cardstock

being someone who has recieved an application I dont know how much I should say or in what detail since i get the impression that Vanilla is being somewhat secretive....but, the big deciding factor was that the pricing is way too high. I could build an entire 2nd bike, exactly like mine, for what they want for a frame and alpha-q fork and it isnt even a true custom and, to my knowlege, has not been race tested. As much as they want that bike to be for true CX racers, I think it is going to go to more doctors than it will to racers.

El Duke

I saw pics of this awhile back. Nice work, Sacha.

Then again, everything you do is totally rad!

i_r_beej

Paint is gratuitous. handlebar tape in color is gratuitous. Using bikes for anything besides utility is gratuitous.

What's your point, sourpuss?

And you can replace the little rubber "anti-cable-ping" donuts on the rear brake cable.

Are you from the past?

flargle

I meant that it appears there is nothing between the frame and the rear brake cable as it exits the seat tube.

Looks like a recipe for frayed cable. Maybe there's something inside the seat tube that routes the cable.

One more thing I just noticed, if you're going to go to the trouble of running the cable through the seatpost, why not run it through the entire top tube?

I guess I shouldn't be so nitpicky about a bike that only costs thousands of dollars.

cardstock

and I hate to be a downer, but i think if you took the zipps off that bike and put on normal rimmed wheels it would look 1/2 as awesome.

flargle

Perhaps I'm the only person who thinks Zipps, especially with the decals still on, are hideous.

Light weight is more important than aerodynamics in CX (as opposed to, say, road racing). High-quality light aluminum rims with higher spoke count. Velocity Aerohead rims with 32 spokes, for example, would be a nice compromise between weight and aero-ness.

sacha white

thanks for the compliments.

the owner has the choice of geared or ss.

-Sacha

sacha white

thanks, man.

It's really exciting to be embarking on a new road like this, and pushing some limits.

-Sacha

sacha white

There is a stainless guide inside, but I suppose it is better to speculate than ask.

Also, the reason why the cable isn't going through the top tube is because it would have to exit between the seat stays and would have a funky angle to the brake. The way it is set up now it parallels the seatstays, which looks and runs the cleanest.

-Sacha

CastIron

Sacha, since you're so good at explaining these things, could you please convince my wife I need one?

flargle

Sorry, I'm new here and I thought the advertisements were along the right margin of the page.

My speculation was correct, in any case. Thanks for confirming.

KrisPistofferson

Why don't you buy a welder and some tubing with the money you get from selling your computer? No one will miss you.

flargle

Your mom would.

I'll stay and state my opinions. Feel free to ignore them.

Then again, I'm new here, so maybe we're all supposed to aim for some group consensus?

sancocho

ja vol!

sacha white

I take pride in building bikes that speak for themselves and sell themselves. I have never advertised anywhere, and am not here to push a product.

When there is a tech question, or misinformation, I like to try and clear it up.

btw, which part of your speculation was correct?

-Sacha

sacha white

it isn't my intention to be secretive. You are welcome to share any information about the project you would like to.

WRT Speedvagen being true custom, you are right, they are not fully custom. There are a lot of design features that make this bike what it is, and those would not want to be changed. The color pallete has been chosen for the year. There will be 4 colors to choose from. Considering that there are only 30 being made, I think it is kind of rad to have like 1 of 5 army green speedvagen ever. That feels special to me.

Where custom is advantagous in a race bike, is with fit and materials selection. Each Speedvagen will be made to measure and the geometry will be designed speciifically for the rider, just as I design each Vanilla from scratch for each rider. Also, tubing thickness will also be taylored to the rider. These are performance enhancing aspects of custom, and so they'll be included as part of the process.

As far as the bikes being "race tested", the geometry, and tubing is the same as what I build for my team. they have been to worlds several times, (with an 11th last year...at worlds), they've taken silver and gold at Nationals, many, many state championships, and have spent time in europe in races with Sven Nys.

I'm sorry to hear that you won't be getting one. with this being a new direction for me, I would really appreciate any feedback about how it could be better. I like how it is shaping up and really just want it to be as good as possible.

Thanks,

Sacha

Frunkin

I think all your bikes are totally effin rad, keep doin what you're doin, and I'll keep dreaming.

donnamb 

Mod note: If you feel any member is violating the user guidelines, feel free to report the post. However, I see no such violations in this thread, nor have I ever seen Sacha close to crossing that line. There is a distinct difference between advertising one's wares and a framebuilder answering questions about his work.

Bushman

Very nice bike! will there be a disc brake option for those of us that despise canti brakes?

sacha white

Being from the PNW, I definitely see the beauty of discs.

This bike, though, will remain a UCI legal thoroughbred (aka no discs)

-Sacha

Bushman

thanks!

that is a fine steed! whereabouts are you located?

El Duke

Hey Cardie,
It would be awesome to see you race on a custom frame. I have a feeling that this is going to be a great season for you

Just sayin'.

cardstock

Sacha,
It really isnt that I feel I need to keep the info a secret, I'd just rather not badmouth things, I tried to keep it respectable.

Thanks for your reply. I knew that your frames have been raced hard and won on, i read alot of those guys blogs. But my understanding was that you were having special tubing drawn and this frame design was new. So technically, no one has raced on it.

I also did not realize the amount of different options there are in terms of what will go into each one of these bikes. So I sort of stand corrected there as well.

I really like the hype that is built around them. The application package was really cool. I think the frame and fork are going to be great race machines. But the price is really way way out there. It would never be something that i could replace if I crashed. I would never be able to afford a second one for a pit bike. And it costs more than a true custom that you would build. I think it would benifit racers more if you found a way to cut the cost.

I appretiate the oppertunity, and wish the project the best of luck! I am sure the people who have them are going to be cleaning more drool off the bike than they will mud.

xccx

incidentally, what is the price?

cardstock

i am not going to tell, sacha is here, if he'd like to make it public, i will let him, I strangley feel like i shouldnt.

[edit] and it was also my understanding that these frames are going to be DeSalvo built