Gunnar Bikes :)

[Becky]

This looks to me like there is more going on here than two-toned shading. Isn't there some kind of other effect? Not pin-striping or something that obvious but I don't know what to call it. I probably can't afford to duplicate this paint job, but if I could....

My first guess is that the turquoise has some kind of air-brushing done over it and where it meets the darker blue. The darker blue appears to be solid.

Very nice bike....I think I'd sell my steel Bianchi for that....

[Catrin]

My first guess is that the turquoise has some kind of air-brushing done over it and where it meets the darker blue. The darker blue appears to be solid.

Very nice bike....I think I'd sell my steel Bianchi for that....

I really do want a Gunnar, but I find myself going back to the Jamis website. I may need to find a Coda Elite for a test ride just to rule it out - or not. It is certainly more cost effective - assuming their smallest size fits me - I suspect the TT is too long for me.

[Becky]

There's absolutely nothing wrong with tracking down a Jamis Coda. I think that you should ride anything and everything that you can find that's even remotely your size. You may find that some of your preferences change or develop as you pile on the miles, and as you ride different bikes.

Have fun with it

[Catrin]

I just had an interesting conversation with staff at Waterford regarding my best options in a Gunnar bike. I've been going between three different models but wasn't sure which one might serve my wants/needs/desires the best. This will be my third bike purchase in less than two years and I want it to be my last bike purchase for some time to come - and I certainly don't want to have to sell another bike!

While the final decision won't come until my scheduled fitting next month, I seem to be narrowing my attention to only one, the Gunnar Sport. This will be my go-faster bike for club rides and centuries, but I need the same riding position that I have on my LHT and I want a lighter bike. I have given up on the attraction to disc brakes - that is a more heavy-duty bike and she explained that the focus is on the "heavy" and the Fast Lane wouldn't feel much different than my LHT.

It was a good discussion, I explained what I wanted to her and how I want it to differ from my LHT. Apparently they are quite familiar with Surly bikes and she told me that what I described was a Sport. Cool! Of course the formal fitting will determine if one of their stock sizes will fit but I've seen the stock specs and I think that we will be able to make one of their stock sizes work.

I was already leaning in this direction, so it will be interesting to see how the fitting goes in 4 weeks!

[eofelis]

I have a Gunnar Sport. Mine is a tiny one. It was a custom -for someone else- but it fits me pretty well. The smallest stock Sport sizes have 650c size wheels. Mine has 700c wheels. Mine has a quite long chainstays, maybe 1cm longer than my Specialized Ruby bikes chainstays. I have a Surly Pacer steel fork on mine.

Mine has a sweet sweet ride. I did 4 centuries on it last year, including some 10,000+ft passes. I think you will like yours very much.

[Catrin]

I have to say that, so far, I have been impressed at the amount of time and detail that my fitter and his counterpart at Waterford are putting into the initial design of my Sport. Gunnars are quite moderately priced when compared to Waterford frames, but the quality of the designing process seems quite intense. I am certainly learning more about bike design in this process!

Friday I head to my LBS for a fitting. They have a "fit bike" there which will allow my fitter to dial in the settings for the initial design for my frame with which to start my fitting. Unless my deposit turns out to be much higher than anticipated, I will place my money down in less than a week (or the following week if it is higher than expected).



I am excited

[Catrin]

The fitting went well yesterday. As I reported in another thread, Waterford/Gunnar is recommending a custom size for me, which does represent an upcharge, but I think it will be worth it. While I am going to call my fitters counterpart at Waterford Monday to get the sales pitch to understand why they recommend this, I already have some information from my fitter on the primary differences between my custom size and the stock Crosshair sizes they have.

It comes down several things - head angle, TTT length, chain stay length, wheelbase and tire size. No Crosshair size has a short enough top tube for me, and the Sport that does have a short enough TTT has problems in other dimensions. I also want v-pull brakes and 26 inch wheels and these are part of it but of course the head angle and TTT length are more important. In my fitters professional opinion, Gunnar does not have a stock size that will fit me without odd things having to be done to the bike to make it fit. Considering what he was able to do with my LHT, I trust his opinion. Gunnar strongly recommends the 26 inch wheels for me - which is comforting considering they didn't know that was my preference.

When I call Waterford Monday, I am going to ask how my handling will differ between the LHT and the Gunnar with the noted changes. They were told that I want a light-as-possible long-distance bike that won't be loaded with any real weight. The rake on the Roadie fork is greater than what is on my LHT, but the head angle is steeper, and the chain stay length and wheel base are both significantly shorter so that probably balances out the change in rake. I sound like I know what I am talking about

While a fit bike isn't a real bike, it felt pretty good yesterday, so that is quite hopeful. I am looking forward to my conversation with them Monday as I learn more about some of the choices they made for the design of my bike. It is fantastic that I have direct access to my frame designer - I do not want any questions remaining once I sign off on the design in the way or justifying the expense. I know there are a lot more expensive custom frames out there, and of course there are no guarantees until I get the completed bike out on the road - in the end I am learning a lot about bikes and bike design. That is a good thing