tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post2218430521878216068..comments2024-03-18T10:19:55.782-04:00Comments on The Velo ORANGE Blog: Bob's New ToeiVelo Orangehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02835615331417822722noreply@blogger.comBlogger60125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-77722149996636076602020-09-23T10:16:40.365-04:002020-09-23T10:16:40.365-04:00Hi everyone! I´m about to buy a 1978 Toei Randonne...Hi everyone! I´m about to buy a 1978 Toei Randonneur, but tha painting of the frame is not in good condition. Is it possible to paint it again easily or shoud I leave the bike´s original painting untouched?Matias Paparambordahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15709012973041147562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-29679368693418701442008-07-06T21:37:00.000-04:002008-07-06T21:37:00.000-04:00Depends on how heavy the rider is, now doesn't it?...Depends on how heavy the rider is, now doesn't it?<BR/><BR/>The idea behind a Rando is to pack a couple of changes of clothes, a few tools, some inner tubes, and then high tail it from country inn to country inn. Figure around 20 to 25 lbs at most.<BR/><BR/>The dude with the LHT and I did a full self supported trip. Along with above mentioned gear, he carried a cook stove, pans, h2o, sleeping bag. I carried the tent and some extra tools and the food on my Trek. Figure we both were hauling around 50 to 60 lbs. each. <BR/><BR/>I know some ultra hardy souls who have maxed out camper total load (bike, rider, gear, food and h2o) above 300lbs.<BR/><BR/>Not at all what a rando is meant to do.<BR/><BR/>Chris has a camper coming if that is what you want. It will cost more than a Surly.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-29586042799957652692008-07-05T21:49:00.000-04:002008-07-05T21:49:00.000-04:00how light ?how light ?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-70485671924099623462008-07-04T21:05:00.000-04:002008-07-04T21:05:00.000-04:00Yup.Kind of what you get from mass production.The ...Yup.<BR/><BR/>Kind of what you get from mass production.<BR/><BR/>The minimum wage production worker didn't notice the seat tube was over reamed. <BR/><BR/>Make adjustments for the error, not a bad bike for the money. Still doesn't mean it rides like a true Rando. Look at the geometry. The LHT is designed for stable riding under heavy load. Not fast distance riding with light load.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-13733009337348256822008-07-04T00:17:00.000-04:002008-07-04T00:17:00.000-04:00http://thedailyrandonneur.wordpress.com/2008/05/15...http://thedailyrandonneur.wordpress.com/2008/05/15/goodbye-bleriot-hello-long-haul-trucker/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-68372579190849635132008-07-03T23:39:00.000-04:002008-07-03T23:39:00.000-04:00Andrew, Now THAT is a very nice stem !!!Andrew, <BR/><BR/>Now THAT is a very nice stem !!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-38530736254292496362008-07-03T22:19:00.000-04:002008-07-03T22:19:00.000-04:00As another owner of a Toei built frame (this one: ...As another owner of a Toei built frame (this one: http://tinyurl.com/5chhpm), I'll give my opinion. This is simply the nicest riding bike I've ever had the pleasure of using. And it gets used. Ridden to work every day, occasional Audax rides, a couple of weeks touring in Japan. It's now dirty and accumulating scratches because I'm not into washing and polishing nor have the time for it, but it's simply the bike that I choose to ride over any other. And yes, it gets locked up outside cafes and restaurants. And two production Rivendells now sit neglected.Andrew Fhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08917065225850153006noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-65339415783657276382008-07-03T20:17:00.000-04:002008-07-03T20:17:00.000-04:00Hear hear, Ian.I have a custom bike, a custom rest...Hear hear, Ian.<BR/><BR/>I have a custom bike, a custom restoration of a mass produced bike from the days mass produced bikes were still lugged, and one semi-custom.<BR/><BR/>I am car free by choice, so all three get a good work out. Many have suggested I ought to have a beater bike for the rough stuff and keep my fancy bikes for show. They also cringe that I lock my bike (albeit with a rather heavy duty lock set up) at racks while I shop, eat at restaurants, go to the show, etc.<BR/><BR/>Seems to me if you go through the trouble of having a bike made, you may as well ride it. A well maintained bike will last a life time. I have nothing against people who want to put their bikes on a pedestal. For my money, unless the bike is a Herse or an old Masi, hoarding it does not make sense. A good custom should ride as well as it looks. So ride it.