Bikes For The Rest Of Us

Montague Boston 8

2013-05-06T10:16:00.001-04:00

Montague Boston 8. Photo Credit: Montague Bikes.

Montague's Boston 8 is a folding bike that features a Shimano Nexus internal 8-speed hub and 700c tires and folds up to fit in your trunk or on a bus or train. The MSRP is $1050.

Montague has a storied history. Harry Montague was a Washington, D.C. bike commuter who built a full-size, foldable mountain bike in his garage in the early 1980s. According to his Washington Post obituary (Montague died in 2011), Montague wrote letters to 40 bicycle manufacturers about his design, but no one was interested. He then started his own business with his son building custom foldable bikes.

In 1997, Montague made a "paratrooper bike" for the U.S. military that has been used in Afghanistan. The paratrooper bike has been on display at the America on Wheels Transportation Museum, and it is for sale to the general public as well.

The Boston 8 and the single-speed Boston are perfect for multi-modal commutes and for travel. Here are the 2013 specs for the Boston 8 and a video introduction:

Specifications
Color	Matte Black
Frame	Custom drawn 7005 Series. Aluminum tubing with horizontal dropouts and FIT System..
Fork	Full Cro-Mo, with CLIX™ Wheel Release System Ramped Dropout.
Rims	Alex. Alloy, 32 hole, Black. 700c.
Tires	Kenda Kwick Roller Sport 700c x 28mm slick.
Hubset	Formula. Alloy, with CLIX™ front quick release. Shimano Nexus internal rear.
Spokes	14 Gauge Stainless
Saddle	Areo Performance with “Center Gap”.
Seatpost	27.2 X 300mm Alloy.
Handlebars	Riser style 30mm rise. 530mm wide. Alloy.
Stem	Kalloy, Alloy Direct Connect, 7 Degree Rise.
Shifters	Shimano Nexus 8-speed.
Front Derailleur	NA
Rear Derailleur	Shimano Nexus internal gear 8-speed hub.
Crankset	SR Suntour. Alloy 42T chainwheel. Alloy 170mm crank arm.
Speeds	8
Brakeset	Promax. Alloy. Dual Pivot Caliper brake with Alloy levers.
Pedals	Platform trekking pedal. Aluminum Cage.
Bottom Bracket	Sealed Cartridge
Frame Sizes	17", 19”, 21”
Stand over heights	TBA
Folded Size	36” x 28” x 12”
Approx Weight	27lbs
MSRP	$1049.00

Civilian Corduroy Rebel

2013-04-29T10:50:00.002-04:00

Civilian Corduroy Rebel. Credit: RideCVLN.com

Civilian's Corduroy Rebel features a Gates carbon belt drive with a Shimano Alfine 8-speed internal hub. The 2012 model is on sale for $700 at competitivecyclist.com.

I discovered Civilian after repeatedly passing this beautiful chrome-fendered bike locked up on the street:

A Civilian fixie (Hustle). Photo by freewheel.

Who/what is Calvin? Eventually I snapped the above picture and investigated. I learned that CVLN stands for "Civilian," not "Calvin."

Civilian was started by Tyson Hart in 2005, in a garage, as all great start-ups seem to be. Hart designs bikes with "clean lines, smart styling, and unique features." All Civilian models have "clean lines" and therefore are pretty to look at. Here is how Civilian describes the Corduroy Rebel:

Whether you're a 700-square foot apartment dweller or a suburbanite with a 700-square foot garage, you'll love the functional and commuter-friendly no grease, no noise Gates Carbon Belt Drive. Paired with the Shimano Alfine 8-spd internally-geared hub and disc brakes, the maintenance on the Corduroy Rebel drops to new zero.

Comes with fenders and chainguard. Very nice. Here are the specs:

FRAME: HART DESIGN STEEL TUBESET - ENGLISH 68MM BB, SLIDING DROPOUTS, 135MM REAR SPACING

FORK: HART DESIGN STEEL UNICROWN - 1 1/8" STEERER, DOUBLE EYELET DROPOUTS

HEADSET: TANGE SEIKI ER-2

WHEELS: JALCO DM21, 32H RIMS / SHIMANO ALFINE 8-SPD REAR HUB / JOY-TECH FRONT HUB

TIRES: CST C1605, 700X32c

SHIFT / BRAKE LEVER: SHIMANO ALFINE 8-SPD REVO SHIFTER / PROMAX BL-53 BRAKE LEVERS

BRAKE: TEKTRO LYRA

CRANKSET: LASCO ALLOY, BCD 130MM W/GATES 50T CDC BELT-DRIVE PULLEY

REAR COGS: GATES CDX FOR ALFINE

BOTTOM BRACKET: SQUARE TAPER

STEM: TRANZ-X 6061 ALUMINUM, 25.4MM BAR BORE

HANDLEBAR: PROMAX ALLOY, 540MM WIDTH, 40MM RISE

SADDLE: VELO SUEDED

SEATPOST: KALLOY ONE-BOLT RADIUSSED TOP, 27.2MM X 350MM

GRIP/TAPE: PROPALM LEATHER DONUT, LOCK-ON

ACCESSORIES: ALLOY HAMMERED FENDERS / ALLOY CHAINGUARD

Civilian offers the Corduroy Rebel in six different sizes. Here is the geometry (click for big):

A B C D E F G

XS/49.5	51	9	70	43	29”	71°	74°
S/52	53.5	10.6	70	43	30”	71.5°	73.5°
M/55	56	12.3	65	43	31.4”	72°	73°
L/57	57.5	14.5	65	43	32.3”	72°	73°
XL/59	59	16.2	65	43	33.2”	72.5°	72.5°
XLT/62	61	19.5	65	43	34.5”	72.5°	72°

Kona Doctor Good

2013-04-11T10:05:00.000-04:00

2013 Doctor Good. Credit: konaworld.com

Kona's Doctor Good has a 7-speed internal gear hub and an aluminum frame. It retails for about $900.

Another porteur bike? This one looks like it could work. Kona says it went with short chainstays and seat stays for stability. It gives the bike a nimble, compact appearance. Comes with a bell conveniently located near the brake lever.

Frame Material	Kona 6061 Aluminum Butted
Sizes	C46, C49, C53, C56, C59, C61cm
Rear Shock	N/A
Fork	Kona Project Two Aluminum Disc
Crankarms	FSA 316BT
Chainrings	38t/Bash
B/B	FSA 7420
Pedals	Wellgo C169
Chain	KMC Z610 RB
Freewheel	Shimano 18t
F/D	N/A
R/D	N/A
Shifters	Shimano Revo 7spd (rh only)
Brake Calipers	Avid BB5 (fr) Shimano Roller Brake (rr)
Front Brake Rotor	Avid G2 Cleansweep 160mm
Rear Brake Rotor	N/A
Brake Levers	Tektro 4 Finger w/Bell (fr)
Headset	TH ZST No.10
Handlebar	Kona Handplant
Stem	Kona Commuter
Seatpost	Kona Double Clamp w/Offset
Seat Clamp	Kona Clamp
Grips	Velo Ergo
Saddle	Kona Comfort
Front Hub	Formula
Rear Hub	Shimano Nexus 7
Spokes	Stainless 14g
Rims	Freedom by WTB Cruz Disc
Front Tire	Continental CityRide 700x32C
Rear Tire	Continental CityRide 700x32C
Paint Color	Green w/Grey
Extras	Front Rack, Fenders, Front Stabilizer Spring

Kona Roundabout

2013-04-10T09:57:00.002-04:00

The 2013 Kona Roundabout. Credit konaworld.com

The 2013 Kona Roundabout has an MSRP of $1,000.

