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| A Surly LHT, drawing cannibalized to suit my needs. |
Truthfully, neither does Soma or Velo Orange, two other highly regarded companies that have similar reputations. Soma offers a Mixte style, but it's cost and untested touring potential, or for that matter without an opportunity to swing my leg over a frame, are factors that have me looking elsewhere. And frankly, I'm afraid any Mixte will not have the step-over height like I'm currently used to. And as tempting as the Rivendell's Clementine is, again, if I can't take it for a spin I would be silly to purchasing it sight unseen.
With my purse, a custom bicycle is not an option. The Rodriguez Makeshift is pretty. I love the step over height of the Pilen Lyx (more transportation than long distance tourer, but mass produced frame) and style of True North's version. Well beyond what I can afford; however it's fun to look.
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| Photo credit: Specialized |
Test rides are the crux of the problem. In our little city, burgeoning with riders, there is limited bicycle supply, and with the variety of bikes offered, as G.E. succinctly describes, that are so many styles offered that new riders are confused, but of course, bike shops must handpick what they think will sell, while experienced riders like myself are searching for a specific niche product.
So, as I pedal my Ross Mt. Saint Helens homeward my thoughts eventually drift back to the 1980's...where early mountain bikes boasted rugged frames, some with fork braze-ons as standard equipment. A few companies offered the step through frame.
If my readers ever spy the Peugeot Saint Laurent Express Step-through in 21" (white frame). A rarity for sure, but at the moment I'm in dreamland anyway, Give me your best shot.
You might give another look to the Surly Troll. It is a lot of fun to ride, and can also serve as an expedition-class touring bike. The top-tube has a substantial slope, nearly as much as the Peugeot you crave, very easy for mounting/dismounting when fully loaded. And the range includes sizes in small and extra small. I own one (in the most derelict shade of purple), and smile with every ride!
ReplyDeleteI sorely want to love a Surly (sorry for the play on words again) but the TRoll unfortunately would not have enough step over clearance for me.
DeleteI think finding new mixte frames that aren't just for transportation around a city are tough to find these days. A Surly LHT mixte would be an interesting build. Perhaps you could talk Surly into this in one of their future rounds of frames? It never hurts to ask. Velo Orange also used to make a mixte, but that has gone away. You never know though, perhaps if you keep an eye on Craigslist one might pop up for sale? Even older frames from Schwinn are more roadish than touring-like, I'd say, so I'm not sure you'd be happy with that either. That would be a little easier to find second hand, but finding anything to test is unfortunately difficult. Even with a large city at a reasonable distance, it's still challenging to find exactly what I'm looking for in a bike often times.
ReplyDeleteAs a side note, I think the biggest turn off to me about Riv's new Clementine is that one cannot buy the frame/fork alone. Why they felt the need to sell them all as complete bikes after the initial pre-sale makes little sense to me. Their logic is to just sell the parts you don't want, but I would think it would be more cost effective even for their shop to simply have some ready to go to be built up by the future owner.
Anyway, I have digressed. When I had my Rodriguez built, I actually seriously pondered the step-through frame. I think it makes sense for a variety of reasons, but I haven't had the best of luck with any step through (mixte or loop) because of the way modern ones seem to sit. It's as though manufacturers believe there is no need for a good riding position AND a step through frame any longer. I don't get it. I'd probably be right there to get one with you if such a thing existed at a reasonable price.
I think the difficult part for me is finding a large enough frame to allow a semi-aggressive or touring riding position. I am 5'8". I like the advantage of step through frame plus be able to stretch out for touring purposes.
DeleteI think that is the difficulty of many step-through frames, sadly. Older mixtes (at least some of them) had a more aggressive riding posture, but now the few that are made don't seem to support that same body positioning. As Justine points out though, the bike world is still oriented towards males. I do see slow changes taking place, so perhaps in time your hope for this type of possibility will be a reality and not something so difficult to find.
DeleteI hear all of your complaints about what bicycle makers offer--and don't offer. The reasons, essentially, is that the bike market is, and has always been, male- and youth-oriented. Hence the emphasis on racing and extreme mountain bikes, the ubiquity of Darth Vader black and cartoonish graphics. That's why so many women's or mixte bikes are so poorly thought out, or are designed on the assumption that women can't and won't ride as much as men--and that most of our riding will be to parks or health clubs rather than to work or school or on camping trips.
ReplyDeleteJustine - thanks for this insight. I've received an overwhelming and most welcome amount of feed back so perhaps I'll someday be able to find what I'm looking for.
