What bikes do we lust over?

Nice, Chris. Dooooo it...

Today I fancy a steel touring bike. Any lustful recommendations?

indy fab independence!

http://www.ifbikes.com/assets/images/products//Independence_Main.jpg

here you go Mark, kicking it old-school:
http://surlybikes.com/bikes/long_haul_trucker_complete/

http://surlybikes.com/uploads/bikes/BK6856.jpg

a classic of the genre:

http://www.bgcycles.com/images/rocknroad/RockNRoadLg.jpg

and a pretty lol blogpost

http://brucegordoncycles.blogspot.com/2010/12/new-year.html

I don't know why - but those shifters at the end of the drop bar on tourers really give me the fear - it just seems like a really counter intuitive place to put them when you have nice handy brake shifters.

i know why - but those painted hi-rise stems on bruce gordons bikes really give me the fear - it screams "1994 no-name oem takeoff."

really, if you wanna see a bunch of bikes that are like 1988-1994 in amber, it's the bruce gordon stuff imo. almost skinny tube cromo with anchor saddles and ~interesting~ retro paint decisions abound.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JnO-tW2_nB0/TUSicm7l6eI/AAAAAAAAAQ4/FCRDF09e9rg/s400/IMG_4037.jpg

that just looks like a rat bike - but I bet it's k-expensive and on a waiting list

it's really really excellent stuff from what i've heard.

I saw a dude commuting on a bright pink Serotta this morning. I like pink a lot on bikes but it seemed... full on.

Oh, and I want the Indy Fab one, please. Thx.

http://www.gelliecustombikeframes.com.au/Micks-XCR-Road.htm

this builder lives about 10 minutes' drive from my parents' place. lurve the stainless w/ etched logos look.

http://cdn4.media.cyclingnews.futurecdn.net/2011/02/18/2/vuelo_velo_8_full_view_600.jpg

those madfiber wheels give me the fear.

Love this clean carbon roadie though, nit heard of Crumpton before:

http://cdn.mos.bikeradar.com/images/news/2011/02/25/1298636867940-11dbp44swv1t8-670-75.jpg

http://www.flickr.com/groups/nahbs2011/pool/with/5480102076/

Crumpton are v v fancy - Parlee level I think?

maybe fancier i think! crumpton makes all his stuff, parlee contract a bit of their stuff out to asian factories. wouldn't worry me particlularly but you know how people are about their artisan bikes.

Yes, I think you're right. The cheaper (lol) Parlee's are in part off the shelf, and only the dearer ones are wholly bespoke and artisan-built, is that right?

Never thought it would come to this but wow:
http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/urban/district/districtcarbon/

you suddenly become the envy of all.

http://micahmcmillan.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/its-full-of-stars.jpg

still don't understand why trek takes shit for a bike like that, but everyone seems to love specialized's urban bikes.

sweet:
http://fireflybicycles.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Firefly-001-side-630px.jpg

what happened with IF? seems like there's been a bust-up between management and some of the builders (three of which have set up that firefly company), nobody's really laid it out for public consumption tho.

ti factory lightweight still looks pretty bangin, must say.

dont know the deets, but apparently they've moved operations to NH? probably as a tax dodge, tbh.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vYcDtip1lhI/TTg4LS4nl5I/AAAAAAAABdA/DoG_crT94cc/s1600/independent-fabrication-factory-light-weight-if-top-600x387.jpg

less dodging tax, more launching attacks pls

i do lol @ the madfiber wheels tho. i know saying 'something more subtle!' is kinda ridic when the bike itself is painted like a dodge GTO... but still!

yeah normally i lol @ those too, but they seem to make sense in that build.

put em on a mid-90s italian job and i will smdh @ u

madfiber are just cheapo/generic Lightweights right?

as in rebranded? or knockoffs?

hot
http://www.cyclowired.jp/sites/default/files/images/2011/03/02/_DSC1971.jpg

madfiber look like the same general concept as LWs with flat carbon spokes bonded into the rim, execution a bit different tho - paired spokes, white industries (i think?) hubs. they're a good bit cheaper too.

cav's new toy looks p. hot if you likes the aero road sub-genre: http://venge.specialized.com/

also wilier are showing off some 750g frame w/ yet another new proprietary BB

not really sure how i feel baout that one, looks like it's melting a bit

http://cdn2.media.cyclingnews.futurecdn.net/2011/03/17/1/velodramatic_specialized_mclaren_venge_4893_600.jpg

Not sure how lustworthy anything called a 'Venge' is.

not feeling any of the ubiquitous humpbacked bikes.

I want a tourer.

Which UK-er wants to let me use their address / ship this frame to me:

http://www.canyon.com/_uk/outlet/article.html?o=A1012107

(only sort of kidding...)

Scott's entry into the Aero-Road category: http://www.bikeradar.com/gallery/article/scott-foil-aero-road-bike-launched-29884?img=1&pn=scott-foil-aero-road-bike-launched&mlc=news%2Farticle#1

It's based on their Plasma TT bike or something, which was one of the few TT bikes that really caught my eye in shops recently. Wonder if this will put price pressure on Cervelo etc.

the all-black one is classy. very stealth bomber (= appropriate).

I'm thinking to myself "sure aero makes sense, I'm usually riding without the benefit of a draft" but then I could also just lose a headset spacer. Or two.

the true aero advances will be made when we evolve to the same shape as dolphins!

but then I could also just lose a headset spacer. Or two.

...and then you risk losing power, or v02max.

aero is not everything, check out Indurain's set-up when he set the hour record.

http://slamthatstem.com/

yes!!

have been making eyes at the giant defy advanced at the shop lately - worked out from geo charts that i could slam stem on one, yet actually have bars in higher position than i do on caad9 currently w/ spacers, heh heh.

i didn't know "slam that stem" was a thing, but i like that. yknow, w/in reason. aesthetically im not really w/ neg rise flip because of the fugly.

and tall headtubes are just another grim reminder of how old people's bodies betray them, too dire. just quit, ok? i saw

http://s98594.gridserver.com/site/wp-content/uploads/Bike_Vamoots.jpg

;_;

this said, i have a 2mm spacer under my f99 because it is ~delicate~

also, it's possible that my standard headset makes "slamming the stem" definitionally impossible as the headset = a sort of spacer, right?

NO EXCUSES, SLAM THAT SHIT

http://www.gainesvillecycling.com/download/file.php?id=5&mode=view
hahahahahaaha

just noticed nokons, perfect

loool, "PRO" all right