Kona introduced the Roundabout in 2012. This year's model has longer fenders and an integrated rear rack. It's great to see Kona making such a nice-looking lugged steel bike.

Here are the specs:

Frame Material	Kona Cromoly Butted
Sizes	S, M, L
Rear Shock	N/A
Fork	Kona Retro Road
Crankarms	FSA Tempo City
Chainrings	Bash/39t/Bash
B/B	FSA 7420ST
Pedals	VP 198
Chain	KMC HG53
Freewheel	Shimano Acera 11-32t 9 spd
F/D	N/A
R/D	Shimano Alivio
Shifters	Shimano Acera
Brake Calipers	Hayes CX6
Front Brake Rotor	N/A
Rear Brake Rotor	N/A
Brake Levers	Tektro FL540
Headset	TH 848
Handlebar	Kona Handplant
Stem	Kona Commuter
Seatpost	Kona Double Clamp w/Offset
Seat Clamp	Integrated
Grips	Velo Ergo
Saddle	Kona Comfort
Front Hub	Formula
Rear Hub	Shimano M475
Spokes	Sandvik Stainless 15g fr /14g rr
Rims	Freedom by WTB Racine Elite
Front Tire	Continental UltraSport 700x28C
Rear Tire	Continental UltraSport 700x28C
Paint Color	Matt Silver w/Rust, White & Grey
Extras	Rear Rack, Fenders, Kona Bell

A Tale of Two Longtails

2013-03-29T20:15:00.002-04:00

I had the opportunity to ride two longtail cargo bikes that are both compatible with the Xtracycle standard and both less than $1000. Longtails have an stretched frame to handle huge loads behind the rider.

The Sun Atlas Cargo is a purpose built longtail like the Surly Big Dummy or the Yuba Mundo. The Altas Cargo falls below both of these bikes in price while keeping a funky Mixte-Kruisframe geometry and comfortable ride. Sun rates the cargo capacity at 400 lbs and the bike feels solid with rails with frame ports to accept Xtracycle accessories. The 2.1-inch wide tires and BMX bars provide an upright, relaxed ride. Most of the time when I ride one-size-fits all bikes I find the reach to be too short, but the Atlas Cargo is surprisingly comfortable reach. If the Yuba is like riding a pickup truck then the Atlas Cargo is more like an old Jeep Scrambler. The BMX bars can be rotated to adjust the reach as well.

The Sun Atlas Cargo was priced at $600 at Bikes@Vienna. How can they offer it so cheap? Look at the component list --lots of bottom of the barrel stuff here. But hey, you can upgrade as things wear out. The frame is solid and ready to carry whatever you can throw at it.

No one will argue that longtails are incredibly useful as car replacements. Storing them is another matter. It's tough to haul them up stairs or squeeze them into a shed. Even taking them for a ride in the car is tough. Xtracycle teamed up with Tern to offer the Cargo Joe, a folding longtail. This a great idea who's time has come. The Tern platform as 26-inch wheels and 21 speeds and comes in two frame sizes. The Xtracycle bits are a FreeRadical, a HDPE Flightdeck and Freeloader bag set. You get it all for $1000, which is not bad at all. At some point down the road you could still repurpose the FreeRadical on an old hardtail mountain bike still have a nice folding bike.

I felt a little cramped on the Cargo Joe, but I'm not sure what frame size I was riding, I realized. Like most folding bikes, they adjust easily to fit most riders. It felt a lot shorter and quicker than the Atlas Cargo, but a bit more flexy with it's higher pressure tires. Of course the real trick is that you can fold it in half and shove it in the shed or minivan without sacrificing utility.

Kids Bikes

2013-03-18T10:51:00.001-04:00

While we're on the subject of kids' bikes, I thought I'd jot down a few of my ideas on the topic.

1. Skip the training wheels

Like-a-bike "mountain" bike. Courtesy: LIKE-a-BIKE USA.

The Big Day has arrived! Your little one, who has been riding around like a pro on her training wheels, is ready to try riding without them. You'd better take her to a soft grassy field, because she's about to take some falls.

Here's the problem: A child who learns to ride with training wheels does not learn the most fundamental of bicycle fundamentals: How to balance.

That's why I like Like-A-Bike. Kids learn how to balance first; then they're ready for pedals. Like-A-Bikes are well-crafted and safe. They are, however, a bit pricey.

There is an inexpensive alternative. You know that Toys R Us bike you bought? Take off the training wheels and the crankarms/pedals. Let her scoot around on that for awhile, and soon she will have mastered balance and will be ready for you to put her cranks and pedals back on.

2. Introduce new concepts gradually

As discussed above, start with balance. Then braking. Then turns. But don't expect your 4- or 5-year-old to know how to shift. Once the basics have been mastered, the next bike can have more bells and whistles.

My 8-year-old's six speed. With bell.

Actually, by bells and whistles, I mean handbrakes and a few gears. But a bell or horn is a good idea as well, so long as your young rider is not getting too distracted from the basics of bicycling.

3. Buy used

I'm not big on spending money in the first place, but why would I want to spend it on something that will be mistreated and quickly outgrown?

My 11-year-old's bike. It has a kickstand, yet he's let it drop to the ground on the drivetrain side.

There are many used kids' bikes for sale that have hardly been ridden. I've had great luck finding cheap, tough, functional kids' bikes at the local co-ops. When your child has outgrown her bike, donate it back to the co-op.

4. Spend lots of time teaching

This is a big deal. I'm not just talking about teaching your child how to ride a bike. I'm talking about bike safety issues like seeing the whole road, being visible, and being consistent.

I often see kids riding on the left side of the road, riding in the center of the road, or riding back and forth between the sidewalk and the road. These are future car drivers. Take this opportunity to teach them the rules of the road.

There are lots of bike rodeos and other kids' safety programs - enroll your kids. They'll have fun, learn stuff, and maybe get a free helmet or some stickers for their bike.

***

These are the four suggestions I share most often with other parents. As always, feel free to disagree with me or add your own thoughts in the comments.

Linus Kids Bikes

2013-03-15T09:25:00.001-04:00

Awww... Photo by Kat Borchart. Courtesy: Linus Bikes

Linus is now offering kids bikes: The Lil' Dutchie in red and the Lil' Roadster in Metallic Blue.

Click for big.

We've discussed Linus quite a bit in previous posts. The Linus 2013 catalog is out and features lots of pretty pictures by Kat Borchart. Well done.

