I didn't know Tom worked for Huffy. :p

That is just crazy! Sacha White should seriously consider get some additional metal workers. The demand is obviously there, and I seems like he would have the resources to employee the some absolutely great machinists/welders. I guess it is part of the marketing when customers say “I had to wait x months for this bike, that was handmade to my specifications by Mr. Y”. But over a year is simply daft from either a service or production standpoint.

Beautiful bikes though! I would love to own one but I would be extremely apprehensive about using it as a commuter. When I got my Rocky Mountain RC-70 I felt that I was going a bit overboard for a commuter, but this would be taking it to a whole new level.

Check out Mike Flanigan's designs at http://www.antbikemike.com ; he makes several custom steel commuter bikes that would suit your requirements. Sacha White's Vanillas are beautiful creations, but very expensive, as you might expect. At that price limit, you have the entire market to consider.

k71021...you think a year long waiting list, for a bike made by one person, is too much? then it's simple. you do not deserve such a bike. sacha IS vanilla bicycles. i pay for _sacha_ to build it. not a helper, or employee, or "great welder". by the way...you guys look totally silly saying a brazed vanilla has nice welds....it's brazing! that's why there are no weld beads! and thus...it's not a beautiful weld! wanting a frame quicker is the kind of "right now" attitude what sent independent fabrications into the toilet. carbon BS, cheeball paint jobs (has anyone see one up close....i mean REALLY up close lately?), FS bikes? all to cut down on wait times. I.F. is now more akin to litespeed. i hope the wait times get longer and the prices go up....that way the vanillas won't be as common and mundane as IF bikes.

I will be getting my vanilla eraly January 2007.

We've got a new model on the way, inspired by French portuer bikes. We designed it in cooperation with Jan Heine of Vintage Bicycle Quarterly and we think it's gonna make a dandy commuter.

It includes integrated racks and fenders.

Here's a photo.

And here's a larger version - careful, it's REALLY big.

http://kogswell.com/images/builtPR.gif

look at ant bikes.

www.antbikemike.com

:)

I'm using a Kogswell P60 as a commuter. Higher priced frames and nice paint are not my cup of tea for a commuter. I need to velcro battery packs to them and run them over salt marsh trails and filthy roads. I do not wish to waste time cleaning and spiffing for something that is going to get flogged like that. Now freetime riding, that's another thing....gimme a vanilla or three

The 'vintage' panniers on light green Vanilla commuter #1 are sooo cool. Anybody know where/if these can be bought? Or do I need to get them custom-tailored to fit my body and riding style? :D

I never thought I'd like a bike that was that expensive, but those frames are truly beautiful.

Those look great. Let us know what you think when you get your frame.

Way too pretty to use as a daily rider, let alone commuter.

That's the kind of bike I would keep around for special occaisions....what occaisions beats me, but I would be way too gentle on the bike.

If you want lugged steel, get an older Raleigh, strip the paint, and put a nice smooth gloss paint,l leaving the lugs unpainted, then clearcoat the entire frame...or paint the lugs and leave the tubes bare then clearcoat.....either way, it would look really nice, and cost far less than one of these exotic frames.

I think this should go for not only commuter bikes but maybe most bikes. Very few cyclist's riding justifies expensive gadgetry, yet most opt for it.

I understand that for some folks these bikes are too pretty to ride. For the actual owners of these bikes, this isn't the case.

The owner of the blue stepthrough (commuter #3)doesn't own a car. She rides this bike to substitute teaching jobs all over Portland and uses it to tote her kids around too. It has taken the place of her stationwagon. The owner of the green commuter (#1) with full racks and bertoud panniers commutes 20 miles every day to his job at the union pacific railroad in nebraska. The owner of the grey fixie rides that bike as his main form of transport too. and the orange bike (commuter #4) is used for ultra long distance racing (200- 1200k), aswell as some around town use.

I built each of these bikes from the ground up for these specific people, with everything from fit, to lighting, to racks, bags and chainguards just the way they like them. They are built as a system, where everything has it's place and is there for a reason. Like a good vehicle.

I understand not wanting to trash something that is nice, but if a person is spending a good chunk of everyday on their bicycle it makes sense to be riding something that they will love. When I hear people talk about Vanillas being "too pretty to ride" or "art bike" it breaks my heart a little. I think the wost fate a bike can have is to be a colectors piece. For this reason, I am happy to say that every bike on my site is well used by it's owner.

I hope I am not overstepping any boundries by coming here and joining the conversation. If I am, someone please let me know.

Sacha White
Vanilla Bicycles

^^ You are not overstepping any boundries, in fact you are adding constructive and valuable information to the dialogue. Who better to explain the purpose and function of a bike than the person who designed and built it? Thanks for chiming in.

Those are lovely bikes, especially the downtube-shifted version.

I think they are awesome bikes.

People spend much more on motorcycles and the like. I see nothing wrong with riding a beautiful bike to work or around town. A good lock gives me peace of mind. Besides, many places of work have secured facilities, where John Q Public can't get in. We have secured gates and everyone drives their car in here--no one would steal a bike.

this thread is old and just got revived i have been riding it for almost a year now.

i LOVE this bike. it isn't a commuter so i wont jack this thread with too much mtb talk; but i highly recommend walt for anyone looking into a 29er mtb.

http://forum.bikemag.com/photopost/d.../waltworks.JPG
http://www.waltworks.com/

and sascha we are really happy to here your insights into your BEAUTIFUL bikes! keep up the good work! :D

Nice! My next MTB will definately be a 29er. Sweet looking ride.

Holy old thread batman! :D
Forgot about this one.

I ended up going with the Atlantis. I contacted Sacha but the wait was just too long for me. I wanted to ride, not wait. I really didn't want to commute on my mountain bike for another 16 months. From a looks standpoint, his bikes are pure sex. But I have absolutely no regrets with my Atlantis. 700 miles now and it rides as smooth as butter and completely quiet. Best bike I've ever ridden. And like Sacha says, I have no reservations about really riding this bike and using it as a commuter. It just makes my time in the saddle that much more enjoyable. But I do have the luxury of taking it inside my office with me so no worries about leaving it outside all day. Maybe someday when I'm rich and famous I can order up a Vanilla bicycle while I can ride my Atlantis during the long wait.

And I think anyone that can say "just buy an old steel frame and paint it, it's as good as a new built up vanilla or rivendell for a fraction of the cost" has not actually owned one.

In the words of Ferris Bueller, "It is so choice. If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up."

Body Fluids
 

Enough!

I think I drooled on my computer keyboard while watching the slideshow. That two-wheeled critter has a personality!

I usually go for the patriotic or sporty color schemes, but this bike looks rich. I definitely have to rethink my approach.


deaconbam

Wow. That's a really classy looking bike.

thanks! i built it to be "all businees"

just to prove how good it is, it powered me to 7th in sport SS in my first race this season (and only my second race ever). sure a lot of it has to do with the motor (daily commuter passing left ;) ) but having a 22lb custom fitted bike helps quite a bit as well!

Vanillas are the shiznit.

But then again...I'm from Portland :)

If the Atlantis your pedaling doesn't meet your expectations I would love to have it. Size and price being right!

Vanilla bikes are beautiful to look at online and I wish I could see one in person!