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Paul Comp Funky Monkey

We just added the Paul Component Engineering Funky Monkey to the storefront. After trying most of the currently available stops, and a few vintage offerings it became clear that the Funky Monkey is hands down the best bang for your buck. The extra long arm drops down to prevent brake cable housing from bending too tightly and binding up, and the arm sticks out far enough to clear most headsets. A barrel adjuster is included to make front brake cable adjustments quick and painless.

Everything about it just works they way the component should, no fussing, no BS, just works. Bonus points for looking good, matching the aesthetic of the brakes and being made here in California.

Keep an eye here and on the storefront. In the coming weeks we will be adding a few more components for building out your Rambler to the online store front

Pocket Knives

Today I was packing up a decade old daily companion for a trip back to its makers for a refresh.

This had me thinking about my pocket knives, and other tools that I carry every day. There has been a knife in my pocket since I was about 12 years old. They are one of those things that you will use throughout the day every day if you have one with you. Having carried a huge variety, vintage, new, folding, fixed, cheap and expensive I have formed my own set of biases. There is a place for cheap knives, in general though you get what you pay for, and if you are going to use it every day why not have something well made that will last you decades or more? Really with a budget of a nickel a day and planning for a decade you end up with about $180 to spend. I have thought about bringing knives into the online shop, but held off. There has been a trend towards all manner of “camping” gear entering the bikeosphere, us included. I try to bring things that a different and better in some way than what most people in the cycling or fashion community may be familiar with. As cool as French pocket knives and Swedish axes can be, there are plenty of other fantastic options out there.

So, is there any interest out there in knives that I believe offer a better solution for the cyclotourist? Tools that bring everyday function to the occasional camper maximizing versatility for the weight? The term curator is overused these days, but I could help you cut to the chase and pick tools that I have personally used and put to the test over the years.

So what is in my pocket while the William Henry is out? This is the knife that is usually riding in my Docena, Bark River Pro Scalpel (first production for the collector nerds)

C-Line For Reals

We did the poll, the response was good, the cool folks at Soma saw value and the C-Line tires are going to happen, better, they are happening this year

The tire is loosely a 700c version of the fantastic and popular B-Line series of tires. These take the well loved Panaracer Pasela and kick it up a notch. The basic guidelines are 38mm wide with the slightly narrower and thinner tread from a 35 pasela, folding bead, Supple casing, no puncture strip (not really needed) and colors. This first run will have both the Tera cotta and Black with Tan sidewalls. This tire is getting a new mold since the existing 37mm pasela is no more and the 35 was not up to the job. Current status is “in production”. Once these are on a container and heading this way I will have the green light to start a pre-sale.

Without the awesome team at Merry Sales / Soma Fabrications this tire would have never happened. My persistence and their willingness and capital are making it real. Things like tire molds and importing are what they do best. They see the upcoming swing in growth of out niche and are putting the money into it on the front end. The best we we can all say thank you will be to buy, sell and ride the hell out of these once they get here.

I will keep you all posted as things progress.

Updated Here:

Why A Rambler

The Rambler is a true Cyclotouring bike, steeped in traditional French design, but brought forward to work with modern components and fittings. It is the kind of bike that once dominated the market, but went away as racing came to the forefront.

As we, the cycling tribe, move back to a cycling style that is more practical, able to function as transportation, take the load off our back, yet handle well and with a lively ride, the Rambler is there to fill that need.

The larger market is slower to move, has longer design cycles due to their economic scale, and may have generally different motivations. I decided it was time to take my dream bike, and bring it to the market as a fully developed product and the Rambler was born. In many ways it is unique in the market, the only production bike of its kind. All of the details are there to build out a functional sport bicycle, that also serves as practical every day transportation.