Norco City Glide 8

2013-03-06T12:42:00.000-05:00

The Norco City Glide 8 has an MSRP of $890.

We talked about this bike 3 years ago, but Norco deserves another shoutout because their styling has improved. This is particularly true of the "women's bike," which is now a mixte instead of the U-shaped step-through previously offered. I also like that they've replaced the roller brakes with caliper brakes.

Here are the 2013 specs for the mixte:

Frameset

Frame: City Glide Mixte Alloy

Fork: Chromoly

Wheels

Rims: Double wall alloy - Silver

Tires: Schwalbe Delta Cruiser 700x35c - Cream

Tubes: A/V tube

Front Hub: Formula alloy hub - Silver

Rear Hub: Shimano SG-8R31-VS 8speed IGH 32hole

Spokes/Nipples: Stainless w/brass nipples

Drivetrain

Shifter Rear: Shimano Revoshift SL-8S20

Shifter Casing: Shift housing - Silver

Cassette: Nexus 20T

Crankset: Alloy 42T - Silver

Bottom Bracket: Cartridge BB

Pedals: Classic City - Silver

Chain: KMC Z610H

Components

Seat Post: Alloy - Silver

Seat Post Clamp: Alloy - Silver

Saddle: Selle Royal Ondina - Black

Headset: FSA TH-848 Sealed Cups / Semi-Cartridge

Headset Spacer: 3x10mm alloy - Silver

Top Cap: Alloy - Silver w/Norco Shield logo

Stem: Alloy - Silver

Handlebar: Alloy city bar -Silver

Grips: Cork grips - Black

Front Brake: Alloy Calipers - Silver

Rear Brake: Alloy Calipers - Silver

Brake Levers: Classic Forged Alloy - Silver

Brake Cable Casing: Brake housing - Silver

Raleigh Tripper

2013-02-19T09:00:00.000-05:00

2013 Raleigh Tripper. Courtesy Raleigh USA.

The Raleigh Tripper has an MSRP of $900 and is available at your local Raleigh dealer.

As a commenter recently pointed out, Raleigh added the 2013 Tripper to its 2012 "Three's Company" cyclocross line-up of the Furley and Roper. Here's hoping that in 2014 Raleigh offers a Snow in honor of Suzanne Somers' character Chrissy Snow or a Wood in tribute to Joyce DeWitt's character Janet Wood.

As with the Furley and Roper, the Tripper is all steel - in fact, it's available with a clear coat so you can really live the steel. The Tripper has a 3-speed IGH, disc brakes, and 700 x 32 tires. There are mounts for fenders and racks.

I'm personally not excited by the flat, straight handlebars, which they identify as the Avenir Short Drops. It seems to be an attempt at an urban look, but I'd rather see some bars with curves so that there are more available hand positions.

The Tripper got some attention at the 2012 interbike, as reported by Cyclelicious and Bike Rumor.

2013 Raleigh Tripper Specs:

Sizes: 50cm XS, 53cm SM, 55cm SM/MD, 57cm MD/LG, 59cm LG
Frame: Seamless Butted Chromoly, Integrated Headtube w/PF30
Fork: 4130 Chromoly Cross w/Disc Tabs
Cranks: Shimano Alfine FC-S500 39t
BB: FSA PF30
F.Derail: N/A
R.Derail: N/A
Shifter: Shimano Nexus Revo SL-3S41E 3sp
Br.Levers: Tektro RL-570
Brakes: Shimano BR-M375 w/SM-RT53 160mm Center Lock Disc
Gear: Shimano 20t Internal Hub Cog
Rims: Weinmann DP30 Double Wall
Tires: Kenda K1083A Happy Medium 700cx32c
Pedals: Road Pedals w/Clips and Straps
Handlebar: Avenir 200 Series 31.8 Short Drop
Stem: Avenir 200 Series, 3D Forged, 31.8
Seatpost: Avenir 200 Series 27.2x350mm
Seat: Avenir Classic Road
Headset: FSA Integrated Cartridge Bearings
Colors: Steel/Brown
Chain: KMC Z99
Hubset: (F) Shimano HB-RM35 32h w/Center Lock Disc Mounts (R) Shimano 3-Speed Nexus SG-3D55 w/Center Lock 32h
Spokes: 14g Stainless MAC w/Alloy Nipples
Grips: Avenir Single Moto
Extras: Water Bottle Mounts, Fender and Rack Mounts, Cateye Reflector Set, Clear Coat, Owner’s Manual

Viva Strada

2013-02-04T11:35:00.000-05:00

Viva Bike Design began in 2006 by Lars Anderson, a cycling superstar in Denmark. The Strada is all about a comfortable stylish transportation bike. It's branded as a luxury bike and looks the part with paint-matched fenders, rack and chainguard. The drivetrain is a simple Sturmey Archer 3 speed with a SA drum brake up front. I expect the Schwalbe Delta Cruiser tires to give it a smooth ride. The bike has unique pedals and chain guard, swoopy V and all. Overall the bike is a nice balance between masculine and something that's too delicate.

The front rack separates the Strada from the other models. It looks good but I'm not sure of the capacity due to it's three point mount. I'll contrast it with more typical frame mounted racks (that don't move with the front wheel) or stenco-type racks that mount to the handlebars and the wheel axle. Still, if you had to carry a purse, backpack, box of pastries, or dozen doughnuts this rack would work just fine. There are mounts for a rear rack as well.

The price for the Strada is $1200, but you might be able to find them for less.

If you'd like to hear more about Viva check out the review of the Kilo at Bicycle Times. The Kilo upgrades to 7 speed (Shimano) rear hub with rollerbrake, dynohub and lights. Mikes Bikes has the Kilo classic (sans dynohub and lights) marked down from $1400 to $999 at the moment.

All images complements of Viva.

Carrying Something Very Old And Delicate

2013-01-29T10:39:00.000-05:00

A letter from a reader:

I have a bit of a unique problem and was wondering what your take on the solution would be. I have a very old (and delicate) Persian instrument called a santur.

Reader's picture.

I'm wondering how I could secure the suitcase that this instrument is placed in on to a bicycle. There are basically a few locations I really like to play my santur, and they're all a ridable distance away. They're are some good bike paths to the areas I'd like to go, but also some short spats of steep inclines and rugged dirt paths.

I've recently sold my old bicycle, so I was wondering what the best option would be in terms of getting a new bicycle, given these are my needs.

Any help would be very much appreciated!

Thank you!

I wrote back and asked about the dimensions of the instrument. I have not heard back yet. Assuming that the instrument and case do not fit inside a waterproof pannier (which would be my #1 recommendation), what would you suggest?

UPDATE!!!

More information from our reader, who is grateful for your comments. This time the reader includes dimensions, along with a diagram:

I'm very flattered you've included my question on your blog!

The instrument is basically a trapezium shaped and the dimensions are: 80cm on the bottom, 33 cm on the top and 35cm on both sides with a total height of 9cm. The suitcase I use for the instrument is 31cm x 98cm x 11cm.

I've read some of the comments on your blog and can already see some potential solutions.

