$500 commuter bike as a low-budget AHH?

[Nick in Sac]

Awhile back, I worked for a bike shop that had these as rentals. They were a nice ride but equipped with pretty low-end components and made with a hi-tensile steel frame. At the time, I wasn't aware of Rivendell or Grant Petersen's design philosophy. I didn't pay much attention to them.

However, looking at Homers but lacking the budget to build one, my mind went back to these:

https://www.brooklynbicycleco.com/collections/bedford-collection

It also appears that Grant designed their bikes in some capacity: https://www.brooklynbicycleco.com/blogs/journal/five-things-that-matter-on-bike-frame-geometry-with-grant-petersen

Am I cuckoo for thinking that this would be a good option for someone on a really tight budget or someone who has a partner or spouse who rides occasionally? I just emailed them about tire clearance and am waiting to hear back. From what I remember, they came stock with a 32 and had room to spare.

[Tom Wyland]

A Handsome Devil is basically a  tig-welded SAM.   It looks similar to the bike you linked, but it's double-butted 4130 and has canti brakes.  Room for 45s without fenders, 38 with fenders.  I have one.

[Ben Mihovk]

I actually looked at Brooklyn bicycles back in November of 2019 when I was looking to buy my first bike since middle school...I was 38 at the time. I REALLY wanted a Rivendell because of a buddy in college who sold me on the company, but wasn't going to spend that kind of money until I knew I loved riding. I really liked the look of the Bedfords. I e-mailed with Brooklyn and they recommended the Roebling for my height, and I didn't like it as much aesthetically. I had no idea Grant had anything to do with this company until last month! I ended up with a Linus Altore 7, which I honesty really liked and borderline loved it after swapping out a few things and making it a budget-build Riv-a-like. 

[Mark Roland]

A brand-new $500 Riv wanna be has its place, and I imagine it will be an entry for some. But there is something missing with these bikes, and the frame quality is not inspiring to me. My preference is to go back to the originals that informed Grant's AHH design, the sport tourers of the 70s and 80s. Converting a good quality 27" wheeled-bike from this era to 700c can get you room for some relatively big tires. Some later 700c models are great for 650B conversions.

My AHH-equivalent would probably be my 1975 Takara Model 8. I picked it up for $100 and built it up with spare parts. It will take 43mm Rock & Road tires (tight) with plenty of clearance for 38mm RH Barlow Pass. It even has a Rivesque head badge.  Has seen many miles since I picked it up 6 or 7 years ago.

On Thursday, January 28, 2021 at 4:23:42 PM UTC-5 Nick in Sac wrote:

[Joe Bernard]

I don't know much about Linus but I've never seen an ugly one. Whomever is behind that brand is into it.

[Ed Carolipio]

I got the wife the Willow 3 since she was too short for the Clem. (More like a Betty/Cheviot than an AHH.) I think the Brooklyns are a great value proposition, and I point folks in their direction if the price of a new Riv is a bit daunting or they can't wait for a used Riv to pop up. The tig welds are clean and structurally the ride has been fine, plus having an all cro-moly frame is a noticeable difference versus hi-ten frames typical of bikes in this price range. The ride "rhymes" with a Riv: still fun and comfy but there's a snappiness and sharpness that's missing for me. The 36h wheelset has been solid for the city riding we do, though I did have to true it up once shortly after we got it. The finish on the frame isn't as nice as a Riv and of course no lugs or headtube reinforcement rings to be seen. Fit and finish of components are meh: they're functional but I don't expect them to take a lot of abuse.

--Ed C.

[Mark Roland]

Joe wrote: I don't know much about Linus but I've never seen an ugly one.

This one might not be flat out ugly, but I would classify it as a bicycle fashion faux pas. It's one of those bikes done as a "collab" with a famous (or in this case, maybe not so famous?) designer. Apparently Clare V. is French but her company is in LA and makes handbags and accessories.

The problem I have with her colorway is that, for most people familiar with bicycles, when you see one with a completely different color fork (other than chrome, perhaps black) you think oh, the bike was wrecked and that is a replacement fork. The true cognescenti will then wonder if there is a ripple in the down tube. Not only did this bike suffer a front end collision, but it was rear-ended! It would be like designing a Tesla with a different colored hood and rear panel. Also the colors would remind me of Christmas every day. I think for this to work you would need to go further: yellow front fender, pale blue chaincase, white with polka dots saddle, purple grips. Now you wouldn't think replacement parts.

Here's  a winter time passer for those of us in single digit temps this morning: If Rivendell were to do a "collab", who would you like to see sitting next to GP at the drawing board?

[Jingy]

Mark- Are you looking for the bike equivalent of one of these?

Jim in Mpls

[Michael Morrissey]

The Harlequin Golf is amazing! 😉I already have a Golf but if I didn't I would love a Harlequin Golf. I also think the mismatched Linus is cool too. 

As for the original question, this is what you are looking for:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1984-Trek-520-lugged-steel-touring-bicycle-frame-fork-Reynolds-501-56cm-CTC/254830245403?hash=item3b5510f61b:g:y50AAOSw3a5f-g02

M.

[Mark Roland]

Exactly. The Golf looks purposeful. Whereas if it were just a single door panel, it would look like a repair. That is my issue with the contrasting fork.

On Friday, January 29, 2021 at 9:12:24 AM UTC-5 Jingy wrote:

[Paul Brodek]

Clare V. stole it from moi!

Paul Brodek

Hillsdale, NJ USA

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[Mark Roland]

Nice Paul! And you speak French! Can't wait to see your line of handbags and accessories.

1

[Paul Brodek]

It will be tres chic---mon dieu!

Now where's my Oeuf McMuffin?

Paul "No habla Francois" Brodek

Hillsdale, NJ USA