#5 Sally's Stable

Sally has great taste in bikes.  Here's what she has to say about each of her 3 bikes:



Nice vintage Takara. All photos credit Sally.

I have three bikes in my stable. I love them all. 

1. First up is the gem who got me back on a bike three and a half years ago (and more than 18,000 bike miles ago): An 80s Japanese road bike, a 52cm Takara Tribute in an iridescent light purple, 27” wheels. I bought it off craigslist from a man who used to own a bike store. It was his wife’s bike, lightly ridden and had been sitting in the garage for years. The tires needed to be replaced (crumbly sidewalls), it needed a tuneup and fenders (I live in Oregon). I knew nothing about bikes. But it fit me, wasn't "too girly" despite the color and the quality was miles beyond the cheap Huffy in the shed. I started commuting to work and biking for fun and well, just kept going. 



Sally's Bridgestone overlooking Crater Lake.

2. By May of the following year I was hankering after maybe a little lighter and faster bike. Guided by size (hey this one will fit me) and not by any expert knowledge, I bought a 52cm red Bridgestone 700 with crazy mustache handlebars wrapped in a zebra-y black and white tape and thinner, 700 tires. It became my Summer Bike. It gets a lot of "cool bike" shout outs.



Sally's LHT, fully loaded and ready to go.

3. Of course I kept an eye out for other bikes but with two solid, steel-framed steeds, it was hard to justify buying anything else. I didn't need a lighter bike (not a racer!) and these two fit my needs pretty well (commuting year around, weekend rides, shopping/errands). But then I began to think of touring....and hauling more stuff....and....and...this fall I fell for the Surly DiscTrucker. Hard. Boy, talk about a practical bike. Wide 26” wheels, front and back racks, disc brakes (did I mention it rains in Oregon?) and built to haul almost anything. I talked myself in and out of buying it many times but then it was Labor Day weekend and there was a sale at my local bike store...well. I did it. I bought a NEW bike. Paid for by the money saved in car costs from my 3+ years of commuting. It's a workhorse and perfect for wet, cold weather and when I need to haul almost anything. 

Sally Hunt

Eugene, OR
 
 

Rivendell Atlantis

Rivendell makes high-end lugged steel bikes designed for the rest of us. The Atlantis, for example, has a wide tire clearance (35mm or wider) and can be used for loaded touring, trail riding, and commuting. Rivendell claims “you can do anything on an Atlantis.” The Atlantis frame, fork, and headset go for about $2,000, but the total cost depends on how you get it set up.

Rivendell is the brainchild of Grant Petersen, who previously was with Bridgestone Bicycles until its demise in the mid-90s. The Atlantis is the lineal descendent of the much-acclaimed Bridgestone XO-1.


You can get an Atlantis set up with mustache bars, the way the XO-1 was, or with drop bars. Basically, Rivendell will work with you to build the bike you want.

Check out Kevin's Atlantis at Chasing Mailboxes.

If you own an Atlantis or other Rivendell product, leave a comment and let us know what your experience has been like.

Sheldon Brown and Grant Petersen

Long before there was a blog called "Bikes For The Rest Of Us," there were advocates for the types of bicycles that we promote here. I think the two most prominent were the late, great Sheldon Brown and the iconoclast Grant Petersen.

You want to hear an informative discussion about bikes for the rest of us? Listen to this conversation between Sheldon and Grant at the 2005 Interbike show.

Here's a brief excerpt:

Grant: "I think the worst thing that's happening in bicycles these days and it's been happening for years is using racing and competition bicycles to sell bicycles to people who are not going to do that.

I mean, it wouldn't happen in cars. You don't see people driving around in cars that people race on the dragstrip or in NASCAR cars but that's the kind of bike that people get on and ride. It's not a practical bike for everyday living...."