looking for comfortable randonneur: moulton tsr 30 or other? stupidly sold riv rambo
 

looking for comfortable randonneur: moulton tsr 30 or other?

a few yrs back I stupidly sold my rivendell rambouillet...
...i have a rivendell atlantis and thought I'd look into another quality bike to replace the rambo (have heard good things about value vendors such as orange velo, habanero etc)
...but thought what of the moulton tsr 30?...have been offered one only a few months old for US $2500 private sale (so no taxes, shipping etc)....

thoughts on this (moulton as a comfortable alternative) or other?...has anyone used it for long century /cc tour rides however...or perhaps a bike friday instead, ie, their pocket rocket
...or other good value producers?

i stand 5'6", inseam of 78.5 should anyone be interested in parting with a bike.

cheers and thanks for any feedback
joe aka canali
vancouver bc
host city 2010 winter olympics
(and man did this city rock!)

For the kind of money you're talking, if the Moulton doesn't pan out just go custom...

There is one on CL from last month http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/va...829917153.html

BF will do a BTO custom sized frameset. to suit your needs.
[+ if you want to fly to Paris it will be cheaper to take with you]

Moulton will be a stem swap for sizing, but they like Brompton, have tooling to make one size frame,
then adapt with parts adjustments..

I'm trying to actually contact the dude I sold my rambouillet to a for his wife who wasn't into riding much (from a few yrs back)...man i did it up lovely: burnt orange: pinstripped, had matching painted fenders...matching painted stem...**** I was stupid to sell it...hope he'll resell it back (good luck however)

but am trying to keep cost around $2500ish (give or take)...hence the 'used' market or cheaper alts ie Orange Velo, Habanero etc (anyone used these guys)...if I had the coin I would have coughed up the $$$ to have had Mike Barry of Mariposa cycles in Toronto do me a custom...but he is no longer doing them from a reply I got last week (hey i was in 'dream' mode, what can i say?)

So when you say you have been offered one does that mean you know the seller? I only asks because the ad was also posted in the Portland CL and Vancouver CL.

no i don't know him/her...just have contacted them recently on such an ad, that's all

Why are you interested in a folding bike?

Anyway, I have done lots of centuries and double metrics on my Bike Friday NWT. $2500 will get you a nice new one. But at the moment, used Bike Fridays are selling at a discount ... my guess is that in large, a Bike Friday is the "second bike" for most and when times get hard that is the one they sell. New Bike Friday swan stems are quite reasonable ... ~$100 ... getting one that is close to your size but needs fine tuning can be done at a reasonable price.

The will be burying us with our Fridays!

(The cruisers and the Dahon S1 will be sold before then, and the Huffy will go to a bike recycling shop.)

I just did a century on a Pocket Rocket.

Was no more tired than I would have been on a century on any bike.

Moultons have been used on round-the-world tours and by many P-B-P finishers.

Because of their flyweight wheels, ability to carry "stuff" and front and rear suspension, they are excellent randonneur bikes. Contact Gil at North Road Bicycle Imports about riding brevets on Moultons.

They said at the end of the 3000+ mile RAAM the guy who rode an Alex Moulton bike could do something no other competitior could: sign his name.

tcs

If your budget is $2500 and you want drop bars, I say go for a Bike Friday. You can get a top-notch folder with appropriate gearing in that price range. They also make a custom "H bar" that some folks like for long distances.

If you prefer flat bars, a Swift is a possible option. The starting price is pretty affordable ($750 including shipping), and you can mod the parts per your requirements.

Both are great bikes.

Moulton advantages:
- suspension
- space frame is more rigid and stable (you have to try it to believe it)
- unique design

Bike Friday advantages:
- service and support

Thanks guys!....question on moulton tsr 27 with 32 spk rims and can take beefier tires
http://www.moultonbicycles.co.uk/models/TSR27.html

vs the tsr 30 i've been offered for $2200ish which has only 28 spk rims/taking 1.125 tires
http://www.moultonbicycles.co.uk/models/TSR30.html

...would the 30 be ok for randonneuring or light touring?...just wondering how durable are the 28spk rims/1.125 tires.
...could always for more loaded touring use my Rivendell Atlantis (which I adore)

Joe:

The guys on Yahoo Moulton Groups brought up another good point re the 30 vs 27. The tight clearance on the 30 makes it tough to fit fenders. The 27's V brakes would make that easier. Food for thought .

that's good to know...thanks...i did try to join the moulton yahoo group but haven't yet had my subscription accepted since yesterday...

The difference between the 28 and 32 spoke counts on the 20" wheels won't matter. The wheels are wildly stronger than anything at 700c. Tire width does matter, IMO.

thanks for FYI on spk difference and little effect will have on strength factor (esp if riding unloaded)...the tsr 30 says it can handle up to 1.125 tire width...have to find out how wide that is, ie, similar to a 32 width...?? also if it can accept fenders (given what yahoo thread suggested, posted by another poster..thanks again, btw).

I can tell you first hand that with a TSR 30 and size 32 tire (like Marathons), you'll have about 2mm clearance on back tire. There are dings on my rear brake caliper from pebbles trying to make that clearance :eek: No fenders would be possible

spoke with gil at north road bike imports (NC) (thanks TCS!)...says the tsr30 model is becoming more popular and he does sell fenders to accomodate it.

the tires on the bike (slightly used) I might buy are the continental contact 1.125...any

I did the 2007 PBP on a TSR30 with mudguards, a good choice for randonnees and light touring. Wider tyres would be worthwhile for expedition touring.