Sheldon Brown's 2007 Interbike Report

In article <[email protected]>,
Sheldon Brown <[email protected]> wrote:

> I'm back and have written up some of what I saw at Interbike.
>
> Check it out at http://sheldonbrown.com/lasvegas/2007

Your report was vastly more interesting than the stuff I've seen on
Velonews or Cyclingnews (and I say that as a fan of James Huang's tech
reports). You found whole categories of stuff they didn't notice.

That said, The Claw appears to be an mostly ridiculous complication of a
ceiling-mounted hook, which he had the chutzpah to have present for
comparison. It looked like he had more trouble with The Claw than he did
with the hook, though I see his point about heavy bikes or high mounts.
Maybe this is a red-letter day for tandemists.

The picture of the Norco commuter is quite tasty, and the first-hand
account of the NuVinci CVT hub is intriguing. I can't wait to hear the
ride report from the Greenspeed. The Civia frame, with all those
molded-in guides and easy provision for hub or derailer setups, looks
like it would be a sweet commuter. But the Sora upgrade! That is big
news. 9-speed, still adjustable reach, plus gear indicator.

My personal theory is that the Great Missing Bicycle for sports use is a
cyclocross bike based around an Alfine 8-speed hub. My reasoning is that
those bikes are desperately vulnerable to mud-clogged transmissions, and
a lot of pros already run a single front ring.

> Sheldon "Gambling Is Not Among My Vices" Brown

--
Ryan Cousineau [email protected] http://www.wiredcola.com/
"I don't want kids who are thinking about going into mathematics
to think that they have to take drugs to succeed." -Paul Erdos

Sheldon Brown wrote:
> I'm back and have written up some of what I saw at Interbike.
>
> Check it out at http://sheldonbrown.com/lasvegas/2007

Great report. I missed this year's show unfortunately. It's the only
reason I ever go to Las Vegas now that Comdex is history. I liked it
better when Interbike was in Anaheim.

I'm really glad that the Piccolo is back. Now if only Burley can bring
back the 2006 model d'Lite with the frame around the wheels.

Ryan Cousineau a écrit:

> My personal theory is that the Great Missing Bicycle for sports use is a
> cyclocross bike based around an Alfine 8-speed hub. My reasoning is that
> those bikes are desperately vulnerable to mud-clogged transmissions, and
> a lot of pros already run a single front ring.

Great minds...See: http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/bianchi-sanjos8

Sheldon "Been There, Done That, Sold Lots" Brown
+-----------------------------------------+
| Bicycling isn't supposed to hurt! See: |
| http://sheldonbrown.com/pain.html |
+-----------------------------------------+
Harris Cyclery, West Newton, Massachusetts
Phone 617-244-9772 FAX 617-244-1041
http://harriscyclery.com
Hard-to-find parts shipped Worldwide
http://captainbike.com
Useful articles about bicycles and cycling
http://sheldonbrown.com

I see that Brooks is going to introduce a line of panniers. There's the roll
up panniers, and a real rear pannier. That's great. It's about time somebody
gave Carradice some competition. Unfortunately----it's Brooks, an even more
expensive company. Wonder if the price on the panniers is going to as much
as Berthoud?

Mike

Ryan Cousineau wrote:
>
> The Civia frame, with all those
> molded-in guides and easy provision for hub or derailer setups, looks
> like it would be a sweet commuter.

It's a nice-looking frame, but boy does it carry a heavy tariff for
those neat cable guides. $1900 for the single speed complete bike!
I'm sure some of the seemingly unnecessary expense is for the Alfine
parts, but wow.

Cycle commuters are pragmatic folk. It's one thing to sell a $2000-
$3000 bike to a fashion-seeking tool for use as a plaything, but a
transportational bike is a value-driven purchase. I think that Surly
serves the _high_ end of that market, but QBP evidently thinks it's
the low end. I wish them luck, but I predict an indifferent market
reception.

