Comments on: Introducing Retrovelo http://clevercycles.com/blog/2008/04/08/introducing-retrovelo/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=introducing-retrovelo Fri, 18 May 2012 19:50:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Mariellen http://clevercycles.com/blog/2008/04/08/introducing-retrovelo/comment-page-1/#comment-325209 Mariellen Thu, 16 Apr 2009 09:17:26 +0000 http://clevercycles.com/?p=220#comment-325209 I was just in and was so happy to find a real service and quality oriented shop. I fell completely in love with the Klara women's bike. The balloons were so much faster than I expected and I didn't feel like I was riding a clunky "comfort bike" at all. All I felt was the wind in my hair and the joy of riding without pain! I'd like to purchase Klara, but I want to know the specifics of the geometry first (I have to double check with my physical therapist and a bikefitter before I drop that much cash!). I'd need angles and tube lengths etc. but I can't find retrovelo specs anywhere online. Any chance you guys could post some of those here? I was just in and was so happy to find a real service and quality oriented shop. I fell completely in love with the Klara women’s bike. The balloons were so much faster than I expected and I didn’t feel like I was riding a clunky “comfort bike” at all. All I felt was the wind in my hair and the joy of riding without pain! I’d like to purchase Klara, but I want to know the specifics of the geometry first (I have to double check with my physical therapist and a bikefitter before I drop that much cash!). I’d need angles and tube lengths etc. but I can’t find retrovelo specs anywhere online. Any chance you guys could post some of those here?

]]> By: BAW http://clevercycles.com/blog/2008/04/08/introducing-retrovelo/comment-page-1/#comment-251372 BAW Wed, 29 Oct 2008 14:55:30 +0000 http://clevercycles.com/?p=220#comment-251372 I have bought several pairs of golf knickers (or 'breeks'/plus-fours as our British friends call them) for riding. Jhodpurs would do nicely, too. I have bought several pairs of golf knickers (or ‘breeks’/plus-fours as our British friends call them) for riding. Jhodpurs would do nicely, too.

]]> By: Josh http://clevercycles.com/blog/2008/04/08/introducing-retrovelo/comment-page-1/#comment-250934 Josh Wed, 29 Oct 2008 01:17:41 +0000 http://clevercycles.com/?p=220#comment-250934 Eddie: I bought a Retrovelo from Clever Cycles a few weeks ago and the chain guard works wonderfully. I only ride in jeans or khakis and I've not experienced any problems whatsoever, pants always stay clean, etc. It is quite effective, and a great relief as I was really hoping to find (and find I did) a bike that didn't require me to do that silly thing where you roll up one side of your pant leg. Eddie: I bought a Retrovelo from Clever Cycles a few weeks ago and the chain guard works wonderfully. I only ride in jeans or khakis and I’ve not experienced any problems whatsoever, pants always stay clean, etc. It is quite effective, and a great relief as I was really hoping to find (and find I did) a bike that didn’t require me to do that silly thing where you roll up one side of your pant leg.

]]> By: Eddie http://clevercycles.com/blog/2008/04/08/introducing-retrovelo/comment-page-1/#comment-207729 Eddie Fri, 19 Sep 2008 05:23:20 +0000 http://clevercycles.com/?p=220#comment-207729 The minimalist chain guard looks great, but how well does it protect the pant leg? My current bike has an extended lip on the chain ring which does nothing to keep my pants clean or from getting caught every time the wind blows from the right. I understand a full chain case can prevent this, but is the guard on the Retrovelo adequate for riding in regular clothes? To be honest, I am looking to commute to work on this bike, but if my slacks are in danger, I can live with my alternate, the azor opa. Regardless, I'm certainly taken with the upright riding position. The minimalist chain guard looks great, but how well does it protect the pant leg? My current bike has an extended lip on the chain ring which does nothing to keep my pants clean or from getting caught every time the wind blows from the right. I understand a full chain case can prevent this, but is the guard on the Retrovelo adequate for riding in regular clothes? To be honest, I am looking to commute to work on this bike, but if my slacks are in danger, I can live with my alternate, the azor opa. Regardless, I’m certainly taken with the upright riding position.

]]> By: Patrick http://clevercycles.com/blog/2008/04/08/introducing-retrovelo/comment-page-1/#comment-141483 Patrick Mon, 07 Jul 2008 06:45:24 +0000 http://clevercycles.com/?p=220#comment-141483 As far as these Oma-style step-through frames goes - they are considered pretty unisex throughout much of Europe and Asia. No one would look askance at a guy riding one of these. I would consider one - the 32 inch standover on the Herren version is definitely too tall for me! As far as these Oma-style step-through frames goes – they are considered pretty unisex throughout much of Europe and Asia. No one would look askance at a guy riding one of these. I would consider one – the 32 inch standover on the Herren version is definitely too tall for me!

