In yesterday’s submit I included the Milwaukee, as advantageous a sporting highway bicycle as one might hope to personal, and over the weekend I fell for it another time:
It first got here to me in, as I recall, 2015:
And nearly instantly it turned one in every of 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 Highway 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 best 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 finally 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 preserve 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 preserve it a bit of longer, pleeze???”
By the best way, 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:
In the event you’re be at liberty to drop me a line.
See, I’m nonetheless attempting (and failing) to simplify my velocipedal holdings, and I assumed I had all of it labored out. The best way I see it’s, I’ve acquired the Core Assortment of Bikes, these being the Jones because the go-anything, do-anywhere terrain-conqueror:
Then I’ve acquired the Rivendae…
…which kind the spine of the entire operation insofar as they’re equal components comfy, versatile, and visually interesting:
Okay, advantageous, I’ve acquired three of them as an alternative of 1, which isn’t precisely simplifying, however three is an inherently elegant quantity:
Additionally, spiritually talking, three is actually 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 Highway 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 essentially it’s a drink for any event. Highway bikes nevertheless are like whiskey–intense and elating, however will impair strolling and are liable to go away you in plenty of ache afterwards should you’re not cautious. However typically you want a stiff drink. And just like the Rivendae, I’d additionally narrowed the Highway 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 Highway 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 by which issues truly made sense and practicality have been simply as necessary as pace:
It’s acquired one of the best of the fashionable options such because the cassette hub, and the silky-smooth ramped-and-pinned shifting, and the easy and reliable outboard bearing crank and threadless fork, and even the sloping prime tube for a bit of seatpost compliance and crotchal clearance, however it’s additionally fabricated from 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 journey, that is nonetheless essentially a Dirtbag Highway bike. No fancy boutique components:
And all enterprise:
That mentioned, 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 presumably with lugs…
[Via Rivendell]
Somebody actually must invent a bike-specific secure 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 Highway Bikes would kind the primary solid, then because of my gig because the Traditional Cycle Outdated Crap Take a look at Pilot I’d preserve rotating Visitor Stars out and in:
That means I might proceed to indulge myself in exotica while nonetheless sustaining the required detachment:
And expertise all kinds of curiosities I may not have in any other case:
And journey far again in time:
And achieve new perception into what we’ve gotten proper over time, and what we’ve gotten mistaken…so, so mistaken:
Talking of the Y-Foil, what’s previous is new once more:
It’s even acquired “Y” within the identify, how do you want that?
However sure, typically I get unduly hooked up 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 keep up this complete Core Assortment/Visitor Star factor, if should you’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 completely satisfied to assist dealer a deal for it, and I’m assured we might beat the competitors’s costs:
However, because of gravel, the dying 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 should you actually wish to lean into it you possibly can slap a 9-speed group on this child:
It actually is the Dawning of the Age of the Dirtbag.