The Burley Travoy seems like a possible resolution, so long as I can secure the suitcase on to it, however, I'm not to certain how my santur will hold up given the slant (the weight of the instrument will be focused on one of the edges, which could potentially damage it - though this shouldn't be too much of a problem given the instrument only weighs about 3 kilograms).

I'd prefer to keep the item flat, so maybe a simple rear rack would do the trick - though I'm not sure if there are rear racks out there that can sport a 98cm suitcase.

I'm not sure if its the best idea in terms of functionality, but I wonder if there are any front rack options where I can place the suitcase perpendicular to the bicycle to keep an eye on it while I'm traveling.

Someone suggested buying a Bullit Cargo bicycle, but this is probably a little too specialized for my needs, as I'll taking the bicycle out for a lot of trips where I won't be needing to carry something on it.

I've attached an image with the exact dimensions for my santur the better visualize the size of the instruments.

Once again, thank you for your response and I look forward to hearing from you again!

Any additional ideas?

Felt York

2013-01-18T14:37:00.001-05:00

Felt York. Credit: Felt Bicycles

The Felt York may look like a fixed gear, but it actually has a 2-speed Sturmey-Archer hub. The MSRP is $829.

This is a gorgeous bicycle. It's a beautiful "Duke" blue with a porteur rack painted to match, with a stained wood base. The aluminum fenders are polished and even the color of the tires is aesthetically pleasing. Take a closer look at those tires, though, and you wonder whether they are a bit too skinny (700 x 25) for a bike that poses as one that can heft a full front load.

That's the real question about the York: Is it all beauty and no brawn? A porteur bike should be designed to carry stuff, after all. This is no cargo bike.

Still, it's beautiful and it may be just the thing for those who wish to cruise around town with the ability to carry light loads. I'm sure the front rack could carry a six-pack. I also give Felt lots of credit for trying something different, and for making a piece of art.

The Bicycle Times has a review here.

Here are the specs:

Finish:

Duke Blue

Sizes:

700c x 51, 54, 56, 58, 61cm

Frame:

Felt single speed custom butted 4130 tig welded cr-mo tubes, butted tapered seatstays w/ cr-mo dropouts, horizontal top tube

Fork:

Felt urban design, 100% cr-mo, 1-1/8" threadless steerer & oversized curved fork blades: 43mm offset w/ drilled flat crown for front brake

Headset:

1-1/8" threadless press-In cup style, Felt Tornado aluminum top cap

Stem:

Felt aluminum forged threadless quill, 31.8mm w/ -15° Rise

Handlebar:

Felt design aluminum English touring bar 31.8mm, 30mm rise, 580mm wide, 50 degree sweep

Grips:

No flange Felt design with stitched cover

Crankset:

Felt TkR Pista inspired cold forged aluminum, w/ 144mm B.C.D. ; 51cm-54cm=165mm, 56cm-61cm=170mm

Chainwheel

Skip-Tooth Hess Chainring, 24t x 1/8", aluminum

Chainguide:

n/a

Bottom Bracket:

FSA 68mm w/ forged cr-mo square taper

Pedals:

Aluminum "Rat Trap" style pedal

Chain:

KMC Z410 1/8" width

Freewheel:

coaster brake cog -22T x 1/8"

Brake Levers:

Tektro front aluminum retro brake lever

Brakes:

Tektro dual pivot caliper, stainless hardware, teflon bushings

Cables:

Felt Slick Brake

Saddle:

Felt urban classic road saddle w/ riveted custom cover and steel rails

Seat Post:

Aluminum micro-adjust, 27.2mm x 300mm

Seat Post Clamp:

integrated in frame

Rims:

Alex ACE 19 double wall aluminum rim

Front Hub:

Sturmey Archer, hi-flange, sealed bearing, track nuts, 32H

Rear Hub:

Sturmey Archer 2 Speed kick back aluminum coaster brake hub, 32H

Spokes:

14g stainless steel w/ brass nipples, 3X front and rear

Tires:

Felt All Weather 700c x 25

Fenders:

Front and rear full aluminum fenders with stainless struts

Accessories:

Front rack with wood bottom

Yuba Boda Boda

2013-01-09T13:11:00.003-05:00

Boda Boda stepover and stepthrough. Credit: Yuba

The Yuba Boda Boda cargo cruiser is available at Bikes at Vienna and other local bike shops. The typical price appears to be about $1,000.

Yuba had already perfected the long-tail cargo bike in the form of the Yuba Mundo, which is capable of replacing your car for most local errands. For urban apartment or condo dwellers, however, the heavy, bulky cargo bike presented of challenge in terms of storage and just getting the thing up the stairs. Boda Boda appears to be Yuba's solution, a lighter (35 lbs.) shorter cargo bike with a handhold for carrying it up a flight of stairs.

The Boda Boda has an integrated rear rack and is capable of carrying an impressive amount of weight. It's available both as a step-through and a "step-over."

In October 2012, Outside Magazine named the Boda Boda the best utility bike for $1,000. There's also a review by Cyclelicious.

Here are the full specs as of June 27, 2012:

FRAME

BODA BODA FRAME, AL 6061

FORK

26"X2.125, CR-MO, OLD:100W, 400.5 LENGTH, 40 OFFSET,

DYNAMO BRAZE ON

WHEELS

FRONT RIM 26" X 26MM, DOUBLE WALL, 32 HOLE, NO DECALS

REAR RIM 26" X 26MM, DOUBLE WALL, 36 HOLE, NO DECALS

FRONT HUB MODUS NUTTED, 32 HOLE, CRMO AXLE, LOOSE BALL, DOUBLE SEALED, GROUND RACE, DUAL LOCK NUTS

REAR HUB MODUS NUTTED, 36 HOLES, CASSETTE, CRMO AXLE, LOOSE BALL

SPOKES 2.0MM, 14G, STAINLESS 3X FRONT AND REAR

SPOKE NIPPLE 2.0MM X 12MM BRASS, INCLUDED WITH SPOKES

FRONT TIRE KENDA 26" X .1.95", WIRE BEAD, 30TPI

REAR TIRE KENDA 26" X .1.95", WIRE BEAD, 30TPI

INNER TUBES CST/KENDA SHRADER VALVE (A/V), 1.2MM THICKNESS

TRANSMISSION

CRANK SET LASCO 170MM, JIS, 4-BOLT

CHAINWHEELS LASCO 38T, W/ GS0 STEEL OUTER GUARD, INCLUDED WITH CRANK SET

BOTTOM BRACKET VP JIS, CARTRIDGE SEAL, W/ CAPLESS STAINLESS STEEL BOLTS

CHAIN KMC 1/2"X3/32", APPROXIMATELY 125 LINKS

REAR DERAILLEUR SRAM MEDIUM CAGE, 7-8 SP, 1:1 RATIO

REAR DER SHIFTER SRAM 8SPD,

TRIGGER SHIFTER, RIGHT

CASSETTE SRAM 8 SPD, 11-32, STEEL

COCKPIT

PEDALS VP NYLON PEDAL, LOW PROFILE

HEAD SET VP STEEL, 1-1/8", THREADED

STEM PROMAX LARGE = 100MM, SMALL = 80MM EXT., 25.4MM QUILL DIAMETER, ALUMINUM

HANDLEBARS PROMAX FRENCH CITY BARS, >600MM WIDE, 70MM RISE, >196MM GRIP AREA TAPE / GRIPS VELO CORK, REQUIRES GLUE FOR INSTALLATION SADDLE CIONLLI WITH SPRING

