steel--wanna play?

[elk]

I'm just obsessed with bikes....my hobby these days is looking at tons and tons of them and imagining what I might buy...I got really close to a vintage Pinarello...but the woman selling suddenyl stopped corresponding. I assume she sold it...so otherwise I honestly don't think I can do much better for myself than my aurora unless I go custom....so I'll start saving my pennies.
And today I want a custom Waterford

BUT! DH has a Trek 7000...nice bike, but he doesn't LOOOVVVEEE it. And being practical, he sees no reason to get a different one.. The geometry is good...although the flat bar is limiting...


I think that's crazy because I know there is a bike out there he WOULD LOOOVE. SO. (He loved the look of the Amsterdam, but hated riding it)

He's the kind of guy who--stylewise-- should really be on a black vintage Raleigh or a Dutch commuter, but he's actually into riding and we do have these HILLS. He's a primo candidate for a Riv...but $$$$$...

SO...I'm looking for an upgrade FOR him...something with a more upright geometry, a triple, in STEEL....... as far as I'm concerned love springs from buttery steel...I've been eyeing the Trek 520 but wonder if we could put more upright bars on...or a Volpe, or Randonee NOvara...

A black Surly with moustache bars?
but there must be something out there for under 1000.00 that is perfect...
what do you think?

here's his current bike:

[Veronica]

He's a primo candidate for a Riv...but $$$$$...

Have you looked at the homeless frames on their website?

If you think of it in terms of dollar per mile, it might be more palatable.

My Rambouillet is down around 50 cents per mile now. My Legolas is still at about 75 cents per mile.

V.

[elk]

i'll look again...I do look at them thinking about my own self ...but they're always way too big for me...

He's a cool 6'1" about a 58cm frame...

Also the Coda just ocurred to me...another steel Jamis, but not as cool as a Rivendell.

[fastdogs]

when I was looking at bikes, someone recommended a Kona Smoke. At the time, I couldn't find any to try out, anywhere.
Recently I got to see on in person in a local shop- what a cool looking bike! It was black, with black fenders, fat tires, and very wonderful looking.
vickie

[sundial]

Elk, would he consider a Surly Cross Check? It's steel and smooth as butta. And it makes a great commuter bike.

[elk]

can you put upright bars on it? the x check....

I like the Konas...not sure it's his style....

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

i'll look again...I do look at them thinking about my own self ...but they're always way too big for me...

He's a cool 6'1" about a 58cm frame...

Also the Coda just ocurred to me...another steel Jamis, but not as cool as a Rivendell.

Elk, just as a general reference.....my DH is a 'cool' 6'0" and takes 60cm Rivendells. He test rode the 60cm and the 62cm and both would have been ok but he was glad he picked the 60cm. Your DH may vary, but a 58 would have been too small for my DH who is 1" shorter than your DH.
(confused by now?)

Also, you might be able to get a 10 year old Trek 730 steel hybrid and soup it up into a fabulous new steed. My DH took his old dated dark green 730 Trek hybrid and put triple wide range gears, Albatross bars, new slick tires, new pedals and cages, a Brooks saddle, brushed steel water bottles, and chrome fenders....oh my, it looks so yummy now! He says it now rides like butter. Those old steel Treks sell pretty cheap.

[elk]

Elk, just as a general reference.....my DH is a 'cool' 6'0" and takes 60cm Rivendells. He test rode the 60cm and the 62cm and both would have been ok but he was glad he picked the 60cm. Your DH may vary, but a 58 would have been too small for my DH who is 1" shorter than your DH.
(confused by now?)

he's long legged too...long arms......He's got a 34.5 PBH; it's weird that Grant suggests a 55 for that on the Riv site.

[KnottedYet]

A black Surly with moustache bars?
but there must be something out there for under 1000.00 that is perfect...

Gee, that sounds familiar....

(my black Surly Cross Check has moustache bars and cost under $1,000)

[KatyLady]

Have you considered a Salsa Casseroll Triple? RoadBikeRider.com gave it a glowing product review. It's steel, comes with 32mm tires, fenders and decent components. The Casseroll has a lot of similiarities to the Aurora Elite and Long Haul Trucker. I believe its a little pricier than the Jamis and Surly, but still worth consideration.

[Trek420]

Gee, that sounds familiar....

(my black Surly Cross Check has moustache bars and cost under $1,000)

Which is how many miles per dollar? Let's see take miles, divide by number of bikes, multiply by wool ...

[elk]

I love all these bikes: the Surly, the Casseroll, the old Treks, the Kona....

and are you agreeing that any of them can work as a more "upright" ride?
__________ ______________________________________________________
You know what I realized...I think one of the reasons I like those Surlys is that they come in great colors and they don't SCREAM!
I'M A CERVELO, I'M A TREK, HEY, OVER HERE, CANNONDALE ! JAMIS JAMIS...

and the Surlys:

'cuse me folks, LHT comin through.....

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I love all these bikes: the Surly, the Casseroll, the old Treks, the Kona....

and are you agreeing that any of them can work as a more "upright" ride?
__________ ______________________________________________________
You know what I realized...I think one of the reasons I like those Surlys is that they come in great colors and they don't SCREAM!
I'M A CERVELO, I'M A TREK, HEY, OVER HERE, CANNONDALE ! JAMIS JAMIS...

and the Surlys:

'cuse me folks, LHT comin through.....

They are ALL really cool bikes. and all can be made even cooler with the right accessories.....

[VeloVT]

If you're looking for relaxed, keep an eye out for 2006-2008 Lemond Poprad cx bikes. It's steel AND it's light -- unlike a Surly or a Trek 520 (though I do think the 520 is a neat looking bike, I just couldn't see forking out bucks for a 26-lb bike)... Decent if not fancy components (I think it's pretty much straight 105), and lovely buttery ride. I came very close to buying a Poprad as a commuter (actually had a deposit down on it) but settled on an aluminum Bianchi cx bike instead because it was lighter and felt faster. But I think the 49 or 50 cm Poprad I tried weighed in at about 20 lbs, not bad for steel. Handles nicely too. Just skip the disc-brake version since it's heavier and more expensive.

I bring it up because now that Trek is discontinuing the Lemond line, you should be able to score some serious deals. The 2006 model was only around $1300 to begin with, so...

Oh, I think the stock gearing is pretty low, not sure if that would be good or bad for you...

[elk]

What about a VOlpe? He's an Ital-o-phile in regards to many other things....art, food, landscape, movies...

There's a new one I can get for 800.