white_feather

I just bought a Brooks B-17 Special in green with the copper rivets. I think it is the coolest looking thing ever. It is my second Brooks saddle. I was going to put it on my Trek 3700 but now I think I want to design a bike around the saddle. I want this to be a very good bike. I want the best quality I can reasonably afford. I do not want to get all crazy and spend $2000 on a set of wheels. I just want the durable good quality items that will make me proud of what I have even though 98% of the people I pass will not have any idea of what I have. Most people I know think a bike is a bike and think I am a complete idiot for buying a saddle for $100. I have no problem buying a saddle for that much money and almost spent $160 on a Brooks Sprinter but decided that I want to get the Green Brooks because I have lusted after it ever since seeing it. I want the bike itself to be a trekker/commuter/all-weather bike. I am not sure if I want drop style handlebars or time trial handle bars but I know I do not want mountain bike bars. I do like trekking bars to a point. I am thinking I want the handlebars wrapped in tape or leather that will accent the saddle. As a matter of fact and vanity I want everything to compliment the saddle without getting all crazy and overdoing it. Any suggestion will be thoroughly looked at and researched. I am wanting fenders front and back and a rear rack as well. I want to critique every little detail from the pedals and cranks to the valve stem caps. Put on your thinking caps and help me. This was spurred on by the thread about someone bike being 'almost perfect' or something like that. I want my own version of perfect. I am also inspired by the Trek Portland someone posted here as well. I look forward to any comments.

Machka 

First, paragraph breaks make posts easier to read.

Second, do some searching and have a look at the sport-touring/audax/randonneuring style of bicycle. It might be what you're looking for.

Think ...
-- Thorn
-- Waterford
-- Seven
-- Rivendell
-- Marinoni
and many more.

East Hill

How about going for a classic steel touring bike:

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ht=miyata+1000

The Miyata 1000.

Naturally, you would want a colour that would complement the Brooks.

East Hill

halfspeed

What's your budget?

white_feather

The only budget I have is time. If I want something I get it.......somehow no matter how long I have to wait.

halfspeed

In that case, a custom Mercian KoM to keep the British theme along with Carradice bags. Then some wooden fenders and either Brooks or Velo-Orange bar tape. Mavic A719 rims with PW hubs and DT DB spokes.

Retro Grouch 

I can't help you.

1. While I prefer Brooks saddles, I have not installed one on my beater bike for rain and theft protection.
2. Brooks leather handlebar wrap doesn't come in green.

dobber

A nice Pumpkin Orange XO-1. I'd be torn between using Nitto DirtDrops or Moustache Bars, either way I'd have a nice matching tape job.

metaljim

kogwell randoneur (sp?), get it powdercoated british racing green, chrome fork, hell, lots of chrome all over, get leather toe straps dyed to match the saddle, and matching shellaced cloth tape.

yummmmm....

HauntedMyst

Not this year but it did last year and if you check ebay from time to time, you'll find it.


White,

Welcome to the Brooks Green fan club! I like mine so much I bought an extra one to display on my desk. All Brooks saddles are cool, but the green and copper is a work of art.

white_feather

How funny, I am going to display it on my desk until the right bike comes along now.

Banzai

No, no, no.

Put it on your trek and at least ride it while you're dreaming up your perfect bike. No use letting a fine saddle just become a desk ornament.

The Surly Crosscheck is available in green...either as a frameset or as a complete bike. You may want to look into that.

If you can find a vintage frame for a steal (no pun intended), you could always have it stripped and re-painted to your specifications...and whatever money you save by buying a used frame...and didn't spend on the paintjob...you can use to buy some nice wheels.

Banzai

And you too! Poor saddle should be used for its intended purpose. Tell you what...if you need help with that, I'd be happy to oblige!

rogerstg

Hope the saddle fits you

paxtonm

Rivendell Atlantis, Phil hubs and bottom bracket, Wheelsmith triple-butted spokes, asymmetrical rear rim -- try Velocity; Nitto stem, seat post, moustache bars; Sugino XD cranks; XT shifters; Rivendell friction bar-ends; Andrews Iris cages by King; green Brooks bar tape (off ebay); Honjo hammered fenders; mks pedals with green leather straps.

Ready to talk about lighting, racks and bags?

paxtonm

Forgot brakes! Cane Creek handles (the quick release is cool for bigger tires) and the cantis from Bruce Gordon. Hands down the best looking (and most expensive) stoppers I've ever seen.

All up, this rig's going to push pretty close to $4k once you add racks.

roadfix

Meanwhile, send that saddle to me so I can radically butcher it for you and prominently expose the copper plated saddle rails.

white_feather

I am thinking about an orange colored frame because I love orange. The green saddle with copper rivets. I typed in Honjo fenders and went to the Velo-orange site. I saw the fenders there and there are truly cool. I wonder if they would look right on an orange bike with green hardware. I did see the Ostrich saddlebags and rear bag as well. I will be getting those, which will cost me about $300 just for the bags. I want to get either green cables or possible stainless cable covers to match the fenders.

cyccommute 

A Vanilla Touring



Or RetroTec cross (Not necessarily a single speed)

dobber

That's cool, but those are some pricey frames.

cyccommute 

Cool has no price.