tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post9077091673182279322..comments2024-03-28T11:56:48.304-04:00Comments on The Retrogrouch: Another "Ultimate Commuter"Brookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12110998345857993287noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-40504128943765826862016-09-26T06:45:52.355-04:002016-09-26T06:45:52.355-04:00'Steal this bike' - perfect commuter is my...'Steal this bike' - perfect commuter is my 'Rainy Day-Keep Portland Weird' 1970s gas pipe but nicely lugged Montgomery Ward 10 speed. Fenders with plastic milk jug sourced mud flaps. Very comfortable with basement sourced 1980s Avocet touring saddle and SR pedals with Christophe cages. Bullet proof Kenda Kevlar 26" tires (a fraction of the cost of Conti Gatorskins) No one would look twice at what has been an $80 investment to date. I die a little every time I run into a twenty-something someone at a LBS who just had their $1000+ bike stolen . I don't even carry locks on my $1000+ bikes to avoid the temptation to leave them unattended for even a few minutes. Mikierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01403140953256222612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-44648420821085521062016-09-22T17:05:01.387-04:002016-09-22T17:05:01.387-04:00I'd say for me the ultimate commuter bike woul...I'd say for me the ultimate commuter bike would be a velomobile with electric assist. My commute is 35km in one direction and I can store it there.ZigaKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16724416869670485746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-67996536286710391822016-09-20T12:44:41.948-04:002016-09-20T12:44:41.948-04:00Good post. Around here (the Pacific Northwest) no ...Good post. Around here (the Pacific Northwest) no bike without good fenders can even hope to call itself a commuter. Mine is an old Bianchi (mid- or late-80s I think, but no model name on it) road bike that cost me $150 20 years ago, upgraded to a really huge rear cluster and triple crank with old Deore XT derailleurs for the steep hills that I ride, and equipped with much-repaired old fenders, an old-school Blackburn rack and very new school 400-lumen LED lights. Love the damn thing...<br />Brianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02461181447045751739noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-21623222728133279262016-09-14T14:39:06.909-04:002016-09-14T14:39:06.909-04:00I've always liked the Volpe -- especially the ...I've always liked the Volpe -- especially the early versions which came with a lugged frame. A good all-rounder, and similar in some ways to the beloved Bridgestone XO-1.<br /><br />About the belt drive - I assume you are referring to the fact that the belt can't be taken apart like a chain. With belt-drive bikes, they typically have some kind of provision for separating the rear triangle so a belt can be installed/removed. Usually, there will be some bolts at the rear dropout that would allow either the seat-stay or chain-stay to disconnect.Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12110998345857993287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-14977794072384777462016-09-14T14:34:49.464-04:002016-09-14T14:34:49.464-04:00They must have added that since I first wrote abou...They must have added that since I first wrote about the bike. When I first saw it on their site, I could only see a brakeless fixie with no eyelets or anything for fenders. That must have been an early version of the bike.Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12110998345857993287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-65471463783314030722016-09-14T13:02:23.875-04:002016-09-14T13:02:23.875-04:00I have the ultimate commuter. Its a 99 Bianchi vo...I have the ultimate commuter. Its a 99 Bianchi volpe with Schmidt generator hub and light, perpendicular eyelets added to the seatstay and chainstay bridges to allow good fender mounting, and a revised steel fork with more offset to allow a front load with good handling. Originally bought it used for 400 bucks, 16 years ago. The only way to improve it would be with a full custom bike. Given that almost all of my rides involve some combination of darkness, wetness, or the need to carry something- almost all of my miles go on this bike, even the non-commute miles. <br />One question about the Gates drive: what happens when the belt is damaged or worn out? Is the frame useless too? I have ridden them and they are super light and seem to work well, otherwise. Conradhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09297850009729752883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-74306816326194922962016-09-14T12:42:56.902-04:002016-09-14T12:42:56.902-04:00"The Vanhawks Valour featured lots of smartph..."The Vanhawks Valour featured lots of smartphone connectivity - but no accommodation for racks or fenders. No brakes either."