New Build Underway (Finally), and Revamping my Current Steed

I have finally started assembling my shiny new Disc Trucker into an actual bike instead of a frameset and a collection of packaged components.

A couple of weeks ago I had my LBS install the headset and bottom bracket, and this past weekend I installed the brakes, derailleurs, cables, handlebars and stem, shifters, brake levers, fenders, seat post, saddle, and rear rack.  To complicate matters, the bar end shifters for my new ride were taken from my current ride which necessitated changing shifters, brake levers, and handlebars on the current ride so I can have a working bike during the build/tweak process on the new one.

I had originally planned to sell my current ride after the Disc Trucker is complete, but have decided to instead, equip her for the ice, snow, and slush which come with an Indianapolis Winter. Since my bike is my only transportation I have decided that having two bikes setup differently will be easier than swapping out tires and trailer hitches every time the road conditions change.  More than one person has told me that this is merely an excuse to keep the bike, and they are probably right, but I can't seem to let go of something which has reliably carried me for thousands of miles in the two years since my heart attack.

So far, the build is going well.  I have included some random pictures below of the various components.  There was, however, one minor hitch.  I installed Velo Orange stainless fenders on the DT and didn't notice until after the fact, that they interfere with my trailer hitch.  The design of the rear dropout area on the Disc Trucker is great in that it allows for installation of a rear rack and fenders in separate sets of braze-ons without having to get a special rack for disc brakes, or getting creative with fender stays like I had to on my current bike.  However, the placement of the braze-ons, and the design of the rear triangle don't allow for using both a Burley hitch and the fender braze-ons.  The fix was simply attaching the fender stays and the rack posts to the same set of braze-ons (pictured below), so, really, not a big deal.  I mention it only as a heads up for anyone else who wants to use the same fenders and Burley combination that I have.

Rack post, Burley hitch, fender stay installation on Disc Trucker


One other note on this setup; the position of the quick release is in the only functioning position, so I (you) have to pay attention to it's position every time the wheel is removed and reinstalled.

I also want to mention that the Velo Orange fenders are quite fiddly to install.  They are great fenders, and look really nice once installed, but I would suggest having a second set of hands around for when things get tricky.

So, as promised, here are some pictures from the new build I will post better pictures once the process is complete, and the new ride is ready to roll:



I'll cut the steerer tube once I have made sure that the stem height is where it needs to be.

Horrible focus!



My Bike Commuting Evolution: Carrying Cargo

In the past few years, my cargo carrying methods have progressed from a simple backpack re-purposed for commuting to the current system of either a messenger bag, or Burley Travoy for day to day use, and front rack w/panniers, a handlebar bag, and Burley Nomad for touring. Along the way I have tried several different methods, and combinations. In this post I'll discuss these different methods, what I liked and disliked about each, and why I settled on what I'm using now.

 
First up is a backpack. This is a method that most commuters I know, including me, have used at some time, and many still use. It's quick and easy, can be used without having to add anything to your bike, and can be used on any bike. All you have to do is stuff what you want to carry into the pack, climb on your bike and go. If what you are carrying is small and relatively light, then this method works fine. However, if you're like me and need to carry a variety of things with you, then the backpack will quickly become unsatisfactory and even useless for the task at hand.

 
If you do use a pack, try to get one that is comfortable, stable, and low profile. Several companies make packs specifically designed for riding, and most are worth checking out. You want a pack that doesn't swing around on your back like an irate child while you're riding and doesn't affect your ability to look back over your shoulders. They will all make your back sweaty while riding when it's warm, but some are better than others in this regard. Check around as much as possible and try a few out if you can before laying down money for one.

 

Chrome Mini-Metro

Next is the messenger bag. These are designed for on bike use (at least the good ones are) and serve their purpose quite well. They're balanced and stable, and make for good bags to use for commutes to school and office. I got one to replace my backpack on trips where a trailer is overkill. Since I have a defibrillator sewn into my chest, backpack straps irritated the area around this and it got quite painful. I got a Mini-Metro from Chrome, and use it quite a bit. I got this particular bag because the strap runs from right to left across my chest so doesn't rub against the defibrillator. Messenger bags have the same limitations as packs, but are great for their intended purpose.

 
Next up was a rear rack. This is by far the most common way to carry cargo on a bike, and many urban and commuter bikes come with racks already attached. I have had a couple of different racks over the years. The last one I had was from Topeak, and I liked it a lot. The particular model was the Super Tourist DX for discs. I liked this rack because it is durable, and is part of a system that is quite well suited for commuting and light touring. I had a trunk bag for the system which easily slides on and off of the rack and secures into place. This bag easily held the items I carry daily, like a flat repair kit, cliff bars, rain jacket, wallet, keys, lock, etc. When paired with panniers, I could carry most anything I needed to. Another nifty item I had for this system was the Trolley Tote. This is essentially a milk crate with wheels and a handle that folds down and attaches to a Topeak rack. It works great, and is quite handy. However, the one I had rattled quite a bit, which annoyed me. There are probably fixes for this, but since I was leaning toward getting a trailer at the time, I didn't really look into it much.