Rambler Specs:

TIG welded, double butted CroMo tubes, custom matched to the frame size for optimized performance.
Room for 42mm tires and fenders on all bicycle sizes
Designed with the provision for Paul Racer brakes, mounted with braze-on bosses. These provide unparalleled power and modulation in a rim brake.
Paul Racer brakes are included in the frame set package.
Double eyelets for rack and fender mounts at the front and rear dropouts.
The fork has an investment cast crown with cast and machined rack mounting bosses, with provisions for small upper and low rider racks, & fenders.
Lighting wire guides on the right fork leg. Reinforced entry and exit ports for internal routing of lighting wires, from front to rear of the frame.
Columbine Quickchainger braze-on, for easy rear wheel changes without having to touch the chain.
Braze-on fender mounting points placed so installation is simple and results in even fender line.
130mm rear spacing to work with modern road bike components.
Color options: American Blue , Orange Soda and Sunflower Yellow

Partnering with an US engineering and fabrication team, the Rambler delivers on all levels of build accuracy, quality, hand-built craftsmanship, as well as looks and performance. Unique in the marketplace, it serves as the backbone for the custom-built bike you have been dreaming of.

Ocean Air Cycles is the embodiment of my passion for cycling in a form that shares what I know to be a better alternative with you. It is my work, and my dream, to apply my skills as an engineer and an entrepreneur to deliver a bicycle that can change the way people see local transportation and recreation. Using the Rambler as a tool for travel, transport, running errands, getting to work, etc. Getting out and around under your own power will transform you, your family, and community. Having the best tools available will make the transformation more lasting. Adding to the function is color, function with flair, because color choices make thing more fun

Our first large production run of Ramblers is currently in the powder coating phase. They will be going final QC and prep over the next two weeks, then distribution begins. I need your help, spreading the word, or better yet buying a Rambler of your own. You can start with a frame set and build up your own, or we can facilitate custom builds for your ready to roll custom dream bike. You can click-through any of the Rambler links or photos in this post to place your deposit today, reserving you place in this batch. The next run will not be here until next Spring, and this is your chance to get rolling before Summer passes by.

Do not hesitate to contact us with any questions, we will make sure you are getting exactly what you want.

We are in this for the long haul, but can not do it without your support, Thank you. We provide the tools, but you make the wheels go round and round.

Hill Repeats

I decided to put my new bag through the paces climbing and descending some steep hills behind town on my way back from the post office today. June gloom, fog and mist aside it was a great time.

I have had a handlebar bag design bouncing around in my head for years now. Never making the time to sew it up myself I approached Swift Industries (Martina) about the possibility of a collaboration while we were up in Seattle for the Expo. A few sketches, a meeting, time on the phone, material exchanges, a few speed bumps with the design, and then shazam! My dream bag showed up the other day. Martina did an amazing job translating sketches, pictures and videos into a 3d object. As I was searching for a contractor to partner with, Swift’s bags were the closest to what I envisioned, their business ethic was a good match and we hit it off pretty well, i.e the vibe is right on.

The bag is named the Docena, Spanish for a dozen or dozen eggs. My Rambler is primary transportation, we eat an average of 2 dozen eggs a week in the house, and I wanted a safe way to get them home from the farmers market. Most bags are not wide enough to hold the eggs, this one is. There are a bunch of other details going on, taking cues from traditional Sologne or French style bags for the form factor, material and elements from the light weight bikepacking world, a pinch of messenger bag and a twist of old school backpack all come together in this one. The bag is 11 inches tall and primarily a solution for larger/taller bikes. I do have a sketch for the Docenita, pulling many of the unique elements into a smaller bag, but that is in a holding pattern for the moment.

I will have a more detailed post in the coming week or so, explaining all of the key features, dimensions and clearances for given handlebars. Since it comes up first, my Nitto RM013 bars are 41.5cm C to C at the hoods and I have over 3cm of room for my thumbs on both sides. Second is that for over 17L of volume the bag weighs in at 1.5lbs with stiffeners, if that sort of thing matters to you, that is pretty light for a full sized bag like this.