Pashley Sovereign in the USA?
Hello everyone.
Can any of you relate to shopping around for three months for your wife who wants a bicycle "like the one she saw in the movies " ? I finally found the exact bicycle my wife is looking for, the Pashley Sovereign. Its going to be a huge purchase for us, but everything down to the 5-speed hub gearing, the current specs, the rack, the color, the basket and the skirt guard are perfect. I could easily and much cheaper refurbish an old bicycle to look like the Pashley, but I want something that is new and safe enough to carry my one year old son on the back without me worrying if the back wheel is going to slide off while my wife is heading downhill or taking a tight turn. Is there ANYTHING else available in the USA that even comes close to the Pashely in terms of design and function? |
AndrewG wrote:
I finally found the exact bicycle my wife is looking for, the Pashley Sovereign. Its going to be a huge purchase for us, but everything down to the 5-speed hub gearing, the current specs, the rack, the color, the basket and the skirt guard are perfect. I know nothing about this bike, but your post made me want to find out, so I Googled it, and found a rather "funny" description of the S.-A. hub brakes (which, conincidentally, I had many years ago on a home-assembled hybrid). The ad in question said: "Sturmey Archer hub brakes are fitted front and rear to provide reliable stopping in the majority of situations." You might want to inquire about the particulars of the "minority of situations" where the brakes (apparently) do not provide reliable stopping... Joe N.b. Above quotation is take from http://www.comparestoreprices.co.uk/...-sovereign.asp |
AndrewG wrote:
I finally found the exact bicycle my wife is looking for, the Pashley Sovereign. Its going to be a huge purchase for us, but everything down to the 5-speed hub gearing, the current specs, the rack, the color, the basket and the skirt guard are perfect. I know nothing about this bike, but your post made me want to find out, so I Googled it, and found a rather "funny" description of the S.-A. hub brakes (which, conincidentally, I had many years ago on a home-assembled hybrid). The ad in question said: "Sturmey Archer hub brakes are fitted front and rear to provide reliable stopping in the majority of situations." You might want to inquire about the particulars of the "minority of situations" where the brakes (apparently) do not provide reliable stopping... Joe N.b. Above quotation is take from http://www.comparestoreprices.co.uk/...-sovereign.asp |
AndrewG wrote:
Hello everyone. Can any of you relate to shopping around for three months for your wife who wants a bicycle "like the one she saw in the movies " ? I finally found the exact bicycle my wife is looking for, the Pashley Sovereign. Its going to be a huge purchase for us, but everything down to the 5-speed hub gearing, the current specs, the rack, the color, the basket and the skirt guard are perfect. I could easily and much cheaper refurbish an old bicycle to look like the Pashley, but I want something that is new and safe enough to carry my one year old son on the back without me worrying if the back wheel is going to slide off while my wife is heading downhill or taking a tight turn. Is there ANYTHING else available in the USA that even comes close to the Pashely in terms of design and function? You don't quote the US price. I suggest you find one on eBay. I saw evidence of them going there for much less than the 500 sterling I found them for at UK sites. I don't see anything special about this bike. Try searching sites for 'comfort bikes' and see if you can use one of those to use on your wife. |
AndrewG wrote:
