Show Off Your Townies
#1080
Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: CA
Posts: 24
Bikes: 1969 Raleigh Grand Prix, 2008 SE Lager
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I decided to pick up the Civilian Ramble that I was contemplating in this thread. Swapped out a few things (saddle, tires, pedals) and added lights + bell for a very comfortable townie/commuter. Would eventually like to swap the stem for something more elegant.
#1085
Senior Member
Here's my Novara Transfer One. Got it at REI on clearance for half price ($250). It's stock. All I did was add the typical accessories to make it a practical city bike (pannier, rack bag, mirror, bottle cage, bell, lights, and toe clips). It came with the rack, fenders, and kickstand. It has a 42x16 gear and a coaster brake. I've taken this bike on a few longer rides. Longest one so far was 38 miles with some small rolling hills.
my Novara Transfer One on Yolo Causeway 9-8-13 by freighttraininguphill, on Flickr
my Novara Transfer One on Yolo Causeway 9-8-13 by freighttraininguphill, on Flickr
Last edited by freighttraininguphill; 11-16-18 at 02:49 PM.
#1089
Car-free in the South
Well, here's my one and only bike currently. I like to think it's a townie, the only checkbox it doesn't notch is swept back uprights, but I honestly find them incredibly uncomfortable.
It has an interesting story, it was sold to me as a bare frame. The guy swore it was a Raleigh, but my research shows it is a "Bikeith" frame. Apparently a 70's vintage Japanese track manufacturer. If anyone knows anything about this frame or this company, I would REALLY like to hear from you.
It's currently setup with Nitto Noodles, a Brooks Swift, and a Truvativ Touro crankset with a 46T chainring and 16T cog in the rear. The rear rack is very easy to remove, so it turns into a really neat and pretty light weekend bike in a few minutes. It's also my first fixed gear, though I have been a pretty avid cyclist for over 5 years. Anyway, here's the goods:
It has an interesting story, it was sold to me as a bare frame. The guy swore it was a Raleigh, but my research shows it is a "Bikeith" frame. Apparently a 70's vintage Japanese track manufacturer. If anyone knows anything about this frame or this company, I would REALLY like to hear from you.
It's currently setup with Nitto Noodles, a Brooks Swift, and a Truvativ Touro crankset with a 46T chainring and 16T cog in the rear. The rear rack is very easy to remove, so it turns into a really neat and pretty light weekend bike in a few minutes. It's also my first fixed gear, though I have been a pretty avid cyclist for over 5 years. Anyway, here's the goods:
#1093
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Bozeman, MT
Posts: 100
Bikes: 2013 Bianchi Super Pista // 2013 Cinelli Experience // Kilo TT // '84 Trek 500 Series Porteur
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Schwinn Super Le Tour conversion. Needs some work still but it's getting there.
#1094
Newbie
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 1
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hey min,
i'm a big fan of your fillmore with the nitto b617 promenade and the very long stem. i'm thinking about building a similar setup and i had a few questions:
1. i really like the idea of a long swept back bar with a equally long stem, as it will give me the benefits two extreme riding positions: (1) an upright position (when holding at the ends of the bars) and (2) up in the middle of the U of the handlebar, sort of like riding drops. do you have similar reasons for having a setup like this?
2. if so, and if you ride off the saddle with your hands in the middle part of the handlebars (up much higher), do your knees hit the handlebar ends? did you have to shave part of the nitto bars down? i hear they're very very long.
3. any tips for someone doing this on a budget? i'm thinking about buying something like a fairly cheap vintage 140mm quill stem and the nitto.
thanks!
i'm a big fan of your fillmore with the nitto b617 promenade and the very long stem. i'm thinking about building a similar setup and i had a few questions:
1. i really like the idea of a long swept back bar with a equally long stem, as it will give me the benefits two extreme riding positions: (1) an upright position (when holding at the ends of the bars) and (2) up in the middle of the U of the handlebar, sort of like riding drops. do you have similar reasons for having a setup like this?
2. if so, and if you ride off the saddle with your hands in the middle part of the handlebars (up much higher), do your knees hit the handlebar ends? did you have to shave part of the nitto bars down? i hear they're very very long.
3. any tips for someone doing this on a budget? i'm thinking about buying something like a fairly cheap vintage 140mm quill stem and the nitto.
thanks!
#1096
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Dublin, Ireland
Posts: 250
Bikes: 1980 raleigh made in gazelle model unknown
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Here's how mine is still at the moment. In the process of removing the paint from the tubes, had the idea to leave it bare metal all polished up an shiny. It's a log way from there tho.
#1098
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 1,541
Bikes: Bianchi Volpe, ANT 3-speed roadster, New Albion Privateer singlespeed, Raleigh One Way singlespeed, Raleigh Professional "retro roadie" rebuild, 198? Fuji(?) franken-5-speed, 1937 Raleigh Tourist, 1952 Raleigh Sports, 1966 Raleigh Sports step-through
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This one started off as an old 10-speed that a friend gave me. Built this one up with the express purpose of being well-suited to wet weather, while being more similar to my Volpe than my Raleigh Sports is. The mismatched fork and front fender are due to an inexplicable crash a couple days after completing the initial build. The seat clamp is reversed intentionally, to get a slightly steeper seat tube angle, and make it more like my Volpe.
Also, this one that currently only gets ridden occasionally...single speed w/ a coaster brake and several modernized components.
Also, this one that currently only gets ridden occasionally...single speed w/ a coaster brake and several modernized components.