Chalo

"Chalo" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Ryan Cousineau wrote:
>>
>> The Civia frame, with all those
>> molded-in guides and easy provision for hub or derailer setups, looks
>> like it would be a sweet commuter.
>
> It's a nice-looking frame, but boy does it carry a heavy tariff for
> those neat cable guides. $1900 for the single speed complete bike!
> I'm sure some of the seemingly unnecessary expense is for the Alfine
> parts, but wow.
>
> Cycle commuters are pragmatic folk. It's one thing to sell a $2000-
> $3000 bike to a fashion-seeking tool for use as a plaything, but a
> transportational bike is a value-driven purchase. I think that Surly
> serves the _high_ end of that market, but QBP evidently thinks it's
> the low end. I wish them luck, but I predict an indifferent market
> reception.
>
> Chalo

If I walked into a bike shop, and the 2008 Raleigh One Way and the
singlespeed Civia were side by side, I'd take home the One Way and a rack
and leave with a bunch of money. Then I'd spend some of that money on a nice
lighting system and still spend less than the Civia. But that's just me.

Sheldon Brown wrote:
> I'm back and have written up some of what I saw at Interbike.

The Unior Tools look interesting. Check out this Pocket spoke and
freewheel remover wrench in one. I'm a sucker for multi-tasking tools.
http://www.uniortools.com/cgi-bin/cms.cgi?doc=10780&prod=44729&sid=bNVchg3UamMgIpJX
-or- http://tinyurl.com/2etboh

In article <[email protected]>,
Sheldon Brown <[email protected]> wrote:

> I'm back and have written up some of what I saw at Interbike.
>
> Check it out at http://sheldonbrown.com/lasvegas/2007
>
> Sheldon "Gambling Is Not Among My Vices" Brown

A TV in the crapper! Did it use the same remote as the drapes?

Why is it the more you pay for a hotel room, the more likely you will
need to pay for internet and coffee? Seems backwards.

On Sep 30, 3:47 pm, Chalo <[email protected]> wrote:
> Ryan Cousineau wrote:
>
> > The Civia frame, with all those
> > molded-in guides and easy provision for hub or derailer setups, looks
> > like it would be a sweet commuter.
>
> It's a nice-looking frame, but boy does it carry a heavy tariff for
> those neat cable guides. $1900 for the single speed complete bike!
> I'm sure some of the seemingly unnecessary expense is for the Alfine
> parts, but wow.
>
> Cycle commuters are pragmatic folk. It's one thing to sell a $2000-
> $3000 bike to a fashion-seeking tool for use as a plaything, but a
> transportational bike is a value-driven purchase. I think that Surly
> serves the _high_ end of that market, but QBP evidently thinks it's
> the low end. I wish them luck, but I predict an indifferent market
> reception.

I looked at the Civia web-page and thought the bike was butt ugly --
at least in that turd brown color. I suppose a swanky single-speed
commuter might appeal to the same set who bought the Merlin Newsboy
(whoever they may be), but the Civia is not nearly swanky enough IMO.
If it is trying to appeal to real commuters, forget it. Personally, I
have never needed a super-special commuting bike. A good solid bike
with right-sized tires, fenders, lights and a good can of spray lube
has always been enough. -- Jay Beattie.

Jay Beattie wrote:

> If it is trying to appeal to real commuters, forget it. Personally, I
> have never needed r-a supespecial commuting bike. A good solid bike
> with right-sized tires, fenders, lights and a good can of spray lube
> has always been enough. -- Jay Beattie.

So you complain about the color? I can understand complaining about a
lot of other things, but if all you need is, "A good solid bike" then
*****ing about it being "butt ugly" and "turd brown" doesn't make much
sense to a bystander.

> Jay Beattie wrote:
>> If it is trying to appeal to real commuters, forget it. Personally, I
>> have never needed r-a supespecial commuting bike. A good solid bike
>> with right-sized tires, fenders, lights and a good can of spray lube
>> has always been enough. -- Jay Beattie.

vey wrote:
> So you complain about the color? I can understand complaining about a
> lot of other things, but if all you need is, "A good solid bike" then
> *****ing about it being "butt ugly" and "turd brown" doesn't make much
> sense to a bystander.

I thought Jay meant that for that kind of money it oughta be flashy.
--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

A Muzi wrote:
>> Jay Beattie wrote:
>>> If it is trying to appeal to real commuters, forget it. Personally, I
>>> have never needed r-a supespecial commuting bike. A good solid bike
>>> with right-sized tires, fenders, lights and a good can of spray lube
>>> has always been enough. -- Jay Beattie.
>
> vey wrote:
>> So you complain about the color? I can understand complaining about a
>> lot of other things, but if all you need is, "A good solid bike" then
>> *****ing about it being "butt ugly" and "turd brown" doesn't make much
>> sense to a bystander.
>
> I thought Jay meant that for that kind of money it oughta be flashy.

