[EasyRider]

Great bike! I have the same basket and tires on my commuter.

[EasyRider]

letter sent.

[EasyRider]

Chris, you wrote that the design is up in the air. It sounds like aesthetics matter to those who are opposed to it … as if they’ve got some image in their mind about what it will look like, or have seen one is the area that bothers them. Are there any preliminary sketches or existing models that they might be reacting to? (“a massive visual and functional barrier”) If they are assuming it would look like the the pedestrian bridges over Route 50 at Irving, or near the Home Depot at Seven Corners, I kind of understand why they are getting worked up. Those things are pretty utilitarian, have really long ramp approaches, etc.

Perhaps instead of imagining something so stout it could have supported a freight train, opponents could imagine something that is more of a “gateway” to Falls Church and Arlington. Something compact, architecturally interesting, something that could be decorated with lights at the holidays, something pleasing not just to pedal over, but drive under.

It’s just inside Arlington County, correct? What do Falls Church counterparts have to say, if anything?

[EasyRider]

Since Bob says he wants the color of his choice, no branding … anyone have a frame stripped or blasted and repainted lately? About how much should that cost if done by a professional? Would love to get my RB-T painted a powder blue, black chrome, or maybe a nice olive.

[EasyRider]

@BobCochran 153219 wrote:

.I don’t want my bicycle to be an advertisement for Velo Orange, Moots, or other brands. I want it to have a lovely paint job in colors I select and no manufacturer branding.

Sounds tasteful … and tasteful will cost ya!

[EasyRider]

Memorial Bridge was blocked with snowplows and fencing this morning. NPS told me I could take either Roosevelt or 14th St so I went down the Trollheim. DC.gov map says it has since closed, will reopen at 7pm? Map also shows that the 14th street bridge is still open but that all the city streets leading to/from it closed in the wee hours? Glad I didn’t go that way.

[EasyRider]

@Harry Meatmotor 153171 wrote:

I think you could build out a perfect touring bike using mostly V/O components with all the touring trimmings (i.e., racks, fenders, bags, dynamo hub, lights) for just north of $2k. I’d also recommend going tall head tube and riser stem plus drop bars with a good amount of flare. You can pretty easily get your stack and reach on one of the V/O touring bikes to match or be very similar to your current bike.

Yes, I’d hold out for the latest version of the VO Polyvalent, if you’re a BQ fan. It’s 650b, designed for drop bars, has disc brakes, threaded low-trail fork, 47mm tires with fenders, rackable, etc. Prob same price as their other frames. The Polyvalent is like a classic French randonneur bike with disc brakes.

[EasyRider]

@dkel 153048 wrote:

You should totes buy that Wolverine frameset, though. Not that I have a personal interest in it or anything.

If Soma made a 650b Wolverine like Surly does with the Straggler, I’d have already bought one, instead of joining the NFE waitlist. On paper, the smallest 50cm Wolverine has nearly the same frame measurements as my 53cm RB-T. Putting tires bigger than 40cm on it (the whole point) would probably take the standover up to 32″. That’s at the tip-top of the range for me at 5’7″, particularly if riding on rough stuff and I wanted to be able to put a foot down in a hurry.

[EasyRider]

Those late 80s Trek 650b conversions are fine if the goal is to make a bike you already love a little more capable. But it sounds like you know what you want (maybe a VO Polyvalent m4, Soma GR?). A converted a frame that you don’t yet own would only get you halfway there.

[EasyRider]

@hozn 151944 wrote:

Maybe you just need a bigger trailer? I am pretty sure my 6-year-old still fits in the Chariot. Certainly he used it comfortably until preschool was over (age 5). Like you, I also have another 12 miles after dropping off the trailer, so I personally would never consider a cargo bike.

Hmm, I guess I just assumed all trailers were all the same size. The top of my son’s helmet is starting to “tent” the canopy and if he sticks his legs out they touch it there too. He’s by no means a big kid. A little over 3 feet and maybe 36 pounds. The trailer is a second hand “Vantly” brand. Not quite Burly quality, but good. It’s a two seater.

[EasyRider]

@huskerdont 151929 wrote:

Went with the Feedback Pro. For $85 and for my purposes, seemed the best option right now. If I ever start building wheels, I can do like hozn and replace and resell.

I’m looking forward to your Feedback feedback. I asked for but did not receive that stand from Santa this year.

[EasyRider]

@jabberwocky 151469 wrote:

My impression was that EasyRider has most of the parts already, and mostly wants to pickup a frame and fork to hang those parts off of.

Ironically, the suspension fork might be more of a pain than the frame. 26er forks are getting thinner on the ground from what I’ve seen, and most of what you find at lower prices are so junky/blown up that you’re almost better off with a rigid fork instead.

Yes, I had hoped that cheap old frame + parts bin components + new tires and new sus fork = budget joy, but the math doesn’t work because you can’t put a new fork in an old frame. Alternatively, I could go old school frame and rigid fork for real cheap. But I commute on a Trek 950 and the NFE isn’t THAT different, so, meh. I’d want sus fork and discs just to make it different enough from the Trek.

The right thing to do is to double the budget, but I can’t justify it, given how little I’d hit the trails. Thanks for helping me think it through. If I find a steal used, I’ll post it here.

[EasyRider]

completely forgot about Nashbar! thanks.

[EasyRider]

@drevil 151421 wrote:

Wow, nice bike! If you get a 29er mountain bike (with the same wheel endcaps), you could easily swap wheels/tires so long as they fit the Elephant.

Yah, wheel swapping is a major appeal of the NFE for me. It’ll take 650b/27.5 x 48 or 26″x2.10. Probably 700×32 as well. I’ll start a thread about what parts to hang on that bike this summer. Or fall …

Thanks for the responses everyone. Still taking recommendations for used hardtails to look for, any wheel size.

[EasyRider]

Elephant NFE

[Author]

Posts