]]> By: Joel http://clevercycles.com/blog/2008/04/08/introducing-retrovelo/comment-page-1/#comment-115889 Joel Tue, 10 Jun 2008 04:11:39 +0000 http://clevercycles.com/?p=220#comment-115889 I was in Copenhagen last month (biz) and it sure seemed there were (many) more step-through frames than diamond frames where I looked. (And not so much correlation between type of frame and sex of rider.) So it is possible that economies of scale may favor the step-through frame. I was in Copenhagen last month (biz) and it sure seemed there were (many) more step-through frames than diamond frames where I looked. (And not so much correlation between type of frame and sex of rider.) So it is possible that economies of scale may favor the step-through frame.

]]> By: Bruce A. Wilson http://clevercycles.com/blog/2008/04/08/introducing-retrovelo/comment-page-1/#comment-101304 Bruce A. Wilson Tue, 20 May 2008 17:16:50 +0000 http://clevercycles.com/?p=220#comment-101304 Of course, talking about 'women's' and 'men's' frames is not really accurate; many women ride diamond frames, and (especially with cargo bikes) some men ride step-through frames. (Indeed, there are some companies--sport bikes rather than transport/utility bikes--that make 'women's diamond frames'--that is diamond frames, but proportioned for a woman's body.) Of course, talking about ‘women’s’ and ‘men’s’ frames is not really accurate; many women ride diamond frames, and (especially with cargo bikes) some men ride step-through frames. (Indeed, there are some companies–sport bikes rather than transport/utility bikes–that make ‘women’s diamond frames’–that is diamond frames, but proportioned for a woman’s body.)

]]> By: Todd (admin) http://clevercycles.com/blog/2008/04/08/introducing-retrovelo/comment-page-1/#comment-100086 Todd (admin) Sun, 18 May 2008 16:17:38 +0000 http://clevercycles.com/?p=220#comment-100086 I can only speculate why the step-through frames cost more. The frames are more complex. The top tube is bent to a high tolerance, and joined with an additional braze to the downtube. More labor and material right there. And if the step-throughs are produced in lower quantities than the diamond frames, that would also tend to raise the price, as the jigging and process costs are spread across fewer units. With mass-produced items, manufacturers tend to average production costs across models and price accordingly. These are not mass produced. I can only speculate why the step-through frames cost more. The frames are more complex. The top tube is bent to a high tolerance, and joined with an additional braze to the downtube. More labor and material right there. And if the step-throughs are produced in lower quantities than the diamond frames, that would also tend to raise the price, as the jigging and process costs are spread across fewer units. With mass-produced items, manufacturers tend to average production costs across models and price accordingly. These are not mass produced.

]]> By: hhw http://clevercycles.com/blog/2008/04/08/introducing-retrovelo/comment-page-1/#comment-100063 hhw Sun, 18 May 2008 15:23:59 +0000 http://clevercycles.com/?p=220#comment-100063 On April 8, Bruce asked why the women's models cost more than the men's -- this was my initial question on seeing the prices, and I didn't find the answer in the comments. This sort of unexplained disparity really bugs me, so I would like to understand what the reason is for it in the bicycle context. Thanks. On April 8, Bruce asked why the women’s models cost more than the men’s — this was my initial question on seeing the prices, and I didn’t find the answer in the comments. This sort of unexplained disparity really bugs me, so I would like to understand what the reason is for it in the bicycle context. Thanks.

]]> By: doug http://clevercycles.com/blog/2008/04/08/introducing-retrovelo/comment-page-1/#comment-96652 doug Mon, 12 May 2008 23:20:00 +0000 http://clevercycles.com/?p=220#comment-96652 i have to give a righteous "hell yeah" for the utility mountain bike bit. i lusted after a solid steel MTB sans-suspension for years before i rescued my trusty 1992 MB-4 out of a muddy ditch last december. most of the original parts were ruined by rust, but the Deore top-mount shifters provide the easiest, smoothest shifting I've ever experienced. added fenders, city bars, and a cetma rack and i can do anything i want with it. now i'm going to use it to move 800 miles to seattle. i have to give a righteous “hell yeah” for the utility mountain bike bit. i lusted after a solid steel MTB sans-suspension for years before i rescued my trusty 1992 MB-4 out of a muddy ditch last december. most of the original parts were ruined by rust, but the Deore top-mount shifters provide the easiest, smoothest shifting I’ve ever experienced. added fenders, city bars, and a cetma rack and i can do anything i want with it.

now i’m going to use it to move 800 miles to seattle.

]]>