what is this the next big craze?

[Fixed]

http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=45678&eid=4350
i remember riding to a shop one time and this tri girl pointed between my legs and said what is that ? .... i said down tube shifters imho
cheers

[rice rocket]

I'd be into that if they did it w/ STI shifters.

[Fixed]

i think you should pass on it just a feeling
cheers imho

[Louis]

Cool.

I didn't know that Shimano still made 8-spd DT shifters.

I've been stocking up on 9-spd. components.

[rounder]

I think the bike looks great. Especially for that price.

[eddief]

this uns for you:

http://blog.carbondrivesystems.com/?p=759

[rice rocket]

I don't see where the frame is broken to install that belt? Or is it a "lifetime belt" and the frame is welded after the belt is installed?

[eddief]

at the top of the drive side drop out. hood of dropout is separate from the base. Hood slides inward, base slides outward and all kept together with tensioner and bolts.

as on this ti frame:

http://spotbrand.com/bikes/product-page/mod-ss-ti/

clik on the gallery and check out pic on right.

Looks as if Spot is going great guns into belts.

http://spotbrand.com/bikes/product-page/?shopp_pid=22

[rice rocket]

Ah, very clever! And invisible too, I like it.

[William]

Bio pace.


Nothing says "new" like what was old. ;)





William

[Fixed]

nice imho
cheers

[Gothard]

There is something to be said for a performance bicycle with DT shifters...

[xjoex]

I like the Allez, it is the same colors as the ones from American Flyers right?

I bet those Allez have found their way in to the sale area at some local shops...

-Joe

[dekindy]

End of World parties or World didn't end parties. Not being an optimist I will wait until after the appointed date to schedule the latter. There might be a deposit required to reserve rooms and services and I might not get it back.

[FlashUNC]

Specialized has had those for a couple years now. Pretty smart, I think. Would make a good commuter or change of pace bike for someone without breaking the bank.

[dbh]

Wish more of the bigger makers were putting out steel. With the DT shifters, it really brings the cost down and makes a great entry level bike (or rain bike for that matter). Would like to see something lugged too.

[benb]

Yep.. I could definitely see myself buying one of these Double Steels if the geometry would work for me..

I only have one road bike and there are plenty of things I do not want to do with my Serotta. (Lock it up outside, tow a trailer, etc..) The price on this is perfect for that kind of stuff.

[eddief]

Granted, (pun intended) it will have a sloping top tube, but this should be a beaut.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hTyj3OL-9CE/S0j6-mgiV8I/AAAAAAAAArc/1OXh9SZlSzw/s1600-h/sanmarcos_proto1_800.jpg

http://somafab.blogspot.com/2010/01/rivendell-collaborates-with-soma-on.html

[texbike]

Here is another interesting steel option:

http://bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/gran_premio_pro.htm

If you ignore the typically overblown ad copy that these guys are famous for, the bike itself looks interesting. The geometry is definitely on the quick side.

The price is up there due to the groupset and wheels on this model, but it would be interesting to see what the pricepoint would look like if it was spec'd out like the Specialized Allez.

Personally I think it's cool to see a low cost, lugged frameset being offered to the market again.

Texbike

[shiftyfixedgear]

http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=45678&eid=4350
i remember riding to a shop one time and this tri girl pointed between my legs and said what is that ? .... i said down tube shifters imho
cheers

Uh . . . are you sure she was pointing to the shifters ?? :)

Methinks she might have had other ideas.

I think that is referred to as a "missed opportunity".

[flickwet]

Keepin' it stupid simple

DT shifters are the *****, simpler lighter reliabler (sic) cheaper, pick any four.

[Louis]

Keepin' it stupid simple

DT shifters are the *****, simpler lighter reliabler (sic) cheaper, pick any four.

Look better too. No mass of cables in front.

[fiamme red]

Uh . . . are you sure she was pointing to the shifters ?? :)

Methinks she might have had other ideas.

I think that is referred to as a "missed opportunity".This could have been made into a great Craigslist "Missed Connection": "I thought you were referring to my downtube shifters, but now I realize..." :)

[oliver1850]

shades of 1994, I hope they sell enough to keep offering them. I doubt steel with dt shifters will be the next big thing, more likely it will be electronic shifting.

[oliver1850]

If any of you are in the market for steel you should also look at the Mercier Serpens at bikesdirect. Reynolds 853 with Ultegra for $1300

[Scott Shire]

The Affinity 212 (http://affinitycycles.com/frames/bk212/) would be a MUCH better choice if you had to have a NEW bike for dt shifters.

Kona also makes one (zing iirc) but it's far less nice and has a sloping top tube :no: (not my thing on a steel road bike).

But the next big thing is definitely Snow Bikes. Try finding a Salsa Mukluk (http://salsacycles.com/bikes/mukluk/), or even a new Pugsley complete (http://salsacycles.com/bikes/mukluk/) these days!

