Thanks for all the great opinions regarding the city bike. I've placed to order for a production run of TIG welded frames. We will also have them in a Mixte version if that prototype looks good. The Rando frame and the multipurpose frame will both be lugged. I'll post photos of the multi-purpose bike in a few days.
A perfect accessory to a city bike is shopping panniers. The Basil Kavan panniers are beautiful and popular, but expensive. So we decided to stock a simpler style Basil city bike panniers, the Memphis. The Memphis is a double rear pannier in the Dutch style. It's made of sturdy and waterproof imitation leather. It has a cut-out for luggage carrier straps and spring clamp and double reflective stripes front and back. 33 x 12 x 30cm (each bag).
I really like bike baskets and we have a few new Basil models. The Davos is a large open basket and the Denver is an oval model with a lid. Both have handles for shopping. And we now have the very well received Blossom basket in blue.
We also have some inexpensive double track straps, for you animals who want to race to the farmer's market.
21 May, 2008
City Bike Decision and New Items
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16 comments:
The Basil Memphis bags look great. Might be just the thing for my commuter bike here in Memphis, TN! How's the heel clearance? The specs say it is a bit smaller than the Basil Kavan. I picked up some similar style cheap canvas panniers in Amsterdam once, but they were only suited for a big looong Dutch city bike. Thanks!
I would LOVE a budget mixte frame! That is one thing that does not seem to exist.
How do the Basil bags attach? Are they a quickly removed sort of thing like an Ortleib or a more time consuming buckle type arrangement?
I know it's not what you meant anonyme 14:55, but it seems craigslist is chock-a-block with budget mixtes, often in fabulous shape!
Chris, it'll be while before I have a reason to get some baskets, but just knowing they exist makes me feel better already.
I'm also interested in more information regarding the Memphis bags. Just how durable are they? Any specs regarding material - are they like the old Brooks bags? How do they latch on? I'm ready to buy 'em...
Bummer about the lugs. :( Nice bags and baskets, though!!
hey Chris, what about the pass-hunter project by the way?
Did you post something about the production rando frame (geometry, etc...) somewhere?
Chris,
Did you see some of our latest streetfilms posts on Bike Month in NYC?
This one is a national bit where we got 4 cities to contribute to National Bike to Work Day video. Next year we want to organize people in every major city to contribute:
http://www.streetfilms.org/archives/national-bike-to-work-day/
Hi Chris:
Will the Memphis panniers work well on the ubiquitous cheap Pletscher rack with the single stays and the spring clamp on the platform?
James Black
James Black asks:
Will the Memphis panniers work well on the ubiquitous cheap Pletscher rack with the single stays and the spring clamp on the platform?
Those Pletscher carriers have virtually no side-to-side stability. It would be a very bad idea to put any sort of pannier onto one of those racks, especially one as large as the Memphis.
They're fine for carrying a lightweight jacket and a couple of library books, or perhaps a small rack trunk. Anything else and you are asking for trouble.
Regarding the Memphis bags, The heel clearance is fine on a non-racing bike. They attach using four buckles.
I don't have material specs, but they are like the Brooks bags I've seen. It's a plastic coated leather-like fabric, we call it pleather. I think they will hold up very well. Annette is using a set on her beater city bike on a Pletscher rack. Fits perfectly.
The new Rando production frame has the same geometry as the semi-custom rando and will be available in 53-63cm sizes.
My Pass hunter, frame #1, is still at the painter's. I'll post photos as soon as it arrives.
Check out the street films!
Street films?
Chris...what will the size run be on the mixte city bikes? I ask in the hope that it will run to some big bikes, say up to 62cm? You know, for the big girls.
Chris, are those the soma doubles? They are notorious for snapping/breaking without much force.
I'm very pleased that you're stocking the Basil Memphis bags. Could you consider stocking the Clarijs Saddle Bags in the future? Those are the strongest and prettiest I've seen!
Would the Memphis work on a rack that doesn't have parallel rails?
I'm thinking of the Tubus Vega and Fly, which are wider in the back and get narrower towards the front.
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