Priority Eight

The Priority Eight is a belt-driven 8-speed. Photo courtesy of http://www.prioritybicycles.com

The Priority Eight has a "pre-sale" price of $800.  Priority anticipates that the bikes will be available by April 1.

According to Priority, the purpose of their bikes is "to make cycling more simple." Their first models were belt-driven "Classic" 3-speeds offered in a  diamond or step-through aluminum frame. Priority marketed these models as "low-maintenance" bikes available in black or white.

Since launching those classic models, Priority says it has received overwhelming demand for a bike with more gears, hence the Priority Eight.  The Eight, like the Classics, has a Gates carbon belt and an internal gear hub for a clean, low-maintenance ride.  It also comes with Tektro hydraulic disc brakes.

There has been some hype about the release of the Priority Eight.  You can read about it at Gizmodo and Bike Rumor.

The Priority Eight is available in three sizes: 17", 19" and 21.5". Here are the specs:

Component	Description
Frame	Ultralite 6061 T6 Aluminum
Fork	Ultralite 6061 T6 Aluminum
Rims	Double Wall Alloy, 36h
Front Hub	Priority Alloy Sealed
Rear Hub	Shimano Nexus 8 Disc
Spokes	Black Stainless Steel
Shifter	Shimano Nexus 8 Twist
Brakes	Tektro HD-M330 Hydraulic Disc Dual Piston
Crankset	Gates by FSA
Front Chainring	50t Gates CDN
Rear Cog	24t Gates CDN
Pedals	Alloy
Bottom Bracket	Sealed Cartridge
Seat Post	27.2 Alloy Microadjust 350mm
Belt	Gates Carbon Drive, CDN
Saddle	Velo dual density
Handlebar Stem	Alloy
Handlebar	Alloy, 31.8, 6 degree rise, 630mm
Headset	Neco Alloy
Tires	Continental Puncture Resistant 700x32
Fenders	Alloy Paint Matched
Color	Matte Charcoal Grey
Sizes	17", 19" and 21.5"
Weight	Approx. 26lbs

Legacy Rambler

When we last talked about Legacy Frameworks (it was last year), the Chicago framebuilder had put out two thoughtfully designed complete bike models - a diamond frame and a step-through. Now Legacy has refined those models with the Rambler series, which includes a step-through, a diamond frame, and a disc brake model. They go for around $1,750, but you should contact Legacy for details.

Rambler Step-Through.

Rambler Diamond

Rambler diamond with disc brakes. All photos courtesy of Legacy Frameworks.

There are some nice touches here. The following come standard: belt drive, full fenders, drum or disc brakes, rack options, double-walled rims and (are you there Edwin?) hub-generated lighting.

Busch and Muller LED headlight. Taillight also included.

Check out that powder-coated finish. Legacy offers these as singlespeeds or with up to 15 gears with internal gear hubs.

Nice looking bikes, and they're designed, manufactured, and assembled in Chicago.

Civilian Corduroy Rebel

Civilian Corduroy Rebel.  Credit: RideCVLN.com

Civilian's Corduroy Rebel features a Gates carbon belt drive with a Shimano Alfine 8-speed internal hub. The 2012 model is on sale for $700 at competitivecyclist.com.

I discovered Civilian after repeatedly passing this beautiful chrome-fendered bike locked up on the street:

A Civilian fixie (Hustle). Photo by freewheel.

Who/what is Calvin?  Eventually I snapped the above picture and investigated. I learned that CVLN stands for "Civilian," not "Calvin."

 Civilian was started by Tyson Hart in 2005, in a garage, as all great start-ups seem to be. Hart designs bikes with "clean lines, smart styling, and unique features."  All Civilian models have "clean lines" and therefore are pretty to look at.  Here is how Civilian describes the Corduroy Rebel:

Whether you're a 700-square foot apartment dweller or a suburbanite with a 700-square foot garage, you'll love the functional and commuter-friendly no grease, no noise Gates Carbon Belt Drive.  Paired with the Shimano Alfine 8-spd internally-geared hub and disc brakes, the maintenance on the Corduroy Rebel drops to new zero.

Comes with fenders and chainguard.  Very nice.  Here are the specs:

FRAME

HART DESIGN STEEL TUBESET - ENGLISH 68MM BB, SLIDING DROPOUTS, 135MM REAR SPACING

 

FORK

HART DESIGN STEEL UNICROWN - 1 1/8" STEERER, DOUBLE EYELET DROPOUTS

 

HEADSET

TANGE SEIKI ER-2

 

WHEELS

JALCO DM21, 32H RIMS / SHIMANO ALFINE 8-SPD REAR HUB / JOY-TECH FRONT HUB

 

TIRES

CST C1605, 700X32c

 

SHIFT / BRAKE LEVER

SHIMANO ALFINE 8-SPD REVO SHIFTER / PROMAX BL-53 BRAKE LEVERS

 

BRAKE

TEKTRO LYRA

 

CRANKSET

LASCO ALLOY, BCD 130MM W/GATES 50T CDC BELT-DRIVE PULLEY

 

REAR COGS

GATES CDX FOR ALFINE

 

BOTTOM BRACKET

SQUARE TAPER

 

STEM

TRANZ-X 6061 ALUMINUM, 25.4MM BAR BORE

 

HANDLEBAR

PROMAX ALLOY, 540MM WIDTH, 40MM RISE

 

SADDLE

VELO SUEDED

 

SEATPOST

KALLOY ONE-BOLT RADIUSSED TOP, 27.2MM X 350MM

 

GRIP/TAPE

PROPALM LEATHER DONUT, LOCK-ON

 

