cudak888 

Marin Muirwoods RC. IGH, discs, fenders, 650B's. The closest thing to a Raleigh Sports in modern clothing and the bits aren't complete unobtanium if something needs to be fixed on it.



-Kurt

embankmentlb

My newest bikes are both Klein q carbons with oversized aluminum and carbon stays and forks.
Both are about 20 years old at this point. They both run 9 speed Shimano.
I am very happy with them so I just don’t see buying anything more modern.
Bike have really changed over the last few years with carbon everything , disc brakes and no front mech. Not for me.

TenGrainBread 

The LeMond above isn't even a real photograph. It's either fully or partially rendered using software. The front disc rotor isn't even attached to anything... And the design itself is meh to my eyes. Minimalism can only go so far before the design becomes at best boring, and at worst looking inspired by some cheap doodad from Best Buy.

I'd have to agree with Salamandrine about choosing a Calfee. One of the few carbon makers out there not just making a design very similar to every other open mold frame.

friday1970

Elves Vanyar. I'm a Tolkien geek, so this is the bike that calls to me.
Only available in China, though I think I can get one through Aliexpress.

scarlson 

Yeah it's true. More than I paid for my actual OG Renι Herse tandem from '46. I was thinking of this as a "money no object" thing even though the OP didn't specify money stipulations.

I wonder how much quality I'd lose by ordering custom through one of the custom Ti builders in Taiwan instead.

sheddle

Sadly we don't get these in the US - Bianchi doesn't sell their high-end MTBs here. Which is a shame, because the Methanol looks hot.

mechanicmatt

I really like all the bikes he has put together and I have thought many times about getting a Monster Cross with cantilever posts or the road bike he has that has the Eddy Merckx like graphics. How does that bike ride?

nlerner

It’s super smooth, and those fat tires just excel on unpaved surfaces. I also have a Road, which is lighter and faster, but not as optimized for off road and bikepacking, which is my intent with the Road +.

nlerner

I’m actually in the midst of doing just that with Waltly in China.

mechanicmatt

Besides Black Mountain Cycles, I would also love to ride one of these.

abshipp 

If we're talking money and time no object, absolutely.

If Ti, Firefly.

If steel, Speedvagen.

No question for me.

clubman 

I'll have what you're having. Wow!!!

obrentharris 

Great bike!
And a terrible temptation for me since I'm a half mile walk from the Black Mountain shop. I'm in there regularly for tubes, tires, components, etc.
Brent

merziac

Agreed.

Its probably what they had on hand, they would have painted it if it was not just a place holder.

Mine would have something very classic looking.

squirtdad

if new means carbon etc I like the allied





not sure if new counts as modern but dream is kirk custom

merziac

All road bikepacking would come from Bob Kamzelski at Bantam.

https://www.instagram.com/bantambicycles/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/bikeforvictory/

Go there, see them.

crank_addict

Of course I can survive with and like my old bikes but this thread is about what ifs and new.

I'm still trying to figure out why the trend of bouncing along as on a pair of basketballs is so great.

Marketeers say ya gotta try this gravel grinder thing, pig fat bike, bike packing (but the trend now is big mounted racks).

I get their so called specialty use and yes, have ridden an abundance of these niche jobbies but overall its overblown. If that's all one is into, good going but otherwise, its not going to deliver true versatility.

Still learning about the 29er (marketing folks, again- lol) but think I was steered in the right mind from my friend who owns a few bike shops.

He said if the industry only offering was a 29er hardtail w/ front susp. they'd be out of biz in short time. In pun, meaning its the do-it-all one bike.

Last year, I acquired a carbon 29er hardtail with suspension fork, added dropper post and 'clip on' drop ends. The versatility of it is outstanding and far beyond all those mentioned above.

Quick tire swap to whatever width suits or (2nd 700c wheelset), flip lever for the front fork lockout, pop on the drop bar handles and its a roadie. What's this plush 650b again?

To go as a banshee in the rough, dial in the 'must have' front fork suspension, flip lever drop your post in a second and use your body to float over nasty obstacles. There's better ways vs basketball rubber only and no front suspension.

Bikepacking? What exactly is that? Touring by bicycle having racks and awkward panniers or is it....
Ultra light, minimalistic gear and baggage for off-road deep back country which may often require hiking with bike?!

Leave your rack-aholic fat bike at home.

It varies from each individual of what is necessary or not in bikepacking the deep country. And for cargo storage, using in those rocky steeps, a very robust but also non-sway seat pack is desired (and don't forget, must work for those relying on dropper post).