Hello everyone. Can any of you relate to shopping around for three months for your wife who wants a bicycle "like the one she saw in the movies " ? I finally found the exact bicycle my wife is looking for, the Pashley Sovereign. Its going to be a huge purchase for us, but everything down to the 5-speed hub gearing, the current specs, the rack, the color, the basket and the skirt guard are perfect. I could easily and much cheaper refurbish an old bicycle to look like the Pashley, but I want something that is new and safe enough to carry my one year old son on the back without me worrying if the back wheel is going to slide off while my wife is heading downhill or taking a tight turn. Is there ANYTHING else available in the USA that even comes close to the Pashely in terms of design and function? You don't quote the US price. I suggest you find one on eBay. I saw evidence of them going there for much less than the 500 sterling I found them for at UK sites. I don't see anything special about this bike. Try searching sites for 'comfort bikes' and see if you can use one of those to use on your wife. |
Tue, 07 Sep 2004 15:18:04 -0600, , Paul
Cassel wrote: I don't see anything special about this bike. I've seen them, they're classics. They're beautiful. They're sturdy. They're stable. They're hand built. They're trouble free. They come ready to ride with lights, rack, fenders, basket and bell. They're one of the very few step-through bikes available with a skirt protector. They're heavy but lighter than many other roadsters or classic European built city bikes. They hold their resale value well. The Indian made "Hero" brand roadsters are imitations of these of bikes. I've seen those too and they don't compare favourably. The Pashley's were in a local shop that builds bents and buzz bikes. Used, clean but with a touch of rust - $500 CND each - one mens and a ladies with rod actuated brakes, steel rims and SA 3 spd hubs. They were marked "sold". The specs on the new Princess Sovereign with its alloy bits and hub brakes are a big improvement. One possible upgrade would be a combined internal brake and dynamo front hub. That's only if you plan to do much night riding in rain, which the majority of cyclists don't. Try searching sites for 'comfort bikes' and see if you can use one of those to use on your wife. You missed the part where she said that she wants a bicycle "like the one in the movies ". There is not substitute for that, but I have to ask: Does she ride a bike now? I hope she's not expecting to suddenly be riding on movie sets once she gets just the "perfect" bicycle. -- zk |
Tue, 07 Sep 2004 15:18:04 -0600, , Paul
Cassel wrote: I don't see anything special about this bike. I've seen them, they're classics. They're beautiful. They're sturdy. They're stable. They're hand built. They're trouble free. They come ready to ride with lights, rack, fenders, basket and bell. They're one of the very few step-through bikes available with a skirt protector. They're heavy but lighter than many other roadsters or classic European built city bikes. They hold their resale value well. The Indian made "Hero" brand roadsters are imitations of these of bikes. I've seen those too and they don't compare favourably. The Pashley's were in a local shop that builds bents and buzz bikes. Used, clean but with a touch of rust - $500 CND each - one mens and a ladies with rod actuated brakes, steel rims and SA 3 spd hubs. They were marked "sold". The specs on the new Princess Sovereign with its alloy bits and hub brakes are a big improvement. One possible upgrade would be a combined internal brake and dynamo front hub. That's only if you plan to do much night riding in rain, which the majority of cyclists don't. Try searching sites for 'comfort bikes' and see if you can use one of those to use on your wife. You missed the part where she said that she wants a bicycle "like the one in the movies ". There is not substitute for that, but I have to ask: Does she ride a bike now? I hope she's not expecting to suddenly be riding on movie sets once she gets just the "perfect" bicycle. -- zk |
Tue, 07 Sep 2004 13:02:14 -0700,
, joe wrote: You might want to inquire about the particulars of the "minority of situations" where the brakes (apparently) do not provide reliable stopping... Heat fading on long descents. -- zk |
Tue, 07 Sep 2004 13:02:14 -0700,
, joe wrote: You might want to inquire about the particulars of the "minority of situations" where the brakes (apparently) do not provide reliable stopping... Heat fading on long descents. -- zk |
Zoot Katz wrote in message ...
