I have added the studded tires and switched to fixed gear mode using a Boone disk cog to prepare for the Chicago winter. I decided to keep the shifters on for an easy switch back.

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Your bike looks like it is ready for the winter time and it looks great.

The most flexible setup I've seen yet. How do I get a rear-wheel hub like that for my CC?

I'm all for simplicity, but I'd think a Chicago winter will trash out the cables regardless of whether you're using them, so I'm unsure why you left the derailleurs on there. Plus whatever crud gets in the pivots on the derailleurs is going to tend to freeze them up since they're not being used at all. I think I'd take them off and stash them away for the duration.

Sweet. You might want to shorten the brake cable housing around the seatpost clamp--you'll get less flex.

I'm all for simplicity, but I'd think a Chicago winter will trash out the cables regardless of whether you're using them, so I'm unsure why you left the derailleurs on there. Plus whatever crud gets in the pivots on the derailleurs is going to tend to freeze them up since they're not being used at all. I think I'd take them off and stash them away for the duration.


was thinking the same... I'd just remove the ders and cables entirely, it's not that hard. And those pedals look like meat tenderizers.

Bar end shifters and Brooks B17...yay! You have the makings of a Rivendell disciple.
Seriously, this looks like a great winter setup. My Bleriot is due to be delivered during the first big snow storm of our winter. Don't think I'll be riding it in the snow right away, til I get the feel of it. Maybe my Monocog....if I'd put Planet Bike fenders like I was planning, it'd be perfect.

Bar end shifters and Brooks B17...yay! You have the makings of a Rivendell disciple.

I'd rather have the 5 crosschecks I could purchase for the price of 1 rivendell... :)

Cross-Check's are so much fun - now I go out of my way looking for a dirt road or two on my way to work.

I'd rather have the 5 crosschecks I could purchase for the price of 1 rivendell... :)

Cross-Check's are so much fun - now I go out of my way looking for a dirt road or two on my way to work.

Agreed. I make sure to go through a bit of dirt each way on my commute, and find that I pick the crappy line sometimes just for the fun of it--kind of like I did when I first got suspension on my mtb. Seems like there's nothing that will unsettle a Cross Check.

Nice looking ride Englehardt! Selling my old Crosscheck a couple of years ago was on the short-list of the dumbest things I've ever done. I loved the thing so much I snapped a few photos of it on the way out of the shop. I knew I'd miss it that much.

Question for ya though...how do your studded tires run on the dry portions of the road? I've always contemplated buying them but I wonder if the slight advantage gained on the icy patches would be outweighed by the weight and funky ride on the dry stuff.

Pardon my ignorance, but what is this rear hub?? Looks very useful.