SEAT POST PROMAX ALLOY, 30.2MM,

LARGE = 500MM, SMALL = 400MM

SEAT CLAMP PROMAX QR

BRAKE

FRONT BRAKE PROMAX DIE CAST ALLOY V BRAKE, 125MM ARM, 60MM 1PC PAD

REAR BRAKE PROMAX DIE CAST ALLOY V BRAKE, 125MM ARM, 60MM 1PC PAD

BRAKE LEVERS PROMAX TRIGGER SHIFTER, SILVER LEVER, ED BLACK BODY

OTHER

DECK 8MM THICK, BAMBOO,

KICKSTAND MASSLOAD YUBA SIDE STAND

BELL YWS DING DONG BELL, 60MM, STEEL

Velo Orange Campeur

2012-12-23T16:01:00.000-05:00

Velo Orange is now offering a complete bike assembled right in Annapolis, Maryland. The Campeur is a camping bike made to carry heavy loads and be reliable when you are off the beaten path. The frame is a Velo Orange design and has a level top tube, lugged fork crown, canti-brake mounts, pump peg, three water bottle mounts and room for 38mm tires with fenders. The complete bike looks the VO part with a leather saddle, leather bar tape, 9x3 Shimano Deore drivetrain and a bunch of quality parts. The Campeur has some hard-to-find features:

Level top tube, classic fork bend
Quill stem
Kickstand plate
Dia-Compe friction bar-end shifters

For all of you kickstand lovers who are every-so-gently mounting your double-legged kickstand on your Surly Long Haul Trucker with rubber and clamps, this is your bike. Seriously, the ride of the Campeur is supposed to be great, I can't wait to hit the road on one of these.

Read more about the Campeur here and here. The current price of the complete bike is $1600 (plus shipping). Don't forget to add the new Campeur Racks to complete the build.

Campeur Complete Bike Build List:

Campeur Frame & Fork:	Sizes: 51, 53, 55, 57, 59, 61 (Please specify size in the comment box.) More info here.
Rear Wheel:	Grand Cru 135mm Touring Hub, Diagonale Rim 36 hole
Front Wheel:	Grand Cru High Flange Hub, Diagonale Rim 36 hole
Tires:	700x35 Panaracer Tourguard
Shifters:	Dia-Compe Bar-Ends, Friction
Crankset:	Grand Cru Triple 48x34x24, 165mm (sizes 51 & 53), 170mm (sizes 55 & 57), 175mm (sizes 59 & 61)
Bottom Bracket:	Grand Cru 124mm, English thread
Cassette:	SRAM 9 Speed 11-32T
Rear Derailleur:	Deore 9 speed
Front Derailleur:	Sora Triple
Chain:	KMC X-9
Headset:	VO Roller Bearing
Stem:	VO Quill 90mm (sizes 51-55), 100mm (sizes 57-59), 110mm (size 61)
Handlebar:	Grand Cru Course Handlebar, 44cm (sizes 51-57), 46cm sizes (59 & 61)
Brakes:	Tektro CR720 Cantilevers
Brake Levers:	Tektro RL340
Seatpost:	Grand Cru 27.2
Saddle:	VO Model 3 Touring, Brown
Handlebar Tape:	Tressostar Cotton, Brown (not installed)
Pedals:	not included

Nashbar Steel Commuter Bike

2012-12-03T14:58:00.002-05:00

Courtesy Nashbar.

The Nashbar Steel Commuter Bike is on liquidation sale at Nashbar and Amazon.com for $350.

I love the name of this bike because it matches the beautiful simplicity of the bike itself. It's a clean, logo-free, all-chromoly bike with wide tires and an 8-speed Shimano nexus internal hub. It comes with a rear rack and fenders, although I would swap out the fenders for some that provide full coverage.

Specs:

FRAME:	Chromoly, lugged
FORK:	Chromoly, 1" steerer, 14mm taper, 60mm offset
HEADSET:	1" threaded
REAR SHOCK:	N/A
CRANKSET:	38T chainring, 170mm length
BOTTOM BRACKET:	Square taper
SHIFTERS:	Nexus Revo SL-8S20
LEVERS:	Tektro RX1.0
HANDLEBAR:	525mm, 38° backsweep, 64mm rise, 25.4mm clamp
STEM:	22.2mm quill, 80mm extension, Length: 150mm (52cm frame), 180mm (56/60mm frame)
FRONT DERAILLEUR:	N/A
REAR DERAILLEUR:	N/A
CASSETTE:	Shimano KSMGEAR16S 16T
BRAKES:	Tektro R559 Dual Pivot
WHEELSET:	36H, 700c 36h anodized silver rims with CNC-machined sidewalls, Alloy front hub, 8-Speed Nexus internally geared rear hub
TIRES:	Kenda K-193 700x38
PEDALS:	Alloy
SEATPOST:	250x26.6mm (Medium), 250x27.2mm (Large)
SADDLE:	Velo
CHAIN:	KMC Z-410RB
GRIPS/TAPE:	Velo

Pashley Princess Sovereign

2012-11-19T15:26:00.003-05:00

A Pashley Princess Sovereign comes with a wicker basket. Courtesy: Pashley Cycles UK.

The Pashley Princess Sovereign retails for about 545 British pounds, which is roughly $867. In the U.S., however, expect the cost of this import to be over $1,000. There are a growing number U.S. Pashley dealers, including Bicycle Space in Washington, D.C.

A reader named Mary recently contacted us to ask about this bike because she saw one in her size on ebay. In ebay parlance, that's a "find." The Princess Sovereign is a lugged steel 5-speed (the Princess Classic is a 3-speed) that is basically the Rolls Royce of bicycles. Among other luxuries, it comes with a wicker basket, Brooks B66 sprung saddle, dynamo headlamp, chaincase and fenders, a rear rack, and prop stand.

Although we've discussed Pashley on Bikes For The Rest of Us, we've never discussed the Princess. This bike, however, has been a hot topic on other blogs. Here are a few to check out:

Lovely Bicycle!

Let's Go Ride A Bike

Bicycle! Bicycle!

