Re: [CR]What kind of bike is your commuter

(Example: Humor:John Pergolizzi)

From: <CYCLESTORE@aol.com>
Date: Wed, 6 Feb 2002 17:54:51 EST
Subject: Re: [CR]What kind of bike is your commuter
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Cc: sublithic@hotmail.com, rhawks@lmi.net


Hi gang,

For Commuting I tend to have broad interests. My favorite all time is/was a Puch Waffenrad (In German I was told it means "weapon bike"!). It's black single speed coaster with Raleigh DL-1 Tourist style 28 inch wheels. Wheel rims are black painted with green pin stripe lining. Front brake is a rod brake spoon which rubs the top of tire. Complete full chaincase and rack along with generator lighting. It was a great ride till I broke the cottered axle and ran out of fuss with it time.

It has been replaced with a Raleigh DL-1 3 speed but the Puch rides better even on hills as the Raleigh seems overgeared (even with a 24 tooth rear) and the Raleigh headtube angle is a little shallow for my tastes, floppy front end. The Puch is sort of like a regular bike with flat bars.

My current project is to complete and use a bike like my sweetie Susan uses everyday. It's a Blue and white Raleigh Gran (d) Sport with mustache bars and a Sturmey Archer Sprinter 7 along with some old PBP (all stickered up) blueme ls fenders from my 1987 ride. Mine has Sturmey drum brakes front and rear laced to Open Pro's and 700x25c Axiel Pro tires. We will have to bring them to the Cirque for the hot rod competition if we can.

Our favorites bikes are various Alex Moulton's for commuting because you can put lots of groceries in the big bags front and rear on top of those "wee 'ittle wales".

Only thing is, you have to remember that you can't ride the same bike everyday. It's just not healthy.

Regards,

Gilbert Anderson Raleigh NC USA

In a message dated 2/6/02 12:15:49 PM, sublithic@hotmail.com writes:

<< Hi y'all,

My commuter is an early 60's Allegro Special, mostly period except for Shimano 105 rear der and Riv supermix pods (& Klickfix bracket) ... earliest Phil hubs (what I had on hand)... green over full chrome w/chrome lugs & white Bluemel's Populars ... half a TA crankset generously supplied by Brother Bruce Robbins -- thanks again! BTW the TA triple fit perfectly on the original Campy spindle, with very low Q.

BTW Frankenbike: I have a 60's Cilo that is part of a secret commuter project that will damn me to the dark side (it's not a "Swiss thing"; it just happened that way). But that's too close to OT ... I'm a-coming, Brother Sheldon!

Dennis Ryan Louisville, KY
>From: Rob Hawks <rhawks@lmi.net>
>To: classics rendezvous <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
>Subject: [CR]What kind of bike is your commuter
>Date: Wed, 06 Feb 2002 08:43:06 -0800 (PST)
>
>Today, on my ride into work through Oakland and nearby towns
>I encountered another bike commuter as we both pedaled through
>the fog. We both caught a light and greeted each other as we
>waited. As we rolled off from the light I took a look at his
>bike. (My wife laughs at me about this behavior. She says
>most middle aged husbands look at women, but my head gets
>turned by every bike that passes by.) Well, I was surprised to
>see that this man's commute bike was an early 70s Cinelli.
> The sun hadn't risen yet and as I said it was foggy. That,
>plus the fact that the bike was painted a dark green (I think)
>made it hard for me to tell at first, but the decal tipped
>it off. So of course I had to ask about that. Turns out that
>he bought the bike second hand, off someone that had had
>shifter bosses, cable guides and water bottle cage mounts
>brazed on. The bike was well worn from his perspective, and
>he said it wasn't a sunday afternoon quality bike any more,
>and it was just sitting in his basement so he began using it
>as his commute bike. When I suggested he could have it restored,
>he said that it would be too expense for a bike that would
>then just sit unused. I could understand what he meant by that,
>but still, I'd love to have a stable of bikes where that bike
>became the most logical choice for my commute bike!
>
>Off topic from the above, but I was wondering what is the
>general consensus regarding Colnago frames. In particular,
>these would be the steel, lugged ones from the 80s. One that
>I've seen recently that might be available is one that has
>the Colnago club symbol cut out of the bottom bracket shell.
>
>rob hawks
>richmond, ca >>

Gilbert Anderson

The North Road Bicycle Company
your bicycle outfitter
519 W. North St.
Raleigh, NC 27603
USA
ph toll free in USA :800/321-5511
Local ph: 919/828-8999
E-Mail: cyclestore@aol.com