Frame Lust

[Catrin]

Don't you mean "Gotta roll"?

It took a moment to register that you're showing two (2!) bikes.

Your Gunnar looks a lot like a rigid mountain bike. I thought your intent was something more like a (flat bar) road bike. (Nothing wrong with using a MTB like bike for on-road riding - circumstances have pushed me to the same answer.)

Actually I had somewhere to go and couldn't ride on the clearest evening of the week after bring home TWO lovely bikes However there will be plenty of other chances, hopefully tomorrow

The Gunnar is actually based on the Crosshair, it is a cyclocross frame with a custom road fork. We were going to base it on the Sport, but with certain fitting needs and desires, Waterford recommended we base it on the Crosshair and this is the result. An entire 24 pounds, and even with those wider tires she feels sprightly! She is meant to be my 'go-faster' bike, and I think she will serve just fine. Especially when I eventually get thinner tires for her

Ms. Plum sports a fine set of SRAM X0 twist shifters that is just sweet! Shifts easy, but solid at the same time.

The Jamis, who is being shy about revealing his or her name, has a SRAM 10-speed drivetrain and triggers - and she shifts quite nicely as well! I was concerned that all thumb shifting might be a problem with my hands as they are, but they have it set up so well that little pressure is required to shift. This is great since SRAM does not make grips for 10-speed...I had not actually known that before today.

Poor Ms. Explorer, I fear the LHT isn't going to go outside and play as often this summer as she is accustomed to... will have to make certain she doesn't feel neglected

[indysteel]

Actually I had somewhere to go and couldn't ride on the clearest evening of the week after bring home TWO lovely bikes However there will be plenty of other chances, hopefully tomorrow

The Gunnar is actually based on the Crosshair, it is a cyclocross frame with a custom road fork. We were going to base it on the Sport, but with certain fitting needs and desires, Waterford recommended we base it on the Crosshair and this is the result. An entire 24 pounds, and even with those wider tires she feels sprightly! She is meant to be my 'go-faster' bike, and I think she will serve just fine. Especially when I eventually get thinner tires for her

Ms. Plum sports a fine set of SRAM X0 twist shifters that is just sweet! Shifts easy, but solid at the same time. The 9-speed cassette actually goes lower than the stock 10-speed cassette on my Jamis THAT is changing

The Jamis, who is being shy about revealing his or her name, has a SRAM 10-speed drivetrain and triggers - and she shifts quite nicely as well! I was concerned that all thumb shifting might be a problem with my hands as they are, but they have it set up so well that little pressure is required to shift.

Poor Ms. Explorer, I fear the LHT isn't going to go outside and play as often this summer... will have to make certain she doesn't feel neglected

Sweet!!! Congrats on your new babies! They've found a good home.

[Roadtrip]

Woaaaa.. Nice!! You finally brought home your babies.. And it wasn't raining!!!

[eofelis]

You have quite a stable of bikes there!

Your trio of bikes parallels some of mine somewhat: I have a Gunnar (Sport) road bike, an LHT and a Jamis (Dragon) mtn bike; plus my Spec Ruby and the Randonee.

[laura*]

However there will be plenty of other chances, hopefully tomorrow

If you don't have time to post for the next few days, we'll know what you're doing!

The Gunnar is actually based on the Crosshair, it is a cyclocross frame with a custom road fork. We were going to base it on the Sport, but with certain fitting needs and desires, Waterford recommended we base it on the Crosshair and this is the result. An entire 24 pounds, and even with those wider tires she feels sprightly! She is meant to be my 'go-faster' bike, and I think she will serve just fine.

A while back, I rescued (with permission) one of these from a dumpster:

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/bridgest...ne-1988-07.htm

The similarities with Ms Plum are striking: A similar beautiful delicately curving fork. A rear wheel brought close to the seat tube, but not too close. An upwards angling stem. Even the moderately knobby gumwall 26 inch tires. And of course non-oversize steel tubing.

As was customary back in 1988, the Bridgestone has a horizontal top tube and a looong stem. At the time, it very much met the definition of mountain bike. Sadly today one has to go custom to get something similar. I'm slowly restoring the Bridgestone. It'll be a hang_e_r queen 'cause it is a size too small for me.

I'm looking forward to seeing more pictures of Ms Plum - and of how well your design goals were met.

[Trek-chick]

The bikes are beautiful but, I am sure they look even better in person.

[Crankin]

Congratulations, Catrin!
Now you have more bikes than me!

[Catrin]

Laura - I see why you said it looks like a rigid mountain bike! I couldn't go with their stock Sport OR Cross frame due to my need for standover and short reach + very upright position. I was told it would handle light mountain biking - now I know why There were just too many considerations to make a version of their Roadie to work.

[ASammy1]

Yay Catrin! I'm so happy for you. I feel like you've been going thru this process for so long now and have such wonderful results to show for it. I just adore that purple

[kmehrzad]

The following photos require no introduction Gotta run, more later!

Nice bikes, the two of them. You look so happy ... that's the way we should all (and I'm sure we do) feel about our bikes and biking in general.

Enjoy, Catrin.

[hebe]

I'm so happy for you Catrin, and your beautiful bicycles. That plum really is something special. Fingers crossed that you can get out on them both this weekend - do you get a 4 day weekend for Easter in the US too?

[Catrin]

The weather is the problem, lots of rain forecast today but it looks like I can ride tomorrow. Got a short 9 miles in on the Gunner this morning to just get a better feel for her. She is even more comfy than the LHT, but might actually be a little slower - but the jury is still out on that. I wasn't trying to hammer it, just to spin around a hilly park and get a feel for the X0 grip shifters - which I just LOVE! If she really IS slower, then that will change with skinnier tires. Our next ride I will really put her to the test

Good Friday isn't a common holiday in the US, we just happen to get it off where I work If it rains all weekend and it looks rideable Monday, well, I just might develop a strong case of the dreaded "bikeitis"... They have rain forecast until next Thursday though, but I sure hope they are wrong!

[Kerry1976]

Speaking of frame lust....

Have been reading the Lovely Bicycle Blog (thanks to a posting about it here in another thread) and my eye keeps being drawn to the Bella Ciao bikes. Would love to study one up close and give it a whirl.

Lovely Bicycle Review of Bella Ciao
Bella Ciao Website