Today's perfect bike.

[the bottle ride]

I am a bike boy, with bike boy lust on a regular basis. I think I see a bike every day, from the commuter to the high end job, that I could welcome into my union and love as my own.

I see them on the inter webs and I see them on the street- I ain't racist, I love em all. Well, maybe some a little more than others.

A few words about this thread: Not rules. Just some guidelines.

• Perfect Bike of the day submissions are welcome- I like pictures too!
• Dialogue on topic is appreciated- "ooooo"'s/"Ahhhh"s, "I had one/I have one" and the like are welcome here. Let's keep the noise to the minimum and focus what we like today.
• Total skewering less appreciated- if you feel the need to speak now, a "maybe not for me" type comment is appreciated. Remember that one man's beast is another mans lover - so please be kind.
• Stolen pictures from the interwebe are totally accpeted here- Catalog/stock pictures should only be used from the small guys.
• Points given to those who take the picture themselves.
• Points given to those who recite the prose before posting.
• Extra points for being in the photo.
• Mega extra points for being pictured while riding the bike.
• No Judgement- just bike love. Repeat that.

Bikes come and go- a pretty one passes all the time. Let us celebrate that fleeting moment of lust today, for tomorrow a new perfect bike will be around the corner- Welcome to Today's Perfect Bike.

This is today's perfect bike:


IMG_3946 by yatsugatake bicycle studio, on Flickr


IMG_3921 by yatsugatake bicycle studio, on Flickr


Practical? There may be some debate as to why I would need this bike. Most of my bikes, to paraphrase Dario P, are there "to make fatigue"- while this bike does not necessarily scream "race" or performance, I can see myself attaching streamers and a wicked big bell for run coffee runs up 9W.

Once properly loaded up with the right amount of java, I would kill myself heading home, ringing my bell every time I passed someone. And ringing my bell when I am passed.

Anyways, I love bikes. And this is todays perfect bike.

[Lionel]

It was the perfect bike for that day in April in the north close to hell. Zank made it using UOS steel tubes and SaxMax lugs, I rode it (trying to score some points on your scale) and someone I do not know took the pic.

[the bottle ride]

Points scored for riding the perfect bike.

Point deducted for owning the perfect bike- "Today'ss perfect bike" is about the moment of desire for what you may not have now.

Your Zanc is about eternity because that is when I am guessing you will give her up.

Anyways, you gots points for being first on the board!

[Lionel]

Get in. The perfect bike looks like this for me then: Custom Carbon Fiber Frames & Bicycles | Crumpton Cycles | Austin, Texas

And it should arrive in August.

[PJN]

I'm going to piggy back off of Jimbo's post in the main section of the forum and repost this beauty:



Holy shit that rig is HOT. Makes me want a modern tig'd steel bike really really badly. No points awarded here just a bad case of the WANTS.

[dgaddis]

I'd add this link in the original thread, but, it is of course locked.

Pics of the original perfect bike, and it's owner riding one of Ezra's personal rides.

New bike by Ezra!!

There's even a pic of it without the beer!

[jr59]

I think I will enjoy this thread.

I have nothing more to add at this time.

[sonny]

the perfect curator for the "perfect" gallery--thanks TBR!

don't know why, but loving some swoopy tubes recently..
hunter&vulture respectively:


Jude's dirt road disc cruiser by huntercycles, on Flickr



For an Idahoan by VULTURE CYCLES, on Flickr


WOOF!


i think garro has altered my idea of a proper mtb forever..

[the bottle ride]

I am a bike boy, with bike boy lust on a regular basis. I think I see a bike every day, from the commuter to the high end job, that I could welcome into my union and love as my own.

I see them on the inter webs and I see them on the street- I ain't racist, I love em all. Well, maybe some a little more than others.
This is today's perfect bike:



Giro d’Italia ´89 by Numerius, on Flickr

Today's perfect bike pulls on my heart strings- French cats rejoice when uncle Larry is mentioned as he was the last French Tour winner.
Uncle Larry was identifiable by the general public in France as a champ, and rightly so. Even my girl cousins knew who he was- "Pony tail and glasses right?"

Sadly this is not Uncle Larry's bike but Vinnie's bike. Still totally cool right?

Today's perfect bike would be a great addition to the bike collection for no other reason than it was probably made in France (lots of cool stuff is made there, like yours truly) and is covered in Campy- check out those Campy Delta brakes.

