I thought I'd take a break from building up the production city bike prototype and post about a few new products.
We just got new Honjo 45mm x 700c fenders that are based on the famous French Lefol Le Paon fenders. They are highly polished, terribly retro, and one of the most beautiful fender styles ever made. Our VO 650b Le Paon fenders are finally on the way as well.
Another new item is the FSA Gossamer Front Dérailleur that's designed for compact cranks. They have a flat outer cage so they work well with TA Pro-5-Vis, and other older-style, cranks. They clamp onto 28.6 and 31.8mm seat tubes. All hardware is stainless steel. And, yes, they do work perfectly with 9 and 10 speed chains.
And then there is the new Sumo horn. Give him a good squeeze and he'll honk. Wouldn't you? One can't always be elegant. Mounts on most handlebars.
I think I would groan instead of honk, but we get the picture. The Le Paon fenders are gorgeous. What does Le Paon mean?
ReplyDeleteThe fenders are stunning. Unfortunately I don't have any fenderless bikes at the moment! Now I'll have to get another bike just so I can have an excuse to buy a pair. :p
ReplyDeleteI like the Sumo guy, but what happened to the one that said "excuse me" in the Japanese schoolgirl voice? I want one, but was waiting to combine with another order.
ReplyDeleteHow wide will the 650B Le Paon fenders be? Hoping for at least 55mm!
The new fenders are wonderful. But what do I do with the Honjo Hammered (VO sourced, of course) already mounted? So many fenders, so little time ...
ReplyDeletep.s.: the little Minoura fork mount light holder is mighty swell as well.
I like the Sumo. My daughter had a similar turtle horn. She'd mash that sucker with her little fist. "That's turtle for, 'On your left!' ". (punctuation?)
ReplyDeleteNo excuses, Chris. Show us the City bike prototype!
ReplyDeleteOK, I looked it up in the Francais/Anglais dictionary: paon means peacock. Le Paon = The Peacock. Now, these fenders don't exactly remind me of a bird, much less a peacock, but they are a beaut!
ReplyDeleteOooooooh! Those are going to look fabulous with the polished CR 18 rims on my Atlantis. Can't wait. Suddenly I'm glad I haven't gotten around to ordering some Honjos.
ReplyDeleteAnother home run, Chris!
Those fenders are très chic, monsieur!
ReplyDeleteTrès bien!
Those fenders are really beautiful. How do they compare in terms of length?
ReplyDeleteThe fenders look awesome, I'll have to get a pair, but please tell me the sound on the sumo guy comes from some place other than his mouth!
ReplyDeletethose are surprisingly beautiful looking fenders! I hope they are someday offered in a 43mm size.
ReplyDeleteMore nice fenders, and for years
ReplyDeletethere I though we were condemned to
nothing other than plastic. I think
Sheldon Brown would have wanted one
of those Sumo horns. Something
to go with the eagle on his helmet.
Preston
Wow. I am going to become a Honjo junkie. Already decided I still want the hammered fenders in addition to my current fluted ones. And now these. My bicycle will be like a cardboard dress up doll, with three different pairs of fenders to stick on, depending on my mood!
ReplyDeleteI am trying to think of a nice matching aluminum taillight to match.
Will the 650B La Paons be from Honjo or Taiwan? Are there any stainless 650B fenders in the works?
ReplyDeleteDorina,
ReplyDeleteI one who has trodden this path before, I must warn you; you are headed in a dark way. First it is the fenders, then the taillight and head lights. After a while you'll feel that certainly you should have different bicycles with different styles...then it is different eras. And certainly one racing bike wouldn't hurt. And a Camper. And a little mixte for running down to the coffee shop. Coffee, sweet rolls and mixtes seem to do together. Stop now!while you are still able.
I thrilled to see these fenders available. I tried making some out of Sapporo cans and cut myself quite bad.
ReplyDeleteSteve, they are the same length as our other Honjo extra long fenders.
ReplyDeleteJames, The 650b fenders will be VO fenders from Taiwan, very close to Honjo in quality, but not highly polished.
Ty, We might order more of the talking bells eventually.
ReplyDeleteThe 650b fenders will be 52mm and will take 44mm tires. I'm not inclined to encourage the trend toward ever wider tires by making still wider fenders. Too wide can be as bad as too narrow and I think 38mm is about perfect for 650b road bikes.
Dorina said:
ReplyDeleteWow. I am going to become a Honjo junkie. Already decided I still want the hammered fenders in addition to my current fluted ones. And now these. My bicycle will be like a cardboard dress up doll, with three different pairs of fenders to stick on, depending on my mood!
I like them both, too. It's a tough call.
Yesterday I was riding through Waterford, VA, an 18th century town in Norther Virginia. Just here:
http://tinyurl.com/5lhzbw
at the intersection of Factory St.
and Clarke's Gap there's a house with a wooden duck at the gate. The owner dresses the wooden duck in costume appropriate to the weather of the day.
Yesterday as we were riding by, the duck had on a yellow slicker and a yellow sou'wester hat.
F-e-n-d-e-r j-e-w-e-l-r-y or f-e-n-d-e-r p-o-r-n? I'm not sure,
ReplyDeletebut definitely s-h-i-n-y and s-e-x-y!
52mm for the 650B fenders sounds good. That'll fit a Hetre or Fatty Lumpkin just fine, but won't look funny with a 35-38.
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to it!
I've started a charity for unwanted hammered honjos in anticipation of a crisis caused by le paon. Please send me your neglected or displaced mudguards for counseling and eventual adoption.
ReplyDeleteI'm starting the same charity here for the SW region of the country. Please send your tired, your hungry, etc. to me in Austin.
ReplyDeletewhat is the difference between the 650B and 700C versions of these and other Honjo/VO fenders?
ReplyDeleteI am actually wanting something that would work for both if necessary, and I always just assumed that, given the (relative) similarities in overall diameters, that 700C and 650B fenders would be interchangable.