Anyone have one? Thoughts?

Bilenky is a top-notch shop, Midlands looks pretty nice with on their web page with good racks, ample gearing & such...but the "stock" build seems to limit tire width a bit plus IMHO why splurge on $4K semi-custom & not get the goodies like Rohloff/Gates/S & S couplers/disc brakes etc as with Co-Motion Pangea? Of course that stuff pushes the price to around $6K...I thought about going that route thinking it's a perfect setup, bike will last for a lifetime etc but I'd be totally scared from theft worries. Depends on your personal price points but Midlands & other such touring bikes in the same price bracket don't seem to offer a whole lot more than production touring bikes for far less money.

If money is burning a hole in your pocket, go for it. You haven't done 1 mile of touring. How do you know you will even like it?

Custom = a personal conversation with the builder.. we are just spectators..
as I said state what You Want? be specific

Peter White sells Tout Terrain, frames in the US..
the German builder is shipping nice well designed bikes
where the rack is a part of the frame.. disc brakes, .. Derailleur or IGH version
. the latter uses an EBB.
in Batches to keep the price Low, for a high wage country of origin.

Looked at the Thorn Nomad, or Sherpa?

The OP is within biking distance from Bilenky. Thorn isn't even in the same continent.

Some might say that the folks at Bilenky are in their own universe.

for that cash, i'd go with a Tout Terrain SilkRoad Rohloff Gold.



specs are here:

https://www.en.tout-terrain.de/filead...10_2012_en.pdf

prices are here:

https://www.google.de/url?sa=t&rct=j&...w2I3kQ&cad=rja

they even made a drop bar version (SilkRoad GT) because the North American market is stuck on drops.



MSRP for the Gold is €3490 (I see them go at shops for roughly €3000).

€3000 - 19% VAT rebate = €2430 or roughly at 1.3 USD/EUR conversion = 3159 USD

Roundtrip flight from USA to Basel (700 USD)

Buy the bike (in Germany, not Switzerland ... just take the train from Basel airport to Freiburg and by the bike there) then Ride the Donauradweg - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donauradweg for 60days at 50km/day (30miles/day) for €15/day = €1000 or 1300 USD

Grand total would be 5159 USD for a lifetime bicycle and a hell of an adventure

or you can just buy a local custom bike.

photos for you:

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Ca...weg?uselang=de

I had Bilenky build a Tourlite out of Columbus Spirit, with all the right components (for me and touring) and they are all top-notch. 3K flat. Went across the States with no problems. A comfortable bike and money well spent. Go for it.

I like the looks of the Bilenky bikes and think they are very nice, but I would consider something like this for the money. I met a guy riding one of these and they are about as nice as you can get without going custom. They have other models that use derailleurs as well.

If you have the dough. Columbine Cycles is where it's at.

VSF Fahrradmanufaktur makes some nice machines. As far as German bikes go though, the Tout Terrain is a little better. The VSFs make excellent commuters though (at a lower price point.)

[QUOTE=linus;14966415]If you have the dough. Columbine Cycles is where it's at.
/QUOTE]

Whoa, those are gorgeous! I would want to hire a guy to guard it when making stops.

Was just looking at Tout Terrain's website: I didn't know they were in Gundelfingen, down near Freiburg! I was in that area for a few days in September and drove through Gundelfingen. Wish I would have known, as I would have loved to stop and check out the factory. Cool bikes.

88 I rode my bike on the east bank Rhine Levee, almost to Freiburg,
from Bern, via Basel.
until a US made Battle Tank blocked my path.

This is a valid point.

I am going on the fact that:

1- I love commuting
2- I love long distance cycling
3- I enjoy mountain biking
4- I am thrilled with the looks of cyclacross
5- I love a challenge
6- I love cycling period.

Same can be said with riding a bicycle for the first time. Wont know until I try it but I have a hunch that I will like it if not love it.

Though I do have a plan b for the bike if for some reason I hate it.

Still no indication you know what custom features you want..


After several years of touring and many more before that as a Mechanic
on bikes push and Motor, cars and the Nuclear Submarine they put me on in the 60's.

Some highlights.
I liked my Bike better with a Kickstand that let it stand on its Own.

I preferred 4 waterbottle cages, 2 on top of the Down Tube. 1 under, 1 on the seat tube.

Long frame pump that wont Pop off when I lift the Bike to Move it sideways.
[nestling between 2 top tubes was Perfect]

My pannier set bought in 85 was Beckman for Bruce Gordon's racks,
but I added rain covers .. Self designed, sewn custom,

Now My off the shelf purchase was with a Rohloff Hub. snared a good used deal
actually 2 , 1 the Koga WTR, 26" wheels, 2nd one the Bike Friday P Llama, 20" wheels.

the PL is now the bike I use the most, step thru frame, functionally.. discs and dyno hub & lights

Do miss it not having a Kickstand, But I'm coping , locking it to something every time is certainly
taking care of that..

Frame Mounted Ring Locks ..are always there Handy [Koga included one]

beginning a communication to get a non standard steering mast built, for the BF
and have fittings to add a porteur rack on it, shelf, probably on a hinge,
so I can fold it up and remove the Panniers from the rack under it.



like I say have any features you want to personalize the Custom Build?

They're super nice people as well to talk with.





was this in preparation for Hasselhoff dancing on the wall and it coming down?

you have some nice equipment there. you should pick up a dual-foot kick stand ... they're super nice and I like them much better than the ones mounted on the rear triangle ... unless you have one on the rear triangle and one the front rack (like in the KM WT that I posted above.)

There is a great company in oregon that makes a real nice kickstand for touring!

What do you mean by this?

AXA Defender

https://www.amazon.com/Defender-RL-Bi.../dp/B004AQNM78

Stupid question but where do you put it when touring?

rear wheel ... this is a really nice bike. i would highly recommend this instead of custom. tested around the world for decades.

https://www.koga.com/koga_uk/#4

I build one Myself, the function is like a Motorcycle center stand. As i roll the bike back and hold it
just behind the rear wheel, it lifts the whole rear end off the ground.


No it was just NATO out playing with the toys taxpayers kicked in to buy at gunpoint,
rather than be allowed to take care of their needs at home.