In yesterday’s publish I included the Milwaukee, as tremendous a sporting highway bicycle as one may hope to personal, and over the weekend I fell for it over again:
It first got here to me in, as I recall, 2015:
And nearly instantly it grew to become one in all my most-ridden bicycles, performing each function from proto-gravel bike…
…to be-fendered rain bike:
My elder son even commandeered it for awhile:
…after which I made a decision to bestow Main Street Bike standing upon it, and despatched it again to Milwaukee/Ben’s Cycle for refinishing in early 2023:
Upon reassembling the bike I knew I had one thing particular, for its look was lastly equal to its efficiency:
A number of tweaks later (together with maybe essentially the most thorough rear derailleur auditioning course of each performed) I felt as if I had cultivated one thing near the perfect highway bike:
And so assured was I in it that I even did the unthinkable and returned the Litespeed to Traditional Cycle in a well-meaning try to cut back my complete variety of bicycles:
Although this ultimately boomeranged on me, for simply once I’d come to phrases with not having a flowery titanium highway bike, Paul of Traditional Cycle went and despatched me a flowery titanium and carbon highway bike:
That is like while you inform your drug seller you’re off crack and he replies, “Congratulations! This requires a celebration! Right here, assist your self to some heroin.”
I hold telling myself I’m going to ship it again, however then Early-Aughts Me who on the time would have sacrificed a digit for a motorcycle like this seems on my shoulder and says, “C’mon, let’s simply hold it just a little longer, pleeze???”
By the way in which, as I’ve talked about, the bike (dimension 57) remains to be technically on the market from Traditional Cycle, and as occurred with the Davidson I want somebody would simply purchase it already so I don’t find yourself doing it myself:
Should you’re be happy to drop me a line.
See, I’m nonetheless attempting (and failing) to simplify my velocipedal holdings, and I believed I had all of it labored out. The best way I see it’s, I’ve obtained the Core Assortment of Bikes, these being the Jones because the go-anything, do-anywhere terrain-conqueror:
Then I’ve obtained the Rivendae…
…which kind the spine of the entire operation insofar as they’re equal elements comfy, versatile, and visually interesting:
Okay, tremendous, I’ve obtained three of them as a substitute of 1, which isn’t precisely simplifying, however three is an inherently elegant quantity:
Additionally, spiritually talking, three is basically the identical factor as one. Simply because the Catholics nonetheless name themselves monotheists regardless of worshipping the trinity, I espouse simplicity regardless of having a trinity of Rivendae and actually consider them as one bike.
Then there are the Street Bikes. What can I say? I’ll at all times have a Fred inside me. (And sure, I do know what that feels like.) The Rivendae are like beer–positive, you will get fancy about it, however basically it’s a drink for any event. Street bikes nevertheless are like whiskey–intense and elating, however will impair strolling and are liable to go away you in numerous ache afterwards for those who’re not cautious. However typically you want a stiff drink. And just like the Rivendae, I’d additionally narrowed the Street Bikes right down to a three-in-one trinity, consisting of The Traditional:
The Funky Scorching Rod:
And naturally the Milwaukee, which as I say is the Main Street Bike, and is to my thoughts is the embodiment of what the fashionable highway racing bike could be if it had advanced in some kind of alternate dimension wherein issues truly made sense and practicality have been simply as necessary as pace:
It’s obtained the perfect of the fashionable options such because the cassette hub, and the silky-smooth ramped-and-pinned shifting, and the straightforward and reliable outboard bearing crank and threadless fork, and even the sloping high tube for just a little seatpost compliance and crotchal clearance, but it surely’s additionally product of metal and makes use of friction shifting and, most crucially, takes medium-reach rim brakes:
Simply as highly effective and responsive as their short-reach siblings, however simply accommodate a 32mm tire with room to spare:
Additionally, regardless of the sparkly end and the premium experience, that is nonetheless basically a Dirtbag Street bike. No fancy boutique elements:
And all enterprise:
That stated, I’m not getting any youthful, and I’d be mendacity if I didn’t discover myself additionally considering one thing equally sporting, however possibly only a bit extra relaxed and upright, and probably with lugs…
[Via Rivendell]
Somebody actually must invent a bike-specific protected search browser so I don’t have a look at these items.
Anyway, the purpose of all that is that the Jones, the Rivendae, and the Street Bikes would kind the primary forged, then because of my gig because the Traditional Cycle Outdated Crap Check Pilot I’d hold rotating Visitor Stars out and in:
That approach I may proceed to indulge myself in exotica while nonetheless sustaining the mandatory detachment:
And expertise all types of curiosities I won’t have in any other case:
And journey far again in time:
And achieve new perception into what we’ve gotten proper through the years, and what we’ve gotten improper…so, so improper:
Talking of the Y-Foil, what’s previous is new once more:
It’s even obtained “Y” within the title, how do you want that?
However sure, typically I get unduly connected to the Visitor Stars, and the LeMond is well one of many best turn-of-the-century highway bikes I’ve ever ridden:
And since I’m attempting to take care of this entire Core Assortment/Visitor Star factor, if for those who’ve ever dreamed of proudly owning the ne pas extremely of Fin de Siècle Fred Sleds and wish to purchase your self a Christmas and/or Hanukkah present I’m joyful to assist dealer a deal for it, and I’m assured we may beat the competitors’s costs:
However, because of gravel, the loss of life of the rim brake, and so forth there’s in all probability by no means been a greater time to go Full Cheapo and construct your self a real dirtbag highway bike. For instance, as a Nishiki proprietor, I couldn’t assist noticing this:
In the meantime, this in all probability rides 90% as properly because the Tete de Course:
And for those who actually need to lean into it you’ll be able to slap a 9-speed group on this child:
It really is the Dawning of the Age of the Dirtbag.