Here are the specs per Pashley Cycles:

Frame sizes	17.5", 20" or 22.5"
Colour	Buckingham Black or Regency Green
Frame	Traditionally lugged and brazed
Fork	Tubular crown hand brazed
Gears	Sturmey Archer 5 speed hub gears
Wheels	26 inch with polished rims
Handlebar	Chrome plated raised bar
Brakes	Sturmey Archer hub brakes
Pedals	Alloy non-slip
Saddle	Antique brown Brooks B66s
Tyres	Schwalbe puncture resistant Marathon Plus with reflective sidewall.
Features	The Princess Sovereign features a traditional lugged frame and five speed hub gears with full chaincase, gold-lined mudguards, ding dong bell, hub driven dynamo headlamp, LED rear light, tubular alloy rear carrier, propstand, frame fit lock, skirt guards, leather sprung saddle and a wicker basket
Inside leg	17.5" frame suits 27.5" - 31.5" inside leg. 20" frame suits 30" - 34" inside leg. 22.5" frame suits 32.5" - 36.5" inside leg
Options	Leather accessory range
Terms and Conditions	Specifications and quoted prices may change without prior notice. Pashley Cycles terms of supply apply to all orders.

A Princess in Regency Green. Courtesy Pashley Cycles UK.

Papillionaire Bicycles

2012-10-18T09:30:00.000-04:00

Papillionaire Classic. All photos are courtesy of Papillionaire Bicycles.

Papillionaire Bicycles was founded in Australia, but is now offering its chromoloy Dutch-style bikes in the United States and has opened a retail shop in Red Hook, Brooklyn.

Papillionaire's Classic and Sommer models feature internal 3-speed Shimano hubs, fenders, chainguards (they describe them as "half chaincases") and leather saddles. Both bikes sell online starting at $549, currently with free shipping to celebrate their USA launch.

Specifications: Classic

Frame and Fork: Lugged chromoly (CRMO) steel

Frame size: 52cm (20.5″)

Gears: Nexus Shimano 3 speed internal hub.

Brakes: Tektro dual-pivot front and rear caliper brakes

Tyres: Kenda Kwest 700 x 35c (cream or gumwall)

Protectors: Mudguards and half chaincase

Finish: Crafted, durable leather saddles, grips, toe clips and other accessories

Papillionaire Sommer

Specifications: Sommer

Frame and Fork: Lugged chromoly (CRMO) steel

Frame size: 43cm (16.9″)

Gears: Nexus Shimano 3 speed internal hub.

Brakes: Tektro dual-pivot front and rear caliper brakes

Tyres: Kenda Kwest 700 x 35c (cream or gumwall)

Protectors: Mudguards and half chaincase

Finish: Crafted, durable leather saddles, grips &am other accessories

The new Papillionaire shop in Brooklyn.

Who Lights Up Your Life, er... Bike?

2012-10-11T12:20:00.000-04:00

Lezyne's mini-drive is small, but puts out up to 100 lumens. Credit: Lezyne.

Is it true that Debby Boone was singing about her bicycle?

It's hard to keep up with the latest bicycle light technology these days (see my updated, yet already outdated, Bright Lights post), so I'm not even going to try. Instead, why don't you tell us, in the comments, how you're lighting up your bike these days.

UPDATE: Last January, Mountain Bike Reviews did a great job reviewing and rating bike lights. If you're shopping for lights, it's a great place to start your research.

Bianchi Strada Metropoli

2012-10-06T10:58:00.003-04:00

Metropoli Alivio

Metropoli Acera

Metropoli Acera Dama

The Strada line from Bianchi USA includes the three Metropoli models pictured above. The Metropoli Alivio has 24-speeds (triple chainring + 8-speed rear cassette) and hydraulic disc brakes. The MSRP is $900. The Metropoli Acera and Acera Dama are both 21-speeds (triple chainring + 7-speed cassette) with V-brakes. The MSRP is $700 for an Acera.

Robert W., who told us about Virtue bikes, wrote us again recently about the Bianchi Cortina he was checking out.

Turismo Cortina. All photos courtesy of Bianchi USA.

The Cortina is a nice enough bike, but it doesn't have the fenders and rear racks that the Metropoli models have, and it doesn't look like the Cortina is designed so that you can easily add racks and fenders. Hopefully, Robert W. will send us a review of the Cortina after he test rides it.

The Metropoli and Turismo models are all Bianchi Strada bikes, which are Bianchi's "comfort bikes." I've never been comfortable with the term "comfort bike." I mean, who wants to ride a bike that's not comfortable? But if "comfort bike" means an upright riding position with wide tires, then knock yourself out Bianchi, churn out more comfort bikes!

The Metropoli Alivio seems to be built for hilly country, or maybe San Francisco. It has lots of gear combinations to get you up the steepest of hills, and powerful brakes so you can avoid hitting a streetcar at the bottom. Here are the specs on the Alivio:

MODEL	Metropoli Due Alivio 24sp Hydraulic Disc
CODE	Y2BB8U
COLOR	Black
SIZES	43-47-51-55
FRAME	Metropoli Triple-Hydroformed, Butted Aluminum
FORK	Bianchi Aluminum 1 1/8"
HEADSET	FSA ZS4 Custom
SHIFTERS	Shimano Acera
REAR DERAILLEUR	Shimano Alivio
FRONT DERAILLEUR	Shimano Alivio
CRANKSET	Shimano Tourney 48/38/28
CHAIN	KMC Z72
CASSETTE	Shimano Acera 8sp 11-32T
BRAKES	Shimano Alivio Hydraulic Disc
WHEELS	Alloy double-wall, 32H
TIRE	Spectra S-Amber 700 x 37
STEM	Bianchi alloy
HANDLEBAR	Bianchi alloy, 20mm rise
BAR TAPE / GRIPS	Herrmans Primergo Flite DD22B ergonomic
SEATPOST	Tec Obvius alloy
SADDLE	Selle San Marco Elba Arrowhead
PEDALS	VP-516A

The Metropoli Acera models have sufficient gear range for most terrain, and V-brakes have powerful-enough stopping power for most riders. Here are the specs on the Acera Dama:

MODEL	Metropoli Uno Dama Acera 21sp
CODE	Y2BB0U
COLOR	Gray
SIZES	43-47
FRAME	Metropoli Triple-Hydroformed, Butted Aluminum
FORK	Bianchi Aluminum 1 1/8"
HEADSET	VP-A42E
SHIFTERS	Shimano Altus
REAR DERAILLEUR	Shimano Acera
FRONT DERAILLEUR	Shimano Altus
CRANKSET	Shimano Tourney 48/38/28
CHAIN	KMC Z51
CASSETTE	Shimano Alivio 7sp 12-32T
BRAKES	V-Brake
WHEELS	Alloy double-wall, 32H
TIRE	Spectra S-Amber 700 x 37
STEM	Bianchi alloy
HANDLEBAR	Bianchi alloy, 20mm rise
BAR TAPE / GRIPS	Herrmans Primergo Flite DD22B ergonomic
SEATPOST	Tec Obvius alloy
SADDLE	Selle San Marco Elba Arrowhead
PEDALS	VP-516A

Your thoughts?

Opus Ivan

2012-09-15T11:07:00.000-04:00

I first spotted Opus Bikes in a small shop in Canada. The Opus Ivana, the loop-framed version of the bike above, appears on an ad on the back of Momentum Magazine this month. The Opus Ivan, pictured above, is an Aluminum-framed city bike with upright geometry and a large front basket. I think you'll agree it has a unique style that's somewhat contemporary while honoring the classic lines of a city bike.

