In yesterday’s publish I included the Milwaukee, as nice a sporting highway bicycle as one may hope to personal, and over the weekend I fell for it over again:
It first got here to me in, as I recall, 2015:
And nearly instantly it turned certainly one of my most-ridden bicycles, performing each position from proto-gravel bike…
…to be-fendered rain bike:
My elder son even commandeered it for awhile:
…after which I made a decision to bestow Main Street Bike standing upon it, and despatched it again to Milwaukee/Ben’s Cycle for refinishing in early 2023:
Upon reassembling the bike I knew I had one thing particular, for its look was lastly equal to its efficiency:
A number of tweaks later (together with maybe probably the most thorough rear derailleur auditioning course of each carried out) I felt as if I had cultivated one thing near the perfect highway bike:
And so assured was I in it that I even did the unthinkable and returned the Litespeed to Traditional Cycle in a well-meaning try to scale back my whole variety of bicycles:
Although this ultimately boomeranged on me, for simply after I’d come to phrases with not having a elaborate titanium highway bike, Paul of Traditional Cycle went and despatched me a elaborate titanium and carbon highway bike:
That is like while you inform your drug supplier you’re off crack and he replies, “Congratulations! This requires a celebration! Right here, assist your self to some heroin.”
I hold telling myself I’m going to ship it again, however then Early-Aughts Me who on the time would have sacrificed a digit for a motorbike like this seems on my shoulder and says, “C’mon, let’s simply hold it somewhat longer, pleeze???”
By the best way, as I’ve talked about, the bike (dimension 57) continues to be technically on the market from Traditional Cycle, and as occurred with the Davidson I want somebody would simply purchase it already so I don’t find yourself doing it myself:
Should you’re be at liberty to drop me a line.
See, I’m nonetheless attempting (and failing) to simplify my velocipedal holdings, and I assumed I had all of it labored out. The way in which I see it’s, I’ve obtained the Core Assortment of Bikes, these being the Jones because the go-anything, do-anywhere terrain-conqueror:
Then I’ve obtained the Rivendae…
…which type the spine of the entire operation insofar as they’re equal elements comfy, versatile, and visually interesting:
Okay, nice, I’ve obtained three of them as a substitute of 1, which isn’t precisely simplifying, however three is an inherently elegant quantity:
Additionally, spiritually talking, three is absolutely the identical factor as one. Simply because the Catholics nonetheless name themselves monotheists regardless of worshipping the trinity, I espouse simplicity regardless of having a trinity of Rivendae and actually consider them as one bike.
Then there are the Street Bikes. What can I say? I’ll all the time have a Fred inside me. (And sure, I do know what that feels like.) The Rivendae are like beer–certain, you will get fancy about it, however essentially it’s a drink for any event. Street bikes nevertheless are like whiskey–intense and elating, however will impair strolling and are liable to go away you in numerous ache afterwards in case you’re not cautious. However typically you want a stiff drink. And just like the Rivendae, I’d additionally narrowed the Street Bikes all the way down to a three-in-one trinity, consisting of The Traditional:
The Funky Scorching Rod:
And naturally the Milwaukee, which as I say is the Main Street Bike, and is to my thoughts is the embodiment of what the trendy highway racing bike could be if it had developed in some type of alternate dimension wherein issues really made sense and practicality have been simply as necessary as velocity:
It’s obtained one of the best of the trendy options such because the cassette hub, and the silky-smooth ramped-and-pinned shifting, and the straightforward and reliable outboard bearing crank and threadless fork, and even the sloping prime tube for somewhat seatpost compliance and crotchal clearance, however it’s additionally manufactured from metal and makes use of friction shifting and, most crucially, takes medium-reach rim brakes:
Simply as highly effective and responsive as their short-reach siblings, however simply accommodate a 32mm tire with room to spare:
Additionally, regardless of the sparkly end and the premium trip, that is nonetheless essentially a Dirtbag Street bike. No fancy boutique elements:
And all enterprise:
That mentioned, I’m not getting any youthful, and I’d be mendacity if I didn’t discover myself additionally considering one thing equally sporting, however perhaps only a bit extra relaxed and upright, and probably with lugs…
[Via Rivendell]
Somebody actually must invent a bike-specific secure search browser so I don’t take a look at these items.
Anyway, the purpose of all that is that the Jones, the Rivendae, and the Street Bikes would type the primary forged, then due to my gig because the Traditional Cycle Outdated Crap Check Pilot I’d hold rotating Visitor Stars out and in:
That approach I may proceed to indulge myself in exotica while nonetheless sustaining the mandatory detachment:
And expertise all kinds of curiosities I may not have in any other case:
And journey far again in time:
And acquire new perception into what we’ve gotten proper over time, and what we’ve gotten flawed…so, so flawed:
Talking of the Y-Foil, what’s previous is new once more:
It’s even obtained “Y” within the identify, how do you want that?
However sure, typically I get unduly hooked up to the Visitor Stars, and the LeMond is well one of many most interesting turn-of-the-century highway bikes I’ve ever ridden:
And since I’m attempting to keep up this entire Core Assortment/Visitor Star factor, if in case you’ve ever dreamed of proudly owning the ne pas extremely of Fin de Siècle Fred Sleds and wish to purchase your self a Christmas and/or Hanukkah reward I’m pleased to assist dealer a deal for it, and I’m assured we may beat the competitors’s costs:
Then again, due to gravel, the dying of the rim brake, and so forth there’s in all probability by no means been a greater time to go Full Cheapo and construct your self a real dirtbag highway bike. For instance, as a Nishiki proprietor, I couldn’t assist noticing this:
In the meantime, this in all probability rides 90% as properly because the Tete de Course:
And in case you actually wish to lean into it you possibly can slap a 9-speed group on this child:
It actually is the Dawning of the Age of the Dirtbag.
