I got my Moulton ATB (circa 1989) this year, thinking it would be my all-around town bike and occasional commuter. The ride is great—fast, comfortable and nimble—and it can carry a ton of load (including my dog). It has Reynolds 531 tubing and a mix of Shimano components. Unfortunately, my town is New York City and the bike gets too much unwanted attention from would-be interlopers so can’t be left anywhere.

Recently, I got a beat-up Falcon bike from the early 70’s which I converted into a single speed.  It also rides great – can’t beat the old British steel. Hopefully no one will steal this one – I bought a lock that cost more than the bike itself. —Don

I lusted after a LHT for years and finally bought the complete bike in April. Dubbed Petra, she’s the first bike that has fit me very well. Having been car-free for five years, I cycle everywhere for utility purposes as well as for pleasure and good health, and I’m building up to the point where I can try randonneuring. As a full-time freelance writer, my commute is only from the coffee pot to my desk at home, but almost every trip out is done by bike. Because the nearest town of any size is 12 miles away, a grocery and wine trip makes for a good workout, especially in these northern Adirondack winters, and because it’s all uphill (and usually into the wind) back home. (I’ve written on my website about my methods for using grocery panniers and a kiddie trailer for shopping trips, so won’t reproduce photos or descriptions here.)

Of course, I made modifications to the stock build. In doing this, my goal was to balance economy with functionality. The most notable alterations are:

• Nitto Noodle, 44cm and Dimension 75 mm, 125 degree rise, glossy black stem
• MKS Touring pedals, boxy plastic toe clips and nylon straps
• Schwalbe Marathon HR tires (26″ x 1.5″)
• Black plastic Zefal MTB fenders which I’ll swap for something classier in time
• I know it’s blasphemous not to own a Brooks (lovely and traditional as they are), I mounted a Sella SMP Strike Extra saddle, men’s model (I like its narrower dimensions over the women’s model). No other saddle has ever been so comfortable.
• Rear rack, alloy, black, from Nashbar, rated for 70 kgs, and it’s strong as an ox
• Pletcsher two-legged kickstand — makes a great workstand on the road
• Transit-Pro bar bag
• German Ultra Light bike mirror
• Zefal HP-X frame pump, mounted between chainstays and port-side seat stay (see picture)
• Silver Incredibell mounted on top tube at furthest point forward (see picture) because the strap wouldn’t wrap around the spacers
• Three black Nashbar waterbottle cages
• VDO MC1.0 wired cyclometer (to see how much altitude I gain!) (see photo)
• Sigma Quadro front light  (for now) and a Cateye reflector-blinkie-tail light
• Various panniers, trunks, and bags, and I just love my Profile Designs snack pack, mounted on the top tube just abaft the stem

I’ve been enjoying the entries from folks who read your blog. It’s great that so widely diverse a group of cyclists can join to form a community this way. Thanks for your efforts to that end. —Tamia

[Visit Tamia's Outside Up North blog. —ed.]

Frustrated with how klunky and unwieldy trailers could be, I owned a trailer but found I used it only now and then.

After my partner and I tried unsuccessfully to have a child and ultimately stopped trying, I realized I no longer wanted to look at the trailer hanging in the shed.

I remembered that I had an old ATB frame sitting unutilized, so I sold the trailer and bought an Xtracycle kit. I built up the longbike in early May of this year and have used it more times in four months than I used the trailer in four years.

• Frame: mid-80’s Cycle Pro “Skyline”
• Wheels: double-wall rims, cassette rear hub (a must for this bike), recently added Schwalbe Marathon Tires.
• Handlebars: Nitto “North Road” with cork grips and thumb shifters.
• Saddle: Brooks Flyer

I use my longbike on an average of one to three times a week, depending on the weather and the distance. (Portland’s transit will not allow it on the bus rack or on the light-rail trains because they say it’s too long, so I have to commit to ride both ways when I use it.) I especially enjoy riding with my partner to the farmers’ markets and bringing home all the produce on my bike while my partner rides unencumbered.

Recent outings included carrying three lawn chairs and a picnic basket for our ride to a concert in downtown Portland, and an especially memorable ride home with a free, 6-foot folding ladder my business didn’t need anymore (see pix). —Beth

[Visit Beth's blog: bikelovejones —ed.]