I've seen them, they're classics. They're beautiful. They're sturdy. They're stable. They're hand built. They're trouble free. They come ready to ride with lights, rack, fenders, basket and bell. They're one of the very few step-through bikes available with a skirt protector. They're heavy but lighter than many other roadsters or classic European built city bikes. They hold their resale value well. Zoot: Thanks for the help, and a thanks to others in here as well. In as few words as possible, I can say this bicycle has a "definitive classic style" More importantly, it represents a era in bicycles that many, if not all, of the US based manufacturers fail to recognize today. I am sure the market is there, its just much easier for the big names today to slap on some fenders and a basket and say a women's bike is a "commuter" style or "city" style. What it comes down to is building a spec where a market currently does not exist, but in the hopes that it will, once the supply is created. |
|
Luigi de Guzman wrote:
It is because during the equivalent period, the American bicycle scene was dominated by the "cruiser" type, which is nowhere near as elegant, efficient, or practical. Nonsense. The only thing the typical roadster might have to make it more capable than a balloon-tire cruiser is hub gearing (and not all roadsters have it) or front brakes (and not all Amercan cruisers lack those). Both kinds of bike are exceedingly rugged and comfortable, they both weigh tons/tonnes, and they have both maintained some sort of following ever since their heyday. Remember that balloon-tire cruisers evolved into mountain bikes, which looks to me like a favorable reflection upon their durability, relative comfort, and utility. I doubt that roadsters would have done the same if the geographic circumstances had been reversed. Pounding down Mt. Tamalpais on a rod-braked bike with ridiculously high standover sounds like a self-punishing mistake. Roadsters are adequately stylish the way they are, which is why the new ones look exactly like the old ones. But they are clearly not compelling enough to arouse the imagination of bike customizers, be they hot rodders, lowriders, or OEMs. Compared to a cantilever-framed, fat-tired tanker they look, well, Amish. I will surmise that the market segment you're thinking of is busy being nostalgic for the fat, chrome-encrusted sidewalk behemoths of its youth and is buying the new cruisers which I see at my bikeshop. So what makes a 50lb cruiser a "behemoth" when a 50lb roadster isn't? They are similar in wheelbase, and the roadster is taller and has bigger wheels. Maybe the Euro bike is a "leviathan" or a "juggernaut"? The few features that functionally distinguish a roadster from a cruiser are the full chaincase and pump/generator/lighting furniture-- things that lend themselves to allowing some poor schmuck (make that *bloke*) to slog to work in the rain and dark at 55 degrees latitude. In that respect such a bike is completely appropriate. For the intended use of a ballon tire cruiser (that is, carrying a youngster on short trips around the neighborhood, campus, or newspaper route) those features are superfluous. Chalo Colina |
Chalo wrote:
Roadsters are adequately stylish the way they are, which is why the new ones look exactly like the old ones. But they are clearly not compelling enough to arouse the imagination of bike customizers, be they hot rodders, lowriders, or OEMs. Compared to a cantilever-framed, fat-tired tanker they look, well, Amish. Now we're at the heart of the matter. Lowriders, wheelie bikes, chromed-up cruisers with whitewalls: I don't like them. If you think an old Raleigh (or Batavus, or Gazelle, or Pashley...) looks Amish, I think the whole curb-crusher cruiser thing looks tacky, and, frankly, un-bicycle, if there is such a concept. (Un-bicycle: I should explain that. I have never wanted my bicycle to be anything other than a bicycle. I don't want it to look like or act like a streamline train, or a fiftysomething Caddillac, or a Harley, or an F-86, or whatever. If I wanted a Caddy or a Harley, I'd get one. I just want a *bicycle*.) But then, I also have a fairly understated dress-sense, too, so. snip The few features that functionally distinguish a roadster from a cruiser are the full chaincase and pump/generator/lighting furniture-- things that lend themselves to allowing some poor schmuck (make that *bloke*) to slog to work in the rain and dark at 55 degrees latitude. In that respect such a bike is completely appropriate. For the intended use of a ballon tire cruiser (that is, carrying a youngster on short trips around the neighborhood, campus, or newspaper route) those features are superfluous. And we're back to "utility," aren't we? A fifty-pound roadster is transport, and