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View Full Version : El Rando Cheapo: My $200 700c studded commuter/650b adventure/rain beast


stien
12-16-2016, 03:36 PM
Well I recently picked this thing up.

https://c7.staticflickr.com/1/521/31650062886_470527472f_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/QdNR2q)Untitled (https://flic.kr/p/QdNR2q) by Alex Franks (https://www.flickr.com/photos/129875676@N07/), on Flickr

The story is that it started life as a Giant Seek 2 and I put drop bars and 8s Shimano bar end shifters on it about 3 years ago. Along with that pretty sick rack bridge. It's monostay.

I sold the bike to a lady shortly after I moved far from work and I just bought it back from her because she wasn't using it and it was sitting outside. My newish job is close and I can trailer my dogs there. I have a sweet, sweet Equinox Tour Lite trailer that I haul them around in. When I was but an infant, my dad towed my brother and I around in the same exact trailer.

Here's the girls from the other day at dawn:

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/708/31386181032_4903e6a67e_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/PPuo9h)Untitled (https://flic.kr/p/PPuo9h) by Alex Franks (https://www.flickr.com/photos/129875676@N07/), on Flickr

I have some studded Nokian tires coming for this thing that I will mount to the current 700c wheelset but I'm thinking of adding a 650B wheelset with some wider rubber just for kicks. The fork will fit about a 3" tire, but the back looks like 42ish will be perfect. Maybe 44.

Any recs for a tough commuter tire in that size?

I've also ridden this bike on the road in the rain and let me say it's just a joy on the 32mm tires right now. I didn't care how heavy it was, I just wanted to stay dry and work out when the roads were wet. It's got ridiculous geometry for road riding but I don't expect anything from it, and it just keeps delivering the smiles! :beer::bike:

drewellison
12-16-2016, 04:15 PM
That looks like a fun sweet rig.

Do you have adequate fender coverage on the rear to keep your poochies from getting sprayed when riding in the wet? It looks like you might want to add a mud guard to the end of your fender.