The really exciting news is that Opus bikes are coming to the USA! They have a large selection of practical transportation bikes. Most of them have an Aluminum frame, which helps keep down the weight for those who have to carry their bike or climb hills. As someone who rides a traditional city bike that weighs north of 50lbs, I find it appealing to have all of the city bike features in a more lightweight package.

Opus Ivan specs (provided by Opus):

Frame	Meta 10 Al-6061
Wheels	Shimano HBIM40 & SG7R46 Alex Z1000 26" Black SS spokes
Colour	Dark Silver
Weight	35.5lbs
Fork	ORA Urban CrMo 45mm - 1-1/8
Headset	CH-918TW integrated sealed
Handlebar	ORA Urban 70R X 50S
Stem	ORA 158, 80o, TIG, 25,4 Black
Grips	VLG617 Synth. leather - Brown
Shifters	NEXUS SL-7S10 REVO 7 speed Tektro CL330 BL - LF
Brakes	Shimano Nexave BR-IM50 Roller brakes
Bottom Bracket	CH-46-E Cartridge
Crank	PRO-A36 Single 36
Pedals	Wellgo LU-206T Flat
Front Derailleur	N/A
Rear Derailleur	Shimano Inter 7 Nexus Internal gear
Cogs	Inter 7 Nexus 7 speed
Chain	KMC-Z610
Tires	Innova 218 - 26" Black 26 X 2.0
Saddle	Ora Voyage Black/Brown
Seatpost	Ora 242 Aluminum Micrometric 27,2
Miscellaneous Parts	Fenders/rack/chain cover/kick stand

Virtue 6

2012-09-04T10:30:00.000-04:00

Virtue 6 out and about. Photo courtesy of Virtue bikes.

The Virtue 6 sells for MSRP $ 399.

Special thanks to Robert W. for letting us know about Virtue bikes. Here is what Robert had to say after a test ride:

I took a Virtue Six for a test ride today. It’s a sweet bike, but not quite right for me. I love the look and it was a fun, smooth ride, but it weighs 28 lbs [with fenders] and is a 6-speed. I want a lower low gear to get around in San Francisco. I’m also of two minds about the lack of quick release wheels. They’re less likely to get stolen, but I’d need to carry a wrench. I also wish it had a chain guard. But the price is hard to beat — $425 for the one I tested.

Virtue 6 with rear rack. Courtesy: Virtue Bikes.

I contacted Virtue and got the inside scoop from owner William Mulyadi. He said he designed Virtue's first bike, the Virtue One, which came out in the mid-2000's, after asking bike shop customers about their ideal bike.

"It seems Pashley Guv'nor is the winner," William said. "Knowing that many like the character and feel of the bike but quite limited on the budget, I designed the bike with that idea in mind. Then many requests came for gears [which led to the] Virtue Six; then ladies versions Curve 1 and Curve 6, etc."

Virtue Curve 6. Courtesy: Virtue Bikes.

William explained that Virtue can keep its prices low (the 6-speeds are $399 and the 1-speed is $299) because they actually own the factories.

Here are the specs on the Virtue 6:

Gloss black full chromoly frame and fork (sizes: 52cm, 56cm, and 60cm)
Fender clearance
Alloy porteur handlebar
Alloy riser stem
Brown Velo stitch grips
Brown Velo riveted saddle
Silver alloy single crankset 46T 170mm
Silver alloy chain guard
Tektro CL530-RS brake levers
Tektro V-Brakes
Wellgo road pedals
Shimano SIS thumb shifter
Shimano Tourney rear derailleur
Shimano 6 speed freewheel 14-28T
Double wall black rims
700x32C Cream Kenda Kwest tires
Silver KMC chain
Front and rear fenders
Silver brass bell
*please note that size 52 and 56 come with quill stem, silver rims, and rear rack
*previous batch of Virtue Six with brown/white 700x32 Kenda tires and wide townie handlebar are still available

William has given me a preview of some other interesting models -- including a cargo bike -- that Virtue will be coming out with soon.

Rivendell Betty Foy

2012-08-13T09:12:00.000-04:00

A complete Betty Foy. Credit: Rivendell Bicycle Works.

Rivendell sells its Betty Foy mixte frameset for $1,050. A frameset includes the frame, fork, headset, and bottom bracket. A complete bike, without saddle or pedals, is estimated to cost $2,200, depending on parts.

While we're on the subject of mixtes, it seemed like a good idea to include the Betty Foy. As with other Rivendell frames, the Betty Foy is high quality steel, with investment lugs. The frameset is currently available in three sizes: 50, 55, and 60 cm.

Here is what Rivendell, i.e., Grant Petersen, has to say about the Betty Foy:

Clearance is key to the Foy. It has enough to fit tires up to 40 mm wide, so it's good on rough roads. It has clearance to take fenders easily, even with 40 mm tires, so it's the ideal foul weather commuter. What you can do on a bike, you can do on your Betty Foy.

The name "Betty Foy" comes from a character in the Wordsworth poem "Idiot Boy" (go ahead, read it!). This is a nice touch, given that there is something poetic about mixtes.

Advice Requested: Lightweight Step-Through

2012-08-07T09:29:00.000-04:00

One of our readers is seeking some bike-buying advice. Any ideas for her?

Hi,

My name's Jez, I live in London and need some advice on a bike for commuting. I'm looking for something with a step-through frame and with a lightweight frame. I know it doesn't need to be lightweight for speed as I'm only commuting but the bike I currently own is a hybrid and is really heavy and it's killing me carrying it up and down the steps to my home every day!

So light enough to carry, a step through frame and preferably not a sit-up and beg.

Any advice you have on a bike I could buy in London would be very much appreciated.

Many thanks,
Jez

Raleigh Clubman Mixte

2012-07-30T14:08:00.001-04:00

2013 Raleigh Clubman Mixte. Credit: Raleigh USA

For 2013, Raleigh is offering its Clubman as a mixte. At this point, the price is TBD (check with your local Raleigh dealer).

Back in 2008, when this site was just getting underway, Raleigh USA decided to recapture Raleigh's glory days by producing some steel models. Every year since then, Raleigh has come out with a "new" steel model. In 2010, it was the Clubman, a name that harkens back to the all-steel era of Raleigh. (Peter Kohler has an article on the original Clubmans here.)

There are many vintage Raleigh Clubman mixtes still on the road, and in a quick internet search I found a few for sale. The old Clubman mixtes were quality bikes, as demontrated by the fact that they're still around after 50 or 60 years. Nevertheless, when Raleigh decided to reintroduce the Clubman, it did not offer it as a mixte. That oversight will be corrected in 2013.

We talk a lot about step-through bikes, but the term "mixte" has a more technical meaning. Here's how Sheldon Brown defined "mixte":

A style of lady's frame in which the "top tube" consists of a pair of small diameter tubes running more-or-less straight from the upper head lug, past the seat tube, and on to the rear fork ends. A mixte frame thus has 3 sets of rear stays, instead of the usual two. A variant on the mixte uses a single, full sized top tube running from the upper head tube to the seat tube, but retains the middle set of stays. A lady's type bike that lacks the middle pair of stays is not a mixte.