meant to be ridden from point A to B. I don't see (maybe I'm too young to have seen) chromed-up cruisers being put to that same use. Kids around here ride BMXs, and a quick survey of the bikeracks at a nearby college campus shows...not a single cruiser. None. There are at least a few roadsters around town (Raleigh "Sports" types, with the smaller chainguard), though, being ridden by guys going to and from work. We'll agree to disagree here (not the first time, either): You back the cruiser. Fine. I'll back the roadster. Just so long as we can share the same road, I'm happy--even if either of us wouldn't be caught dead on the other's favored bicycle. -Luigi de gustibus non est disputandum, quod justus sum, et id tu scis. -- www.livejournal.com/users/ouij Photos, Rants, Raves |
Luigi de Guzman wrote:
I have never wanted my bicycle to be anything other than a bicycle. I don't want it to look like or act like a streamline train, or a fiftysomething Caddillac, or a Harley, or an F-86, or whatever. If I wanted a Caddy or a Harley, I'd get one. Ah, but what if you wanted an F-86? ;^) Chalo wrote: For the intended use of a ballon tire cruiser (that is, carrying a youngster on short trips around the neighborhood, campus, or newspaper route) those features are superfluous. A fifty-pound roadster is transport, and meant to be ridden from point A to B. I don't see (maybe I'm too young to have seen) chromed-up cruisers being put to that same use. Kids around here ride BMXs, and a quick survey of the bikeracks at a nearby college campus shows...not a single cruiser. None. But the design intent of those bikes was for conditions in the USA of the 1950s. At that time, you would have seen such bikes almost exclusively. Between marketing trends and the fact that teens are increasingly feeble when it comes to transporting themselves, BMX bikes have taken over. They are no match for big-wheeled bikes from a transportation standpoint, but they tolerate a whole lot more tomfoolery. I reckon that campus bike rack you checked didn't contain any 40-50 lb bikes at all outside of Xmart junkers. Am I right? There are at least a few roadsters around town (Raleigh "Sports" types, with the smaller chainguard), though, being ridden by guys going to and from work. They are hard to fault until you have to replace the BB or the headset. We'll agree to disagree here (not the first time, either): You back the cruiser. Fine. I'll back the roadster. Just so long as we can share the same road, I'm happy--even if either of us wouldn't be caught dead on the other's favored bicycle. You get me wrong. I bought a beautiful recent model Gazelle for my sister, and I think it was one of my better bike purchases ever. It came with internal gears, drum brakes, stainless steel rims, chaincase, skirt guards, pump, generator, lights, fenders, rear rack, folding panniers, bungee straps, and a wheel lock-- all original equipment. It looks sharp, though it leaves little room for nondestructive personalization. I don't have one because it would need to be a 72cm frame or so for proper fit. Stylewise though, there is no comparing the Gazelle updated roadster http://www.gazelle-hollandrad.de/bik...MEUR_D2_03.jpg to an updated cruiser like this: http://nirve.com/main/largepic.asp?id=1408 There's nothing wrong with the dowdier bike, but it fails to lead you on a flight of fancy. Chalo Colina |
"Chalo" wrote in message om... Luigi de Guzman wrote: I have never wanted my bicycle to be anything other than a bicycle. I don't want it to look like or act like a streamline train, or a fiftysomething Caddillac, or a Harley, or an F-86, or whatever. If I wanted a Caddy or a Harley, I'd get one. Ah, but what if you wanted an F-86? ;^) You could buy one of the few still around. If you had enough money. Like this guy: http://popularmechanics.com/science/...2/index3.phtml or this guy: http://www.warbirdalley.com/F86-sf.htm Pete |
A fifty-pound roadster is
transport, and meant to be ridden from point A to B. I don't see (maybe I'm too young to have seen) chromed-up cruisers being put to that same use. Kids around here ride BMXs, and a quick survey of the bikeracks at a nearby college campus shows...not a single cruiser. None. But the design intent of those bikes was for conditions in the USA of the 1950s. At that time, you would have seen such bikes almost exclusively. Sure. What I want to know is when the cantilevered frame became *the* North American bicycle, when there were so many production advantages to be had from straight tubes. Between marketing trends and the fact that teens are increasingly feeble when it comes to transporting themselves, BMX bikes have taken over. They are no match for big-wheeled bikes from a transportation standpoint, but they tolerate a whole lot more tomfoolery. There