Odd Couple
 

These are our regular road bikes. Not sure about "classic" but vintage none the less.

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k1...psvowdjvrk.jpg

Hers: Paul Barkley (Bellingham WA) filet brazed Allsop. Shimano 600 2x8. Nitto pearl stem for neck issues.
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k1...psovyhl4gh.jpg

His: Aegis Aro Svelte (serial #1247) fixed hub 53x19. Hand painted with clear epoxy top coat.
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k1...psm5lrp9sl.jpg

Our halfway point today
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k1...pswpco8rle.jpg

Definitely not your run of the mill bikes! Neither is my cup of tea but they both have style. Looks like a nice day out, not much wind. Where is that exactly? I've been tempted by the beauty of that area of the PNW but don't think I have enough hard man in me to ride the frequent gray blustery, drizzly days.

Welcome to the C&V world, no hard or fast rules about what makes a suitable bike here that I know of. Unique bikes, just don't see too many soft ride type bikes anywhere. and that is definitely a one-off colourway and graphic treatment.

Bill

Thanks, we're on Whidbey Isl. I've been here 27 years and I like riding in the rain, but this past fall, winter, and now spring has almost gotten to me. Pretty dramatic increase in rain the past few years.

We have a boatload* of other bikes, mostly C&V , and this unlikely pair are our first choice for road riding.


* Fuji, Univega, Trek, Cramerotti, Cilo, Peugeot (x3), Miyata, Masi (x2), Gitane TdF, Schwinn (x3), Klein, Sekai, Motobecane, etc. etc.

Attachment 559525

I don't get it...Why curve the seat tube forward and not take advantage of a shorter wheel base?

The relaxed seat tube angle is to keep the ratio between seat height and effective top tube length better over a larger range of seat height. This should allow a better fit for more people with a fewer number of frame sizes. Aegis was one of the first carbon builders, small company in Maine. The cost of a frame mold is very high, so they tried this. Now it's just an orphan, the company is gone. There are a lot of other things I like about the frame, so I can overlook the "meh" aesthetics of the seat tube curve.

The wheelbase is similar to other high performance road bikes (that you might ride all day long), comfortable and responsive. I have a later year geared version of the same frame, like it a lot that way too.

Coincidence, the Allsop company is gone too, so we have two orphans here.

This is my Paul Barkley Allsop and a later factory Soft Ride. My Barkley is frame number 49 and my wife has frame number 41. Roger

I guess they come in pairs, cuz my partner KBomb has a Paul Barkley Allsop mountain bike as well as the purple bike above.