Mixte frames are stronger than conventional lady's frames, particularly in resisting the tendency of the seat tube to get pushed backward in the middle when ridden by a heavy rider.

In French, "mixte" is pronounced "MEExt", but normal U.S. bicycle industry pronunciation is "MIX-ty".

The 2013 Clubman MEExt has some nice retro stylings, such as a lugged fork, matching painted fenders, and a Brooks Swift saddle. Given the retro-cool vibe I think Raleigh is going for, I'm a bit surprised that it comes with STI levers. I would have gone with something more retro (what's wrong with downtube shifters?), but I'm sure that places me in the minority. In any event, as I said before, you can still find vintage Clubman mixtes if that's what you're after.

Here are the full specs on the 2013 Clubman mixte:

Sizes: 50cm XS, 53cm SM, 55cm SM/MD, 57cm MD/LG , 59cm LG, 62cm XL

Frame: Reynolds 520 Butted Chromoly Tubing

Fork: 4130 Chromoly Lugged Road

Cranks: Shimano Tiagra FC-4650 2pc 50/34t

BB: Shimano Outboard Bearing

F.Derail: Shimano Tiagra FD-4600

R.Derail: Shimano Tiagra RD-4601

Shifter: Shimano Tiagra ST-4600 10spd STI, Shimano SP41 Shift housing

Br.Levers: Shimano Tiagra STI

Brakes: Tektro R539 Dual Pivot Long Reach w/Cartridge Pads

Gear: Shimano Tiagra CS-4600 10spd (12-30t)

Rims: Weinmann TR18 Double Wall

Tires: Vittoria Zaffiro 700x25c

Pedals: Steel Clips w/Leather Straps

Handlebar: Classic Aluminum Drop 26.0

Stem: Alloy 3D Forged Ahead 26.0

Seatpost: Alloy Micro Adjust 27.2x350mm

Seat: Brooks Swift w/Chromoly Rails

Headset: Ahead 1-1/8" w/Alloy Cup

Colors: Ivory

Chain: Shimano Tiagra CN-4601

Hubset: (F) Shimano Tiagra HB-4600 QR 32h (R) Shimano Tiagra HB-4600 QR 32h Cassette

Spokes: 14g Stainless MAC w/Alloy Nipples

Grips: Gel Tape

Extras: Fenders, Rack and Fender Mounts, Water Bottle Mounts, Cateye Reflector Set, Clear Coat, Owner's Manual

Note: Specifications are Subject to Change

TransIt Cameron

2012-07-25T09:00:00.000-04:00

2010 Transit Cameron. Credit:Performance Bike

In this guest post, Adam Zipperer gives us his first impressions of the 2010 TransIt Cameron, which was on sale at Performance Bike for $549. He had been considering the Torker Graduate "for the hub, non-rim brakes, and price." He felt that the Cameron might have a better hub. Here is Adam's report:

Alright just got it in and immediately took it for a 10 or 12 mile ride.

At this price, the competition in my mind include the Torker Graduate and the Breezer Downtown.

The Transit Cameron features the following:

SRAM iMotion 9 IGH with grip shift Tektro Lyra mechanical disc brakes (the left brake lever has an integrated bell, cool!)

Full set of plastic fenders Chain guard Mount points for rear rack (I think a front would have to share the rear/bottom holes with the fenders, or mount with the skewer)

Adjustable angle stem

Performance has these on closeout right now for $550. I also considered the Graduate, but not the Breezer because it has rim brakes. I was really looking for something that was weatherproof. I think I'd prefer the Torker's drum brakes to these discs, but I can't pick too much.

So the pros and cons on my admittedly short first impression.

Pros:

inexpensive (especially considering the hub)
semi-weather-proof brakes
pretty light frame
Comes with a bell
Comes with a chain guard, just a metal bar on the top part of the chain
Good gear range
Good upright riding position
Adjustable stem

Cons:

Disc brakes make noise (when not braking). I'll try adjusting them to see if they do any better. I'm really not impressed with the braking power of the discs, they may get better with break in though

It has fairly wide tires (700x38), but the fenders just barely cover them width wise. We'll have to see with some rain how good they do.

The leather saddle looks neat (like a knock-off Brooks). It's REALLY hard now, and from what I hear, I can't expect much break-in

The black leather "grips" are cheesy, they slip and slide around

The bars are a bit too swept back for my taste, but I may get used to that.

The frame is stiff. Maybe it's just the stiff saddle, but I swear its the stiffest bike I own

In summary, I'm going to give the bike a few more days to convince me, but I think I may be returning it for a Torker Graduate.

Thanks, Adam. We look forward to an update!

Update from Adam:

After riding the Cameron a few more times, I decided it was not the bike for me. I'm not saying it's a bad bike. It's just not quite what I was looking for. As luck would have it, the LBS that sells Torker happened to have a Graduate on the floor and it happened to be my size (they haven't had a single Graduate since I've been looking for ~5 months). I'm very happy with it, excited in fact! It fits me better and that's important to me.

There is no question in my mind that the SRAM 9 speed IGH on the Transit Cameron is a superior hub to the Sturmey Archer 5 speed on the Torker Graduate. The SRAM hub shifts smoother and has a wider gear range. They're also closer together making it easier to find the "right" gear. However, in my opinion, the Cameron needs probably a few hundred more dollars in parts and upgrades to provide the out-of-the-box goodness that the Torker does. For example, it would immediately need a new saddle and grips. Also, the disc brakes were pretty lousy. The drum brakes on the Torker Graduate are buttery smooth and provide superior confidence when riding in traffic. The Torker frame/wheel/tire/saddle combination is also significantly more comfortable as far as vibration is concerned. That could be entirely related to the better saddle on the Torker than the one I complained about on the Cameron, but I liked being able to buy a bike and immediately ride it (and plan to for months if not years) without making any changes whatsoever. Well, other than a Wald basket for "groceries" (and by that I mean exclusively beer).

I'd like to make a couple comments on the Torker Graduate, as I'd read a good many reviews before deciding on that bike. Firstly, I love the bike. It is awesome and makes commuting an enjoyable experience and not just a chore before getting to work. It's very comfortable, great upright (but not too upright) riding position. The bars are the perfect width, rise, and sweep for my style. The brakes are quite good, I can't wait til it rains so I can appreciate the lack of wet-rim-brake-squeal. I'm sold on the idea of IGH's for commuting bikes, shifting at a stop light/sign is just so nice. The only complaint I have about the bike is the Sturmey Archer 5 speed shifter. It shifts well, very direct and obvious engagement. But, the travel is a bit long, and mine is somewhat difficult to get into 1st gear. Just needs a little more effort than the others. That could just be the one I've got, or it could go away with break-in, time will tell.

All in all, for those on a budget, I would say the Torker Graduate makes the ideal commuter.

I'll leave you with this question: why don't more commuter/town/urban bikes have drum brakes? They seem perfectly suited for that application, but I really don't see them on any bikes!

Happy Riding,
Adam