are always a bunch of BMX guys tricking in front of the skate shop here in town. They're pretty neat. I reckon that campus bike rack you checked didn't contain any 40-50 lb bikes at all outside of Xmart junkers. Am I right? You are correct. I do, however, see, from time to time, a Giant OCR 1. Some kid is riding from class to class on a roadie...! The funny thing is that I've only ever seen that bike parked on campus racks. To wander slightly off-topic, have you noticed that you've begun to recognize all the *bicycles*, if not the cyclists, in your neighborhood? I see the same bunch of guys riding around town, and even if I don't know them personally, I can recognize them by their bikes: The guy on the Independent Fabrications bike; the guy on the Trek 2200, and so on. There are at least a few roadsters around town (Raleigh "Sports" types, with the smaller chainguard), though, being ridden by guys going to and from work. They are hard to fault until you have to replace the BB or the headset. Many are just ridden until they disintegrate. snip There's nothing wrong with the dowdier bike, but it fails to lead you on a flight of fancy. And we're back to this. Flights of fancy aren't as immediately useful for getting to work on time and in presentable condition. I've seen updated Gazelles in commuter use (in London), and I must say that they seem pretty practical bikes, but they aren't anywhere near as good-looking as the older ones. [A Dutch friend reports that at her high school in Holland, there was a rivalry between the guys who rode Gazelles and the guys who rode Batavus bikes. Ford vs. Chevy, Dutch-style, I guess] IF I had the skill, it would be amusing to attempt to construct a "light heavyweight" roadster. Maybe a Reynolds 853 main triangle and fork, but in roadster lines. Or, for even more comedy value, how about a carbon-fiber roadster frame? You wouldn't even have to paint it, and, if it held up well to roadster use, it would definitely make me a carbon fiber believer. -Luigi -- www.livejournal.com/users/ouij Photos, Rants, Raves |
Luigi de Guzman wrote:
--snip-- There are always a bunch of BMX guys tricking in front of the skate shop here in town. They're pretty neat. I think it's pretty cool what these guys can do with those little bikes. Once in a while, my 13-yr-old son tries to imitate them, with rather messy results. I had to restock the first aid kid last time. --snip-- To wander slightly off-topic, have you noticed that you've begun to recognize all the *bicycles*, if not the cyclists, in your neighborhood? This afternoon, the DH and I went out riding, and some guy in lycra passed us. We kept tooling along. He passed us again. *blink* We never saw him at the side of the road or anything. I'm sure it was the same guy. That was weird. IF I had the skill, it would be amusing to attempt to construct a "light heavyweight" roadster. Maybe a Reynolds 853 main triangle and fork, but in roadster lines. Or, for even more comedy value, how about a carbon-fiber roadster frame? You wouldn't even have to paint it, and, if it held up well to roadster use, it would definitely make me a carbon fiber believer. The thing that concerns me about carbon fiber is, I've heard that any damage to the frame and it will deteriorate quickly from the point of damage. I have no idea if that's true, but if it is, it would definitely put me off carbon fiber. -km -- Only cowards fight kids -- unidentified Moscow protester the black rose proud to be owned by a yorkie http://community.webshots.com/user/blackrosequilts |
"the black rose" wrote in message
... This afternoon, the DH and I went out riding, and some guy in lycra passed us. We kept tooling along. He passed us again. *blink* We never saw him at the side of the road or anything. I'm sure it was the same guy. That was weird. This happened to me one day on the way home from work. I'm grinding up the east high rise, and this guy passes me. Then, about two miles later, approaching the east channel bridge, he passes me again. I put on the sprint, catch up to his slipstream, and ask him how he managed to do that. He said that he had stopped at the toilets at the park on the Lid. I guess I must have passed him while he was in the loo. -- Warm Regards, Claire Petersky please substitute yahoo for mousepotato to reply Home of the meditative cyclist: http://home.earthlink.net/~cpetersky/Welcome.htm Personal page: http://www.geocities.com/cpetersky/ See the books I've set free at: http://bookcrossing.com/referral/Cpetersky |
"the black rose" wrote in message
