Hello Jim -

I saw on your blog you are on the injured list right now so I figured its a good time for a new submission to the gallery. Last year I submitted my commuter bike a Planet X Kaffenback: http://www.cyclofiend.com/cx/2006/cx016-joemcmanus1206.html

Which was a bit too small, but I liked everything else about it.

Being the sucker that I am for cross' bikes and wanting to try out single speed I picked up a Bianchi San Jose, put a pair of kenda klondike studded tires on it and happily commuted on it all winter: http://www.cyclofiend.com/cx/2007/cx021-joemcmanus0107.html

When spring came I took off the studs and the San Jose rode so much better than the Kaffenback, fit better and had room for 32c tires and fenders. So I sold both bikes and picked up a combo of both bikes.

The Bianchi Castro Valley is a great commuter, from its 1x9 drivetrain to its dyno hub. It has plenty of eyelets for racks and fenders, in fact it comes stock with fenders that have more than enough room for the 35c studded kenda klondike tires which are on it for the rest of the Pittsburgh winter.

Thanks for a great site!

-Joe

joe@inotion.com

http://robonza.blogspot.com