Classic & Vintage - Nuovo Retro Electra Ticino

Well, I searched... and no one's mentioned this bike yet:
http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/ticino350slant.jpg

It's a new bike, but it's styled after (depending on your opinion) constructeur bikes of the '50's. It's being shown at the Eurobike show by Electra, the company known for "feet-forward" cruisers and such. There's apparently going to be a couple versions, but I can see:

TA-style 6-arm crank
randonneur-style handlebar support
hammered aluminum fenders
cantilever or centerpull brakes
high-flange cassette hubs
platform pedals with toe clips

Anybody want to comment? Are "constructeur" bikes the new fixies?

More info:
http://bikeportland.org/2009/08/18/yesterday-and-todays-influence-seen-in-electras-new-ticino-bikes/
http://veloflaneur.wordpress.com/2009/08/19/electra-ticino-forthcoming/
http://www.eurobike-show.com/eb/press/novelties-europe.php?lid=81&sMode=detail

More photos:
http://www.eurobike-show.com/eb/daten/neuheiten/fotos/81.jpg
http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/ticino_fender.jpg
http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/ticinowheelhub.jpg

I'd say I really like it except...for that absolutely ugly Grant Peterson-esque frame. A nice horizontal top tube would be just the ticket.

But this is encouraging:
- high flange hubs are 8/9/10-speed cassette and will be available as aftermarket (also in flip-flop nutted F&R sets)
- Most of the other exclusive Electra parts will also be available aftermarket (cranks, stems, saddles, wheelsets, fenders, racks, handlebars, etc.)
-Chris from Electra

I really really want high flange cassette hubs.

An Electra Rene Herse/Alex Singer homage... its aimed at competing with Trek's new Belleville!

That frame is hideous.

Why won't that pathetic useless sloping top tube idea die.....

Compact frame for better standover height and comfort. Its a hybrid bicycle after all. That's the kind of construction used on bikes in that category today.

I've also seen this one:

http://www.cyclesdeoro.com/images/photogallery/electra_ticino_1/Ticino_16D_mixte.jpg

and some more pics of that first one:

http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/ticino_cranks.jpg
http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/ticinogrip.jpg
http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/ticino_pedal.jpg

They've pilfered a lot of nice individual style elements (faux honjo fenders, sheriff star-esque hubs, rip-off cranks, clips, cranks, etc.), but, when thrown together, it just rings hollow. Maybe I'm just a crotchety middle age man, but the whole faux "retro" thing irks me a bit.

I do have to say that the mixte model isn't half bad looking, but they can keep the first one.

Compact frame for better standover height and comfort. Its a hybrid bicycle after all. That's the kind of construction used on bikes in that category today.

But they're building a retro style bike not a modern comfort bike. If they want to build a modern comfort bike, go right ahead but skip the retro styling queues.

I've also seen this one:

and some more pics of that first one:



Much better though more traditional diagonal tubes would be better still. Oh, and change those brake levers.

I'd say I really like it except...for that absolutely ugly Grant Peterson-esque frame. A nice horizontal top tube would be just the ticket.
First thing I thought too. But that seems to be Electra's style these days.

I installed inverse brake levers on my Peugeot porteur bike. It takes a little getting used to but they are intuitive and offer good grip. That's the style found on the high end Parisian porteur bikes of the 1940s and 50s. Hence all the conscious attention by Electra to pay tribute to the bikes made by Rene Herse and Alex Singer that are still highly sought after.

I note that it also has Electra's very laid back seattube angle, based on the photos. That feature is direct from their cruiser frames. Probably need a straight or forward angled seatpost to get the knees over the pedal spindles.

Spare chainrings could be difficult too in the future if that crank does not stay in production.

Its Electra's "flat foot" or crank forward technology. It works on the Townie and Amsterdam. I imagine
it would work equally well for the Ticino.

Replacement parts can be gotten from Velo Orange. My guess is the owner loves this bike!

It wouldn't be bad if it was built with a sensible horizontal top tube the way G*d intended.:notamused:

Although those C-Record look-alike hubs are a nice touch...

Why won't that pathetic useless sloping top tube idea die.....

Because it lets the maker offer 3 frame sizes instead of 6...

S, M, L. For most people it will be M.

Parts haven.

Strip it, throw away the frame, and mount the parts on a different frameset.

-Kurt

Because it lets the maker offer 3 frame sizes instead of 6...

Many bikes back in the 60's and 70's came in 21", 23", and 25" - S, M, & L. The 1-2cm stuff was more of an 80's thing I think, or super fancy high end bikes.

That frame is hideous.

Why won't that pathetic useless sloping top tube idea die.....

oh c'mon. Tell us how you really feel. :lol:

The rest of the bike is interesting, but that top tube = fail to me too.

oh. and that fork. That ruins everything.

oh. and that fork. That ruins everything.

I'm not ready to dismiss the fork. That could possibly work quite well with a traditional French touring frame.

-Kurt

oh c'mon. Tell us how you really feel. :lol:

The rest of the bike is interesting, but that top tube = fail to me too.

oh. and that fork. That ruins everything.


I try not to pull any punches. :thumb:

Kurt might be my long lost cousin.