DeleteAs a further footnote, I liked the step bike I rented in France, but again the frame didn't accommodate my longer reach as well as I hoped. Again the wheelbase (or whatever the technical term is, ie. comfortable body position for hours on end) was definitely too short for me. At the outset I asked for bar ends, but the company didn't provide them. But all was not lost. It was my first opportunity to experience an aluminum frame and the quick stopping power of V-brakes. For reference, scroll 2/3 through blogpost for day 5 review of Specialized Step through: http://anniebikes.blogspot.com/2012/12/provence-day-five-aix-en-provence-to.html
DeleteI want a step through frame, not a mixte. I want a super IGH like the Alfine 11, mudguards, racks, dynamo lighting. And I don't want to weigh more than 12 kilos....
ReplyDeleteMy local bike mechanic is an awesome woman who can make anything and has offered to build this ideal bike. Now I just need the cash!
Lucky you. I hope you can eventually get what you want. Personally, I'll continue to hunt for a mass produced bike. There's gotta be something out there that fits me reasonably well, then I can customize it to fit with multi-position handlebars, etc.
DeleteYou are not alone in this quest which makes the search for the Holy Grail seem a cinch! What is it about manufacturers, of just about everything, who are blind to the hoards of us wondering why things once popular are now rare as hen's teeth. I once more tried step through after decades of putting up with swinging a leg over and realise cycling through old age needs it!
ReplyDeleteHear hear Coline! Perhaps all baby boomer cyclists should be shouting from the roof top!
DeleteTake a look at the Giant Alight 3 step through at $360 it might be what your looking for. Rack, fender, and mid fork eyelets. A triple crankset, Linear pull brakes, 700 x 32 tires and geometry that's less relaxed than a comfort or cruiser bike. There must be a Giant dealer somewhere near you. http://www.giant-bicycles.com/_generated/_generated_us/bikes/models/images/2000/Alight-3_Green_gateway.jpg
ReplyDeleteHey, thanks for the tip. That Giant is an interesting find. It has a climbing gear, is a beautiful shade of blue (specs say "green"), and all the other qualities I desire. It even comes in 20"- woohoo! The store locator says I should check out two stores in my region. I'll put this one on my radar.
DeleteI'll say at the outset that I'm a Rivendell fan, so I come with that bias. I'm sure you've pondered the Clementine thoroughly, so I won't throw it at you. I'll just suggest that the Riv folks are a true delight to work with. As long as you are still researching, and if you haven't chatted with them on the phone yet, I'll suggest that you consider that option. You know, just so the research is complete. There are many of us who have bought sight unseen and found Rivs to be prettier and more delightful to ride than we expected. That is certainly a possibility to keep in mind.
ReplyDeleteThank you Mr. Pondero for your comments. It's Riv folks and fans who respond that often keep me from discounting purchasing a Rivendell altogether. Along with that is the reputation and general philosophy of Riv's bikes - that they are commuting AND touring machines, which gives me hope that their geometry might actually fit for my intended use.
DeleteHowever, it would help to be able to purchase the frame separately, as G.E. says, so I wouldn't have such an outlay of money and have the bike built up locally.
What I see in the mass produced market is if a Step through is what you want in a frame what is available these days is a city bike and if you want something more road touring all that is available are Mixte's like the Buena Vista from Soma you mentioned. One idea would be to use a step through to tour, perhaps you wouldn't take on Turkey but it would do for overnight and shorter adventures. The Papillionaire Sommer and the Detroit bikes soon to be released C class are two bikes that come to mind that have step through frames and can be equipped with wide range 8 speed IGH's that coupled with a nice big 22t rear cog can give you wide range of gearing. No its not going challenge anyone on a HC climb in the alps but it can deal with a decent range of terrain. Just spitballing here. Good luck in your quest.
ReplyDeleteThanks Ryan for your suggestions. While the Pappy Sommer is beautiful, it is too bolt upright for me. I am tall, 5'8" and thus I need to stretch out over the bars for touring and have multiple hand positions. I will keep my Mt. St. Helens for city riding, however a tad small, but it it adequate for rides under 20 miles. For touring, I'm leaning towards the Rivendell Clementine, but only if the company supplies a Boston Bike Shop - supposedly sometime in 2016 - where I can test ride it before buying or ordering. Of course, I'm still looking for other possible options too.
DeleteWell you certainly can't go wrong with Riv, the number of their bikes I lust over, and can't afford, is too long to list here. I had a chance to visit their HQ while in SF on business about 5 years ago and I can't say enough good things about the people and their products. I did stumble across one other mass produced bike you might want to gander at the Masi STRADA VITA UNO BELLISSIMA which can be viewed here http://www.masibikes.com/bikes/steel/strada-vita-uno-bellissima-2016 might be an overlap with your St Helens but I saw it and thought of your search.
DeleteActually forget my suggestion of the MASI I just realized it comes only in XS and S frames which reminds me of a line from the blues brothers " Music? Oh we got both kinds Country and Western". Hope the Clem works out it seems like an excellent choice
ReplyDelete