Here are some shots of my Ti Aero. It’s my randonneuring bike, but I use it just as often for riding to work and stopping by the grocery store on my way home. It’s even taken me on a few self-supported 4 day tours, carrying my tent, sleeping bag, air mattress, food, and clothes. Because lights, fenders, and cargo capacity are pretty much mandatory for them, randonneuring bikes are extremely practical for going long distances, whether you do it all in one go or you do it in bite-sized chunks. These shots are a couple years old; the bike doesn’t look quite this clean after having done two 1200’s, a 1000, a couple Super Randonneur series, and a couple RAO’s since I took them. The project for the winter will be to convert it to use 26″ tires, which with the Panaracer Evo Extreme 2 tire (great rubber!) available in 559 x 32, should make it faster and more plush at the same time. It goes without saying that the 559 tire size also ups the practicality factor. —Michael

Current specs:

• Crankset: Ultegra triple
• BB: Dura-ace
• Front derailleur: Ultegra triple
• Rear derailleur: Ultegra triple
• Cassette: Ultegra 12-27 9 speed
• Brakes: Avid BB-7 disc (front), Bacchetta dual pivot (rear)
• Shifters: Dura-ace bar con 9 speed
• Brake levers: Avid SL
• Wheels: SON 28 (front), Shimano 105 (rear) CXP-33 rims
• Tires: Terry Tellus (Panaracer version)
• Terracycle idler & cable guides
• Runs fenders (not shown) by default these days
• Carries Radical Solo seat bag and Radical Lowracer side pods

[Visit Michael's blog at http://escapevelocipede.blogspot.com/. —ed.]

Greetings from Grant Park in downtown Atlanta. This is my 2003 Litespeed Blueridge with an Xtracycle. I used to do freelance work for Litespeed and got the bike in trade and have really just used it as my around town bike. I put the Xtracycle on this summer and have used it to carry my stuff from the store, to work and just goofing off.

It’s a mix of components, Vicious Cycles cross fork, XT rear derailleur, Dura-Ace bar end shifters, King hubs and Brooks B-17. It’s a super plush ride and one day I hope to do more than 10 miles one way around town, maybe get out for some S24O. Cheers. —Steve

I’ve attached pictures of my Rivendell Atlantis, dubbed Aubrey. I got Aubrey originally with the idea of doing some back-country touring, and while I haven’t taken the time to do that yet, exactly, in the interim she’s worked just fine as a workhorse. With front and rear racks, and two pairs of Berthoud’s most capacious panniers, I can haul more groceries than some small cars. A great bike, beautiful to look at, and a joy to ride. I’ve currently got her outfitted with a full M900 kit, which I have to believe epitomizes Grant Peterson’s ideal component group. —Michael

• Crankset: M900
• BB: UN 73
• Front derailleur: M900
• Rear derailleur: M900
• Cassette: Ultegra 12-27 9 speed
• Brakes: M900 cantilever
• Brake levers: Tiagra
• Shifters: Dura-ace bar con 9 speed
• Wheels: M900 hubs w/ Mavic A319 rims
• Tires: Panaracer Pasela 622 x 38
• Handlebar: Nitto Noodle
• Stem: Nitto Technomic Deluxe
• Seatpost: Nitto Crystal Fellow
• Saddle: Brooks B-17
• Nitto Campee racks, front & rear

[Visit Michael's blog at http://escapevelocipede.blogspot.com/. —ed.]

Here’s my Dahon Cadenza 2007. This bike has gone from being a folding bike to functioning as a small minivan.

The changes I’ve have made so far:

• New Michelin tires for city riding
• SKS mud guards
• A rear rack (not shown in photo)
• A child seat for my son

Upcoming changes: 

• Schmidt (SON) dynohub and lights
• A front rack
• A cruiser-type handlebar
• And finally a Brooks saddle

I use it for the journey to work (around 40Km) and small competitions with friends on the weekend. Finally, I hope it will be an alternative to my usual car, or at least reflect the spirit I want my child to learn. —Jose

Here’s my 2007 ICE Q outfitted with Mueller WindWrap fairing, full fenders, Dinotte rear light, and Ortlieb panniers. Just an all around great ride for my 30 km (each way) commute to work. This is the latest in my search for the “best” trike…comfort, speed (relative!), easy to live with. —Sally

I’m a fairly new reader of your blog, but I wanted to submit some pictures of my bike. I’m very much an accidental bike commuter, so it’s hardly tricked out yet. I started out doing spinning classes at my gym, then realized I was in really good cycling shape and that it was ridiculous I didn’t have a bike. I don’t have a ton of dough, so I went to Bikes Not Bombs and looked at what they had (I hosted a fundraiser for them a few years ago, and it didn’t go so well;  they paid me anyway, so I wanted to buy from them to get my karma in balance, you know?).