Other details that interest me:
The bar tape and the time pedals. I had some itteration of that type of plastic tape on my bikes for years- easy to clean and easy to re-wrap.
The Time pedals make me think of old Velonews adverts for Time pedals with the picture of France and the number of winners who used said pedals.

Although he will best remembered for the 8 sec loss, I will always think of him and his team (some itteration of Castorama- remember Thiery Marie?) as some of the best of that generation. After a career in sport he took the helm of one of the great races as it headed to the precipe- in some ways I always felt Larry wanted to protect French culture and the racing heritage: he had other options. Then with late life admissions of transgressions as a youth made him human, decent and more of a man in my humble estimation- Lessons spoken out loud may help the youngsters of today act like adults tomorrow.

His legacy as a racer is self evident in the palmares- but his honesty speaks more to the champion inside that we may not have know as well.

I miss him. Godspeed Larry-Godspeed.


Anyways, I love bikes. And this is todays perfect bike.

[ElvisMerckx]

French cats rejoice when uncle Larry is mentioned as he was the last French Tour winner.

Not to detract from an awesome bike, but those rejoicing French cats are mistaken. Uncle Bernie was the last French Tour winner.

[cody.wms]

Here's the thing -- I really don't desire much in terms of retro when it comes to bikes. I like the new stuff. But I have one weakness, and that is the Mapei C40. One day I'll buy one and spend way too much time tracking down NOS 9 speed Dura Ace stuff

[the bottle ride]

Not to detract from an awesome bike, but those rejoicing French cats are mistaken. Uncle Bernie was the last French Tour winner.

EM is right on the money- too true.

[the bottle ride]

the perfect curator for the "perfect" gallery--thanks TBR!

don't know why, but loving some swoopy tubes recently..
hunter&vulture respectively:
WOOF!


i think garro has altered my idea of a proper mtb forever..

Curves are very much appreciate by TBR- extra points for the curvy ones.
Just saying the word "curvy" conjures up visions of Vargas girls dancing around- that always works for me.
(seriously though- the Hunter looks monster. Insert ahhh's now.)

[airedale]

This does something to me. UK sunshine makes me warm.....

7160579800_960c34cf3d.jpg

[Tomi]

Although he will best remembered for the 8 sec loss, I will always think of him and his team (some itteration of Castorama- remember Thiery Marie?) as some of the best of that generation.

speaking of castorama :

[kentinmania]

Haha. Funny. Castorama used to be the pro swuad of my team.
I've already "meet" this same bike in our service course.

[the bottle ride]

I am a bike boy, with bike boy lust on a regular basis. I think I see a bike every day, from the commuter to the high end job, that I could welcome into my union and love as my own.

I see them on the inter webs and I see them on the street- I ain't racist, I love em all. Well, maybe some a little more than others.
This is today's perfect bike:






Today's perfect bike is produced by les bro's Sycip...or in the very least, one of them.

I have been on a tear with these "porteur" style bikes- baskets and the like(I like streamers too FWIW) have been of interest as of recent...even though I am hard pressed to think of a practical reason as to what I would use this bike for. For some reason I like the idea of carrying stuff on a bike- I just can not think of what I would carry other than my own self. But I like the idea none the less.

Also of note:

• I took this picture so I get extra points.
• This bike was locked in NYC- pretty brave in my estimation considering one bike lock company guranteed for years that their lock would never be broken...except in NYC. It is a notable lock up.
• Disc brakes.
• 26 inche wheels.

Anyways, I love bikes. And this is todays perfect bike.

[jitahs]

Ok, I know you said you love me (I really don't hate fatties) but I can't love the Sycip with that Gamoh. That rack is really heavy (oops), has non-removable rails and sits on a standard fork. Sorry.

Now going back to Fast Boy this is a better iteration with an open platform rack: Untitled | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

The one posted above is cute but that rack w/box ain't cuttin it. This nose bike will get you two cases home easy plus a few pizzas on top.

blasdelf's Rawland rocks even if the rack is too far forward:

IMG_2877.JPG

[mattsbeers]

As seen across the hall, new Pacenti frame. I want!
New Pacenti Project - The Paceline Forum
Pacenti 0164.jpg

[Sinclair]

All steel frame and fork. Not a bit of carbon on it anywhere. Classic lines with the best of the new stuff without it looking like new stuff. I miss this generation of Centaur that had the Record/Chorus hubs and shifter guts. There's a Phil Wood BB in there so I'm alright with the lower end cranks. This, and a Panasonic Custom Team America are the only two bikes I regret selling.

indyfab.jpg