Why are all these companies charging so much?

blisterlester wrote:
> Why is it the more you pay for a hotel room, the more likely you will
> need to pay for internet and coffee? Seems backwards.

At most of the motels I have stayed at (for work), they should have
provided no additional charge bug nets. Cockroaches do not bother me too
much, until they try to crawl into my ears while I am sleeping.

--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
A Real Cyclist [TM] keeps at least one bicycle in the bedroom.

--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

>>> Jay Beattie wrote:
>>>> If it is trying to appeal to real commuters, forget it. Personally, I
>>>> have never needed r-a supespecial commuting bike. A good solid bike
>>>> with right-sized tires, fenders, lights and a good can of spray lube
>>>> has always been enough. -- Jay Beattie.

>> vey wrote:
>>> So you complain about the color? I can understand complaining about a
>>> lot of other things, but if all you need is, "A good solid bike" then
>>> *****ing about it being "butt ugly" and "turd brown" doesn't make
>>> much sense to a bystander.

> A Muzi wrote:
>> I thought Jay meant that for that kind of money it oughta be flashy.

vey wrote:
> Why are all these companies charging so much?

I saw the Weekend Journal coverage of new $5000+ bikes, carefully
designed by respraying a $900 bike and calling it 'limited edition'.
Hmmmmm.
Apparently, I lead a sheltered life here. But given the choice to drink
the Kool Aid (Vegas, corporate brands on my floor, etc) I guess I'll
stay happy in my ignorance. What is wrong with these people?
--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

A Muzi wrote:

>
> I saw the Weekend Journal coverage of new $5000+ bikes, carefully
> designed by respraying a $900 bike and calling it 'limited edition'.
> Hmmmmm.
> Apparently, I lead a sheltered life here. But given the choice to drink
> the Kool Aid (Vegas, corporate brands on my floor, etc) I guess I'll
> stay happy in my ignorance. What is wrong with these people?

It's enough to make me stay in the used market forever. Besides, why do
they call a flatbar bike a commuter bike? If you want to get from point
"A" to point "B", then you don't want any sort of MTB anything. Over the
age of 40 and it kills your back.

On Sun, 30 Sep 2007 17:54:30 -0600, blisterlester <[email protected]>
wrote:

>Why is it the more you pay for a hotel room, the more likely you will
>need to pay for internet and coffee? Seems backwards.

Dear B,

See "The Economic Naturalist," Robert H. Frank, which addresses that
and other specific questions.

Cheers,

Carl Fogel

Andrew Muzi mused:
>...
> Apparently, I lead a sheltered life here. But given the choice to drink
> the Kool Aid (Vegas, corporate brands on my floor, etc) I guess I'll
> stay happy in my ignorance. What is wrong with these people?

You only sell bicycles made by sole proprietorships and partnerships?

What is wrong with "corporate brands" (question, not a flame)?

--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
A Real Cyclist [TM] keeps at least one bicycle in the bedroom.





--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

On Sep 30, 6:27 pm, A Muzi <[email protected]> wrote:
> > Jay Beattie wrote:
> >> If it is trying to appeal to real commuters, forget it. Personally, I
> >> have never needed r-a supespecial commuting bike. A good solid bike
> >> with right-sized tires, fenders, lights and a good can of spray lube
> >> has always been enough. -- Jay Beattie.
> vey wrote:
> > So you complain about the color? I can understand complaining about a
> > lot of other things, but if all you need is, "A good solid bike" then
> > *****ing about it being "butt ugly" and "turd brown" doesn't make much
> > sense to a bystander.
>
> I thought Jay meant that for that kind of money it oughta be flashy.

Yes, at least the Newsboy was nuovo-retro, semi-sheeny Ti. The money
burners seemed to like that. If I were going to get a cost-no-object
commuter with lots of Bohemian chic, it would be this one:
http://www.vanillabicycles.com (click the commuter tab). But again, I
never needed a super-special commuter, and if I bought one of Sacha's
wonder bikes, I'd want to put it in a glass case and not thrash it
throught the swamps in PDX during the fall, winter and spring. -- Jay
Beattie.