I wanted a pretty straightforward road bike, because that’s what I rode as a teenager in the Rockies. They didn’t really have one built, but I didn’t want to leave without a bike, so I got the attached. It’s an old French Motobecane Nomade with a total mishmash of components. There’s nothing fancy on it, but all the pieces together look kinda groovy to me. I wasn’t sure how I felt about the handlebars (straight bars on a road bike frame? MADNESS!), so I was asking around, trying to find out how to put drops on it, which turns out to be a lot more involved than I thought.

While showing the bike to people, a guy says to me, “What do you want to screw that bike up for? That is a PERFECT commuter right there.”

The next day, I rode my bike to the train station, because, well, now that guy had planted the “commuter” seed. Then I did it again. And again. And then I figured if I was riding to the train station anyway, why not ride all the way to work? The gym has a shower and iron, so why not? It’s taken me a few weeks to find a decent route that minimizes the risk of death by Boston traffic, but now I can’t WAIT to go to work, because it means I get to ride my sweet, sweet Motobecane before and after. I dread winter.

I realize the drawing is random, but one look should tell you why I want to win new pedals!

Let me know if I left anything out or missed the point entirely. Wish I had some funky fenders or panniers on it to impress you, but what can I say? The contest has caught me at the beginning of my transportational biking career. —Tim

[Tim is a very funny comedian working in the Boston area. Visit his website here. —ed.]

This is my new Trice Q that I use along the north coast of California in the town of Half Moon Bay. I am fortunate enough to work from home so don’t have the daily commute. What I do use my Q for is all the daily errands and shopping, be it a trip to the grocery store or drug store. My wife has Leukemia and needs fairly constant looking after, so when I do get the chance to to some shopping or just go out and ride, it is my solace time as well as exercise time.

I recently added the pair of Avenir Metro 2.0 Shopping that are very easy to put on and take off and hold a lot of groceries and other items. I also installed the Garmin 705 computer and have really been pleased with it. I can track just about everything once would want to track and have had no issues with it to date. As much of my riding is done along Hwy 1 I also just added the dailight package from DiNotte Lighting, installing the amber light on the front and the red light on the rear rack. Although pricey the lights are incredibly bright and extremely well made. As for the Trice, when I purchased it I added fenders all around to deal with the moisture we get along the coast, as well s the rack, air horn, mirrors and bell. I hope at some point to be able to do some touring but for now its daily rides, shopping, and shorter weekend rides.

Thanks for letting me share. —Pete

In 2005 I ordered a XP frameset directly from RANS, which I had build up here in Belgium. So far, I have ridden it over 7.000 miles and recently updated the drivetrain and brakes. Specs are :

• SRAM DUAL DRIVE II 27-speed drivetrain
• SHIMANO LX hydraulic disc brakes/levers
• MAVIC X717 DISCS rims with SCHWALBE MARATHON SUPREME tires (26 x 2.00)
• INOLED 20+ front light
• SHIMANO DH-3D71 sports dynamo hub with disc brake
• 155mm SHIMANO cranks from Mark Stonich
• FASTRIDER ACIDUS panniers

[Visit Tihamér's blog at http://rans-stratus.blogspot.com/ —ed.]

This is a 2006 Bianchi Castro Valley commuter/cross bike that I commute on daily. It has had a few changes from stock..

• I added Pinhead Locking Skewers on the wheels and seat, since I lock it up outside.
• Jandd Standard Rear Rack, for carrying my Ortlieb Office bag, along with groceries or the occasional tour.
• Pauls Touring Brakes replaced the stock Cane Creeks since it rains so much here, I needed some extra stopping power.
• I put on a 12/32 cassette to help with the hills here in town.
• The bike comes with a generator front hub and that is nice when you come home later than expected and do not have your really bright head light.
• And I swapped out the stock fork for a Ritchey Carbon.

