Mark,
I like to set up my "city bikes" with 3TTT alloy tourist bars and a standard 3TTT Record stem. I also like to use Suntour bar end shifters which always work fine with triple cranksets. I'm sure there are lots of bars and stem conbinations. Another good one is a 3TTT adjustable stem turned so the extention has some rise to it. Same handlebar. I like the bike to look like exactly what it is; a "racing bike" with upright bars. One doesn't have to use a triple, but where I live (and because I love hills so much) it is required around here to be practical, which is the whole point of the bike. You can use "fattish" tires if you want. I like a really well broken in old leather saddle on the bike, so it feels like you're sitting on the couch while riding it. Great way to use a road bike.
Brian Baylis La Mesa, CA
Brian Baylis
La Mesa, CA
> If you change the drops to regular uprights do you sometimes use the
> all-rounder bars like they we used to see on early Lotus bikes at
> Proteus? What is your favorite comfortable upright bar?
>
> Mark(wants to ride sitting upright sometimes) Cutufelli
> Laurel,MD
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org
> [mailto:classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org] On Behalf Of Brian
> Baylis
> Sent: Wednesday, October 15, 2003 4:15 PM
> To: Neill Currie
> Cc: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
> Subject: Re: [CR]Frame quality issues.
>
>
>
> Neill,
>
> Very well said.
>
> One other tidbit I've noticed about bikes. A lot of what you get out of
> your frame depends on how you set it up. I have several vintage Italian
> road bikes that are set up as "city bikes" pretty much the way ones sees
> retired racing iron being ridden by old men around the cafes of Europe.
> There are lots of possibilities for bikes and only a very small
> percentage of them are for racing. My racing days are over; I now ride
> strictly for fun and to be with my friends. I enjoy the bike and the
> experience every single time.
>
> Parts selection can make a drastic difference in how a bike feels when
> you ride it. A drastic example of this came to me when I set up my trike
> with a double chainring and a 7 spd FW. It was very hard to ride and
> wasn't very much fun. Then I decided to outfit it with a triple
> chainring and a little lower gearing on the FW. Suddenly the bike was a
> blast to ride and I can actually get it going pretty fast. It's still a
> chore to ride but it is fun now that it has proper gearing for my needs.
> I was beginning to consider selling it until I "rediscovered" it.
>
> Brian Baylis
> La Mesa, CA
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Neill Currie <neill1234@yahoo.com>
> To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, October 15, 2003 12:28 PM
> Subject: [CR]Frame quality issues.
>
>
> > Well, thought I would just chime in here, having
> > read the thread about "what makes for a great
> > frame and why".
> >
> > I have frames that are made extremely well, in my
> > opinion. Sometimes their aesthetic appeal jives
> > well with my personal preferences, sometimes not.
> > Sometimes these bikes ride very nicely,
> > occasionally not. I have a frameset I made myself
> > 18 years ago: super tight clearances, all
> > internal cable routing.......the ride is tight,
> > the aesthetic appeal to me is great, yet it is
> > not a bike I would want to ride for more than,
> > say, 50 miles.
> >
> > I have frames that are made not so well also.
> > Sometimes though, these not only look very
> > pleasing to my eye, but they have a very special
> > ride, often for some particular set of reasons
> > combining to produce that ride. I am thinking of
> > an example in this case: a 1950's Peugeot. Not
> > made with any great care or attention to detail,
> > yet the combination of generous fork rake, pencil
> > stays, long wheelbase etc, contribute to a
> > magical ride that one would want to ride many
> > extra miles on........and what better attributes
> > could one get from a bike, I ask? It also cost me
> > just $25.
> >
> > I have a bike that fits in a 3rd category too:
> > pretty nicely made, though not GREAT. The
> > downtube cracked and needed replacement after 3
> > years of reasonably heavy use, and has been fine
> > since. The paintjob and attention to detail on
> > this bike attracts attention from others like
> > almost no other bike however........and it has
> > the most lively ride, with cat-like acceleration.
> > This bike stands out in this respect.
> >
> > So, I say "love them all", at least the ones that
> > you feel are deserving of your love, for all
> > sorts of reasons. In my case there seem to be
> > many more reasons to like different bikes for all
> > sorts of different reasons, than there are
> > reasons for being too discriminating. Appeal,
> > interest, intended use, quality of construction,
> > etc.....are all valid reasons for liking and
> > preferring certiain bikes. Just don't overlook
> > the real gem however, just because it doesn't fit
> > your mindview or prejudice.
> >
> > =====
> > Neill Currie, Portland, Me 04102, USA.
> > ------------
> > I usually have classic bicycle components for sale at good prices.
> > Please
> email me for a current list. A reasonably current list may be seen here:
> > http://www.geocities.com/
> > ------------
> > The Mountain Goat website is at:
> > http://www.geocities.com/
> > ------------
> >
> > __________________________________
> > Do you Yahoo!?
> > The New Yahoo! Shopping - with improved product search
> > http://shopping.yahoo.com