Specialized AWOL Expert

The Specialized AWOL Expert is a do-everything bike. Photo courtesy: specialized.com

The Specialized AWOL Expert retails for $2,500.

If you follow bicycle retail, you've probably noticed some interesting models labeled "adventure," "bikepacking," "gravel" or "offroad touring."  These are bikes like the Soma Wolverine, the Salsa Marrakesh or Vaya, and Surly's Troll or Ogre. They take wide tires, they tend to be made from high quality steel, and they come with disc brakes. Basically, they're designed to handle the rough stuff while carrying a load.

Specialized's offering is pricey, but it has it all: dyanamo-powered lights (add it to Edwin's list!); fenders with mudflaps; front and rear racks; disc brakes; really wide (comes with 700x45) tires; and a many gear combinations.  You could ride across the continent on this, or you could just ride to work. It will do whatever it is you want it to do.

Here is a 2014 review from Bicycle Times. 

Here are the specs:

• • FRAME

    Heat-treated custom-butted Premium Cr-Mo tubing, internal light cable routing-ready, Adventure Geometry, post disc mount, fender/rack mounts, kickstand plate

  • FORK

    Butted premium Cr-Mo, unicrown, heat-treated

  • FRONT HUB

    Shimano Dynamo hub, Center Lock disc, 32h 

  • REAR HUB

    Shimano Center Lock disc, 32h

  • SPOKES

    Stainless,14/15g w/self-locking threads

  • RIMS

    Specialized 29" disc front, 6061-T6 aluminum, 32h

  • INNER TUBES

    Standard, Presta valve

  • FRONT TIRE

    Specialized Borough Armadillo, 60TPI, 700x45mm

  • REAR TIRE

    Specialized Borough Armadillo, 60TPI, 700x45mm

  • CRANKSET

    Shimano Tiagra

  • CHAINRINGS

    50/39/30T

  • BOTTOM BRACKET

    Shimano Tiagra

  • SHIFT LEVERS

    Shimano Tiagra

  • FRONT DERAILLEUR

    Shimano Tiagra

  • REAR DERAILLEUR

    Shimano Tiagra

  • CASSETTE

    Shimano, 10-speed, 11-36t

  • CHAIN

    KMC X10EPT Anti-Rust, 10-speed, w/reusable MissingLink

  • FRONT BRAKE

    TRP HY/RD, hydraulic disc, 160mm rotor

  • REAR BRAKE

    TRP HY/RD, hydraulic disc, 160mm rotor

  • HANDLEBARS

    Specialized Adventure Gear AWOL, alloy, 125mm drop, 70mm short-reach, 12-degree flare-out

  • TAPE

    Specialized Adventure Gear S-Wrap Canvas Tape

  • STEM

    Specialized, 3D forged alloy, 4-bolt, 7-degree rise

  • SADDLE

    Body Geometry Phenom Comp, hollow Cr-Mo rails, 143mm

  • SEATPOST

    Specialized CG-R, FACT carbon, single bolt, reflective, 27.2mm

  • SEAT BINDER

    AWOL forged alloy, CNC, stainless bolt, 29.8mm

You can ride it in the country; you can ride it in the city. Photo courtesy: specialized.com

Raleigh Clubman Mixte

2013 Raleigh Clubman Mixte. Credit: Raleigh USA

For 2013, Raleigh is offering its Clubman as a mixte.  At this point, the price is TBD (check with your local Raleigh dealer).

Back in 2008, when this site was just getting underway, Raleigh USA decided to recapture Raleigh's glory days by producing some steel models.  Every year since then, Raleigh has come out with a "new" steel model.  In 2010, it was the Clubman, a name that harkens back to the all-steel era of Raleigh.  (Peter Kohler has an article on the original Clubmans here.)

There are many vintage Raleigh Clubman mixtes still on the road, and in a quick internet search I found a few for sale.  The old Clubman mixtes were quality bikes, as demontrated by the fact that they're still around after 50 or 60 years.  Nevertheless, when Raleigh decided to reintroduce the Clubman, it did not offer it as a mixte.  That oversight will be corrected in 2013.

We talk a lot about step-through bikes, but the term "mixte" has a more technical meaning.  Here's how Sheldon Brown defined "mixte":

A style of lady's frame in which the "top tube" consists of a pair of small diameter tubes running more-or-less straight from the upper head lug, past the seat tube, and on to the rear fork ends. A mixte frame thus has 3 sets of rear stays, instead of the usual two. A variant on the mixte uses a single, full sized top tube running from the upper head tube to the seat tube, but retains the middle set of stays. A lady's type bike that lacks the middle pair of stays is not a mixte.

