This was a birthday present for Gaby, though I didn't get it on the road until June of 2011.
She had a small Novarra mountain bike from the 80s which was very heavy and a bit big for her, as well as looking kind of wack. I wanted to try making a bike with a very short top tube - about 47cm - which is something that is hard to find in an off-the-shelf bike, and certainly rarer in the city commuter style. She likes hand brakes and required the ability to shift gears, and light weight and comfort are also important.
The curved seatstays that become top tubes are not just for looks. They make the frame more flexible, which is important because the 20" wheels don't soak up as much vibration and as many little bumps as the 26" ones did.
The pedals have built-in generators that power flashing LEDs. The parts are a mix of old and new. The handlebars are Wald, and the stem is from a Royce Union I found on the street. Weinmann alloy brake levers - IMO the most beautiful. Schwalbe Marathon tires will last for years, as will the Sturmey Archer 3-speed hub.
The front basket is also handmade and sturdy. The twin-plate forks have almost no trail, but it rides quite well with some weight in the basket. She will likely always be carrying about 8 pounds of locks.
This was a birthday present for Gaby, though I didn't get it on the road until June of 2011.
She had a small Novarra mountain bike from the 80s which was very heavy and a bit big for her, as well as looking kind of wack. I wanted to try making a bike with a very short top tube - about 47cm - which is something that is hard to find in an off-the-shelf bike, and certainly rarer in the city commuter style. She likes hand brakes and required the ability to shift gears, and light weight and comfort are also important.
The curved seatstays that become top tubes are not just for looks. They make the frame more flexible, which is important because the 20" wheels don't soak up as much vibration and as many little bumps as the 26" ones did.
The pedals have built-in generators that power flashing LEDs. The parts are a mix of old and new. The handlebars are Wald, and the stem is from a Royce Union I found on the street. Weinmann alloy brake levers - IMO the most beautiful. Schwalbe Marathon tires will last for years, as will the Sturmey Archer 3-speed hub.
The front basket is also handmade and sturdy. The twin-plate forks have almost no trail, but it rides quite well with some weight in the basket. She will likely always be carrying about 8 pounds of locks.
