Commuter Bicycle Pics
#5251
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I have a Sugino XD 600 and LX crankset. I was just thinking I never used my lowest gear on my crankset. And this crankset is getting worn down. I was thinking of a two ring crankset, and a 8-Speed Road Cassette 12-26. My commute is a very flat run, and thought I could get smaller grouping of gearing with a 8-Speed Road Cassette 12-26.
#5252
Riding Heaven's Highways on the grand tour
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I did what you want to do a few years ago. I didn't replace my cranks, I just removed the granny gear and adjusted the limiter screw so the front derailleur didn't go lower than the middle chain ring. I then replaced the other two chain rings with the sizes I wanted. You can change the cassette to any 8 speed you prefer, and even though you will be running a double, you can keep your long cage rear derailleur. This method involves minimal expense and labor, and functions fine.
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#5253
circus bear
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Austin
Posts: 642
Bikes: 97(?) GT Richochet, 00 Schwinn SuperSport
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For commuting and mountains and hills around here in Denver and areas, I have a cyclocross compact double up front (FSA Gossamer 110BCD 44/34, going to a 48/34). Out back I have a Deore LX with a 11/34 cassette. Problem solved and plenty of low down for me and my commute and hills around here.
My $.02...
okay, back to bikes!
My $.02...
okay, back to bikes!
#5254
Temporary Earthling
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Earth
Posts: 288
Bikes: Raliegh 'Grande Prix', Fiori 'Modena', Cannondale 'Something or other' and a Specialized 'Globe Sport'.
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#5257
Who farted?
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
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Bikes: '06 K2 Zed 3.0, '09 Novara Buzz V
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#5258
Riding Heaven's Highways on the grand tour
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probably the weight distribution with the panniers so far back....can you move them a little forward without heel strikes?
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#5260
Temporary Earthling
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Earth
Posts: 288
Bikes: Raliegh 'Grande Prix', Fiori 'Modena', Cannondale 'Something or other' and a Specialized 'Globe Sport'.
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#5261
Who farted?
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
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MV: I'm going to try that because they're tapping the fender and I'm getting some fender rub. Just got her, so I'm still placing the panniers like I did on my old ride. Can't ask for too much, I cheaped out on the rack & the panniers, I'll be putting in some of that coroplast to stiffen them, though.
DL: Sure, why not. Not that Michael Bay crap, either.
SM: 44
DL: Sure, why not. Not that Michael Bay crap, either.
SM: 44
#5262
Temporary Earthling
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Earth
Posts: 288
Bikes: Raliegh 'Grande Prix', Fiori 'Modena', Cannondale 'Something or other' and a Specialized 'Globe Sport'.
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#5263
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Santa Fe, NM
Posts: 4,599
Bikes: Vassago Moosknuckle Ti 29+ XTR, 90's Merckx Corsa-01 9sp Record, PROJECT: 1954 Frejus SuperCorsa
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Finally
Here are some pics I took this evening of my current steed, a Bianchi Milano with a flat bar, rack and slicks. I'm buying a pannier next week.
Bianchi1.jpg
bianchi2.jpg
bianchi3.jpg
Bianchi1.jpg
bianchi2.jpg
bianchi3.jpg
#5266
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Michigan city, Indiana
Posts: 112
Bikes: 2008 giant boulder, 1995 schwinn ridge, 1990 giant yukon
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I know you guys said not to change from a triple crankset to a double. If I was going to change to a double, could I use the Shimano 105 double crankset. Nasbar has a crankset https://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...6_10000_201437
#5268
Noob; team rider
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Mid-City LA
Posts: 11
Bikes: Mountain Bike.
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Damn, does EVERYBODY have road bikes?
I feel left out.
It's like I'm the only guy here who uses a mountain bike to commute to work.
Damnit, I live in LA, I should have a road bike.
Man, I'm gonna go outside and kick dirt for a while.
I feel left out.
It's like I'm the only guy here who uses a mountain bike to commute to work.
Damnit, I live in LA, I should have a road bike.
Man, I'm gonna go outside and kick dirt for a while.
#5269
always rides with luggage
Nope, you aren't the only one. But my MTB is getting 1.25" tires and might be getting bullhorns soon.