This bike is a trooper, in the winter it gets studded Kenda Klondike tires for commuting in the ice and snow, even a cruiser handle bar for easier shifting and braking with gloves on.

It was a great bike to begin with, coming stock with only one front chainring and no provisions for a front deraileur, but with a few changes this thing has been unstoppable for 2 years now as my daily commuter for work along with many other rides. —Joe

[Visit Joe's blog at http://robonza.blogspot.com/ —ed.]

This is a 2004 or 2005 (not sure as I bought it used) Kettwiesel titanium trike. It is not the superlightweight version Hase sold for a short time, rather one built more for ultimate comfort, guaranteed to deliver a dry-footed rider even in the middle of the Pacific Northwest winter with the Mueller WindWrap fairing, and fenders. The suspension fork makes for a smooth commute, ably assisted by the Schwalbe Big Apple 2.0 tires all around. The front rack allows me to even out my load and the rails on the back side of the seat allow for many options for load carrying, from the Hase-specific bag, to the Ortlieb messenger bag (pictured).

This trike has a Schlumpf mountain drive rather than front derailleur; matched with the 9-speed cassette, the gearing is more than adequate for my moderately hilly 30-km, each way, commute to my night-shift job. —Sally

Well, this isn’t the end of the list of my bikes, but I think it’ll the end of my submissions for a while. My wonderful wife bought me a free-radical kit that I added to my do-it-all trek commuter bike. I originally rebuilt the bike about 4 years ago and it was the bike that got me into bike commuting. 4 years back I replaced the whole drive train and it was minty fresh again. Christmas 2007, my wife gave me what I thought I would never get. A free-radical. It was very difficult for her to find and have shipped. At the time there must have been a shortage, because she searched for over 2 weeks just to find one.

Nothing fancy to speak to and I even forget the line I’m running for drive train. It needs some serious work, and last night I was riding home from Lions meeting, and I was reminded of that. To the point that my bike wouldn’t even stay in gear anymore. It was dark, windy and I just opted to coast home instead of diving into what the failure was. I’m not even going to try to fix it. I’ve got about ½ the parts I want to put a new drive train on, so I’m going to wait and do a complete re-built on it. I’m even looking for a larger frame to mate the long tail to. The current one is fine for running around here and there, but not for long distances. I’ve never taken this to work, just because it’s 26 miles one way and I think I’d hate that on this bike the way it’s set up. I’m hoping my new set up will change all that.

 I’ve used it for hauling tools around while building an office for someone in the village I live, hauling tickets and programs for our local rodeo, Chinese takeout and kids. Kids are the best to haul on here. Mostly just because they’re so great to be around, but it’s so fun to see them laughing and enjoying the same thing I do, bicycles. —Jeremy

[Visit Jeremy's blog at http://www.jeromes-bikes.blogspot.com —ed.]

I’ve seen many various and interesting bicycles submitted since I submitted my Hirondelle, but a concept was missing, so I decided to share with you one of the jewels of my humble collection. It is a Pedersen from the early 80’s, equipped with a 3-speed Sturmey-Archer hub, front V-brake and back-pedaling (coaster) rear brake (I am fond of such a combination!), and mudguards and grips in exotic wood. I really love this bicycle!

Here is a resume of Pedersen history, from the Pedersen website:

My Pedersen is one of these first “re-built” of these marvelous bicycles.

Sincerely yours,
Regis

[This is one of the prettiest bikes I've ever seen. —ed.]

Okay, okay, I’ve got a bike problem. I know, but I will not seek help for it. Here is a bike I purchased from Dave Nice this spring. Kona HUMUHUMU-NUKUNUKU-APUA’A frame, with a Pugsly front fork. The frame was modified by generic cycles in Denver and just barely gets the job done. The wheels are made up of Phil hubs (rear being a fixed/fixed – 18/20) and the rims of course are the Large Marge Rims and I don’t know about the spokes. The from chain ring is a 22 tooth, with a beat up set of 4 bolt crank arms. Come to think of it, the whole bike is pretty beat up. I guess that’s why I got such a deal on it.

