This is a cute lil' commuter / townie bike I built up in the winter of 2011 for my girlfriend.  I found an old Bridgestone MB-2 frame, a high-quality lugged rigid mountain bike from the early 1990's.  It had a lot of scratches and small dents so I gave it a new coat of paint and a built-in top tube protector made of shellacked hemp twine.  Read more after the jump…

The 7-speed drive train is a mix & match of old and new: Suntour Vx long-cage rear derailleur, Suntour Mountain LX front derailleur, brand new 44/32/22T crankset, and Shimano Deore LX thumb shifters.  Dia-Compe cantilever brakes and Avid brake levers stop the bike remarkably well, and the cork grips finish it off.  The tires are WTB Slickasaurus 26" x 1.5" that originally came stock on the Surly Long Haul Trucker. 

This bike is a lot of fun, with an easygoing balance and surefooted ride that's perfect for New York City streets.  It's not a beauty queen but it fills its role well!  Check out more pictures in the gallery, including the custom headbadge that would make Grant Peterson proud: