I had a 1975 Schwinn Le Tour 10 speed back when I was about 13 to 20 years old & rode it everywhere (I'm 47 now). I've not been on a dropped bar bike since then! I currently have a 2011 Trek 7.3 FX hybrid that I bought in October and have ridden it more than I've ridden in the last 27 years! As my confidence grew I decided I wanted to try "drop bars" and a different geometry. I live near Portland, OR & if you live around here you know that we're famous for riding all manner of bike and doing "alternative" customizations to them! lol. So I decided, for that reason, but mostly just for something "different" to get a steel "classic" looking bike with some personality. After test riding several drop bar bikes, going to different shops, talking with bike folks I narrowed it down to the Kona Honky Inc (it looks great on paper) and the Surly Cross Check ("lesser" componentry than the Kona).
So yesterday I re-test rode the Kona & felt disappointed. I just wasn't in love with it. It lacked personality & wasn't pretty, although it had nice components. I also noticed that the sales person wasn't as outgoing/enthusiastic with me. Maybe it's because I've been in a couple of times, asked questions, test rode once and didn't purchase anything.
Then I went to a place I didn't know existed called Citybikes near downtown Portland. It's an employee-owned coop & has been in business 21 years. They're located on a bike boulevard and they sell primarily to the commuter type.
I called first to see if they had a Cross Check in Robin's Egg blue since I really didn't like the black, and NOBODY in town had the blue. I walked in and the first thing I noticed is that they had different tires on the bike. They took off the 'cross tires and put on Panaracer Pasela TourGaurd tires with tan sidewalls. Next I noticed is that the steer tube was very tall! I've test ridden this bike elsewhere and the steer tube was about 2-3" above the top of the head tube, but these steer tubes were like 5" taller! The sales person said that they come that way & that most shops cut them down! He said that "most commuters around here don't want to be bent over so much". I knew from my measurements and hours of research that I should test ride the 50 & the 52, which I did (I test rode these before). Not much difference in the frame size, although I LOVED the shorter stem on the size 50.
So...(drum roll please) I bought a 52 Robin's Egg Blue Cross Check! It's the only one in my size and in a box, so I've made changes. It already has the Panaracer Pasaela tires, replace the Tektro RL340 brake levers with Tektro compact brake levers. I bought Velo Orange Touring Pedals, and they will replace the black seat tube, add a shorter stem, and spacers on the steer tube with silver. They will use "natural" cork handlebar wrap.I will leave the steer tube long and as I ride the bike I can always either ask them to cut it down or, as they did on a LHT, they move the stem down by rearranging the steer tube spacers, but didn't cut the steer tube.
I felt great test riding this bike and don't recall feeling that way when I test rode them about a month ago. Maybe the different height on the steering tube? It shifted more "tightly" than the higher end components on the Kona, so not sure why. I felt comfortable in the drops even!
Now I've got to figure out how to "accessorize" her. Maybe leaning to "Rivendell-esque" look. VO fenders or Hanjo hammered fenders???
Ideas? I'm SOOOOO excited! I pick it up on or after the 17th.