It doesn't take much to shred off even well made panniers front or rear in some terrain.
Lots of marketing b.s. by companies calling it bikepacking gear where the product clearly wasn't proven.

PJ943 

Anyone have experience with the Twin 6 Standard Ti Rando? Been lusting after that for a while, but haven't heard much about it...

Dfrost 

If budget factored in, I’d look pretty closely at a Crust Lightning Bolt, preferably with canti brakes. The BQ review was very positive. Judging from a friend’s example, they’ve improved the fork bend, and the tinted clear over fillet-braze has a unique look.

https://crustbikes.com/products/lightning-bolt-2/

If budget was less a concern, I’d be talking with Jeff Lyon about his L’Avecaise, Mike Terraferma, or Mitch Pryor. My fantasy bike from these guys might be either 650B or a fatter tire 700C, since I ride a 62-63cm frame. I’ve come to realize I’ll never love real gravel riding beyond the occasional hard-packed dirt road, so 42mm tires would be plenty.

https://www.lyonsport.com/frames-0

Terraferma Cycles

MAP Bicycles | Portland, Oregon | Mitch Pryor

I’m approaching 71 YO, and have two bikes that work amazingly well, pushing most of my “hot buttons”. The more likely scenario down (and up, here in hilly Seattle) the road, is an e-bike at some point in my future.

jdawginsc 

Unfortunately, I cannot process this question...

merziac

Well that was a little unexpected but no worries, you'll get no disagreement from me.

I was simply stating who my choice would be IF I went there, not likely to happen.

Bobs mission statement clearly states that he believes that no bike can do it all and none can do more than one thing well if you put the "bar" where it should be going in.

If you can tell him exactly what you want, he will do one of the best jobs you can get going there.

He will build anything you want and do an excellent job whatever it is.

And yep, the marketeers want you to buy a completely reengineered bike, frame, disc, rack abomination with big tires and clearance only to find out singletrack won't support most of it especially at speed AND you will not be able to portage the thing without blowing out an appendage or having a stroke.

Like I said, I was just advocating for Bob, he does fantastic work.

gomango

My wife has a gorgeous MAP.

Last I heard, Mitch isn't building atm.

Plumbing work only after the fire destroyed his shop.

If I found a MAP in my size, I would closely consider breaking my no new bike rule.

That or a Goodrich like forum member Twolves.

JaccoW

I've been seeing some great examples on here. It made me think of a few builders I follow on Instagram.
I'd love to try out gravel riding some time but the truth is, there isn't much unpaved road around where I live.
I have to say though, this video of bikepacking in Big Bend NP looks like a lot of fun. If hauling your bike up mountains some of the time is your idea of fun of course. Big Bend Ranch state park bikepacking - Touring subforum

How about an Alpas The Belgian 2.0?

sykerocker 

To me, modern is defined as "having brifters" no matter how many cogs on the freehub. No matter how new or old. I've never owned a carbon fiber-framed bike and have no interest whatsoever in getting one. I've had a few aluminum-framed bikes, but don't have a real affinity for them. I'm really only comfortable on a steel-framed bikes, and the most modern I've owned is a late 90's Fuji Finest running 9-speed Ultegra.




It was a good bike, but it never was quite a 'permanent keeper' and was one of the last bikes I sold off in culling down the collection when I moved from Montpelier to Ashland. There was something else that I can't remember which was aluminum frame with carbon fork and rear stays, but it mustn't have made much of an impression on me if I can't remember the make and model.

Then, about five years ago, an old customer of mine gave me a '92 Diamondback Expert (Shimano RSX 3x7) which I figured I'd clean up, ride a couple of time and then sell. Well, I've still got it. I find it pleasant to ride, and it completely takes care of any desire I have for those times when I feel like riding 'state-of-the-art'.



And, although I've looked at a lot of bikes in a lot of bike shops in the interim, I haven't found anything newer that I really feel like owning. The Diamondback is definitely not part of the "permanent collection", but it'll probably hang around until I find another Rossin I just have to own, or something else that turns my head just as much. Or I'd like to pick up one of those 90's vintage Rossin non-lugged frames and transfer all the components over to it. Have looked at a few over the past years, but anything I've found has had problems.

I'm just perfectly happy with topping out at six speed clusters with indexed downtube shifters.

merziac

I think he is doing a slow burn program, he has built a couple recently I believe.

I know a guy, I'll reach out for the 411 just to see.