New Cyclocross bike Terry Valkerie?

[Biciclista]

so glad Terry is trying out the 26" wheels. Perhaps that design will morph into the road bike area too; i did not buy a Terry because the two different sized wheels really put me off.

[Thorn]

If you tried before and it failed, the 2009 bikes are now on the Terry site.

To those who argued against pink in the pink bike thread, notices that the 2009 Terry bikes are not pastels or flowery and the Valkyrie is black!

[Tokie]

Yes, the Valkerie has landed - I was hoping for a lower price - but it looks like a nice bike. I do have an old Terry that I bought when a local store closed - so it was 1/2 off, a great deal - but oh, that little front wheel made the steering way too quick for me. It now has a happy job as my trainer bike. Now I have to think about $ - cross season is a long way off. Maybe I can get my start on a cheapish mt bike while I save up for the Valkerie! Tokie

[snapdragen]

so glad Terry is trying out the 26" wheels. Perhaps that design will morph into the road bike area too; i did not buy a Terry because the two different sized wheels really put me off.

When I first got my Terry, I was disappointed because I didn't get the smaller front wheel I was tall enough that my size Terry has 700c wheels all 'round.

I like the Valkyrie!

[lunacycles]

so glad Terry is trying out the 26" wheels. Perhaps that design will morph into the road bike area too; i did not buy a Terry because the two different sized wheels really put me off.

26" wheeled 'cross and road bikes? I have always done them and always will. They are my bread and butter.

Or, wanna 26"-wheeled cross AND road bike?

http://lunacycles.com/PMiller.html

Not tryin to outshine Georgena--she's a goddess, but just sayn'

[Biciclista]

26" wheeled 'cross and road bikes? I have always done them and always will. They are my bread and butter.

Or, wanna 26"-wheeled cross AND road bike?

http://lunacycles.com/PMiller.html

Not tryin to outshine Georgena--she's a goddess, but just sayn'

yum! butterscotch!!!
lovely bike ms Luna

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

mmmmmm....butterscotch pudding.......

[Triskeliongirl]

I don't think the problem is the small front wheel, its the tiny stem some models are spec'd with. Change it to a longer one and the twitchiness will vanish (I have done this on all my terrys). All my terrys have pretty neutral steering with a long enough stem (9-10 cm).

Some of us need the 24" front wheel if we have very long femurs but a short reach. For me, they handle way better than other stock bikes I have tried, although I am sure a custom Luna can be built to deal with these issues too.

Yes, the Valkerie has landed - I was hoping for a lower price - but it looks like a nice bike. I do have an old Terry that I bought when a local store closed - so it was 1/2 off, a great deal - but oh, that little front wheel made the steering way too quick for me. It now has a happy job as my trainer bike. Now I have to think about $ - cross season is a long way off. Maybe I can get my start on a cheapish mt bike while I save up for the Valkerie! Tokie

[Aggie_Ama]

It is nice to see Cross bikes built for women.

Margo- You are evil.

[LadyinWhite]

I've been riding the Terry Isis Pro since the wild goose chase ride last year. It was an upgrade from my Trek 1000. I am very happy with the bike over all though sometimes I feel like the cockpit is too tight. They told me it's because I was used to being "stretched out" on the Trek - 1200miles later and I'm still not sure. I slid the saddle back and then just the other day pulled it forward again. With the 600 wheels it looks like a toy bike compared to everyone I pull up next too.

The ride is beautiful though and it shifts like buttah.. So all in all I'm pleased - just not sure I'd go the WSD route again. I think at 5'5 I'm right on the edge of whether WSD works for or against me.

Course 2008 circumstances had me off the bike more than previous years - 2009 looks to be shaping up to be much better suited to a happy, healthy riding habit. Perhaps a year from now I'll feel differently.

T.

PS: just realized this thread is about cyclecross bikes.... sorry to stray off topic

[lunacycles]

I think I successfully hijacked the thread!!!

Just kidding.

By the way, the bike pictured in the link is designed to work with 26" CX wheels and (as pictured) the uber light 650c Helios wheels from Velocity. All that is required is a little brake shoe adjustment.

It is really cool to see other builders, and companies like Terry (I consider her/them like Surly, small production but no longer a custom builder) starting to make actual, true cx bikes (not modified mtb's) using 26" wheels. Hopefully there will be more and more decent (and cx race legal) tires in this size in the near future so we can all share the love.

Y'all say such nice things. Thanks...

About titanium: I always wanted to do this. I raced a Merlin for years and loved it. However, welding titanium is pretty nasty and I'd have to become intimate with acetone, which--given the other toxins I confront daily--I'd rather not. Plus, it is harder and harder to procure tubing, especially in the configs. that would work wonders for small/light riders...plus plus, I have found my steel frames rival titanium for weight (2.6-3.5 lbs for road frames) and ride as nice. It's all about the tubing and custom tuning it for the rider. Too bad I can't mimic the ti finish in steel, as that to me is one of its nicest features.

Enough self promotion. TE forum moderators: feel free to pull my posts for blatant self promotion

[lunacycles]

So all in all I'm pleased - just not sure I'd go the WSD route again. I think at 5'5 I'm right on the edge of whether WSD works for or against me.

"WSD" is all about your body. If you are short in the torso and/or arms, WSD is generally a great option. But, of course, many many women are NOT short in the torso/arms, so WSD can feel too compact as far as reach goes. It is a bit of a myth that all women need a shorter reach. The fact is, as you alluded to, shorter women often need a shorter reach than what is available on stock bikes. With 700c wheels, the smaller the bike, the longer the reach tends to be, relatively, and this is due to geometry constraints required when using the 700c wheel size.

Try adding a slightly longer stem to your Terry...that might help.

Just to drift the thread further, taller women with short torsos often do just fine "reach wise" on the larger stock bikes, but what is often the persisting problem, fit-wise, is the front end of the bike is not high enough for a comfortable/efficient position.

It IS my business, but having done it a decade and a few years, I do think women are more challenged to get the fit right than most guys are, as generalizing as that might sound....

[Selkie]

[QUOTE=lunacycles;394201]I
About titanium: I always wanted to do this. I raced a Merlin for years and loved it. However, welding titanium is pretty nasty and I'd have to become intimate with acetone, which--given the other toxins I confront daily--I'd rather not. Plus, it is harder and harder to procure tubing, especially in the configs. that would work wonders for small/light riders...plus plus, I have found my steel frames rival titanium for weight (2.6-3.5 lbs for road frames) and ride as nice. It's all about the tubing and custom tuning it for the rider. Too bad I can't mimic the ti finish in steel, as that to me is one of its nicest features.

QUOTE]

I had no idea! I don't blame you.
Regardless, I love the bikes you've made for me and am actually thinking about adding an Una to the stable, possibly after I get an assignment w/in commuting distance of home (hopefully, later this year!).

[moderncyclista]

Oh man.

Luna Cycles I just looked at your sight. Your bikes are amazing.

Beautiful work. I love it when women are framebuilders! I wish I could afford one, but maybe someday. Keep on churning out great bikes.

I always wondered if someone would make cyclocross bikes for smaller women eventually. Why don't big manufacturers do it (Trek, Specialized, and so on?)

[lunacycles]

I always wondered if someone would make cyclocross bikes for smaller women eventually. Why don't big manufacturers do it (Trek, Specialized, and so on?)

I have NO idea.