jyl

Looking for ideas on a new build.

I unfortunately now have a job that requires suit and tie type dress. This complicates bike commuting. On days when I work in the Vancouver WA office that is 13 miles from my house, I ride in bike kit and shower/change at the office. But on days when I work in the Portland OR office that is only 2.5 miles from my house, the whole bike kit/shower/change routine seems a little much; it makes a 10-15 minute commute into a 30 minute process. Plus the shower/locker facility at that office is not re-opening until April, and changing in a toilet stall is irritating, and stripping in the bike room in the parking garage is a little too thrilling to do regularly. I have done it a few times, but eventually a lady bike commuter is going to walk in, walk out, and call security.

So I am thinking about building a bike . . . The requirements are:
1. Can be comfortably and conveniently ridden in a suit and coat, with leather-soled dress shoes, even on wet days.
2. Won't get chain oil or dirty road spray on pants. I would prefer not to use pants clips, but I could.
3. Riding position suitable for wearing a rain cape. I don't see myself putting rain jacket/pants over my suit, which would be a sauna. But I do have a rain cape . . .
4. Gearing suitable for a 2.5 mile ride that is largely flat. There is a minor grade when crossing bridge. Depending on the rest of the route, there is a climb of 3% grade for 2600 feet (10 short blocks) or 5% for 1030 feet (three long blocks).
5. Lights, reflectives, for riding in city traffic on dark rainy nights.
6. Kind of cheap and easy. I don't want to spend a lot of $ or time on this. I have other bike projects that take priority.

Could this be the excuse to acquire an three-speedish sort of bike with chain guard and upright bars.

I confess that I have never actually ridden such a bike. I do not own a road bike with upright bars. The closest thing I have is the XO-1 but I'm not going to commute on that (fear of theft). I could ride the wife's MTB-converted-to-Xtracycle-cargo-bike but it is long, heavy, and unwieldy. I visualize myself on an elegant city-ish bike, pretending to be a stylish, debonair European effortlessly wheeling through Copenhagen . . . not wrestling a heavy cargo bike around.

Now, I've been riding the Biketown bike-share bikes some days, as a proof of concept, and that seems to work okay. In fact, the other option is to simply keep using Biketown, it only costs me $12/month. (Google "Portland Biketown" for pics of these bikes.) But today my shoe slipped off the wet platform pedal and I almost crashed . . .

Ideas and inspiration pics will be appreciated!

fietsbob

Brompton.. if you are timely, Clever Cycles Rents them out in The spring/Summer, then discounts the rentals around mid November..

With my Brompton-Ortlieb O bag on the front, and my rain cape draping over the bars the front is well shielded from the rain..

Suit coat & Tie is de rigueur, expected for the Men, in the Brompton World Championships..


OK misses the 6th point Portland has its own price bubble pushing prices up for used bikes There..

Out on the Coast, @ the LBS, there is a rotating number of used bikes , but you don't live out here..





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jyl

Just to give you an idea of what's available locally

https://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/...469134114.html

https://portland.craigslist.org/wsc/...443118276.html

https://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/...466692064.html

https://portland.craigslist.org/clk/...466854229.html

https://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/...462489041.html

Looking through these listings, I'm realizing 1) there are more options, such as an old rigid MTB converted to IGH, 2) this bike could also serve as the "bar bike" . . .

jyl

Oooo, I'd love a Brompton - always have wanted one. I could simply take it into the office. Don't see any former rentals on Clever Cycles' website, but will check further.

fietsbob

My Bar Bike Goes inside with me..

yea its first come gets the worm , in the fall, so you have a long wait till , better luck next year.. & all that..

got a 0lder 95 era , from some one in San Diego, for about $600, fixed it up some ..

then got the $600 back out of it Selling it to someone in Seattle, when I got a used low mileage.. newer model & put another $300 out..


The Ortlieb Bag was grabbed from Clever at a Xmas sale..




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gomango

I see a ton of these around the cities.

Especially around the major commuter routes to the University of Mn.

A Public V1.

Add lights and a rack/panniers.

