The "Singlespeed and Fixed Gear Forum" sometimes sounds more like the "Fixed Gear and NEVER a Singlespeed Forum" because many of the active members seem to prefer riding fixed. But, those folks who appreciate a freewheel and brakes might be interested in what Grant Peterson wrote in the latest "Rivendell Reader".

Grant Peterson is the owner of Rivendell, and designs and sells bikes selling for upwards of $2,000 to $4,000. Naturally, his favorite bikes are those sold by Rivendell. Yet, Grant calls the Bianchi San Jose the "single best value in a new bicycle today" at its street price of under $600.

Some of the things Grant praised about the San Jose include:

- comfortable riding geometry

- high quality steel frame

- a fork with room for 35mm tires, plus room for fenders when needed (the fork is steel, not carbon as I had mistakenly thought when I started this post)

- Sensible 67 inch gearing, which works well in level areas, and in moderate rolling hills


What Grant did NOT like: the threadless headset makes it difficult to put the bars at Grant's preferred height: as high as the top of the saddle. Ms. Sky Yaeger, the Bianchi honcho who designed the San Jose, says that Grant's beloved "quill stems and threaded headsets are "dead and buried". She suggests just swapping out the stock stem for one with a higher angle.

Who did Ms. Yaeger design the San Jose for? She says she designed it to be an "urban commuter for people who don't need or want gears, and want the comfort and practicality of fat tires, fenders, and racks". She thinks many urban riders can benefit from riding a bike that has a freewheel and brakes.

Although Ms. Yaeger designed the San Jose for "urban" riding, the San Jose has some flexibility. A rider could put on some light weight 28mm slicks for fast riding on pavement. Or some beefy 35mm tires for riding on dirt trails and gravel roads out in the country.

The design makes it easy to add fenders, so this is a bike that can be used to ride to work on a rainy day. The one speed design, combined with tough tires, reduces the chances of problems along the way that could cause the owner to be late to work.

Grant ends his "Rivendell Reader" article with a photo of a San Jose that has been turned into a Rivendell. SKS fenders. Nigel Smyth mud flaps. Brooks saddle. Pletcher rack. Rivendell-designed Speedblend tires in size 35mm. A classy looking way to get to work or school.

So, who has had the chance to ride a San Jose? Does anyone have a photo of their own San Jose that they can post?