My New Belgium Brewing Co. Cruiser With Pics
08-07-11, 06:45 PM
#1
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My New Belgium Brewing Co. Cruiser With Pics
Alright, so here are some pictures of my new ride. I took it for a ~10mi ride today. Single speed definitely gives you a workout with all the short but fairly steep hills on my route. On my first decent trip I learned that I'm pretty sure the BB is a bit loose, the pedals are definitely too tight, and due to those I'm going to go ahead and redo the front hub and head-set too. The rear wheel is getting a 3speed hub. It might well get new bars, as the ones on it now put you too far upright to really get a good angle for power. I need to be able to lean forward at least a little. Anyway, on with the pictures...
What I found interesting is that with these fat tires, I actually feel more comfortable ripping around corners than on my road bikes.
What I found interesting is that with these fat tires, I actually feel more comfortable ripping around corners than on my road bikes.
Last edited by 3speed; 08-07-11 at 06:50 PM.
08-07-11, 07:13 PM
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That is cool. I keep entering to win one of those, but haven't yet.
08-07-11, 08:33 PM
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Very cool! if you really want one I am sure someone in Colorado can get you one for 300-600 dollars. Love new Belgium, really one of the driving factors in why I ride a bike. Great eco-friendly business. Great beer, and a real passion for brewing. In college we spent many an hour in the tasting room.
Last edited by frenchbikefan; 08-07-11 at 08:36 PM.
08-08-11, 03:09 AM
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In the basement??? I picked mine up Saturday evening, I had to work yesterday, and it's got ~12mi on it. Hopefully gonna add ~25mi tomorrow when I have the day off. Tell your brother to get out and ride that thing.
08-08-11, 10:24 AM
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08-08-11, 12:43 PM
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...or even 26" Chubby 700's (originally 27")
Really fat 650B' (originally 700c)
REALLY fat 26" (originally 27")
it doesn't change the steering geometry or affect the handling much if any....Fat 650B's are the same size as a 700x23.
I love your tires on that Cruiser. If I could fit 2.75" tires on my Varsity I would have. I had to stop at 2.25" because of chainstay clearance.
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08-08-11, 02:00 PM
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Can't say I'm very fond of the bike, sorry, but what I would really like to know, as an old Belgian, is how does that beer taste?
08-08-11, 02:39 PM
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Its OK considering where it comes from. If you are well accustomed to good Belgian Beer though you'd be underwhelmed. IMHO Chimay is better....and there's much better than Chimay, so take that to mean what you will
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08-08-11, 02:53 PM
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No, just kidding. I was wondering if the Belgium link was based on something tangible or just some sort of marketing euh thing. Chimay is great! Didn't know the stuff was exported.
08-08-11, 03:08 PM
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Either! but I prefer blue I only know a handful of stores that carry it though, and I can only think of one bar in NYC that has it on draft.
New Belgium just claims their beers to be "Belgian Inspired"...there's no tangible link.
I only know a handful of stores that carry it though, and I can only think of one bar in NYC that has it on draft.New Belgium just claims their beers to be "Belgian Inspired"...there's no tangible link.
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08-08-11, 04:02 PM
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One of the rides I did this spring included this self-adhesive badge in the "swag bag:"
It has just the right curvature to work as a head badge, but I felt it would be incongruous on the fixed gear bike I rode for the ride.
It has just the right curvature to work as a head badge, but I felt it would be incongruous on the fixed gear bike I rode for the ride.
08-08-11, 05:58 PM
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hmmm I think you *may* be overgeneralizing New Belgium beer. But that's ok you live half way across the country from where it is brewed. I will admit their canned stuff isn't that great but man do they make some great beers.
08-08-11, 06:22 PM
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As for that badge having just the right curvature to be a head badge, it probably is. Mine has a real head badge.
As for New Belgium beers, I'm not a fan of Fat Tire at all actually. There's just not nearly enough to it for me. I mostly enjoy things like stouts, porters, and IPAs. I do like some other beers, but Fat Tire is pretty blah. The New Belgium Brewing Co. does, in general, definitely have some good beers, though.
