I like it better with the honjos...the painted fenders were a b it much with the stem.

What's the bolt on the front of the stem,just above the headset, for?

cool bike, really like the fork.

That's what actually "sets" the stem, it's the equivalent of the two bolts normally on the rear of a modern stem.

Is it threadless?

Yep.

Just curious.

Does anyone know if Sacha has whittled away at his list? :)

I've been informed (by my CFO at home here) that I get to order one frameset for a retirement gift to myself and this Vanilla has pushed me to make it a candidate.

A great bike like Poprad's looks so versatile, yet so very classy.

It really makes sense to me.

That's the great part about these internet pics.

We get to study/critique others' bikes before we make a decision.

In this case, I happen to like the cohesive design elements. Really looks like a singular vision with the matching stem and fenders.

But to others it looks like too much.

There is no right or wrong, just good design options.

The only thing I might add is a high quality light system, but perhaps Poprad has already considered this small matter.

I had, I considered an Edelux and gen hub combo, but in the end it was just too much. Now the LED tech has come so far that my Lupine mtn bike light will last an entire night on one charge on the low output, which is still ridiculously bright. I imagine someday doing rando-type stuff in the Pac NW I'll miss having that option for multi-day trips, along with a mount for a front rack.

Interesting how your view of what you want to do with cycling evolves over time. I would not have thought myself a multi-day rando type rider, but now that really interests me for post-retirement. The Vanilla though will really probably be the last bike I own when all the others are sold off someday. It has a tight top tube on purpose, I told him I wanted a bike I'd be able to ride when I'm 70 and can't bend down like on my road machines.

Sorry, no idea if he's taking orders again or not. I don't live in Portland any more, so popping by the shop to chat is no longer an option. Congrats on your custom frame green-light for your retirement gift. You'll really have a lot of builders and options cull through. Sacha's an excellent craftsman, but there are so many fine builders out there that I doubt I'd wait 5 years (that was the last I heard about Vanilla) just to go with one specific guy. Just in Portland there's Ahearne, Strawberry, Signal...many, many more. I think your search for the right builder will be an enjoyable one, but definitely keep in mind you need to have reasonable expectations. When I got this one it ran a year late, but I had told him I'd rather wait than rush him. I had other bikes, and as long as it was being moved forward I didn't care. If timelines are critical for you you need to say stuff like that up front. It's a weird dynamic because you're meeting someone you really admire, but you have to think of it as a business transaction first. Let your builder know exactly what your expectations are up front. I gave Sacha a ton of creative freedom; I just told him what I wanted the bike to do, how I see myself riding for the next 30 years, and asked for no carbon. Outside that I let him pick everything for it, right down to the wheels, components, everything. I was ecstatic with the result, and any complaints about the bike are miniscule, but I have read a lot of horror stories about other builders and customers with frankly unrealistic expectations.

Thanks for taking the time to answer.

There are only a handful of builders that I would honestly pick up the phone for when it comes down to nitty gritty time.

I feel I have two to three ideas for bikes that are floating around in my head right now.

I'd wager a Vanilla could easily fit into that long term plan.

At some point, I don't want to have 10-15 bikes sitting here.

I like bikes that can wear multiple hats at this point.

So, decisions, decisions.

In the meantime, I have some pretty neat bikes to ride anytime I want to.

For that, I feel fortunate.

edit: Oh yeah, which Lupine model do you like?

No sweat, talking bikes is my therapy (from working in the USG that is). I bought this one a few years ago:

Lupine Lighting Systems | Wilma 14

My version had a smaller battery, but even then I never ran out of juice. These things are ridiculously bright and efficient. The highest setting is brighter than the high beam on my motorcycle...yes, seriously. Illuminates further and with a cleaner light. I never needed the high setting, even mtn biking at night in the dead of winter. When I bought it (from a shop in Luxembourg) the guy said "go ahead and try it, bring it back if you don't like it." He knew what he was doing. After riding with it once there was no way I'd take it back. Lupine is also a C&V guy's piece of kit. It's totally rebuild able, and get this: they make all their stuff reverse-gen compatable! If you want to upgrade to a newer light set, electronics, whatever, it all works with the older housings and wiring. It's quite a whack at that price, but you get what you pay for. German engineering and construction, and a light that's like riding in a cone of daylight. Awesome gear.

Thanks for the link.

I could see using this for all sorts of uses up at the cabin as well.

Would be sweet to have out on the kayak when I'm fishing for walleyes at 4 a.m.

Thanks again. :)

Nice light. I'm sure I'd have no problem convincing my wife that I need a $745 bike lite. :rolleyes:

But it's for your SAFETY!

I could have used something brighter and a much wider beam this summer in Moab.

Many of the trails were wicked during the day and were fairly dicey when the daylight waned.

I used two 1200 Cree internet cheapies with diffusers.

This was far less than ideal.

Hopefully that Lupine unit comes down in price. I obsess on outdoor tech and that one looks sweet.

It's seriously worth the price; the lumen count doesn't do the quality of the light produced justice. The color resolution provided by the true white light is incredible, it really does give you an ability to see and judge obstacles while riding on singletrack in pitch darkness. I wouldn't have believed it until I tried it myself, but I was able to ride at normal speed on even the faster sections (albeit on a trail I knew) with the light on the lowest setting. It was truly a revelatory experience for me and changed my concept of night riding. I had always looked at riding in the dark on trail as a winter necessity and being a process of picking slowly through the terrain, but with this light it became a full-on workout without the threat of unseen obstacles.

Frankly probably the best money I've spent in years on a bike/outdoor piece of equipment.

+1. I'd be looking squarely at Bruce Gordon, Peter Mooney, Kirk, Spectrum, Marnati, Hanford Cycles, Vanilla, Della Santa and, if he could make it in under a year, Weigle. If I wanted a tandem, I'd pick Bilenky or Hanford. My choice would ultimately come down to what kind of bike I wanted and what I could afford. That doesn't mean they are the best builders, or the only ones, but those are the ones who speak to me. Vanilla's stuff is BEAUTIFUL...he probably wouldn't be my choice based on cost and wait, but his stuff looks good and it works great (as evidenced by Poprad's bike). I really like everything about my Vanilla but the paint durability...it really is an exceptional bike.

Hanford Cycles is 4 miles away, the owner is a great guy and if I wanted steel, that's probably where I'd go. Franklin, or fresh frames, would likely paint it. I remember at a show Weigle and Hanford both had bikes on display...talk about drool. I couldn't have a higher opinion of kellogg/Spectrum. If I could afford it...and I wanted ti...he'd be tough to pass over.