... Claire Petersky wrote: [some free-form musings] You've got the soul of a poet, Claire. Thank you for saying so, since I blather on so much around here, I hope that my posts aren't immediately marked as "read" without actually having been so. Hey, did I tell everyone it looks like I'm going to get one of my essays published in a literary magazine? Woo-hoo! -- Warm Regards, Claire Petersky please substitute yahoo for mousepotato to reply Home of the meditative cyclist: http://home.earthlink.net/~cpetersky/Welcome.htm Personal page: http://www.geocities.com/cpetersky/ See the books I've set free at: http://bookcrossing.com/referral/Cpetersky |
Claire Petersky wrote:
"the black rose" wrote in message ... Claire Petersky wrote: [some free-form musings] You've got the soul of a poet, Claire. Thank you for saying so, since I blather on so much around here, I hope that my posts aren't immediately marked as "read" without actually having been so. I suspect mine are, largely. But mine aren't as uniformly good as yours, usually. Hey, did I tell everyone it looks like I'm going to get one of my essays published in a literary magazine? Woo-hoo! Many congrats. where and when? -Luigi -- www.livejournal.com/users/ouij Photos, Rants, Raves |
Hey, did I tell everyone it looks like I'm going to get one of my essays
published in a literary magazine? Woo-hoo! That's great! Although I find your writings a bit lacking in the action/adventure vein, I do enjoy your spiritual take on things. You are always a pleasure to read, try to get more actual blood and guts into the story. I remember your commute into the city with the compromised brake wire, that had a degreee of suspense and anticipation that was hard to beat. And the ambiguous resolution was pure Zen. I thought that was one of your most effective literary statements, I'd like to see what other essay was better. -- _______________________ALL AMIGA IN MY MIND_______________________ ------------------"Buddy Holly, the Texas Elvis"------------------ in.edu__________ |
Claire Petersky wrote:
"the black rose" wrote in message ... Claire Petersky wrote: [some free-form musings] You've got the soul of a poet, Claire. Thank you for saying so, Yer welcome. :-) Hey, did I tell everyone it looks like I'm going to get one of my essays published in a literary magazine? Woo-hoo! Which? When? Give us the details! -km -- Only cowards fight kids -- unidentified Moscow protester the black rose proud to be owned by a yorkie http://community.webshots.com/user/blackrosequilts |
"Eric S. Sande" wrote in message
... Hey, did I tell everyone it looks like I'm going to get one of my essays published in a literary magazine? Woo-hoo! I remember your commute into the city with the compromised brake wire, that had a degreee of suspense and anticipation that was hard to beat. And you were the one who never would have gotten into that situation -- you would have noticed the frayed cable days before the ride ever happened. And the ambiguous resolution was pure Zen. D3 was the way I went. -- Warm Regards, Claire Petersky please substitute yahoo for mousepotato to reply Home of the meditative cyclist: http://home.earthlink.net/~cpetersky/Welcome.htm Personal page: http://www.geocities.com/cpetersky/ See the books I've set free at: http://bookcrossing.com/referral/Cpetersky |
the black rose wrote:
Luigi de Guzman wrote: --snip-- There are always a bunch of BMX guys tricking in front of the skate shop here in town. They're pretty neat. I think it's pretty cool what these guys can do with those little bikes. Once in a while, my 13-yr-old son tries to imitate them, with rather messy results. I had to restock the first aid kid last time. --snip-- To wander slightly off-topic, have you noticed that you've begun to recognize all the *bicycles*, if not the cyclists, in your neighborhood? This afternoon, the DH and I went out riding, and some guy in lycra passed us. We kept tooling along. He passed us again. *blink* We never saw him at the side of the road or anything. I'm sure it was the same guy. That was weird. IF I had the skill, it would be amusing to attempt to construct a "light heavyweight" roadster. Maybe a Reynolds 853 main triangle and fork, but in roadster lines. Or, for even more comedy value, how about a carbon-fiber roadster frame? You wouldn't even have to paint it, and, if it held up well to roadster use, it would definitely make me a carbon fiber believer. The thing that concerns me about carbon fiber is, I've heard that any damage to the frame and it will deteriorate quickly from the point of damage. I have no idea if that's true, but if it is, it would definitely put me off carbon fiber. I was trying to launch a few roadster-based flights of fancy. Chalo's fancy cruisers probably aren't used enough or roughly enough to scratch their groovy paintjobs (not something I can say of any of my bicycles). So a CF roadster would fit that category. Probably the closest thing to what I'm talking about are the A.N.T. roadsters: http://www.antbikemike.com/Big%20Bik...onroadbig.html I haven't seen one up close and personal yet (chances of that are rare, given where I live), but I think it's a pretty bike. But then, I favour dark suits and sober* ties, too. -Luigi *the sobriety of the wearer, however, is not similarly guaranteed. -km -- www.livejournal.com/users/ouij Photos, Rants, Raves |