 

Ortlieb Front Rollers

If you're serious about commuting, panniers are practically a must if you're using a rack. A lot of companies make panniers, but, in my opinion, (and the opinion of many other people) Ortlieb makes the best. I have a pair of Front Rollers that I use on my front rack when touring, and I love them. They're waterproof, tough as nails, and really easy to use. No matter what type you get, make sure that they will carry everything you need them too.

 
Another option for carrying small items while riding is a handlebar bag. This attaches to the handlebars and is good for carrying small items you want close at hand like snacks, glasses, phone, wallet, etc. I have a Tourguide DX from Topeak that I use when touring, and really like it. Just be aware that a handlebar bag takes up real estate on your handlebars normally used for head lights, so, if your commute involves riding in the dark, a handlebar bag may not be a good option unless you use a work around, or a generator light.

 
After a while, I removed my rear rack in favor of a Burley Travoy trailer. I was using my front rollers and trunk bag on the rear rack when commuting, but didn't use rear panniers on tour, because I use a Burley Nomad trailer. I also used the Nomad when errands called for a larger capacity than my panniers and rack could accommodate. The Nomad works great for touring, and can carry most anything that I want it to, but it is a pain for daily use, because it doesn't attach and detach from the bike very easily, enter the Travoy, and my current set-up.

 
The Burley Travoy is a purpose-built commuter trailer and is very well designed for its role. It's easy to attach and remove from the bike, will carry most anything you would want it to on commutes and errands, with the addition of various different attachments it's customizable, it tracks well, and is as usable off the bike as it is on the bike. The Burley website has a lot of information on the Travoy explaining its various uses and configuration. The Travoy is one of the few things that I have ever found, which lives up to its manufacturer's claims and hype. I use mine daily, and it has yet to let me down.

 
The only two possible issues with the Travoy are aerodynamics and price. Riding into a headwind is never fun, but when pulling a Travoy it is even worse. Due to the upright nature of the trailer it catches a good bit of wind, and you can definitely feel a difference, but since I'm not trying to set speed records on my commutes, I just shift to an easier gear and continue on, so this doesn't really bother me, but it is something to keep in mind. The other issue is price. The basic trailer retails for $300.00. I got mine at REI and used a 20% member's discount but it still cost 260. With the addition of both market bags and a rain cover, the Travoy ended up costing about $400.00, which is a bit of an investment, but about the same, or less, as the cost of a decent rack, trunk bag, and set of panniers. To me, it's worth it. I bought mine months before embarking on my current car-free experiment, and, due to the opportunities that it opened up, had already begun relying on my Jeep less and less, which was saving me money on gas. Having this trailer was one of the major things which has allowed me to try going carless, so the savings on gas money since I bought it have already paid for the trailer. I still have a front rack on my bike for touring, but rely solely on my messenger bag for casual rides and some commutes, and the Travoy for everything else.

 

Current Commuting Configuration

 

In the next 'evolution' post, I'll discuss the various accessory and component choices I have made in the evolution of my commuter/touring bike. 

 
Until then, remember, rubber side down, and enjoy the ride.

Bertha

To get things rolling with this blog I figure the best place to start is by talking about my bike.

So…I introduce to you, my primary mode of transportation—Bertha.

Bertha Undergoing a Post Ride Inspection

Bertha started life as a 2012 KHS Urban Xcel.  The Xcel is billed as an ‘Urban’ bike, and makes for a good commuter and recreational bike right out of the box.  You can get the full specs on the Xcel at the KHS website.

I bought Bertha a month or so after my heart attack.  I had been using a Specialized mountain bike for my commuting, and was in the process of paying off my KHS 300 road bike when my heart decided to try to kill me.  After what the doctors call my “event”, I decided that I was going to need a bike that was a little better suited to casual city riding than either my mountain bike or road bike.  After a lot of research, and thought about what I wanted in a bike, I settled on the Xcel.

As I mentioned before, the Xcel is an ideal commuter.  It came with a steel frame, Shimano 27 speed mountain drive train, disc brakes, and a more relaxed geometry and upright ride than a road bike, but also with 700cm wheels and a longer wheel base than a mountain bike.  It’s heavier and slower than a road bike, but is much more comfortable, especially on long rides, and the steel frame is more durable than aluminum, and absorbs some of the bumps of city streets.

Over the last two years Bertha has gone through several configurations, I’ve changed the handlebars twice, had a couple of different rack configurations, have changed the shifters and brake levers, and have done several stem changes.  Her current configuration is as follows:

• Stock, wheels, derailleurs, crank, brakes, and saddle.
• On One Midge handlebar
• Shimano Dura Ace bar end shifters.
• Tectro RL 720 brake levers.
• Tubus Ergo front rack.
• Hitches for Burley Travoy, and Burley Nomad trailers
• Axiom Rainrunner Trekk reflex +disc fenders
• Front and Rear lights
• Topeak frame mounted pump
• Continental Tour Ride tires
• And 2 water bottle cages.

This set-up works great for me for both commuting and touring, and is the configuration I have been using for several months now. 

I started upgrading the wheels and components, but have put off installing them, as I have decided to build up a Surly Disc Trucker to replace Bertha.  I will probably start a series of posts about the build for that bike as I get going on it.  In the meantime, Bertha is serving me quite well, and I am happy with her configuration and performance.

I will do a post soon about my experiences with different cargo carrying methods which will go into more detail about the trailers and rack configurations.

Until next time, keep your bike rubber side down, and enjoy the ride.