BBDave & Lance's Chopper

[alembical]

BBDave and all,
Have you seen the pictures of Lance's new Chopper... from RBreview.... http://forums.roadbikereview.com/showthread.php?t=12189

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v326/kfroeschl/DSC03986.jpg
http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v326/kfroeschl/DSC03985.jpg
http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v326/kfroeschl/DSC03980.jpg
http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v326/kfroeschl/DSC03988.jpg

Alembical

[BumbleBeeDave]

I want one! I want one!

BBDave

[IXXI]

Normally I love these themed choppers. Really. There's usually cool little nuances in there that really put em over the top. But aside from the yellow color, LAF logo and tt helmet gas tank, what's the attraction? Maybe I'm missing something, but not sure this one got all the design love it could've.

[OldDog]

I dig the mailbox saddlebag :p

[Dekonick]

Yeah - the design sucks IMHO.

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . I’ll pass too.

Looks heavy, anyway. Probably a real ***** to pedal up hills . . .

BBDave

[Mr. Butterworth]

I didn't know Mavic was using choppers as its official neutral support vehicles.

[JohnS]

It's ugly. Most of the current group of Discover Channel choppers and such are designed as "works of art". They aren't actually designed to be ridden any distance.

[BigMac]

Ok, the color scheme is not my favor, but Lance obviously likes it as does the resident BBD so who am I to argue.

There are some really nice things on this bike and with that wheelbase its probably one of the smoother riding rigid frames on the open road. Ok, it's probably a handful manuevering in traffic but that's not this bike's intended usage.

My biggest objection is the numerous compromises and lack of continuity in the design concept, however I do not necessarily blame OCC...at least not entirely. I have personally seen their FDNY tribute bike in person...in a word, that bike is AWESOME! Some of the finest detailing and craftsmanship I have ever seen. Heck even a couple of builders I know who were with me were extremely impressed by that effort. OCC however has become a sort of 2-headed monster within the industry, in large part due to its association with Discovery Networks. OCC is/was considerably higher volume than most custom shops, their annual production in 2000 (I believe just their 3rd year in business) was the equal of WCC and Paul Yaffe, that's high volume relative to industry norm. When Discovery came knocking on the door, OCC already had an established reputation for their theme-based bikes at regional shows but it was not a core business goal, more of a demonstration of what they were capable of. Discovery however does not want to document weekly construction of John Smith and Jane Doe's bikes, they needed star appeal. Discovery helps arrange the contracts, establish budgets and establishes shooting schedules and production deadlines. OCC was famous for producing 1-off custom bikes in 45 days, mock-ups within 10 days where industry norm is 8-10 weeks and 4 weeks, respectively. With Discovery shooting schedules those times often drop to 3-4 weeks and 7 days, respectively. Whenever you limit time, you compromise options, creativity/originality, detailing and execution. I believe this bike suffers from such limitations and was likely designed and mocked in less than a week.

The good, imo:
TT helmet tank - very cool
Right hand drive - hopefully chain-drive although the images above do not confirm this
Spoked wheels: OCC typically uses billet-machined wheels, the spokes are more fitting theme.

The bad:
Paint scheme on wheels - why not make them look like modern racing bicycle wheels. Black spokes and rims with bold yellow block lettering on rim "Livestrong", similar to graphics of most pro wheels today. I would also opt for 21" wheels f&r more in keeping with bicycle look. The OCC trademark 280 rear tire has got to go as well, a 140 in back may provide less rubber on the road but this isn't a drag racer anyway and it should at least resemble a bicycle in some fashion..beside just 2 having wheels.
The 40+ deg raked front end. Makes for poor manueverability and contradicts bicycle theme. A 30 deg chopper would maintain "chopper" appeal but in a more bicycle fashion.
The biggest objection is the front end and controls. That fork is one of the cheapest available and looks nothing like the sweeping lines of a modern racing bike. An oversized inverted fork with smooth integrated billet trees would really fit the theme, both Ness and Yaffe offer them although the cost is around $3500 versus the current $1200 unit. The bar and clamp look nothing like a bicycle, how cool would it be to mock-up some custom drop bars and a bicycle-like stem? On the left use road brake with hood to operate rear brake(much like Lance's L'Alpe TT bike setup), on right side use an STI brifter where brake lever operates front brake and STI arm operates throttle. Yes, that would require some effort and considerable extra time beyond Discovery's shooting schedule but it would be cool, no? On the left would be a suicide shifter fabricated using their Water Jet mill to construct the tall gear lever in teardrop shape of a vintage Simplex retrofriction lever (dbrk would love that ;) )and at top of lever would be another road brake lever which operates the clutch. No foot controls means we can attach standard crankarms oriented directly forward with platform pedals attached but non-rotating in fixed position as footpegs. In fitting with Lance, a 21st century athlete/celebrity I would also opt for a modern, clean mill like the 4v/cyl Polaris V-twin. The HD V-Rod motor would also be nice but that mill is H2O cooled thus requiring a huge, unsightly radiator. For the final touches, how 'bout installing a Cateye, Avocet or whatever computer on bars for speedometer and a wide Brooks sprung saddle, maybe a B66? Oh and H2O bottle cages on each side of DT, maybe a couple behind saddle as an ode to Lance's triathelete days.

Honestly, having seen what OCC is capable of, I would bet Paul Jr would have incorporated at least a few of the above items. The H2O bottle holders and some of the controls would have been more bicycle oriented if given the time and budget but these are the days of commercialism and media...they got the $$, they make the choices and the result is unfortunately a compromise from an ideal. I still think its a cool bike and the gas tank is...wow, very nice.

Ride on! :banana: :banana: :banana:

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . the TT helmet gas tank thing. I guess I was just so busy wiping drool off my face that I missed it! :p

Thanks, Big Mac . . . or may I just call you “BM” ? . . . :rolleyes:

BBDave