Luigi de Guzman wrote:
Probably the closest thing to what I'm talking about are the A.N.T. roadsters: http://www.antbikemike.com/Big%20Bik...onroadbig.html Oooh, that is so cool. If I get a separate bike for touring (DH and I are seriously considering doing some loaded touring, maybe next summer, maybe the one after), I've got just enough of the retrogrouch in me to be tempted by the Rivendell Atlantis. Those are *pretty* bikes. We found a T800 hiding in our LBS. It's been there a while and it's on a good discount. And it fits DH, and he needs a new bike, and he wants a tourer. Can you say, "Christmas present"? *grin* I haven't seen one up close and personal yet (chances of that are rare, given where I live), but I think it's a pretty bike. But then, I favour dark suits and sober* ties, too. -Luigi *the sobriety of the wearer, however, is not similarly guaranteed. *snorfle* -km -- Only cowards fight kids -- unidentified Moscow protester the black rose proud to be owned by a yorkie http://community.webshots.com/user/blackrosequilts |
In article _B_0d.1282$Xc.591@lakeread01,
Luigi de Guzman wrote: the black rose wrote: Luigi de Guzman wrote: Probably the closest thing to what I'm talking about are the A.N.T. roadsters: http://www.antbikemike.com/Big%20Bik...onroadbig.html I haven't seen one up close and personal yet (chances of that are rare, given where I live), but I think it's a pretty bike. But then, I favour dark suits and sober* ties, too. -Luigi *the sobriety of the wearer, however, is not similarly guaranteed. Beautiful bike. Sort of a perfect reinterpretation of the English roadster but with 7 speeds and less weight. That puts something to mind for me...I just picked up an AW hub attached to a Phillips lady's frame. That, plus a nice old cro-moly MTB frame, and I could really make a cheap fun town bike. -- Ryan Cousineau, http://www.wiredcola.com Verus de parvis; verus de magnis. |
Luigi de Guzman wrote in message news:_B_0d.1282$Xc.591@lakeread01...
Probably the closest thing to what I'm talking about are the A.N.T. roadsters: http://www.antbikemike.com/Big%20Bik...onroadbig.html Interestingly, I prefer the Major Taylor http://www.antbikemike.com/antique.html Love the sprocket and one piece crank on that. Perhaps this bike harkens back to a time when the roadster and cantilever frame formed separate branches on the evolutionary chain. BTW, my experience with cruisers has been much different. In my area, the cantilever frame is a serious mode of transportation. The LBS sells some fancy ones, but the ones I see folks riding on are typically well used. One, three and five speeds are very common. Like it or not, they are pretty much the American roadster. And they are very popular with the local college students, moreso than classic roadsters, but less than *mart MTBs. I think one reason they are so popular among practical riders is that the curvy cantilever frame is a nice contrast to the diamond frame of the roadster/"ten speed". Schwinn made many one, two, three and five speed roadsters. But they were the kind of bikes for old people. And "ten speeds" were for masochists. I can understand the criticism of their being percieved as toys. But really, there are plenty of very expensive road/MTBs that are basically toys for their owners. In the mean time, regular folks just want something to ride that doesn't need babying. |
Luigi de Guzman wrote:
Chalo wrote: But the design intent of those bikes was for conditions in the USA of the 1950s. At that time, you would have seen such bikes almost exclusively. Sure. What I want to know is when the cantilevered frame became *the* North American bicycle, when there were so many production advantages to be had from straight tubes. You've got me there. They look nice, but I can't imagine why any mass-market manufacturer would have gone to the trouble of making them in the first place. Once they gained market traction, well, folks demand what they are conditioned to want. Especially young folks. There are always a bunch of BMX guys tricking in front of the skate shop here in town. They're pretty neat. My favorite to watch is "flatland" riding. It's like a form of artistic dance, but the presence of a bike keeps me interested. To wander slightly off-topic, have you noticed that you've begun to recognize all the *bicycles*, if not the cyclists, in your neighborhood? Only a few. There are a lot of cyclists in central Seattle. There is