You are reading a single comment by @MacB and its replies.
Click here to read the full conversation.
London Fixed Gear and Single-Speed is a community of predominantly fixed gear and single-speed cyclists in and around London, UK.
This site is supported almost exclusively by donations. Please consider donating a small amount regularly.
@MacB
Excepting the bars, mine are even weirder, my Surly Crosscheck comes out pretty close to a Dutchbike, pictures can be seen at my photostream:-
http://www.flickr.com/photos/37729119@N08/sets/72157622858297887/
This was bought for a 40 mile daily round trip commute, from Farnborough to Maidenhead, it weighs in, unladen, at 35lbs, but does lack a front dynohub. I just ran out of dosh, this was not a cheap build. Surly Crosscheck frame 60cm, Brooks B17 saddle, Thomson Elite inline seatpost, BBB High 6 adjustable stem 130mm, now a BBB 35deg 90mm stem following bar changes, BBB turnaround headset, Shimano Deore V brakes and levers, Mavic A719 black 36h rims, 105 black front hub, SRAM I-9 internal gear rear hub, Marathon+ 35mm tyres Summer, 35mm Marathon Winter rest of time, Ofmega crankset and bog standard cartridge BB(just what LBS had that was cheap), 48t ring 20t cog but could use a much smaller chainring as 120GI's is a bit much at the top end. SKS full mudguards, Madison Summit rack, various battery lights, dummy storage bottle for spare tubes, frame pump.
It covers the commute at an average of 14-15.5mph depending on how laden I am and how strong I'm feeling. I regularly use 4 of the 9 gears available but do like the comfort of knowing the others are there. Having started the commute with a 'fast' hybrid this is a revelation comfort wise, though harder work at first. Latest incarnation of butterfly bars has brakes in forward position and inboard bar ends. Have now replicated on weekend bike as discovered that the controls can be wangled round angles of butterfly bars. With the panniers etc it wasn't kicking the pants off £1500 complete.
I'm now taken with the idea of a Rohloff, a Van Nicholas Amazon frame, Son dynamo front hub, Edleux lighting and a Gates belt drive. If you can ignore the eye watering £3500 price tag the bike would come in around 22-23lbs in weight including guards, rack and 32mm tyres.
Ed. if you're interested in experimenting with bars I have two sets of the North Road style following experimentation. For my setup they just brought the controls too far back, they're these ones here:-
http://www.theoldbicycleshowroom.co.uk/alloy-north-road-handlebars-422-p.asp
PM me if you're interested...cheers....Al