What do I want (to use for my next bike)?
 

I want a bike that I can ride with my wife who has an Electra Townie. She's a beginning rider (literally, I taught her to ride this past summer) so speed and distance aren't going to be all that high. I had been riding my Gazelle Champion Mondial A-Frame, but with 700c x 23mm tires, even the longer wheel base of the A-frame isn't all that stable at very low speeds. I tend to out run her pace regardless of how hard I try not to, usually just to keep from feeling like I'm doing track-stand practice (slight exaggeration, but you get the idea)

Also thought that a 3 or 4speed pathracer / clubman style setup would be a fun addition to the collection. Something along the lines of steppinthefunk's recent velo-cheapo submission. 26"x1.75 or 2" tires, fixed/ss/internal geared hub in back. Maybe a chain guard if I end up riding in regular pants from time to time. Some sort of flipped Northroad bar or something similar. Little more agressive than a true upright bar, but much less so than a drop bar setup.

So, what options do I have for a fairly relaxed geometry frame (compared to a 531c race frame anyways), 26"(ish) tire (though I do have a set of 27" wheels sitting here unused that I could probably put a 24x1.5 on without too much worry - it's a 27x1" rim?). Horizontal drops in case I go the single speed / internal geared route.

You need a Swiss Army bike like the one at the Vintage get together at White Rock.

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z...cessed3311.jpg

How about a Ross Barracuda?

http://www.geocities.com/chopperama/ross_barracuda.jpg

I'm digging this type of bike

http://commutebybike.com/commuter-bi...7818282382.jpg

That's what I'm looking for in a vintage / budget build. Relaxed geometry, tires that can roll through more than a pencil thin crack without throwing me off the bike, clean lines, upright position.

then of course there's steppinthefunk's other sweet ride for inspiration:

http://velospace.org/files/Clubman_P...erwasser1x.jpg

I've got a friend who has a bunch of vintage Schwinn 20" wheel bikes he's looking to sell. I think he might even have a 24" BMX and some other, more adult-sized bikes. He works in Plano & lives in the WRL area. PM me if you're interested.

Your 3Rensho, of course ;)

-Kurt

I remember seeing that steepinthefunk. But I really like chainguards.

Steppinthefun has inspired me, I'm about to steal his style, but for one important addition

http://us.st12.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.c..._2032_21182943

Although I don't know what to do about bars, I've heard Soma has some appropriate offerings.

Not exackly what your asking but you could try a tandem. Intresting bikes to work on, and very fun bikes for a couple to ride.

Indeed. On the other hand, they are much more interesting for three or four people to try and ride.

One picture, one word: Colligiate!

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p...legiateHR3.jpg

3 Speed Schwinn Breeze. The 26 x 1 3/8 1/4 tires are just the perfect roll over stuff size, with out being too large. It also supports one of the 'vintage' tire sizes from past and would be cheap.
[IMG]http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...d/IMG_1507.jpg[/IMG]

Sure you would want a diamond framed version and would clean it up better than I did, but they sure are smooth and stable slow rollers. And in these tough economic times, shouldn't you be buying vintage American? ;)

Jon,
You need this 1960 Frejus
http://i2.ebayimg.com/06/i/001/21/6e/64a9_3.JPG

um, that is pretty funny actually.:innocent:

I was going to say "three-speed", until I remembered you live in/near Plano, where you won't find a hill unless you're wandering onto the EDS/HP campus. You can take a Raleigh Sports (or such) frame and make it into a single-speed.

1960s puch single speed with the 28" wheels and a brooks.

He is moving to Frisco soon, even flatter. Next time you are in Dallas, holler at me and I will let you ride around my neighborhood. Lots of nice rollers, heavily treed streets, a waterfall on a natural creek.

I just found a blue one in the garbage. That's exactly my plan for it. Bigger tired relaxed "cruiser" for riding with the wife, camping.....
Way cooler than my MTB!

I'd have to echo the good Reverend's suggestion of a Collegiate, a very smooth riding bike, or a Raleigh Sports would be equally as relaxed.

Do you have streets with directions separated by broad islands, that abruptly change to two way traffic where one of the sides of the street ends?

No offense to the folks who live around Dallas, but I have no plans to return in the foreseeable future.

Can I plead the 5th? Though I seem to see most of that in the Northern suburbs of Dallas than Dallas proper.

The Raleigh Sports or Colligiate seem like viable options. I was thinking 3sp simply so I'm not tempted to muscle my way off a stop or grind up a hill while my wife is spinning at a lower speed behind me. Though I guess properly geared that wouldn't be such a problem, and limit how fast I could possibly try to go (at least on flat ground).

fwiw - I have a bicycle currently set up as a fixed gear with 42 - 19 gearing. It sails up hills, but makes me look like Fred Flintstone starting a sprint when I'm going downhill or trying to go fast on the flats. I have come to the conclusion that this is a far better gear ratio for a single speed than a fixed gear. I suggest that this might be a good gear ratio for your "riding with wife" bike.

A black raleigh sports or triumph would be my first pic. Someone on the forum has a beautiful black sports. Or a superbe...
http://drumbent.com/photos/bikes/superbe/superbe.jpg

You could always source a gazelle city bike. Shouldn't be that hard since they are litterally pulling them out of the canals in amsterdam.