Years ago when I depended on my road bike for daily transport, shopping and sightseeing, I rode a 56 cm frame and used a shorter high lift stem. I rode thousands of miles a year and enjoyed myself completely. I didn't know any better. In recent years I think about speed, speed, speed, assistance exercises, and time on the trainer, diet and supplements. For a half a century old guy, I guess I am pretty fast, and fast means riding a 54 cm bike, (I am 5'9"), with the stem long and down, and elbows bent for an aero effect. I waste about 2/3 of a gallon of gas to get back and forth to my weekly group ride (I do drive an fuel efficient VW stick though), and I worry sometimes that on friday I wont be 100% if I don't keep my weight down, and my spirits high, or I'll get dropped. I still love to muse about bikes,(the same one's I thought about 25 years ago). I still love to touch them, dream about them, but if the truth were known, I don't think, set up the way I have them set up now, they would be comfortable for me for the typical half day rides I took years ago.
Last year I visited the parents- in -law in Germany, and I borrowed a mountain bike to tool around. Every day I rode for hours on my friend. I saw a piece of the world and I was in love with adventure. I never thought about being fast. I was always comfortable. Yes, it was a stupid aluminum ugly ass, welded frame. Yes, it had horrible garish graphics and a rear suspension that I didn't need...(I don't think I needed the front suspension either for that matter). Now this brings me to what Grant markets. He markets a real fun bike. A bike you can enjoy owning because it's pretty, and pridefully made, but that lets you look around and smell the roses. It has real tires that can take an occasional hit from a pothole or a curb. These bikes are a sport/travel bike rather than a sexy speed devil maiden dressed in black leather and high heels. If everyone rode one and maintained one, we wouldn't be in this environmental mess we're in today, We would all be happier and healthier, and our cities would be friendlier. I hope Grant makes it in more ways than one. I hope his business succeeds and I hope the world he envisions becomes a reality. If the balls to the world, competitive world that I live in each friday becomes the world model, we'll all be doomed or we already are. I bought some parts from Grant last year, and he included a dvd on how to raise happy children. My son is happy, and to some small degree, I owe that to Grant.
Garth Libre in Miami Fl. who does have a few cycling buddies that he likes so much, he doesn't care to drop them.