<BR/><BR/>As for the LHT - alright touring bikes for the money. Nevertheless my restored '82 Trek 728 (with wheels built around Pelissier 100 hubs - thank Chris) rides truer and more comfortably under load than the LHT a guy I took a camping trip with. With its long chain stays, cinelli bb, campy drop outs, and the quirky near french bend front fork it is a darn site better looking. <BR/><BR/>And as Chris points out, neither the LHT nor the Trek will ride anything similar to a well executed Rando, which is designed for carrying less weight and more speed.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-23944961774649493522008-07-03T15:58:00.000-04:002008-07-03T15:58:00.000-04:00"Of course, those of us that don't own the means o..."Of course, those of us that don't own the means of production, we working men, think theTOEI is silly."<BR/><BR/>The first against the wall were the randonneurs...<BR/><BR/>"Are they over-the-top in terms of price ?"<BR/><BR/>The frames are reasonable for what they are, but the build would be expensive if you didn't already have the parts. A bike like this, built up, might cost as much as a used economy car in good condition. It will last forever, though, barring disaster or neglect, and the operating costs are low. The owner wrote a nice post on how he came to order the frame:<BR/><BR/>http://tinyurl.com/4kc2sx <BR/><BR/>As for the bike looking like it should be under glass, some people clean their bikes after every ride. I'm not one of those people, but I know a guy who rides 20-40 miles a day, and his 30-year-old Mercian looks like it just came out of the box. To each his or her own.Ian Dicksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14721391514711042385noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-33934000287951588162008-07-03T15:13:00.000-04:002008-07-03T15:13:00.000-04:00understood. that being said, the TOEI looks like i...understood. <BR/>that being said, the TOEI looks like it should be kept under glass. Are they over-the-top in terms of price ?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-31472595924865413712008-07-03T14:47:00.000-04:002008-07-03T14:47:00.000-04:00It's not the bike that's silly; the LHT is a nice ...It's not the bike that's silly; the LHT is a nice enough frame. What's silly is comparing bikes built for two different purposes and at opposite ends of the price scale. A rando bike is simply not the same as a loaded touring bike.Velo Orangehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02835615331417822722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-2965299985016380922008-07-03T14:06:00.000-04:002008-07-03T14:06:00.000-04:00Just plain silly ? ok . if you say so. Of course, ...Just plain silly ? ok . if you say so. Of course, those of us that don't own the means of production, we working men, think theTOEI is silly.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-14365778387504574972008-07-02T08:49:00.000-04:002008-07-02T08:49:00.000-04:00Annon. Your link is to a Long Haul Trucker. That f...Annon. Your link is to a Long Haul Trucker. That frame is mass produced and some do think it's great, but it is nothing like the Toei. The LTH is a heavy-duty loaded touring frame built to a price with conventional geometry. While the Toei is a light Rando frame with "French" geometry built with little regard to cost. The handling and the intended uses are completely different. The quality is also miles apart. Comparing a Surly to a Toei is frankly just plain silly.Velo Orangehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02835615331417822722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-48638211299105369862008-07-02T07:45:00.000-04:002008-07-02T07:45:00.000-04:00massed produced and Great!!!http://www.flickr.com/...massed produced and Great!!!<BR/>http://www.flickr.com/photos/ecovelo/2630192180/in/pool-417924@N22/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-13510695676245762302008-07-01T22:25:00.000-04:002008-07-01T22:25:00.000-04:00Modern lugged bikes are not an effort to glamorize...Modern lugged bikes are not an effort to glamorize old style bikes.<BR/><BR/>I love my Trek 728, but really have to put a lot of effort getting it to be an optimal tourer, because the old dimensions are wack. Wheel clearance, narrow chain stays, almost no braze ons.<BR/><BR/>On the other hand, my Hilsen can take a 38 tire with fenders, uses nice heavy duty 135 rear hubs, and has braze ons everywhere. <BR/><BR/>Lugged is a good way to make bikes. Tig as well. The things with Surly is it is mass produced and shows it. A GM of bicycles. Works sure. But nothing special. VO's and Toeis are made by bike loving guys with jury rigged equipment and real skill. A mechanic should appreciate what they do over a factory worker who stands in one place doing one thing over and over again.