-a
My LBS says they won't be avalable until January.
He is the largest Trek shop in the East... FWIW
HAND
The local Trek superstore does have some of the 2006 road bikes (carbon
fiber, AL and I think even a 2006 520 steel), and I think some of the
2005 hybrid "fitness bikes" and full suspension mountain bikes. The
2006 oddballs like the tandems, folders, cyclocross, etc. have yet to
make an in-person appearance.
Robert Leone rle...@hotmail.com
Robert Leone
[Trek Portland]
> Hi Andrew!
> I've not seen it live, but I have seen it in the catalog. The disk
> brakes on a road bike action may be great for stopping, but you'll
> probably want to use aftermarket fenders, depending on the rain/wet
> street quotient in your area.. The ones that come with it are
> half-fenders with quick release. The only other road-type bike I've
> seen that comes with disk brakes is the LeMond Poprad disk, and again
> that's only in the catalogs.
Pure road, maybe, but lots of American brands build cyclocross bikes
with discs. The Redline Conquest Disc is one such bike, and Kona will
sell you the Major Jake frame, a 'cross frame with disc tabs.
There's also the Kona Sutra, another road bike with disks:
http://konaworld.com/shopping_cart/FrontEnd/Products/product_detail.aspx?
productid=358&parentid=253
And I'm sure others.
I agree about the fenders: The Trek Portland ones don't look so hot
unless quick removal is really important.
--
Ryan Cousineau rcou...@sfu.ca http://www.wiredcola.com/
"I don't want kids who are thinking about going into mathematics
to think that they have to take drugs to succeed." -Paul Erdos
The Trek apparently has road geometry (similar to my Madone) with 105
10sp which is a lot better than the other options out there. Even the
Lemond is a cross bike. The Redline Disc-R is ok, but it's definitely
not the same sort of road geometry that I'm looking for. The Sutra is
a touring bike with rather laid back angles. The Trek has been the
first model I've seen (without going custom) that looks to fit the bill.
That would be about right- it takes a little time for manufacturers to
fill the orders after product introduction (Trek does this in August, I
think).
Here's what it looks like in the catalog:
http://www2.trekbikes.com/bikes/bike.php?bikeid=1037000&f=7
(Warning: Flash-heavy site, to no good purpose.)
I'd agree that it should have full fenders. The semi-fenders do little
beyond keeping your but a little drier. Full fenders lessen the spray
on your riding partners. With 8,000 bicycle trips into Portland
(Oregon) each day, *real* fenders are *real* necessary.
Jeff
Trek like GM, sweats the details.
Scott G.
> H M Leary wrote:
> > In article <1130653337.5...@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com>,
> > "Andrew F Martin" <andrew_...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > > Anybody seen this in a shop yet? I need a new rain bike that actually
> > > stops when I want it to.
> > >
> > > -a
> >
> > My LBS says they won't be avalable until January.
> >
>
> That would be about right- it takes a little time for manufacturers to
> fill the orders after product introduction (Trek does this in August, I
> think).
>
> Here's what it looks like in the catalog:
> http://www2.trekbikes.com/bikes/bike.php?bikeid=1037000&f=7
> (Warning: Flash-heavy site, to no good purpose.)
Once again I am reminded that sales forces do not aiming
their sales pitches at me; as with `Flash' turned off
nothing comes up.
--
Michael Press
The rest of the world.
Just curious, how can you tell the bb heights? I looked at the web
pages and they're measured differently I think...
http://www2.trekbikes.com/bikes/bike.php?bikeid=1037000&f=7
http://www.lemondbikes.com/2006_bikes/poprad_disc.shtml#
One has BB height, the other has BB drop.
http://www.lemondbikes.com/images/2006_bikes/geometry/poprad_new.gif
I didn't get the calculator out, but nothing from these plans indicate
that Lemond is a lower BB. Actually - since the Lemond is actually a
cross bike - I'd expect it to have a higher BB.
They both have lower BB drops than typical road bikes (70 mm drop). The
Lemond is 74 mm, and the Trek looks to be 74-76 mm depending on frame size,
guessing that they assumed 680 mm for the diameter of a 700x28 tire (or
73-75 mm if they assumed 678 mm overall diameter 622+2*28).
Scanning over the frame geometry charts, I would say that they are almost
identical. Comparing the 52 Lemond to the 54 Trek:
Lemond 52 c-top of top tube is close to Trek 54 c-top of extension,
especially considering seat post lengths these days
54.2 vs. 54.5 cm effective top tube
73.5 seat angle on both
72 head angle on Lemond, 71.5 on Trek is close. The slightly greater offset
on the Trek fork pretty much evens up the trail.
