Tag: bicycle

Sneak Peak Number 2

I am guessing is you have followed my story you may be looking to get a bike that bridges transportation and sport, i.e transportation does not  have to be a mini van.  You like bikes that have a traditional look and styling.  Possibly a preference for traditional french styling from the 40’s and 50’s, with your daily load up front where you can keep an eye on it and get to it without climbing off the bike.  Your previous attempts at this with the commonly available bikes may have left you with a less than optimal handling experience.  Either a bike that was heavier than it needed to be, if it was a light weight had no provisions to carry the load on the bike or if it did the handling was compromised when loaded.

With years of personal research and design study I have addressed these issues with a bike steeped in the lineage of the traditional french touring bikes.  Using modern production techniques and partnering with a U.S. fabrication team to  deliver the look and function you are after with a few bells and whistles thrown in.  The ride will be light and sporty, yet stable with loads for you commute, day rides or the occasional quick load of groceries up front.  It goes without saying there will be provisions for full coverage fenders to keep you and the bike clean during year round riding.  This is the bike you will want for rambles through the countryside, distance rides and randonees, and still able to be your daily steed.  All of this at a price that is competitive in the current market.

The sport touring frame set project is moving along as planned.  The Design spec and engineering is settled in at to 95% point and I am comfortable releasing my Geometry and Tubing Spec:

The line has a range of even sizes from 50 through 62 measures Center of bottom bracket to the center of the intersection with the top tube.  When comparing this to traditional road frames or the size you may ride in your regular bike, consider that the size in the chart will be about 1 to 2 cm smaller due to the distance from the center of the top tube to the top and the generous bottom bracket drop.  For example I ride a 63 or 64 on my Roadeo and Eisentraut, but the 62 above is designed around my needs.

Other things to consider with the spec:

  • Clearance for42mm tires and fenders on all sizes
  • These are designed with the provision for Paul Racer brakes mounted with Brazed on bosses.  These provide ample clearance while retaining outstanding performance.  The bridges and brake holes will be located such that a 68-70mm reach brake could be used if the brake bosses were omitted by customer choice.
  • Frame construction will be Tig welded double butted 4130 steel.
  • The fork will have an investment cast crown and braze-on provisions for small upper and low rider racks as well as lighting wires.
  • Down tube shifter bosses
  • Double water bottle with reenforcing star mounts on all sizes
  • Columbine Quickchainger brazed on for clean and easy rear wheel changes.
  • Brazed on fender mounting points placed such that installation will be easy and result in even fender line.
  • 130mm rear spacing to work easily with modern road bike components.
  • Color options of American flag blue and  red.  (and possibly a sunflower yellow or orange still up in the air).

Production samples will be complete in a few weeks, the pre-orders system will be available by the end of February and a final availability date projected for early Spring 2012.  Pricing will be settled in the coming week as we move through our final production costing and design.  As always I appreciate you continued readership and support.  Project news will be updated here as soon as it is available.

Oh, and the name is still leaning towards “Rambler”, although I like fish names

 

Wednesday Standard

An absolutely perfect day to break away from the computer and head out for some errands.  The unseasonably warm weather is still here, keeping us in shorts for a bit longer this winter.  Taking full advantage I made the rounds of the swap meet, then off to the farmer’s market and a quick stop to check out the new butcher in town.  Scored a deal on a saddle, picked up some fresh veggies and the butcher shop was pretty good.  We eat well here and are lucky to have such a year round abundance of local foods.  After loading up I decided to ride some hills.

The ride up was, ummm…. character building.  It fully drove home the fact that I have not been riding as much as I could and need to get out a little more often.  The ride down was more fun than up for sure.

Last Minute Shopping

I know there is still almost a week left, but travel constraints are moving the deadline up a bit.  I headed out on the Xtracycle, knowing that this was going to be a big haul.  In a perfect storm of logistics failure we ran out of all sorts of household stuff the week before Christmas.  One could not ask for a better day to head out and ride.

Crisp, cool and clear with just a light breeze.  Traffic was not too bad yet, but the stores were jammed.  Appropriate transportation choices ensured that parking was a cinch.

I am still always surprised that my bike is lonely at the racks.  This shopping center is even graced with the local Trek store, but being on a bike still seems to shock the average shopper.  All in all, just a nice day to get out and run some errands, while gliding through the seasonal mayhem on two wheels.

Parting shot, I wonder if the baby is still available?  While only a few days past “almost new” it could be a deal at this point with a little shop wear 😉

Happy Holidays (in case this is my last post for a bit), have fun and play outside!!!

Sneak Peek

I have been keeping my cards to my chest on this project, but am at the point where I might pop if I do not share this one.  I have been working really hard on this project as of late, a dream come true with persistence and hard work.

Engineering is underway, prototype starting soon with production to follow.  I want this bike, and am confident that more of you out there do too.  This is a bike for riding fast as your legs will take you, or a toodle on a country road.  It will help you eat up the miles on the pave or gravel in comfort and style.

Basics: Frame and fork set with low trail front end geometry for front biased loading, sporty yet stout enough to get the groceries home, room for 42mm tires with 52mm fenders, 700c in the larger sizes and 650b in the smaller, no toe overlap in any size, even sizes from 50-62 cm measured center to center along the seat tube.

Details: Tig welded double butted steel with tube spec balanced to size, standard gauge tubing, investment cast fork crown,  brazeon option for Paul Racer brakes, everything in the right place for easy mounting and good fender line, brazeons for racks and fenders, possible offering custom tube spec for an up-charge, and a Brooks saddle friendly seat tube angle.

MADE IN THE USA!!!

There has finally been a convergence of my plans and a contractor to fulfill them, and things are charging ahead.  the initial run will have tubing from a mix of suppliers, but my long-term dream is to deliver a production sport touring bike made in the USA out of steel made in the USA at a price that is competitive in the open market.

The name??? My first impulse was “Rambler”.  I just like the sound of that.  The second one, sticking with an ocean theme, “Mullet”, it is a fish, not a glamorous fish but the dual meaning – Business up front and party in the rear!!!!  Since I am captain, cook and bottle washer on this ship I still need to get through my trademark search on the name though.

Timeline? I am doing my best to fast track this without cutting corners on things like destructive testing and confirmation of design.  The pre-sale should be ready to go in the next two months with projected delivery in the spring of the coming year.  Those who are keen of eye and have been riding a while may notice I am not re-inventing the wheel here, just bringing something to market that has been gone for quite a while.

Subscribe here, like me on Facebook, do what ever works for you to stay tuned.  I do not think this is something you are going to want to miss out on.