This past Thursday my new Alex Singer arrived. Needless to say - but I'll say it anyway - when the shipping co contacted me to say it was in I was VERY excited (think I did much work after that ?).
So, taking a chunk of the afternoon off I went to get my new bike. First stop the shippers. Paid the shipping fee, learned a bit about the process from Laura at DHL (very nice, friendly, and helpful) and then off to Customs to pay the duties and get it cleared (not so nice, not so friendly, and not so helpful). After that back to the shipper to collect the box.
Pocket book MUCH lighter but with the boxed bike safely in the back of my CR-V (just fit) I headed home to savor the unpacking.
Once home I poured a glass of wine, pushed the dogs out the backdoor and settled down to unpack my new Singer while watching the Bob and Kirsten show on OLN.
I will say this, whoever packs bikes at Alex Singer knows their stuff - this was one finely boxed and packed bike. By the time I had it out of the box and assembled it was late so I didn't plan on a test ride. Looking over the bike I struck by how pretty and elegant it was. Mine is the metallic gray/blue with chrome head lugs and chromed lower stays and fork. Very nice ! An un-expected touch - the rear brake cable is routed internally through the top tube - not something you see everyday on an Alex Singer.
Other things I noticed; the lugwork for the most part is quite good but not what you'd see on a Brian Baylis or Richard Sachs by any means. Still not bad. Oddly enough though, the most prominent lugs - the chromed head lugs had the poorest "shoreline" with a roughness around them that I guess to be some brazing material. It's not bad but with all the rest of the lugwork nice and clean it makes you wonder. As for building up the lugs with extra material - it was done very nicely. The radii are smooth, the workmanship clean. The chrome looks fine too. The custom stem is also very well done. And complete with my name, city, state engraved on it just adds that extra touch.
I specified a "full-on" randonneur. So my Alex Singer has alloy fenders (striped in blue), a generator with remote control, internal wiring to the lights, small front and rear racks. Also came with low rider attachments for the front rack so if I choose I can do some light touring.
I also went the full "classic" build with the parts. Maxi-Car hubs, Huret Jubilee derailleurs, Mafac brakes... Apart from the decals and modern rims you'd be hard pressed to know this is a 2004 bike and not one from the 1970s.
With this bike I wasn't expecting the level of finish of some of the finer American builders (although I wish Alex Singer did produce bikes that nice). But there were a couple things a bit lower in finishwork than I would've thought. First, they need to ditch their pinstriping around the lugs. It does nothing attractive to the bike and is of an amateur quality. Why bother. Second, while it'd be really neat if they clear coated over their decals they don't. This wouldn't be such a big deal but on mine the decals are poorly done with wrinkles and some edging already looking like it's ready to peel. Jan Heine assures me he can get me new decals though. (Thanks Jan).
The one really poor thing though - the build up. I am told mine is not typical so take this as an exception but whoever hung the various parts on this bike did a poor job. The first item to come to my attention was that when I inflated the rear tire it rubbed against the fender. Thanks to Mike Kone for re-dishing the wheel for me but this shouldn't have been necessary (and it prevented me from riding my new bike right off the bat!). Next, problem - the bolt used to set the tension for the rear shifter bottoms out before there's enough tension. So the shifter slips. I was lucky enough to have a replacement that was shorter and solved this but again - should not have been this way. Other things - the spokes are under tensioned. The brakes are not centered, the rear brake cable housing has the ends poorly cut so it binds some. The rear derailleur doesn't wrap enough chain (or I need to shorten the chain - some experimenting is in order)... Like I said, poorly assembled. I wouldn't expect this from a $500 bike bought at a chain store. Let alone one worth many times more from Alex Singer. Again, I am told this is not typical for them so if you are thinking of ordering one don't go by this. But at the same time don't always expect it to be fine either. Still, Jan Heine plans to help me out here (Thanks again Jan).
Other things - I am going to swap out the bars for some nice Nitto randonneurs. The bars that come with it are an odd shape to my Nitto indoctrinated hands. I'm already swapping the Mafac brake pads for Scott "Super brake"s. A short trip up and down the street shows a marked improvement already (both in noise and stopping power).
Over all, I'm very pleased with the bike though. Don't take my bitching about the assembly quality as me saying I don't like my new bike - I do like it. I like it a lot and am looking forward to putting many, many miles on it. I just need to take it to a good mechanic for a good going over before I feel confident about long trips (ridden it all of 25 miles so far). That and swap those bars !
Once I get some good miles in I'll email my riding impressions.
I'll take PLENTY of pics this weekend and email them to anyone wanting to see them (and send some Dale's way if he wants to update the Alex Singer gallery).
Final notes (for now) -
Thanks to Jan Heine for helping me out in all this. I feel confident that with his help all my issues will be resolved.
Thanks to Mike Kone for fixing the wheel dish and letting me into his home to see his FANTASTIC collection of bikes. If you ever get the opportunity to visit Mike DO IT. I'm still wondering how to pry some of his very cool bikes out of his hands (he had a couple of Alex Singers that would look SO much nicer gracing my bedroom !!!). On top of that Mike is a wealth of knowledge on these classic French bikes (as is Jan of course).
More as the story develops.
John Price
Aurora CO (says so right on my stem)