BB drop is about the same
43 cm chainstays on both
The head tube is 2.3 cm taller on the Trek, which is only a useful
comparison if they forks are the same length, which they are because they
use the same forks. But the Lemond requires a cable hanger for the front
brake which probably takes up 1 cm of that difference.
Scott G.
Trek's latest availability list says it won't start shipping until
late-December. Funny that you bring this up; I was just at a "Town Hall"
meeting that Trek held for local San Francisco-area dealers, where the
company comes out and gets to hear dealers tell them about "opportunities"
(things they could do better). One of my points was that product which won't
be available for a while should have an estimated street date on the
*consumer* website. That would save customers some footwork when they're not
sure if a dealer is telling them the real scoop.
--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReactionBicycles.com
Looks like it's going to run between $1400-$1500 according to the
most-recent price list. Things could change between now and when it comes
out, but most likely not. It's certainly been drawing a lot of attention
(and to some extent is a "tribute" bike to Jay Graves of the Bike Gallery in
Portland... a really good guy who's devoted quite a bit of his time to
bicycle advocacy over the years).
>Trek's latest availability list says it won't start shipping until
>late-December. Funny that you bring this up; I was just at a "Town Hall"
>meeting that Trek held for local San Francisco-area dealers,
Was it "live, unscripted and unscreened", or *actually* all of the above?
Jasper
Thanks, Mike!
BTW, the last time I was in Waterloo, Wisc. I saw a few Trek bikes thet
were manufactured with full fenders, generator lights, rack... the whole
nine yards. called the 7770 or some such.
Not available for sale in the USA, but I did see several in Ireland.
Maybe the Portland is derived from this??
HAND
Jay is a great guy who gives back to the community -- and what a
little empire his family has. The annual Bike Gallery clearance
sell is held in giant warehouse, and they must have a thousand
bikes on the floor -- or so it seems. It draws such a crowd you
would think it was a rock concert.
Anyway, the only thing upsetting about the Portland (besides the
vestigial fenders) is the sizing. I just don't think that at
6'3" a 60cm frame is going to do it for me -- especially
considering I could get a Pilot in a 63cm. The disks are a draw,
but good calipers would do just fine most of the time (except for
rim wear), and I am wondering why someone would get the Portland
and not the aluminum Pilot. Also, I just don't get this whole
comfort bike thing -- the riding position may be better for some,
but it must give the front end a strange feeling with the short
top tube and long stem.-- Jay Beattie.
The FX line on the co.uk site has a bike with Disc brakes, but it's a
"comfort" bike. Certainly a cool concept, but not the "ultimate rain
bike" that I'm looking for.
The best part of disc brakes up here (Seattle) are when flats occur.
Your hands aren't a gritty mess of rim gunk. I'm hoping that more disc
road bikes start coming out here soon so that there are more options.
I guess I don't do enough braking in the rain to think disks worth the
trouble.
Yes, my bikes become a gritty mess in the rain. But do disk brakes
really reduce that by any significant amount?
And to splice threads: I hope disk brake bikes get front forks &/or
dropouts designed to resist the downward ejection force on the axle.
http://www.ne.jp/asahi/julesandjames/home/disk_and_quick_release/index.html
- Frank Krygowski
Isn't it odd - and frustrating - that a bike made in the US isn't
available for sale in the US?
Sure, it wouldn't be the most popular bike sold in America. But those
of us in the US with unusual requirements should be able to get one by
special order, at least!
- Frank Krygowski
I just want them to stop. I could barely stop my bike yesterday
while riding to work in a rain storm through about two miles of
standing water. All the storm drains were blocked and it turned
my commute route into a lake with leaf islands. I run STI with
some well adjusted cantis, and they would not stop in under 50
feet. Dual pivots may have done a better job, but I would hope
disks are even better. -- Jay Beattie.
The only problems my teammates report is when they swap back to their
regular road bikes is the feeling that the brakes are so much weaker.
-a
That's an interesting bike. It's pretty high-zoot for a commuter, it has
a lot of drop from saddle to handlebar, and the front mudflap is ugly
but probably quite effective.
What really surprises me, though, is the rear fender. It looks like you
didn't have enough clearance to rotate it all the way forward. I'd bet
your feet and drivetrain would stay cleaner if you could get it to
rotate all the way to the bottom bracket.
