I've been in this situation several times, setting up bikes for my growing daughters. My answer has been the Surly Long Haul Trucker. This bike is basically the dictionary definition of the poor man's Atlantis. Used framesets are readily available, frequently for bargain prices. Importantly, LHTs are contemporary bikes that don't spec exotic components - no need to worry about French BBs, 27" wheels, or 126mm rear spacing. So as my kids have gotten older it's been easy to find a larger frame, move the components over, and then sell the old frame for basically even money.
For my money the LHT is the best value around for bikes that embody bobbish virtues - steel construction, relaxed geometry with longish chainstays, plenty of brazeons for racks and fenders, and lots of clearance for big tires. Jay Lonner Bellingham, WA On Wednesday, August 10, 2016 at 8:19:29 AM UTC-7, Patrick Moore wrote: > > Let's say that you've decided your stable has a niche for "just ride" > bicycle, one that *encourages* slow meandering rides, with sit up and beg > position, street shoe pedals, and comfortable tires. But you can't afford a > Clem, and yet want something less ponderous and ungainly than, say, a > Raleigh Sports. Since this is a "spur of the moment, get on and ride for 10 > to 30 minutes" kind of bike, you won't need fenders; but you might want a > rack or bag for light loads -- say taking a ride to the nearby Open Space > park to do some work on your laptop. > > What would you build up? For example, would you choose an old chromo road > frame and 650B it, or would you choose a nice old rigid mtb (not pre-NORBA; > I don't like the old ones) and shoe it with Rat Trap Passes? > > Bar? Saddle? Pedals? > > Describe the saddle and build kit and gearing -- me, I'd be inclined to > make it fixed or, at least, ss -- keep it simple = just get on and ride, in > my opinion. Platforms or clips 'n' straps? > > First criterion: easy no-thought, no-prep riding; second, stability; > third, comfort and efficiency -- no g-d iron tires; fourth, cheap. > > The Dahon is somewhat of this quality, but it's a bit too twitchy to be > ideal for this purpose. Perhaps I should look into replacing the 35 mm > Kojaks with 55 mm Big Apples ... > > > > -- > Resumes, LinkedIn profiles, bios, and letters that get interviews. > By-the-hour resume and LinkedIn coaching. > Other professional writing services. > http://www.resumespecialties.com/ > www.linkedin.com/in/patrickmooreresumespec/ > Patrick Moore > Alburquerque, Nouvelle Mexique, Vereinigte Staaten > ************************************************************************** > ************** > *The point which is the pivot of the norm is the motionless center of a > circumference on the contours of which all conditions, distinctions, and > individualities revolve. *Chuang Tzu > > *Stat crux dum volvitur orbis.* *(The cross stands motionless while the > world revolves.) *Carthusian motto > > *It is *we *who change; *He* remains the same.* Eckhart > > *Kinei hos eromenon.* (*It moves [all things] as the beloved.) *Aristotle > > > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