Anyway, I’ve taken the bike camping, and it’s a blast in the mud. Works great for hauling my sons on the front rack as well as beer. I’ve even used it to haul jerry cans of gas to power my lawn mower. The true test for this bike, and the reason I bought it, is for the snow. I can’t report on how it performs in that realm right now, but the season shall soon enough be here. This bike is huge. I’m 6’2” and my road fixie is a 62cm frame and fits like a glove. This bike feels big to me. There’s almost 13” clearance from the ground to the bottom bracket!!! Yup, get out of the way, snow bike is coming through. —Jeremy

[Visit Jeremy's blog at http://www.jeromes-bikes.blogspot.com —ed.]

I’m the kind of guy that believes in specificity, a bike for every purpose…

The Commuter/beater bike is an early 90’s Specialized hardrock, built up from a $30.00 frame and fork, with parts from upgraded recumbents. I don’t have racks, but prefer a small backpack to carry things in. My commute to work is less than 5 mi, so I barely break a sweat most mornings. Features/ upgrades include Downhill platform pedals, Nashbar touring saddle, planet bike fenders and light set, upgraded linear pull brakes. If needed, I also have a kids trailer I can haul stuff in, like groceries etc, since my 10 yr old has long  outgrown it.

The Bacchetta Giro 26/24, is my go fast and long bike, for rides longer than 10 miles. Features include 24″ Uriel front wheel, Velocity rear wheel, CF compact cranks, Euromesh seat, X9 Sram drivetrain.

Lastly, my Specialized Enduro is for mostly hardcore Mountain biking, I recently traded a recumbent for it. I had a Mtn bike, but sold it last year, and missed trail riding. I rebuilt the rear wheel, added a new chain and cassette, and new BB, but other than that is stock.

Enjoy your website, see you on the road! —Jeff

This is my recumbent. Nothing special, just a stock 2006 Volae Expedition. I bought this bike for my 26 mile one way commute. It works well for that. I can carry what I need, and after spending 3 hrs in the saddle, I am not at all sore at the end of a day.

This bike is also fast! I’ve got a set of 1” tires I run when I’m feeling sporty. I made the 26 mile trip home in 1hr 6 minutes a few months ago. That’s an average speed of over 25 miles per hour. All that while laying down on an “old guy bike”? Yeah, recumbents do certainly have  a place in the cycling world. Something you never really know until you try.

This bike doesn’t have character like some of my others, and I’m somehow not really attached to it, but when I ride it, I always have a huge grin on my face. —Jeremy

[Visit Jeremy's blog at http://www.jeromes-bikes.blogspot.com —ed.]

The photo shows my 2008 Lightning P-38XT with my 1984 Mercedes. The Mercedes has been converted to run on waste vegetable oil. I live 20+ miles from work so I drive the Mercedes about 8 miles in and then bike the remaining 12 to work. Coming home is the reverse but by the time I slide home I have an inexplicable craving for french fries. —David

Here is bike #2 of my quiver.

Old Raleigh Record Frame (70’S???) that I originally bought at a church sale for 5 bucks. After it hanging in my garage for 6 months, I figured I would send it off and put it at the leave it or take it rack at the local recycling facility. The next day, the bike was gone (I can see the yard from my office window).

Fast forward 4 months and the incredible urge to build my first fixie was upon me. I headed to the recycling yard to see if I could find a frame suitable. Low and behold, that old Raleigh Record was sitting there again. Only this time, it had been tuned and had new rubber. Don’t know what happened to it while I was away, but I liked it.

I stripped everything, rattle-canned the frame and built it up with a decent set of wheels (Paul hubs, Alex rims, and DT Swiss 16ga Stainless Spokes) chopped and flopped the bars, and a cheapo 45 tooth chain ring and cranks with a Surly 17 tooth track cog on back. Added a new WTB saddle and FSA seat post to clean it up a little. Finally I had to add a Surly tug-nut so I could open my beer. Just kidding, that’s for keeping a tight chain. However it has served well for the former.

After two years of riding this bike and being forced to wear a back pack to carry anything, I decided I’d try my hand at brazing, and built the minimalist rear rack that’s on it now. The rack works great, plenty of clearance between the panniers and my big feet and is holding up just fine. I figured I could go light, being as it’s a skinny tired fixed gear with no brakes. It’s not like I’d ever really load this bike up with anything, just enough to get me clean and fed at work.

This bike is my favorite and is like an old faithful friend to me. Never let me down. Rain or Shine, Snow or Dust. —Jeremy

[Visit Jeremy's blog at http://www.jeromes-bikes.blogspot.com —ed.]