And is that a mudflap hanging off the back fender? That fender is really
low already, so I'd like to know why you put a mud flap back there. Do
you frequently ride with a group in the rain? The only function I can
see for a back fender that low is to keep the next guy dry.
The background bikes are interesting, too. You spend some time on the
track, and I can see why you might want such a big drop from saddle to
bars on the track. But a commuter bike is usually a different story.
--
Dave
dvt at psu dot edh
Flash is like cheap candy. Tempting initially, but it gets old even by
the first taste.
\\paul
--
Paul M. Hobson
Georgia Institute of Technology
.:change the words to numbers
if you want to reply to me:.
The rear flap is nice and low because I ride with my team most of the
winter - having a good "buddy flap" is key.
As for the drop - I'm 6'3" and pretty flexible - all my bikes have a
big drop.
Race bike: http://tinyurl.com/dantu
> JeffWills wrote:
> > H M Leary wrote:
> >
> >>In article <1130653337.5...@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com>,
> >> "Andrew F Martin" <andrew_...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> >>
> >>
> >>>Anybody seen this in a shop yet? I need a new rain bike that actually
> >>>stops when I want it to.
> >>>
> >>>-a
> >>
> >>My LBS says they won't be avalable until January.
> >>
> >
> >
> > That would be about right- it takes a little time for manufacturers to
> > fill the orders after product introduction (Trek does this in August, I
> > think).
> >
> > Here's what it looks like in the catalog:
> > http://www2.trekbikes.com/bikes/bike.php?bikeid=1037000&f=7
> > (Warning: Flash-heavy site, to no good purpose.)
>
> Flash is like cheap candy. Tempting initially, but it gets old even by
> the first taste.
To view their site the browser must have cookies enabled
as well as fish. I am happy with my Marinoni, thanks.
>That's an interesting bike. It's pretty high-zoot for a commuter, it has
>a lot of drop from saddle to handlebar, and the front mudflap is ugly
>but probably quite effective.
>
>What really surprises me, though, is the rear fender. It looks like you
>didn't have enough clearance to rotate it all the way forward. I'd bet
>your feet and drivetrain would stay cleaner if you could get it to
>rotate all the way to the bottom bracket.
It looks like both fenders are sections of one rear fender, to me. the
front is *really* tiny.
Jasper
The rear part behind the brake is a front fender with an extra set of
supporting mounts that I pop-rivetted in to keep it straight. Between
the brake and the seat tube is just a small piece - couldn't fit much
else in there.
While I'm surprised at the weight figure, I still think that a carbon
fork and STI shifters make it high-zoot for a commuter. I guess it all
depends on your perspective, eh?
--
Dave
dvt at psu dot edu
Looking at the Trek Portland, it seems the drop out slots are pointed
forward. Is that what you mean? Photo at
http://www2.trekbikes.com/bikes/bike.php?bikeid=1037000&f=7
You might be refering to the L200
I don't know how to link directly to it, but you can see it if you go
to http://www.trekbikes.com/ , then Bikes, then Bike Archive (lower
right), then 2004 City and Bike Path Bikes, then L300 or L200 etc.
> > Not available for sale in the USA, but I did see several in Ireland.
>
> Isn't it odd - and frustrating - that a bike made in the US isn't
> available for sale in the US?
If the OP is talking about the L200 and other models like them, I don't
think they were made in the US. Not surprised he saw them in Ireland --
Trek recently closed an assembly plant there, and these bikes were
almost certainly assembled there.
> Sure, it wouldn't be the most popular bike sold in America.
You're right -- it's been dropped from the line in 2006.
> But those
> of us in the US with unusual requirements should be able to get one by
> special order, at least!
Maybe try calling different Trek dealers who might want to sell last
year's?
Taking "well-adjusted" at face value, I have to guess this is either a
failure of pad compound or expectations.
I'm a great fan of Kool-Stop's famous salmon (iron oxide) pads.
As for the other part, The rims have to be substantially clear of water
before they'll do any stopping. On my biggest commute descent, this
means dragging the brakes slightly to keep the rims clean when it rains.
I think discs have two advantages: they tend to stay out of the rain a
bit better, and because the pads sit closer to the braking surface, you
can have less lever effort, more clamping force, or a bit of both.
--
Ryan Cousineau rcou...@sfu.ca http://www.wiredcola.com/
"I don't want kids who are thinking about going into mathematics
to think that they have to take drugs to succeed." -Paul Erdos
Hmm. Yes, it does look like that. And that is what I mean. Thanks.
- Frank Krygowski