I prefer this one.
http://beauty.nagog.smasher.net:81/blog/archives/randonneur-herse52-whole2.jpg

I bet you guys all got mad when TV switched to color, too



nice bike

It's fair to say it's "constructeur-inspired," perhaps. But it's not a constructeur bike - which would have integrated and modified (or purpose-built) componentry, lights, racks, etc.

Constructeur (and constructeur-inspired models) seem to have been the big thing at NAHBS a couple of years ago. This year, it seemed like builders had moved on to more city and utility bike inspired creations (though there were still some nice randonneur-type bikes in evidence). Maybe the producers of less custom stuff are simply a year or two behind the curve.

I bet you guys all got mad when TV switched to color, too



Actually, when Wizard of Oz came out, the moment Dorothy emerged post-tornado.

oh c'mon. Tell us how you really feel. :lol:

The rest of the bike is interesting, but that top tube = fail to me too.

oh. and that fork. That ruins everything.

What??? It's a good repop of an oval blade, short-radius curved-rake fork. A flat crown would complete the look. Very much in keeping with the whole concept.

Actually, when Wizard of Oz came out, the moment Dorothy emerged post-tornado.

:roflmao2::roflmao2::roflmao2::roflmao2:

I bet you guys all got mad when TV switched to color, too
Huh? When did that happen?

I'm calling my congressman!

I bet you guys all got mad when TV switched to color, too

I'm still mad that the TV was invented.

:p

-Kurt

I really really want high flange cassette hubs.

Suzue Classica high flange road hubs:

http://www.thebikebiz.com/v/vspfiles/photos/RD-HUB-SUZ02-2.jpg

I like some things of the bike. The parts are cool, but would look a lot better on a non-sloping TT road bike with drop bars and not a cruiser. I read something about these bikes and they will retail between $500-2000. I am willing to bet this is the $2K model. How many of these things they think they will sell? I also read almost everything except the rear derailleur was made by Electra.

I bet you guys all got mad when TV switched to color, too

It's that fracking wireless "radio" that has me hot! Just what is so wrong with the telegraph?

Parts haven.

Strip it, throw away the frame, and mount the parts on a different frameset.

-Kurt

Now you're talking, Kurt! :thumb:

There. I fixed it.

I'm with curmudgeonly Chris K. et al.; I love the French-bent fork.

However, is it just me, or does this one look like it's already been in a front-end collision?

Suzue Classica high flange road hubs:


Way ahead of you: http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=480416&page=2
although I'd be tempted to hog out the flanges on the Suzue hubs.

Parts haven.

Strip it, throw away the frame, and mount the parts on a different decent frameset.

-Kurt

FIFY

Ron

There. I fixed it.

Everything is still FAR too slack.

-Kurt

Everything is still FAR too slack.

-Kurt

C'mon Kurt, all I've got is MS Paint. Work with me here! :lol:

FIFY

Implied.

-Kurt

C'mon Kurt, all I've got is MS Paint. Work with me here! :lol:

Done. One French tourer ready to go. Nothing was done to that fork (though it sits at a steeper angle):

http://www.jaysmarine.com/electra_revgeo.jpg

You'll make 25 sales to C&V folk, and the rest of America will complain about not having a minimum of 2 feet standover clearance.

Still doesn't look just right - and I dare say those bars that I borrowed from a Madone have something to do with it. Excuse the STI's. Those short bars look as if they should have barcons (yech, yech, yech) at the end of them.

-Kurt

Anybody want to comment? Are "constructeur" bikes the new fixies?

No. Downtube shifters are. First the Specialized Allez Steel (and I believe a few before it), and now this thing.

Furthermore, and I don't even see the point of downtube shifters if you're going to have this Lay-Z-boy riding style and North Roads - handlebar thumb shifters would make more sense.

-Kurt

Done. One French tourer ready to go. Nothing was done to that fork (though it sits at a steeper angle):


Must... restrain... credit card...

Or maybe I'll buy a Ticino, toss the frame and fork in the Willamette, and have Sacha (Vanilla Bicycles) White cook up something like this: http://vanillabicycles.com/frames/touring/1/

Or maybe I'll buy a Ticino, toss the frame and fork in the Willamette,

Go ahead and toss the frame, but save me the fork.

-Kurt

Everything is still FAR too slack.

-Kurt

Long porteur is loooong.

What??? It's a good repop of an oval blade, short-radius curved-rake fork. A flat crown would complete the look. Very much in keeping with the whole concept.

That short radius bend is tremendously inelegant. (I would say ugly) Obviously I'm basing this on aesthetics. Not sure how it would ride, but that tight a bend would give me concerns about the strength - again, based only on intuition.

That short radius bend is tremendously inelegant. (I would say ugly) Obviously I'm basing this on aesthetics. Not sure how it would ride, but that tight a bend would give me concerns about the strength - again, based only on intuition.

I'll pm you my address, so that if you should ever happen to end up with one of these unsafe death bikes, you can ship it to me, for safety's sake.

Not sure how it would ride, but that tight a bend would give me concerns about the strength - again, based only on intuition.

You know how they ride - you've ridden your Magnum Opus, haven't you?

-Kurt

Long porteur is loooong.

Scratch out "porteur" and put in "DL-1" - that would be more accurate.

-Kurt