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-17903829074063236052008-06-30T00:09:00.000-04:002008-06-30T00:09:00.000-04:00I would like to challenge the last Anony 21:40 to ...I would like to challenge the last Anony 21:40 to a duel...say 172mm righthand cranks at, what, maybe 5 paces?Gunnar Berghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17451985764040900726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-23905942319333275312008-06-29T21:40:00.000-04:002008-06-29T21:40:00.000-04:00Surly def. : bad-tempered and unfriendly : he left...Surly def. : bad-tempered and unfriendly : he left with a surly expression.<BR/><BR/> I own 2 and I am a bike mechanic and I think old style is fine but to glamorize it, and make it new is defeating the idea behind old bikes. <BR/><BR/> Besides most of the owner's of the type of people that own TOEI's think their bikes are soooooooo special and 'precious' that they expect me to share their enthusiasm. I don't, but I pretend to in order to get paid. <BR/><BR/> No offense very-gentle menAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-21702042487407266092008-06-29T16:47:00.000-04:002008-06-29T16:47:00.000-04:00Oui Sury. I have no Surly and no plans of getting...Oui Sury. <BR/><BR/>I have no Surly and no plans of getting one. I also have no car. I travel long distance on my restored Trek 728 and commute to work and local chores on my custom lugged steel bike.<BR/><BR/>And am more than a little tired of people criticizing hard work and craftsmanship because the bike that results 'costs more than my Surly'Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-17125925145075299622008-06-29T14:53:00.000-04:002008-06-29T14:53:00.000-04:00My Surly comment refers to some nasty anonymous po...My Surly comment refers to some nasty anonymous posts from a while back. Check the Pass Hunter thread. <BR/><BR/>I have a Cross Check, and I love it. It's tough, versatile, handles well, and the low cost means that I'm willing to subject it to all kinds of abuse--stuff that I would never do to this Toei, if it were mine. <BR/><BR/>That said, I'm always amused by "those-of-us-who-actually-ride" comments. We're on the internet. Nobody knows how much anybody else does or does not ride.Ian Dicksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14721391514711042385noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-51583407133716158362008-06-29T12:26:00.000-04:002008-06-29T12:26:00.000-04:00I;m not sure if those Surly comments are sarcastic...I;m not sure if those Surly comments are sarcastic or not, But Surlies are by far the most popular frame for those of us that actually ride the things ( especially people in the business ( mechanics mostly) , not just coast around the park while sipping tea and feeling smug about how archaic we can make our bikes look.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-2286261284835461102008-06-29T07:46:00.000-04:002008-06-29T07:46:00.000-04:00"If it cost more than a Surly, it was too much."Go..."If it cost more than a Surly, it was too much."<BR/><BR/>Good one.<BR/><BR/>To the rest of your point, for those not living in the Bay Area, seems well nigh impossible to find one.<BR/><BR/>Of course, a few years Dutch Bikes were nowhere to be seen either. Now they are almost becoming common in some areas of Chicago.<BR/><BR/>Perhaps if the dollar strengthens a bit, Toei will look to set up a small network here in the US.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-77281767398400265782008-06-28T22:19:00.000-04:002008-06-28T22:19:00.000-04:00If it cost more than a Surly, it was too much.Seri...If it cost more than a Surly, it was too much.<BR/><BR/>Seriously, I saw a price list once, and the frames were very reasonable. I can't remember the prices, but they had several models, each available with or without lugs, and I think they started around $1000. This was about a year ago. If you can afford a nice American-made bike, you can afford a Toei. The challenge is getting one.Ian Dicksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14721391514711042385noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-40411692616000174322008-06-28T20:57:00.000-04:002008-06-28T20:57:00.000-04:00It appears this has no priceIt appears this has no priceAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-77563026693569613802008-06-27T07:36:00.000-04:002008-06-27T07:36:00.000-04:00How much money ?How much money ?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-64883496465580690012008-06-26T23:54:00.000-04:002008-06-26T23:54:00.000-04:00Add me in to the people who saw this at Jitensha! ...Add me in to the people who saw this at Jitensha! I love those guys.Justin Augusthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16652461082265558086noreply@blogger.com