As for New Belgium beers, I'm not a fan of Fat Tire at all actually. There's just not nearly enough to it for me. I mostly enjoy things like stouts, porters, and IPAs. I do like some other beers, but Fat Tire is pretty blah. The New Belgium Brewing Co. does, in general, definitely have some good beers, though.
08-08-11, 07:29 PM
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I really like the 1554 quite a bit.
I come out that way snowboarding at least once a year and spend a week drinking your western beer. Its good but as an east coaster I am required to represent all the tasty Appalachian beers. mmmmmm Rock Art.
Wisconsin is one of the few out that way I've never been to...of course you guys know yer cheese so well that ya must know a thing or two about beer
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Last edited by Zaphod Beeblebrox; 08-08-11 at 07:32 PM.
08-08-11, 08:20 PM
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Ten years ago? Which means that's REAL Rolling Rock, not the current Anhauser-Busch abortion.
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08-08-11, 08:36 PM
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You should come visit Madison! There are even several C&Vers here, so we could go on a pub hoping ride. I live within easy riding distance of 3 micro-breweries. I actually grew up in the south near the coast and don't really like WI much at all, but the large amounts of good beer and extensive Madison bike trails make it tolerable.
08-08-11, 10:18 PM
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sounds like a place I'd like any places to go snowboarding around there? I assume it snows.
any places to go snowboarding around there? I assume it snows.
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08-08-11, 11:09 PM
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Check out the hubs spex before swapping to a 3 speed. We make those frames for the O.L.D. of a coaster brake. Relacing the thick spokes will require you to drill out a new hub so choose one with steel flanges. The new 2speed SRAM and Sunrace hubs are really clean. Maybe a better choice as these frames do not have cable guides.
Enjoy,
-SD
Enjoy,
-SD
08-09-11, 03:17 AM
#23
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^ Thanks for the heads up on the spokes. I'll have the shop look into it before I do anything with it. I have a basically NOS old Shimano 3sp coaster brake hub I was planning to use if the measurements work out. It is a steel hub, but I'll still have to ask their opinion about the drilling. Sounds like something that should get more expertise than I have. I was considering the cable guide issue too. Hadn't really made it quite that far into plans, though. And I'll look into those new hubs you refer to. Thanks for all the input.
08-09-11, 03:18 AM
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08-10-11, 04:17 PM
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OK, after adjusting the BB(was Really loose) and adjusting the bars and seat a bit more, I'm getting more happy with the way this bike rides. Since I'm more of a cyclist than an around the block rider and plan to take this on longer trips(20+mi?), I'm gonna try to find myself a nice sprung leather seat that will be suitable for more than a few miles. The pedals are still really tight and I haven't messed with them yet because they're designed in such a way that they aren't easily taken apart, but I would think adjusting them properly will make the bike even nicer to ride. I have to wait until I have some time to put into figuring out how to disassemble with them or if I should just replace them.
SuperDaveFelt, I'm going to assume you work for Felt based on the wording of your post. Just wanted to say you guys make a nice cruiser. There were some little things that needed attention like not being adjusted properly or things tightened up(the rack support was loose, and slipped in the adjustment when I hit a bump and chipped the paint.
), but it's a really nice bike and it rides beautifully. I'm really happy with it. Any chance you know the seat post diameter on these? I looked and I think it says 25.4, but it's not quite clear. Maybe my eye sight is slipping. In any case, it would be much appreciated if you know. And thanks for the hub recommendation. I might go with the SA/Sunrace kickback. Still having quite decided between that and the 3sp until I do a little more research on the kickback.
SuperDaveFelt, I'm going to assume you work for Felt based on the wording of your post. Just wanted to say you guys make a nice cruiser. There were some little things that needed attention like not being adjusted properly or things tightened up(the rack support was loose, and slipped in the adjustment when I hit a bump and chipped the paint.
), but it's a really nice bike and it rides beautifully. I'm really happy with it. Any chance you know the seat post diameter on these? I looked and I think it says 25.4, but it's not quite clear. Maybe my eye sight is slipping. In any case, it would be much appreciated if you know. And thanks for the hub recommendation. I might go with the SA/Sunrace kickback. Still having quite decided between that and the 3sp until I do a little more research on the kickback.