using now) because the handlebar feels a little bit too far, but I can already spend well over an hour on the bike every day without any significant discomfort.
I might take some inspiration from this off road monster rig of yours.
human being
Love of my life
Here's a picture of my commuter (Trek 7.3 FX) that I enjoy riding so much. I've been going back and forth to work since 2009ish through GBP and Terry Hershey with exception to "high water" days!
I should mention that b/c of covid, I have not had opportunity to commute. This is the longest (by far) break that I've had in commuting. Really miss it!
I should mention that b/c of covid, I have not had opportunity to commute. This is the longest (by far) break that I've had in commuting. Really miss it!
Last edited by takozukuri; 05-20-20 at 08:45 AM.
Likes For takozukuri:
Disco Infiltrator
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Folsom CA
Posts: 13,446
Bikes: Stormchaser, Paramount, Tilt, Samba tandem
Mentioned: 72 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3126 Post(s)
Liked 2,105 Times
in
1,369 Posts
You were just out of season. We have a few in the wintry climes, though they tend to switch to disposable old MTB’s with studs when it’s slushy or icy. On the MTBR commuter forum you might find a few doing the “Krampug “ thing with a 29er wheelset in the non frozen months.
__________________
Genesis 49:16-17
Genesis 49:16-17
Likes For Darth Lefty:
bOsscO
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Vancouver
Posts: 746
Bikes: 2024 Spec Crux, 2015 Norco Search S1, 93 Mongoose IBOC COMP
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 296 Post(s)
Liked 355 Times
in
212 Posts
My commuter with 35mm fun-time summer gravel tires mounted.
2015 Norco Search S1 - steel frame w. carbon fork, 105 groupset w. Hayes cable disc calipers. Tools, tubes, air, snacks all go in the Roadrunner 'Burrito Supreme' bar bag and I carry a change of clothes in a small backpack.
This is also my gravel bike and I've done 4 seasons of amature CX racing on it. Very versatile.
2015 Norco Search S1 - steel frame w. carbon fork, 105 groupset w. Hayes cable disc calipers. Tools, tubes, air, snacks all go in the Roadrunner 'Burrito Supreme' bar bag and I carry a change of clothes in a small backpack.
This is also my gravel bike and I've done 4 seasons of amature CX racing on it. Very versatile.
Likes For bOsscO:
Junior Member
2018 Specialized Allez Elite
Virgo
Here’s my commuter, after being de-commuter-ized, due to no longer having a daily, all-weather, long-distance commute.
Likes For Phamilton:
Grouchy Old man
Past and present commuter
My first commuter bike was a GMC Denali road bike (yes I know it's a POS, but I had reasons for getting it.) I got the Denali so I have something to ride, and I didn't have a lot of cash at the time. My original goal was to replace the components on it, in a piecemeal fashion, and make it a little bit better, especially when it came to the braking. I swapped out the joined drop bars and put a flat bar on it, and tossed the revo shifters, got some break levers and got some half way decent gear shifters. I couldn't do much because I had a very small space and anal retentive building managers. I needed to drill out the holes where the levers went, so I could fit the new brakes which were recessed, but was afraid to on the rear because the hole might of been too big. It got me where I needed to go. I was able to haul groceries on it, and I wouldn't of been too sad if someone stole it, because it was so inexpensive. Long story short, the front derailleur was a mtb derailleur and could of took it to get replaced, but decided against it. I took everything I could of off of the frame and save it as a project bike. That didn't work, because of anal retentive building managers and I couldn't take it with me when I moved.
GMC Denali
My second and current bike is a Diamondback Insight II. Not the a top of the line bike but a helluva an upgrade over the Denali (which I regret leaving behind.) Nothing special or outstanding about this bike. It's great to ride, but of course the manufacturer didn't line the front derailleur up properly and the mechanics at the bike fail to notice and told me that I would have to put up with a slight chain rub. I've since fixed that by watching some YouTube videos LOL. I put 700Cx45 wheels on it so they wouldn't sag when my fat rear end was riding it, when it was loaded up with groceries. Though I might put 700cX40's on it instead because there is barely enough clearance in the back to fit the current wheels.
GMC Denali
My second and current bike is a Diamondback Insight II. Not the a top of the line bike but a helluva an upgrade over the Denali (which I regret leaving behind.) Nothing special or outstanding about this bike. It's great to ride, but of course the manufacturer didn't line the front derailleur up properly and the mechanics at the bike fail to notice and told me that I would have to put up with a slight chain rub. I've since fixed that by watching some YouTube videos LOL. I put 700Cx45 wheels on it so they wouldn't sag when my fat rear end was riding it, when it was loaded up with groceries. Though I might put 700cX40's on it instead because there is barely enough clearance in the back to fit the current wheels.
Virgo
I’m a little Surly
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Near the district
Posts: 2,422
Bikes: Two Cross Checks, a Karate Monkey, a Disc Trucker, and a VO Randonneur
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 699 Post(s)
Liked 1,294 Times
in
647 Posts
It's mostly done
Likes For Germany_chris:
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 13,444
Mentioned: 33 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4232 Post(s)
Liked 2,947 Times
in
1,806 Posts
^^^Gorgeous
Likes For himespau:
Keepin it Wheel
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: San Diego
Posts: 10,245
Bikes: Surly CrossCheck, Krampus
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 26 Post(s)
Liked 3,426 Times
in
2,533 Posts
I’m a little Surly
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Near the district
Posts: 2,422
Bikes: Two Cross Checks, a Karate Monkey, a Disc Trucker, and a VO Randonneur
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 699 Post(s)
Liked 1,294 Times
in
647 Posts
bOsscO
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Vancouver
Posts: 746
Bikes: 2024 Spec Crux, 2015 Norco Search S1, 93 Mongoose IBOC COMP
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 296 Post(s)
Liked 355 Times
in
212 Posts
Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Queens, NY
Posts: 49
Bikes: An old Panasonic Sport
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10 Post(s)
Liked 28 Times
in
19 Posts
Likes For Vismund B: