How can I improve this commuter?

bice

It was a sad loss when my Claude Butler mixte frame commuter (given to me free from office car park) got a crack above the crown race two weeks ago.

[img]<a%20href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/50839762@N04/4725091141/&quot; title=&quot;claudia by kelly1733, on Flickr&quot;&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1205/4725091141_bd7ae4cf62.jpg&quot; width=&quot;500&quot; height=&quot;333&quot; alt=&quot;claudia&quot;&gt;&lt;/a&gt;[/img]

And here's the crack:

[img]<a%20href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/50839762@N04/4725742058/&quot; title=&quot;claudiacrack by kelly1733, on Flickr&quot;&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1382/4725742058_89caf7bc23.jpg&quot; width=&quot;500&quot; height=&quot;333&quot; alt=&quot;claudiacrack&quot;&gt;&lt;/a&gt;[/img]



But then I found this wonderful Carlton Courette on eBay for £27:

[img]<a%20href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/50839762@N04/4765737932/&quot; title=&quot;courette by kelly1733, on Flickr&quot;&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4141/4765737932_a861b3f3a7.jpg&quot; width=&quot;432&quot; height=&quot;288&quot; alt=&quot;courette&quot;&gt;&lt;/a&gt;[/img]

Which has some nice details:

[img]<a%20href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/50839762@N04/4765752318/&quot; title=&quot;courettebadge by kelly1733, on Flickr&quot;&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4140/4765752318_cd23e7bacd.jpg&quot; width=&quot;432&quot; height=&quot;288&quot; alt=&quot;courettebadge&quot;&gt;&lt;/a&gt;[/img]

And this:
[img]<a%20href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/50839762@N04/4765115035/&quot; title=&quot;courettebrake by kelly1733, on Flickr&quot;&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4137/4765115035_7f44ed6915.jpg&quot; width=&quot;432&quot; height=&quot;288&quot; alt=&quot;courettebrake&quot;&gt;&lt;/a&gt;[/img]

And this:
[img]<a%20href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/50839762@N04/4765752870/&quot; title=&quot;couretteseattube by kelly1733, on Flickr&quot;&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4077/4765752870_524057d893.jpg&quot; width=&quot;432&quot; height=&quot;288&quot; alt=&quot;couretteseattube&quot;&gt;&lt;/a&gt;[/img]

How can I make this a far better commuter? I have put in 11 new ball bearings in the BB replacing the 9 old ones it had. Would It make an appreciable difference if I spent out on some decent wheels?

As a commuter/hack it must take some punishment - carry shopping etc in winter - but any suggestions welcome. I am moving over most of the stuff on the Claude Butler to the new frame.

PS Buying frame was no bargain: I went up from London to Conwy to get it with the family, making a long weekend of it. The result: this is probably my most expensive bike!

bice

Sorry. Can't find 'properties' on effing Flickr. These links showed up in email programme and seem to work if I just copy them over. (What am I doing wrong?)

It was a sad loss when my Claude Butler mixte frame commuter (given to me free from office car park) got a crack above the crown race two weeks ago.



And here's the crack:

[

But then I found this wonderful Carlton Courette on eBay for £27:



Which has some nice details:



And this:


And this:


How can I make this a far better commuter? I have put in 11 new ball bearings in the BB replacing the 9 old ones it had. Would It make an appreciable difference if I spent out on some decent wheels?

As a commuter/hack it must take some punishment - carry shopping etc in winter - but any suggestions welcome. I am moving over most of the stuff on the Claude Butler to the new frame.

PS Buying frame was no bargain: I went up from London to Conwy to get it with the family, making a long weekend of it. The result: this is probably my most expensive bike!

skyd0g

As it's a commuter, I'd just move all your stuff across from the Claud Butler as you already intend to do. I'd only change things as & when they wear out, or if some of the donor parts don't fit.