Mixte frames are stronger than conventional lady's frames, particularly in resisting the tendency of the seat tube to get pushed backward in the middle when ridden by a heavy rider.

In French, "mixte" is pronounced "MEExt", but normal U.S. bicycle industry pronunciation is "MIX-ty".

The 2013 Clubman MEExt has some nice retro stylings, such as a lugged fork, matching painted fenders, and a Brooks Swift saddle.  Given the retro-cool vibe I think Raleigh is going for, I'm a bit surprised that it comes with STI levers.  I would have gone with something more retro (what's wrong with downtube shifters?), but I'm sure that places me in the minority.  In any event, as I said before, you can still find vintage Clubman mixtes if that's what you're after.

Here are the full specs on the 2013 Clubman mixte:

Sizes: 50cm XS, 53cm SM, 55cm SM/MD, 57cm MD/LG , 59cm LG, 62cm XL 

Frame: Reynolds 520 Butted Chromoly Tubing 

Fork: 4130 Chromoly Lugged Road  

Cranks: Shimano Tiagra FC-4650 2pc 50/34t 

BB: Shimano Outboard Bearing 

F.Derail: Shimano Tiagra FD-4600 

R.Derail: Shimano Tiagra RD-4601 

Shifter: Shimano Tiagra ST-4600 10spd STI, Shimano SP41 Shift housing  

Br.Levers: Shimano Tiagra STI 

Brakes: Tektro R539 Dual Pivot Long Reach w/Cartridge Pads 

Gear: Shimano Tiagra CS-4600 10spd (12-30t)  

Rims: Weinmann TR18 Double Wall 

Tires: Vittoria Zaffiro 700x25c 

Pedals: Steel Clips w/Leather Straps 

Handlebar: Classic Aluminum Drop 26.0 

Stem: Alloy 3D Forged Ahead 26.0 

Seatpost: Alloy Micro Adjust 27.2x350mm 

Seat: Brooks Swift w/Chromoly Rails 

Headset: Ahead 1-1/8" w/Alloy Cup

Colors: Ivory

 

Chain: Shimano Tiagra CN-4601  

Hubset: (F) Shimano Tiagra HB-4600 QR 32h (R) Shimano Tiagra HB-4600 QR 32h Cassette   

Spokes: 14g Stainless MAC w/Alloy Nipples 

Grips: Gel Tape 

Extras: Fenders, Rack and Fender Mounts, Water Bottle Mounts, Cateye Reflector Set, Clear Coat, Owner's Manual  

Note: Specifications are Subject to Change

All City Space Horse

All City Cycles is reportedly selling its new Space Horse for $550 as a frameset or $1350 for the complete bike.

Nick, a new reader, brought the Space Horse to our attention. He said he discovered it in his search for a good all-around bicycle "to replace my racey road bike and bridge the gap between it and my mountain bike, consolidating down to a single cycle." It sounds like Nick has found The One.

According to All City, which also makes the popular Nature Boy, the Space Horse "is the most versatile bike in the AC lineup. It can handle front and rear racks, fenders, and has clearance for 42c tires. It also has our new custom semi horizontal dropouts which allow it to be set up geared or single." Hmmmm... perhaps it is The One.

Here is a review by Prolly is not Probably. And here are the specs:

Frame | All-City Space Horse 100% full 4130 ChroMoly steel. Double butted down, top, and seat tubes. Externally tapered, ovalized, and dimpled chain stays, tapered seat stays 130mm rear spacing, 1 1/8th headtube, English bottom bracket, 27.2 seatpost

Fork | All-City Space Horse 100% 4130 ChroMoly tapered fork blades, lugged crown and matching dropout.

Headset | Cane Creek S-10 Silver

Stem | Kalloy Silver, four bolt, 1 1/8th threadless, 31.8 clamp

Handlebar | Kalloy Silver, Classic bend, 31.8

Tape | Velo Cork Black Shift

Brake Lever | Shimano Tiagra 4600 10 speed

Front Derailleur | Shimano Tiagra 4600

Rear Derailleur | Shimano Tiagra 4600

Brake | Tektro R520 Silver

Crankset | Shimano Tiagra 4600 Silver, 50-34t

Bottom Bracket | Shimano

Seatpost | Kalloy Silver, 27.2mm

Saddle | All-City Gonzo Black

Cassette | Shimano Tiagra 12-30t, ten speed

Chain | Sram PC-1031 Silver

Hubs | Tiagra Silver

Rims | Alex DA16 Silver, 32 hole

Tires | Continental Contact 700 X 37c, steel bead

Tubes | Cheng Shin 700 X 32 Presta Valve

Raleigh Roper and Furley

The 2012 Raleigh Roper.  Credit: Raleigh USA

The Raleigh Roper sells for $1,500 at Revolution Cycles.