ACCESSORIES

ALLOY HAMMERED FENDERS / ALLOY CHAINGUARD

 Civilian offers the Corduroy Rebel in six different sizes.  Here is the geometry (click for big):

                 A    B      C  D  E       F        G

XS/49.5	51	9	70	43	29”	71°	74°
S/52	53.5	10.6	70	43	30”	71.5°	73.5°
M/55	56	12.3	65	43	31.4”	72°	73°
L/57	57.5	14.5	65	43	32.3”	72°	73°
XL/59	59	16.2	65	43	33.2”	72.5°	72.5°
XLT/62	61	19.5	65	43	34.5”	72.5°	72°

Trek Soho

I was recently at a Trek test-drive event and let me tell you, people love Trek bikes. Unfortunately, there were no Treks that fit the Bikes For The Rest Of Us bill to ride that day. I did spot a very fine-looking Soho in person. All the bits that make the Soho a great commuter are there... internal hub gears, roller brakes, fenders, etc. It has a belt drive instead of a chain as well. Keep in mind that the stem on this bike is of the threadless (non-quill) variety; you can't raise the stem once it's cut, so make sure the bike fits.

The components of the Soho are top notch, but unfortunately the price up there... over $1100. I wish more of these great features trickled down to other bikes in the Trek lineup. I'm not expecting a Gates Drive on every bike, mind you; yet some fenders, roller brakes and chain guards would be nice on some of the mid-priced bikes.

Specs:

Raleigh Alley Way

The Raleigh AlleyWay is a new for 2010 model that features a belt drive, Alfine shifters, disc brakes, matching chainguard and fenders and a leather saddle. The retail price is expected to be $1425.

Here are a couple early reviews:

Ecovelo: AlleyWay road test

Bicycle Times: Alley Way minireview

Specs:

Frame: Reynold 520 Butted Chromo w/CNC Dropouts.
Fork: 4130 Chromo Cross w/Disc Mounts.
Headset: Integrated cartridge bearings.
Crankset: 2pc Forged w/External BB and Gates Belt Drive Chain.
Rear Derailleur: Shimano Tiagra.
Shifters: Shimano Alfine.
Cog: Gates Belt Drive 24t.
Brakes: Shimano BR-M416 Disc.
Color: Graphite.
Sizes: 50cm,53cm,56cm,59cm

If you've taken one for a test ride, or you bought one, let us know about it in the comments.

Specialized Globe

Is Specialized getting serious about bikes for the rest of us?

In an interesting development in the bike industry, Specialized has put all of its BFROU models into a "stand alone brand" called Globe. According to Specialized, Globe is part of the "dream of a world where bikes are the majority - where cars come with labels that say 'Use Sparingly'."

Not long ago, the Specialized Globe was the name of a single model - a basic hybrid offered to fill all the needs of the everyday cyclist. But now, rather than a Globe model, there's the Globe brand, which includes:

The Vienna series, which seems to have been scaled back from the prior models which we discussed here;

The Roll, which is your basic fixed gear/single speed urban "assault" model;

Haul, a nice-looking 8-speed cargo bike;

Carmel, a beach cruiser/comfort bike; and finally...


The Globe Live models, which appear to be the flagship Globe models, "for riders wanting an option for every whim." Notably, the Live 3 model is built on an aluminum frame and comes with belt drives, fenders, a chaincase, and porteur racks. The Globe Live 1 goes for $580, the Live 2 for $940, and the Live 3 for $1550. The Live 1 and Live 2 are also offered as mixtes.

Here are the specs for the Live 3:

FRAME Globe A1 Premium Aluminum cargo design, fully manipulated custom tubing w/ fender and rack braze-ons, integrated kickstand mount

FORK Globe Live straight-blade aluminum fork w/ custom forged crown and porteur basket/rack system

HEADSET 1-1/8" threadless, integrated, semi-cartridge campy style bearings

STEM Forged alloy, 2-bolt, 15 degree rise, 25.4mm clamp

HANDLEBARS Alloy, 25.4mm, 610mm wide, 43 degree up, 57 degree back sweep

TAPE Globe City 140mm

FRONT BRAKE Tektro Auriga Comp, hydraulic dual piston, w/160mm rotors

REAR BRAKE Tektro Auriga Comp, hydraulic dual piston, w/160mm rotors

BRAKE LEVERS Auriga Comp brake levers

SHIFT LEVERS Shimano Alfine tap fire, 8-speed

CASSETTE Gates belt drive cog, 24t

CHAIN Belt drive, 122 links

CRANKSET Sugino EX-1 aluminum, w/ alloy chainguard

CHAINRINGS Belt drive, 50t

BOTTOM BRACKET Cartridge bearing, square spindle with crank stop right side and capless bolts

PEDALS Classic full alloy pedal

RIMS Globe RHD 700c, alloy double wall disc specific, 36h

FRONT HUB Hi Lo flange, loose ball, QR, 36h

REAR HUB Shimano Alfine internal 8-speed, 36h

SPOKES 2mm (14g) stainless

FRONT TIRE Specialized Infinity Armadillo, 700x32c, 60TPI

REAR TIRE Specialized Infinity Armadillo, 700x32c, 60TPI

INNER TUBES Schraeder valve

SADDLE Specialized Body Geometry Fitness, 143mm width, front and rear bumpers

SEATPOST Alloy, 2-bolt forged head, 12.5mm offset, 27.2mm

SEAT BINDER Globe Chevron forged alloy, chrome plated

CHAINCASE Globe aluminum chain guard for internal gearing

KICKSTAND Pletscher double leg kickstand

RACK Globe porteur front rack/basket w/ wood bottom, 25kg recommended max capacity

FENDERS Globe classic aluminum fenders, long, 700C x 35C wide


If you buy or try out any of these models, let us know what you think in the comments!