Commuter Bicycle Pics
10-03-14, 04:06 AM
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Thanks for the warning.
As far as frame size goes, this frame is pretty spot on, for me, in terms of effective top tube length and stand over height. I wouldn't be comfortable riding anything much bigger as I am a pretty short person. As far as the stem situation goes, my local bike shop assured me it would be all right. However, in light of what you are saying I will revisit the topic with them as soon as possible.
Thanks again.
As far as frame size goes, this frame is pretty spot on, for me, in terms of effective top tube length and stand over height. I wouldn't be comfortable riding anything much bigger as I am a pretty short person. As far as the stem situation goes, my local bike shop assured me it would be all right. However, in light of what you are saying I will revisit the topic with them as soon as possible.
Thanks again.
10-03-14, 05:43 AM
Junior Member
OK, first post here.....
Got this Bianchi a little while ago and in the process of upgrading it to suite my riding and commute (whilst trying not to spend a lot of money).
Current upgrades include a Rido saddle which I love, Bontrager X lite stem and racelite lowriser bars, specialized contour grips and ends, Continental TravelContact tyres and Power Grip straps.
I do have guards and a rear rack which I may fit for the winter months but unsure of the look!!
Got this Bianchi a little while ago and in the process of upgrading it to suite my riding and commute (whilst trying not to spend a lot of money).
Current upgrades include a Rido saddle which I love, Bontrager X lite stem and racelite lowriser bars, specialized contour grips and ends, Continental TravelContact tyres and Power Grip straps.
I do have guards and a rear rack which I may fit for the winter months but unsure of the look!!
Last edited by mmason; 10-03-14 at 07:27 AM. Reason: added a bit
10-03-14, 08:02 AM
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As it turns out I ended up lowering the saddle and the handlebars by about 3 cm. This actually required replacing the stem with a much shorter one, since the one pictured (Soma Sutro w/180mm quill) is as low as it'll go. The current stem is also as low as it will go.
Last edited by mrblue; 10-03-14 at 08:08 AM.
10-03-14, 08:06 AM
Senior Member
Just built up this LHT. 7 sp Nexus IGH, roller brake on the rear and direct pull on the front, SKS longboards, Soma Oxford handle bar, 26 in marathons, and NR Lumina 500. Sold my car a couple of years ago and have been working towards this purpose driven self build. Baer Wheels here in town let me use their shop and equipment and know-how to build this up.
10-03-14, 08:26 AM
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Mine too. Form and function gather together!
Ugly is great. This is called a sleeper bike. Looks like crap, rides like glory. (Right?) I like how you managed to put flat bar shifters on a bar that is more like a drop bar. I happen to like bars that jut forward like that.
I once had a commuter bike that rode like a dream and looked dorky. Once a teenager had the nerve to yell out at me, "Cheap bike!" I was so proud to have fooled him.
Ugly is great. This is called a sleeper bike. Looks like crap, rides like glory. (Right?) I like how you managed to put flat bar shifters on a bar that is more like a drop bar. I happen to like bars that jut forward like that.
I once had a commuter bike that rode like a dream and looked dorky. Once a teenager had the nerve to yell out at me, "Cheap bike!" I was so proud to have fooled him.
I lucked out in finding bullhorns with enough room to accommodate the shifters, with a 22.2m diameter.
I love that I can lock it up in sketchier hoods without too many worries.
It almost rides like glory - the engine can use better conditioning
At a comfortable cadence it still beats out most other cyclists, but more importantly, it smokes public transit!
10-05-14, 07:44 PM
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After several great years beating up a Breezer Finesse on my daily commute in Gotham, I finally tired of the chain and splurged on a BMC belt-drive. The rear rack setup has proved to be a challenge, as the 2014 model has no rack mounting stays of any sort, but the parts are on order, and I'm having fun in the meanwhile, even though I hate backpacks.
Last edited by Archwhorides; 10-05-14 at 07:48 PM.
10-05-14, 09:56 PM
GadgetJim57
My Surly Long Haul Trucker. I removed my four Ortlieb Panniers for a change. I'm using my large Carradice Longflap Saddlebag. I have recently added one of my OYA Canvas Bags, and a Canvas Book Bag. I also have several small backpacks and my Timbuk2 Custom Commute Messenger Bag. So I can still carry easily $100 worth of food.
I can't get the image right side up. I tried rotating the image in my Gallery, but it still shows upside down. Any ideas how to fix this problem? I've never seen this issue before, and I've posted thousands of images on the Internet.
Last edited by vja4Him; 10-06-14 at 09:18 AM.
10-06-14, 08:38 PM
Senior Member
I just put this one back to work today after having obviously been out of all manner of service for years. I cleaned her up and a few minor modifications, and now she's ready to pound out my daily 20 mile R.T. commute in Schwinn Kool Lemon style.
Last edited by turky lurkey; 11-02-14 at 06:15 AM.
10-07-14, 12:03 AM
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10-07-14, 11:59 AM
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10-07-14, 12:22 PM
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That's a beaut!
Agreed
Last edited by turky lurkey; 10-13-14 at 09:54 PM.
10-07-14, 12:42 PM
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
10-09-14, 06:14 PM
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Building up the new winter bike and figured I may as well get a fitment for the new stupidly bright headlight (I've made it dimable for road use). Sadly the bike will be non disc for now as I just don't have the money to buy disc wheels right now.
10-09-14, 08:36 PM
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Details on that light? Looks pretty sweet!
10-09-14, 08:44 PM
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It's a random project I've been messing with, it's a Whelen brand light usually used as a driving or scene light on fire trucks I got from work, I'm using a 12v 8kmah battery through a pulse width modulator so I can dim it as it'll do 2000 lumin easily. I mostly built it for mountain biking in the winter.
10-10-14, 07:45 AM
Junior Member
Finally finished my commuter to suite my needs! It's a 2012 Bianchi Camaleonte Sport with a few updates like stem, bars, saddle, tyres, rack etc...
Really enjoying riding this on my 9 mile daily commute.
Really enjoying riding this on my 9 mile daily commute.
10-10-14, 08:55 AM
Junior Member
After several great years beating up a Breezer Finesse on my daily commute in Gotham, I finally tired of the chain and splurged on a BMC belt-drive. The rear rack setup has proved to be a challenge, as the 2014 model has no rack mounting stays of any sort, but the parts are on order, and I'm having fun in the meanwhile, even though I hate backpacks.
10-10-14, 09:25 AM
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Ok, not my commuter, but it is what I rode today. I brought extra clothes to work yesterday. Sometimes you just need to take a spin on the fast bike.
10-12-14, 12:59 PM
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My Volagi Viaje' wearing its commuter outfit. It serves me well for 13.5 miles each way.
10-12-14, 01:07 PM
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MM, may I ask what the specific rack and trunk bag are that you have on that bike?
10-12-14, 02:42 PM
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10-12-14, 07:54 PM
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10-13-14, 09:05 AM
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My winter bike is up and running! In late November I'll put on studded tires. I've never bought a bike just for use in the winter before, but after a winter of brutal ice ruts last year I thought fatter tires with lower pressure might help. It's set up as a 1x7. That saddle is the Velo Orange version of the B17-- not too bad, though it's much stiffer than Brooks right out of the box. New cables, Kool Stop brake pads, and upright bars.
10-13-14, 01:39 PM
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Beautiful. My dream bike, someday. Maybe even in Ti. What kind of spec did you go with? Trying to squint at the pictures, I'm seeing a double (compact?), wide cassette (11/12 - 32/34?) 105 shifters? Are your brakes mech or hydraulic?