Some people look at Raleigh's new-for-2012 offerings - the Roper and the Furley (what's up with the Three's Company references?) - and conclude that Raleigh is getting serious about cyclocross.  I look at them and see bikes for the rest of us.

They're steel, take wide tires, have fender and rack mounts, and disc brakes. The components are high quality - the Roper has FSA cranks and Shimano 105 derailers.  I love what Urban Velo had to say about the Roper: "The Roper is a bike that I'd expect to see from a much smaller operation than Raleigh; it is more similar to the bikes you see bike geeks build up for themselves from some obscure frame maker than that offered by a major manufacturer."

Ha!  Bike geeks... they're so weird.

Here are the Roper specs:

Sizes: 50cm XS, 53cm SM, 55cm SM/MD, 57cm MD/LG, 59cm LG

Frame: Seamless Butted Chromoly, Integrated Headtube w/BB30

Fork: 4130 Chromoly Cross w/Disc Tabs

Cranks:  FSA Gossamer Pro BB30 34/50t

BB: FSA BB30

F.Derail: Shimano 105

R.Derail: Shimano 105

Shifter: Shimano 105 10spd STI

Br.Levers: Shimano 105/Tektro RL721

Brakes: Shimano R505 Disc, 160mm Rotors

Gear: Shimano 105 (11-28t)

Rims:Weinmann DP30 Double Wall

Tires: Kenda K1083A Happy Medium 700cx32c

Pedals: Road Pedals w/Clips and Straps

Handlebar: Avenir 200 Series 31.8 Short Drop

Stem: Avenir 200 Series, 3D Forged, 31.8

Seatpost: Avenir 200 Series 27.2x350mm

Seat: Avenir Classic Road

Headset: FSA Integrated Cartridge Bearings

Colors: Charcoal

Chain: KMC X10

Hubset: (F) Joytech Alloy Disc QR 32h (R) Joytech Alloy Disc Cassette QR 32h

Spokes: 14g Stainless MAC w/Alloy Nipples

Grips: Gel Tape

Extras: Water Bottle Mounts, Fender and Rack Mounts, Cateye Reflector Set, Clear Coat, Owner’s Manual.

The 2012 Raleigh Furley. Credit: Raleigh USA

The Furley is a single-speed with a little different set-up, but same general idea.  It goes for $820 at Revolution Cycles.  Like the Roper, the Furley has fender and rack mounts and space for wide tires.  You know what a bike geek might do with this baby?  Swap the drops for mustache bars and add an 8-speed internal gear hub for a really cool all-arounder.

I'm guessing. Who knows what bike geeks are thinking? Weirdos.

Here's the (stock) specs for the Furley:

Sizes: 50cm XS, 53cm SM, 55cm SM/MD, 57cm MD/LG, 59cm LG

Frame: Seamless Butted Chromoly, Integrated Headtube w/BB30

Fork: 4130 Chromoly Cross w/Disc Tabs

Cranks: Shimano Alfine 39t

BB: FSA BB30 Eccentric w/Sealed Bearings

Br.Levers: Tektro RL-340/Tektro RL721

Brakes: Promax 720RA Disc, 160mm Rotors

Gear: 18t w/Single Speed Spacer Kit

Rims: Weinmann DP30 Double Wall

Tires: Kenda K1083A Happy Medium 700cx32c

Pedals: Road Pedals w/Clips and Straps

Handlebar: Avenir 200 Series 31.8 Short Drop

Stem: Avenir 200 Series, 3D Forged, 31.8

Seatpost: Avenir 200 Series 27.2x350mm

Seat: Avenir Classic Road

Headset: FSA Integrated Cartridge Bearings

Colors: Orange

Chain: KMC Z99

Hubset: (F) Joytech Alloy Disc QR 32h (R) Joytech Alloy Disc Cassette QR 32h

Spokes: 14g Stainless MAC w/Alloy Nipples

Grips: Gel Tape

Extras: Water Bottle Mounts, Fender and Rack Mounts, Cateye Reflector Set, Clear Coat, Owner’s Manual

If you own a Roper or Furley, please comment and let us know how you like it.  Bike geeks can comment, too.