Cheap too.

Shop PUBLIC V1 Single-Speed Bike from PUBLIC Bikes

agmetal

This is my "Ultimate City Bike" build
20171214_141021.jpg

ollo_ollo

The step through Raleigh Sports with enclosed chain guard in 2nd link only needs a B-72 to do the job if size is right. I was happy commuting on a men's Sports back in the 80's. No tie, but usually wore slacks and sports coat. I think you're on the right track with a step thru. It's better than men's style with a suit. You could solve the shoe slipping off the pedals with toe clips.

Not sure of your size, but did you see this 59cm Linus?
https://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/...460885228.html
Ad says he still has the fenders. Don

squirtdad

the raleigh sports would seem almostperfect https://portland.craigslist.org/clk/...466854229.html

squirtdad

see 2 bromptons

https://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/...468761484.html

https://salem.craigslist.org/bik/d/b...438408695.html

nlerner

A Raleigh Sports really would work for what you intend (and my commute is 2.5 each way though I don't usually need to dress formally). Given your climate, I'd say an upgrade to alloy rims, Kool Stop pads, some thin gripster pedals and you're good to go.

CliffordK

I like that Raleigh Sport Tourist, 3-speed, fenders, fully enclosed chaincase. Are you going to add fender skirts too?

Of course, there may be other options too.

I have my eye on what I think is a "Spartan" step-through bike at a local thrift store. I can't tell if it is very vintage, or a repro. I'm leaning towards vintage styling on a repro bike.

iab

Italian Sport bike. 3 speeds and full of class. Most all major manufacturers made them. Common as dirt in Italy. Shipping is likely to be the bulk of the cost.

Bianchi Sport 099 by iabisdb, on Flickr

iab

Never seen one bigger or smaller than a 54. That could be problematic.

noglider 

Really, anything will do. I also thought of English 3-speed when I read your post. Neal's enhancements are good ideas. English 3-speeds are popular in my part of Manhattan, and despite that, they seem very theft-resistant.

Fenders and chainguards are nice things. Getting on the bike is so quick when you don't have to bind your trousers.

A Brompton is also a good idea. They sure are nifty.

jyl

This, my dear sir, is most decidedly not the appropriate worldview! Were that true, over what would we obsess?

52telecaster

hey tom, sorry we didnt get to meet but we also saw lots of 3 speeds and plenty of electric assist food delivery and rickshaw rides.

new york is awesome btw!

noglider 

Yeah, the e-bikes are taking over the delivery industry. The economics are plain. Now we just have to make them legal and license them.

I'm glad you had fun. We'll meet next time.

Fahrenheit531 

As others have said, if C&V is the plan Raleigh Sports seems the default solution here.
Can't go wrong with the tried and true.

coolkat

Doesn't avoid the grease problem, but a set of north road style bars (Albatross, Soma Oxford) will transform any nice old mountain bike, and you'll have more gears, more braking power (my main issue with an old 3 speed, esp here in the nw), and only slightly less class than a Raleigh or similar. With the right accessories and style, it can become a poor mans Riv.

I'd avoid those Publics, apparently they're pretty bad

jyl

Has anyone mounted toe clips on rubber platform pedals?

gugie 

I was thinking the same.

And I have a Raleigh Sports that isn't getting ridden at all.

Best of all, I traded @Velocivixen for it, so it has a pedigree.

gugie 

Damn, that's straight up beautiful!

gomango

It really is. I wish I'd see more of these around our many universities here in the Twin Cities. Reality is different though, as many of the commuters/students I see have the less expensive fixies, converted mtb's and inexpensive toss aways like the Public above.

I definitely wouldn't mind a classy city bike like the Bianchi above. I just don't want to worry about a bike when I leave it locked up at a transit hub for hours at a time.

oddjob2

Start with this and add the northroads bars, B67, etc.

https://portland.craigslist.org/wsc/...467745376.html

I did the city bike conversion with a Fuji Royale for myself, but did not like the somewhat flexy frame. I had an old Raleigh Sprite that got stolen that I enjoyed more.