NOTCH1
03-02-2008, 12:10 PM
Well I eyed a sale in the performance catalog on a Scattante cross 7005 Alu frame+carbon fork+headset for under $250 and felt a need to treat myself after a long hard winter. Garish paint job was bead-blasted away and an understated clearcoat applied to the frame. Then it was time to sift through my bicycle spare bits-boxes accumulated over the years for most of the other stuff that needed to be bolted on:
http://lh3.google.com/EL23971/R8r2DP9oJ-I/AAAAAAAADOk/yPGNEIwgXPA/s400/IMG_0871.JPG
I don't need a lot of gearing options, so just a five speed cluster in the rear:
http://lh6.google.com/EL23971/R8r2F_9oJ_I/AAAAAAAADOw/51G917-X0bA/s400/IMG_0872.JPG
That's a 32 in front, 12-21 in rear (I'm inclined to take it easy on the knees :laughing):
http://lh5.google.com/EL23971/R8r2Iv9oKAI/AAAAAAAADO8/VamJE8uSmHU/s400/IMG_0875.JPG
Thing that's great about cyclocross bikes as commuters? Lots of clearance for chubby tires, plus the 700c wheels roll nicely over choppy pavement, much better than a 26" Mtn. Bike will. Handlebars are usually closer in and more level with the saddle than a "regular" road bike is, too, so you have a comfier position. I also want a commuter bike to be as light as possible for easy lugging up stairs, etc, and 'cross bikes, while a bit more robust than road bikes, tend to be a lot lighter than your brand X mtn. bike with shocks and over-built frame (this is another reason why i go with a minimal drive-train):
http://lh3.google.com/EL23971/R8r2LP9oKBI/AAAAAAAADPI/hofgDNeQm5c/s400/IMG_0878.JPG
So I just built it up yesterday, and am pretty happy so far! I don't have a hard commute, just about 3 miles from oakland to emeryville, but this bike will get me there and back without any probs.
http://lh3.google.com/EL23971/R8r2DP9oJ-I/AAAAAAAADOk/yPGNEIwgXPA/s400/IMG_0871.JPG
I don't need a lot of gearing options, so just a five speed cluster in the rear:
http://lh6.google.com/EL23971/R8r2F_9oJ_I/AAAAAAAADOw/51G917-X0bA/s400/IMG_0872.JPG
That's a 32 in front, 12-21 in rear (I'm inclined to take it easy on the knees :laughing):
http://lh5.google.com/EL23971/R8r2Iv9oKAI/AAAAAAAADO8/VamJE8uSmHU/s400/IMG_0875.JPG
Thing that's great about cyclocross bikes as commuters? Lots of clearance for chubby tires, plus the 700c wheels roll nicely over choppy pavement, much better than a 26" Mtn. Bike will. Handlebars are usually closer in and more level with the saddle than a "regular" road bike is, too, so you have a comfier position. I also want a commuter bike to be as light as possible for easy lugging up stairs, etc, and 'cross bikes, while a bit more robust than road bikes, tend to be a lot lighter than your brand X mtn. bike with shocks and over-built frame (this is another reason why i go with a minimal drive-train):
http://lh3.google.com/EL23971/R8r2LP9oKBI/AAAAAAAADPI/hofgDNeQm5c/s400/IMG_0878.JPG
So I just built it up yesterday, and am pretty happy so far! I don't have a hard commute, just about 3 miles from oakland to emeryville, but this bike will get me there and back without any probs.