Covet

[dasgeh]

I thought we could use a thread to post about bike stuff we covet.

I’ll start:
http://faradaybikes.com/

Topic

[americancyclo]

@Subby 42312 wrote:

So my commuter bike is obviously a gateway drug for a road bike and am plotting to convince my wife to let me buy one this spring/summer. I have fallen in love with a very specific bike at my LBS and I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts on it as a long term bike:

http://www.feltbicycles.com/USA/2013/Road/Z-Series/Z85.aspx

How do folks feel about Felt? Am I too attached? It’s probably a little on the expensive side, but I’m not sure on comps.

You could compare it to a Specialized Allez Mid-Compact (whatever that means) Similar Al frame, CF fork, but I think your felt has more 105 components while the SPZD has 105 but also subs in some Tiagra.

I really loved the look of the Felt F15X CX bike that showed up a few years ago:

[TwoWheelsDC]

@Subby 42312 wrote:

So my commuter bike is obviously a gateway drug for a road bike and am plotting to convince my wife to let me buy one this spring/summer. I have fallen in love with a very specific bike at my LBS and I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts on it as a long term bike:

http://www.feltbicycles.com/USA/2013/Road/Z-Series/Z85.aspx

How do folks feel about Felt? Am I too attached? It’s probably a little on the expensive side, but I’m not sure on comps.

In that price range, I’d recommed trying out a Cannondale CAAD8 in 105. I was seriously considering a SuperSix 105, which is carbon, but has almost the same geometry as the CAAD8. The CAAD8 is a little more upright, so I think it would be similar to the Z85. I have a 2003 AL CAAD4 with the original Sora components and it still rides like it’s brand new.

[KelOnWheels]

covetcovetcovet

http://allcitycycles.com/blog/space_horse

[ATTACH=CONFIG]2370[/ATTACH]

[Bilsko]

@KelOnWheels 42760 wrote:

covetcovetcovet

http://allcitycycles.com/blog/space_horse

[ATTACH=CONFIG]2370[/ATTACH]

I really like the stuff that All City is putting together too – the Nature Boy Zona Ltd is on my list of SSCX bikes to consider – much more budget-friendly than the other ones I’d like to get (Cinelli-MASH, Spot, Rock Lobster, Geekhouse, etc.) but still a very well-regarded bike by people who ride a lot.

[ShawnoftheDread]

@KelOnWheels 42760 wrote:

covetcovetcovet

[ATTACH=CONFIG]2370[/ATTACH]

That does look like a nice lake.

[Dirt]

It has been fun watching Rick Hunter prepare for NAHBS
http://www.flickr.com/photos/huntercycles/8432250667

[Bilsko]

I can see this being kind of cool for some of the gravel grinder rides / singletrack outings. http://soloshot.com/

Probably kind of a pain to set up for each and every shot, but if you want video/photographic evidence of your bike exploits – it might be worth it.

Even cooler would be to buy a few dozen of these and set them up strategically along your commute so that as you passed out of the range of view of one, you’d come into sight for the next. I’m thinking someone would fund that as an art installation in one of the Museums around here.

[Dirt]

These pictures probably don’t do this bike justice, but on yesterday’s snow globe ride, I got to ride with Eric and his new Engin. It was the second ride for the bike EVAR. It is a lovely steel bike that is partially lugged and partially tig welded. The paint/ghost graphics are amazing.

Love,

Dirt

A bit more detail: Like dealing with many custom builders, getting EXACTLY the bike you want takes time. This bike was a year in the making from the time a deposit was paid. That is actually fairly fast for some 1-person builders who are in demand. This is the third bike I’ve seen from Engin. The other two belong to a good friend of mine. All 3 of the bikes (two road and this mountain bike) are total works of art with every possible detail flawlessly executed.

I’ve often thought of having something custom like this built for me, but haven’t pulled the trigger on something so so boutique. That said, my Fat Front Fixie Ahearne is EXACTLY what I just described above. It actually is 95% of what I’d order if I were going to have something built. There are only 2 things I’d change… paint and add a third water bottle mount for epic, fixie mountain bike rides. That will happen at some point in this bikes existence. For right now I don’t seem to be able to part with it for long enough to let someone paint it and braze on a third bottle mount.

I toyed with the idea of getting a 135mm-spaced fork for it made by Ahearne. It would make removing the front wheel easier. In the end I decided not to. It would be prohibitively expensive ($800+) and would make it so that I couldn’t run a generator light system on it for endurance rides.

[Bilsko]

So much Southeast Asia covet for this one

Edit: forgot to mention how much I covet the H Plus Son wheels in particular – spec’d a new wheelset on Universal Cycles (as one does) and they came out to *only* $1000 (CK hubs probably didn’t help)

[Bilsko]

@Dirt 43117 wrote:

These pictures probably don’t do this bike justice, but on yesterday’s snow globe ride, I got to ride with Eric and his new Engin. It was the second ride for the bike EVAR. It is a lovely steel bike that is partially lugged and partially tig welded. The paint/ghost graphics are amazing.

Thos Nobby Nic tires reminded me of the new Bruce Gordon 700c x 43mm Tires (Panaracer-built for BG)

Nice tires.

I thought the Ahearne fork was already at least 135 – its narrower than that?

[Dirt]

@Bilsko 43126 wrote:

I thought the Ahearne fork was already at least 135 – its narrower than that?

It is a standard 100mm front disc hub.

[Dirt]

Wow! Just wow!

[TwoWheelsDC]

@Dirt 43272 wrote:

Wow! Just wow!

Better not ride past TrailKitty on that thing!

[ShawnoftheDread]

@Dirt 43272 wrote:

Wow! Just wow!

Looks like my kids’ favorite book come to life:
http://www.amazon.com/Extra-Yarn-Mac-Barnett/dp/0061953385

[Bilsko]

My Disc Trucker notwithstanding, I’m not really excited about Rando-specific builds, but this Firefly is nice. That fork alone is worth the price of admission:

[Author]

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