no clear best route from my house to my work either, so I ride a different variation almost every time. That and the fact that I leave at a different time each day means that it's difficult to notice patterns other than a few familiar faces, or bikes. There are a couple who ride together on 27" bikes with North Road bars (might be Raleighs), and I'd recognize them at a glance. It's easier for me to identify the regular local dog-walkers by their pooches. see the same bunch of guys riding around town, and even if I don't know them personally, I can recognize them by their bikes: The guy on the Independent Fabrications bike; the guy on the Trek 2200, and so on. To be honest, a bike would have to be pretty distinct for me to take passing notice. I'm jaded enough to think of stock or stock-looking late model bikes as mundane. IF I had the skill, it would be amusing to attempt to construct a "light heavyweight" roadster. Maybe a Reynolds 853 main triangle and fork, but in roadster lines. Or, for even more comedy value, how about a carbon-fiber roadster frame? You wouldn't even have to paint it, and, if it held up well to roadster use, it would definitely make me a carbon fiber believer. A five pound CFRP roadster frame would probably withstand anything a mortal city rider could subject it to, short of being run over by a car. This bike may or may not be light by your standards, but it's pretty nice: http://www.encycleopedia.com/index.c...1&type=Product Chalo Colina |
the black rose wrote:
The thing that concerns me about carbon fiber is, I've heard that any damage to the frame and it will deteriorate quickly from the point of damage. I have no idea if that's true, but if it is, it would definitely put me off carbon fiber. It shouldn't deteriorate from damage. Damage to the structural fibers will simply lower the amount of load at which the frame will fail. When carbon fiber composite fails, it breaks suddenly. That isn't confidence inspiring, but it isn't due to progressive degradation either. Chalo Colina |
Claire Petersky wrote:
I also often see Dane J. of our newsgroup, too, coming the other way -- I yelled at him just last week as he was coming up to Eastgate, but he was oblivious (as usual :-) ). Hey! I resemble that remark! In my defense, Eastgate is pretty fuggin steep. I tend to be head down cranking out the watts to attempt to get to work on time. The rider I keep meaning to stop and say 'Hi' to is some fellow I pass a couple times a week. He's one of the few people I see commuting on his bike year round. He's an older guy usually wearing bright yellow and/or reflective gear. We usually greet each other with a "Good Morning" or "Good Evening" as appropriate, but haven't had a chance to chat yet. Still it's a nice plus to my commute ride when I can say hello. -- Dane Jackson - z u v e m b i @ u n i x b i g o t s . o r g "Every man has his price. Mine is $3.95." |
"Dane Jackson" wrote in message
... The rider I keep meaning to stop and say 'Hi' to is some fellow I pass a couple times a week. He's one of the few people I see commuting on his bike year round. He's an older guy usually wearing bright yellow and/or reflective gear. We usually greet each other with a "Good Morning" or "Good Evening" as appropriate, but haven't had a chance to chat yet. Do you pass him, or is he coming the other way? If it's the other way, it might be Geoff Hazel. You can see his picture he http://www.cascade.org/Community/for...&threadid=1758 -- Warm Regards, Claire Petersky please substitute yahoo for mousepotato to reply Home of the meditative cyclist: http://home.earthlink.net/~cpetersky/Welcome.htm Personal page: http://www.geocities.com/cpetersky/ See the books I've set free at: http://bookcrossing.com/referral/Cpetersky |
Claire Petersky wrote:
"Dane Jackson" wrote: The rider I keep meaning to stop and say 'Hi' to is some fellow I pass a couple times a week. He's one of the few people I see commuting on his bike year round. He's an older guy usually wearing bright yellow and/or reflective gear. We usually greet each other with a "Good Morning" or "Good Evening" as appropriate, but haven't had a chance to chat yet. Do you pass him, or is he coming the other way? If it's the other way, it might be Geoff Hazel. You can see his picture he http://www.cascade.org/Community/for...&threadid=1758 No, I usually see him (the fellow pictured) a minute or two after I see the cyclist I mentioned. They are both coming from the opposite direction of myself. -- Dane Jackson - z u v e m b i @ u n i x b i g o t s . o r g When the fog came in on little cat feet last night, it left these little muddy paw prints on the hood of my car. |
All times are GMT +1. The time now is 07:10 AM. |
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
CycleBanter.com