In yesterday’s publish I included the Milwaukee, as fantastic a sporting street bicycle as one might 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 virtually 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 Major 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 couple 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 street 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 whole variety of bicycles:
Although this ultimately boomeranged on me, for simply once I’d come to phrases with not having a flowery titanium street bike, Paul of Traditional Cycle went and despatched me a flowery titanium and carbon street bike:
That is like whenever you inform your drug supplier you’re off crack and he replies, “Congratulations! This requires a celebration! Right here, assist your self to some heroin.”
I maintain 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 maintain it a bit longer, pleeze???”
By the way in which, as I’ve talked about, the bike (measurement 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:
When 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 type the spine of the entire operation insofar as they’re equal elements snug, versatile, and visually interesting:
Okay, fantastic, I’ve acquired 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 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 Street Bikes. What can I say? I’ll at all times have a Fred inside me. (And sure, I do know what that seems like.) The Rivendae are like beer–positive, you may get fancy about it, however basically it’s a drink for any event. Street bikes nonetheless are like whiskey–intense and elating, however will impair strolling and are liable to depart you in quite a lot of ache afterwards in case you’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 Sizzling Rod:
And naturally the Milwaukee, which as I say is the Major Street Bike, and is to my thoughts is the embodiment of what the fashionable street racing bike can be if it had advanced in some type of alternate dimension wherein issues really made sense and practicality have been simply as essential as velocity:
It’s acquired 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 a bit seatpost compliance and crotchal clearance, nevertheless 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 basically a Dirtbag Street bike. No fancy boutique elements:
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 protected search browser so I don’t take a look at these items.
Anyway, the purpose of all that is that the Jones, the Rivendae, and the Street Bikes would type the primary forged, then because of my gig because the Traditional Cycle Previous Crap Take a look at Pilot I’d maintain rotating Visitor Stars out and in:
That approach I might proceed to indulge myself in exotica while nonetheless sustaining the mandatory 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 through the years, and what we’ve gotten unsuitable…so, so unsuitable:
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 most interesting turn-of-the-century street bikes I’ve ever ridden:
And since I’m attempting to keep up this entire Core Assortment/Visitor Star factor, if in case 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 reward I’m comfortable to assist dealer a deal for it, and I’m assured we might beat the competitors’s costs:
Alternatively, because of gravel, the dying of the rim brake, and so forth there’s most likely by no means been a greater time to go Full Cheapo and construct your self a real dirtbag street bike. For instance, as a Nishiki proprietor, I couldn’t assist noticing this:
In the meantime, this most likely rides 90% as properly because the Tete de Course:
And in case 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.
