Functional bikes. Not Porn not Anti

I'm very jealous! You have a stunning place to ride!

Always happy to do tours for anyone up this way @nev

That crazy trailer equipped, fuel fillable, Antarctica touring Moots fat bike is for sale. Not cheap, mind.

http://bigwheeldeals.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/moots-snoots.html

Absolutely insane. The level of storage on that bike is phenomenal! Bit much for my commute.

I'd love to have the job of cleaning out the frame between storing fuel and water.

Thanks very much! If I'm up that way I'll take you up on that!

This isn't really functional though, is it..?

Lovely

Digging the lugs on the Rawland. Looks beasting!

Need a bit of advise on wife-mobile.
We are going to move further and the commute is going to increase. She is not keen on doing it on her single speed. So it needs to be a geared bike. She had her fit today and here is a CAD based on average fit outcomes:

I am going to look at Rychtarski as an option because its cheap (we are buying a house) and we will have matching bikes ;) OTP suggestions welcome too. Doesent have to be steel.

Requirements are:
Primarily a commuter but if/when she starts enjoying a bike that fits and rides well she will ride it more.
Budget, Budget, Budget
Needs to be lockable in Central London so Pinhead and any other creative and/or aesthetic suggestions.
Future ability to add storage solutions like racks etc.

Kit wise she needs 70mm stem (kalloy uno), 38cm Handlebars (Deda RHM from current bike), 165mm cranks; I am thinking DT (or bar end) shifters with Sram S500 levers as on her current bike, 165mm shimano CX crankset and 105 5800 FD and RD (?). Wheels most likely 650b to avoid toe overlap and have nice and thick tyres. Disc or Caliper is not yet decided; If its going to be cabled then I am leaning towards centrepull caliper.

Surely she'd be better off with sti shifters?

Wouldn't mountain bike (559mm vs 584mm) wheels be cheaper and offer more choice of tires? No one would need to know...

Yeah I am open to that; I only said DT/bar end because she is used to sram brake levers and they are cheap(er). No way I am getting a sram groupset.

yeah 26" is also an option; could be cheaper too .. whats the benefit of larger wheels exactly?

Tiny bit of an easier roll over gaps and inertia.

Yeah fine so 26" is an option too

You almost definitely know this but older Sram 10 speed stuff can be had cheap, and it's not all that bad...

Though you would lose the "swapability" of parts if hers breaks and you need a next day fix.

Sram is a no go sir.
Same can be said about shimano 10 speed stuff.

5800 is too cheap for what it is.

Why do your current projects end up in here?

/moan

Sti is quite nice/safe around town (keeping hands on the brakes).
27.5" disc wheels have a bright future so would make sense I'd have thought. 26" less so.

Uh. Another rawland. Cool.
A propos: I just took delivery of the poshest most blingy Maybach of the pannier racks.

Mountain bikes are 27.5 or 29" now. Did you not get the memo?

You mean this one?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfZylC-n4qE

29'ers are just for lazy people

#mounttamfoevah