<br />Their website shows a bike with fenders and brakes.Dave Barneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07355264650239868491noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-36462726048964641462016-09-14T11:00:45.389-04:002016-09-14T11:00:45.389-04:00My guess is that a lot of the "designers"...My guess is that a lot of the "designers" of these bikes have a commute that consists of slinging their messenger bags over their shoulder and riding their fixies down to the nearest coffee shop.<br /><br /><br />Wolf.N/Ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14710395292374599493noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-7889431575222467772016-09-14T10:20:22.161-04:002016-09-14T10:20:22.161-04:00I've been commuting a lot on my own custom a l...I've been commuting a lot on my own custom a lot lately, too: a Davidson touring bike. It's neither modern nor high-tech, but its low-trail geometry with a ton of wheelbase has given it the handling I've enjoyed more than any other bike I've ever had. I can load it up with tons of groceries, but it's also fun to ride unloaded.Neil E. Hodgeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06096087090901980142noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-4752169850695374022016-09-13T22:41:42.478-04:002016-09-13T22:41:42.478-04:00My Commuter is a Leuleu randonneur .650b. frenders...My Commuter is a Leuleu randonneur .650b. frenders. Lights. Two bags on the rear rack, a small rack at the front. <br /><br />Heavy, but reliable and weatherproof. I only need to upgrade the steel rims and the cottered crank and i am golden.<br /><br />I guess the guys at Volata don't commute much on a bike if they think that their bike is good for the job...Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00518909092982637229noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-76503089654076152082016-09-13T18:33:51.698-04:002016-09-13T18:33:51.698-04:00Yikes, that thing is a market hyped, bullshit pitc...Yikes, that thing is a market hyped, bullshit pitch laced disgrace. <br /><br />The B'Twin? Sorry, but when did TT/Tri bikes become commuters????<br /><br />And don't even get me started on belt drive, I tried it, tried it really hard, every failure it had, was blamed on me, or my equipment. <br /><br />Then they came out with a "fix" for the problems I was having that they said were all my fault.<br /><br />I'll never recommend, or suggest that company to anyone. MendonCycleSmithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02213406716238931069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-3509855564821698062016-09-13T18:29:07.155-04:002016-09-13T18:29:07.155-04:00I've got an "ultimate Commuter", but...I've got an "ultimate Commuter", but its much more retro + modern. Waterford sport touring with electronic alfine 11 drivetrain (chain not belt), fenders and room for wide tires, dynamo lighting, and all the luggage attachments one could want. Course its also my touring bike, brevet bike, pick the kid up from daycare with the trailer bike. As luck would have it I can park my bike in my classroom as well, as I wouldn't lock it up overnight downtown 'cause I couldn't afford to replace it.<br />btw... I've been lurking here for a long time, first post. One of my favorite blogs, thanks for keeping it up!!<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-74379463513991945952016-09-13T18:23:24.252-04:002016-09-13T18:23:24.252-04:00The Ultimate Commuter has two tyres that hold air,...The Ultimate Commuter has two tyres that hold air, good brakes, doesn't squeak rattle or rub, and can hold a straight line. mike w.https://www.blogger.com/profile/10317710564489321690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-43024047744739703832016-09-13T17:39:04.377-04:002016-09-13T17:39:04.377-04:00Funny that you posted this today, as I was writing...Funny that you posted this today, as I was writing about the Bitlock: another piece of electronic gadgetry that no cyclist actually needs.Justine Valinottihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10852069587181432102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-29086725655772071302016-09-13T17:17:20.232-04:002016-09-13T17:17:20.232-04:00I still own and ride a 1993 X0-1 ...probably one o...I still own and ride a 1993 X0-1 ...probably one of the best "commute bikes" ever...I believe you wrote a column about this. 23 years old and still going strong, although I have replaced a number of things over the yearsAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09212874875946083273noreply@blogger.com