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--Ben
2006 Trek SU100, 2009 Motobecane Fantom CX, 2011 Motobecane Fantom Cross Uno, and a Bakfiets
Previously: 2000 Trek 4500 (2000-2003), 2003 Novara Randonee (2003-2006), 2003 Giant Rainier (2003-2008), 2005 Xootr Swift (2005-2007), 2007 Nashbar 1x9 (2007-2011), 2011 Windsor Shetland (2011-2014), 2008 Citizen Folder (2015)
Non-Bike hardware: MX Linux / BunsenLabs Linux / Raspbian / Mac OS 10.6 / Android 7
--Ben
2006 Trek SU100, 2009 Motobecane Fantom CX, 2011 Motobecane Fantom Cross Uno, and a Bakfiets
Previously: 2000 Trek 4500 (2000-2003), 2003 Novara Randonee (2003-2006), 2003 Giant Rainier (2003-2008), 2005 Xootr Swift (2005-2007), 2007 Nashbar 1x9 (2007-2011), 2011 Windsor Shetland (2011-2014), 2008 Citizen Folder (2015)
Non-Bike hardware: MX Linux / BunsenLabs Linux / Raspbian / Mac OS 10.6 / Android 7
#5270
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Atlanta
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Bikes: Cannondale T700s and a few others
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Problems with a mountain:
1. Gearing is for slow technical trails. My first touring bike had almost the same crank gearing of 22/32/44 (my mtb is 22/32/42) . I was running out of gear on the road. I upgraded to a 26/36/48. It is just the right compromise for the hills around here. I just recently set my original touring bike back up after finding the next size up frame and moving my 9speed STI's over to it. I find I really don't like the 22/32/44 for the street now. I still can run out of gear with the 48 but not nearly as often as I was with the 44. The center ring where I spend most of my time in the top 4 gears on the rear of the 36 seems just right and I can jump up to the 48 front when I get on a down hill. With the 32 I spent a lot more time jumping from the 44 to the 32 and just never finding the sweet spot on the rear. I would be in the top two on the rear all the time on the 32 center and having to shift up and down out of the 44 more often. I spend a lot more time shifting as a result.
2. Riding hand positions. You have 1 with a straight bar. It was killing my wrists on rides over 10 miles. I regularly do 30 mile rides now. The Hoods are where it is at most of the time but the drops to duck out of the wind on down hills and windy days and the tops to rest the wrists makes a BIG difference. I did run trekking bars on the Mountain for a while but found that my hands most of the time were on the sides or upper hoop away from the brakes and gears so I was all the time back and forth. That was a real negative when in a climb to have to remove your hand from the good power position and reach down near the stem to drop a gear. Felt very unbalanced and you backed out of the climb. WIth the STI I can stay in the power with both hands on the hoods and flick my fingers to down shift as my cadence drops on the climbs.
3. Drops for better aerodynamic. Makes a huge difference when fighting a head wind. Even with Trekking bars you still can't tuck in a comfortable position for very long like you can on a road bike. Now I ride touring bikes and the bars are up a lot higher then a "race" or "Sport" road bike so the drops are not severe but still a big improvement.
4. Tire sizes. My MTB was running A specilized "CrossRoad" on the rear rated 85psi and actually had a small on the road foot print with the locked center tread and high tire pressure. I ran a Specialized Hempsphere front that again rode up nicely on the center. It was a really good combination on the road but it still didn't fix the fact that I was spinning a LOT of tire. It takes effort to keep heavy tires spun up at road speed. I split the difference on the Touring bike. I run 700x35's (though I am eyeing a 700x32 as my next tire). Enough tire for the occasion off pavement excursion. Enough tire to take the harshness out of the road that a 700x23 has but considerably lighter then the 26x1.95's. The difference in speed was dramatic.
I have three good hills and my best time ever on the mountain was just over 18minutes and I was pushing. On the touring bike I made my ride 15:42 seconds Friday and felt less wore out and really didn't feel I was "Pushing it". I have made the ride in just a hair over 15 on a crit bike with 700x23's. Again not pushing hard but I did keep a good pace. Between the tires, wheel size and gearing it was just not easy to make good time on the Mountain bike. The mountain on this one good down hill I felt I was doing good to hit 32mph peddling as hard as I could. I regularly tickle 40mph and really putting the hammer on I have managed 42mph.
Last edited by Grim; 07-11-09 at 10:07 AM.
#5271
Bike ≠ Car ≠ Ped.
Besides the points that Grim so clearly illustrated, I'd say that the one thing that can adapt a mountain bike really well to road riding is skinnier tires (and, if the frame will take them, 700c wheels). At one point, I had both a fully rigid Cannondale Bad Boy Disc and a full-suspension Cannondale Rush. I found that the Bad Boy's 700cx28 wheels and tires fit onto the Rush, so I took the Rush out a few times with them on. With its shocks locked out and with the skinnier, lighter wheels, the Rush rode almost identically to the Bad Boy.
Flat bar bikes with a more upright riding position aren't much of a drag for my short commute, but if I lived across the river, I'd definitely use a road or touring bike instead.
#5272
Pug lover! Dogs and bikes
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Anyone else use their commuter as their main ride for leisure? Did some climbing this weekend and kept my bag on in case I ran into some cool garage sales along the way
#5273
Senior Member
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Location: Santa Fe, NM
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GREAT classic Peugeot! Thanks for sharing!
#5274
Junior Member
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Location: Columbus, OH
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This is what I use for both commuting and leisure rides:
Up until this spring, I was useing a Giant hybrid. This is sooo much nicer and I'm having much more fun. I now sometimes have roadies out on training rides draft on me instead of blowing past
Tim
Up until this spring, I was useing a Giant hybrid. This is sooo much nicer and I'm having much more fun. I now sometimes have roadies out on training rides draft on me instead of blowing past
Tim
Last edited by tcristy; 07-12-09 at 08:38 AM. Reason: Photo not showing up...