[Fixed]

whit the advance of time the fixed crowd might move to these simple geared bikes that two stoned cats could work on
cheers
not that there is anything wrong with that imho

[oliver1850]

The Affinity 212 (http://affinitycycles.com/frames/bk212/) would be a MUCH better choice if you had to have a NEW bike for dt shifters.

Kona also makes one (zing iirc) but it's far less nice and has a sloping top tube :no: (not my thing on a steel road bike).

But the next big thing is definitely Snow Bikes. Try finding a Salsa Mukluk (http://salsacycles.com/bikes/mukluk/), or even a new Pugsley complete (http://salsacycles.com/bikes/mukluk/) these days!


Nothing against the Affinity, but it is $600 for a frameset. The Allez is a complete bike for basically the same retail cost. I like lugged frames, but there's nothing wrong with tigged. I'd bet you could find the Allez somewhere as a year old model for considerably less than $600.

[Samster]

dt shifters... please no. no redeeming features besides retro-glam bogus points imo. if you want to look cool like that get a moto guzzi instead.

[ultraman6970]

shades of 1994, I hope they sell enough to keep offering them. I doubt steel with dt shifters will be the next big thing, more likely it will be electronic shifting.


This allez (the old ones) were the bomb, for the price i would say that specialized is just selling the components because personally i would not pay 50 bucks for that frame. But yes, for a commuter is ok, is not even the shadow of the one in the picture also.

[Fixed]

dt shifters... please no. no redeeming features besides retro-glam bogus points imo. if you want to look cool like that get a moto guzzi instead.
bobber
cheers

[Samster]

bobber
cheerscheers back! long time...

[Fixed]

http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/yhst-64080526985815_2136_11801380
thanks bro cheers

[Charles M]

I remember how much I loved getting ergo shifters. Unless they were comming on a hell of a special bike (like say, Gino Bartalli's Giro winner or Merckx Worlds) I just wouldnt get close to spedning money on false retro. Genuine retro however :beer:


It would be like the new Charger comming with an "retro suspension" option that made the steering super vague and the overall handling on par with the 66...

[rugbysecondrow]

The retro thing is cool I guess, sort of like wearing Chuck Taylor's, using a rotory phones and hand writing letters. It might be fun, nostalgic and fill a niche, but it was improved upon for a reason.

[benb]

I'm not sure it has to be about retro cool. Brifters are just so damn expensive and they are contributing to road cycling being inapproachable for many people.

If you can build bikes with DT shifters again and make a massive cut in the entry level price I'm all for it. Most riders don't need brifters. (I say that as someone who is young enough to have never rode much without them though.)

This bike brings a decent starter roadbike down much closer to the price of a decent starter mountain bike.

I'm sure the parts manufacturers would be upset.. but say USA Cycling banned brifters from junior competitions.. it might actually help some teens decide they could afford to try cycling.

[rugbysecondrow]

I'm not sure it has to be about retro cool. Brifters are just so damn expensive and they are contributing to road cycling being inapproachable for many people.

If you can build bikes with DT shifters again and make a massive cut in the entry level price I'm all for it. Most riders don't need brifters. (I say that as someone who is young enough to have never rode much without them though.)

This bike brings a decent starter roadbike down much closer to the price of a decent starter mountain bike.

I'm sure the parts manufacturers would be upset.. but say USA Cycling banned brifters from junior competitions.. it might actually help some teens decide they could afford to try cycling.

That is a good point. I suspect the expense of road cycling has created quite a few MTBikers. Much cheaper to get into that.

[Dekonick]

You don't need DT shifters to keep it inexpensive... thumb shifters or bar end work just fine and aren't too terribly expensive.

:)

[c-record]

http://www.bianchiusa.com/bikes/gran-fondo/campione/

Throwing the idea of picking one of these up.

[sg8357]

The retro thing is cool I guess, sort of like wearing Chuck Taylor's, using a rotory phones and hand writing letters. It might be fun, nostalgic and fill a niche, but it was improved upon for a reason.

Down tube shifters are for the lazy and cheap amongst us, easy to remove,
no retaping bars. They'll also shift what ever bits you have around, leftover
wheels, derailers and odd ball front ring combos. LBS have lots of orphan
junk in their back rooms that work fine with d/t shifters.

Campy has gone thru 9,10,11s speed in the last five years and 3 or more
shift guts designs. Anything that can't be serviced on the kitchen table
with a hammer and screwdriver is of little interest to me. I don't like
proprietary s**t.

[Steve in SLO]

I have my own 'retro' bike that I bought new and still enjoy taking out for a spin when I ride with my wife, so I think it's kind of cool that large manufacturers are feeling there's enough interest in a simpler ride.
Given that, there's nothing like that retro DT shifter feeling of standing up to sprint up a hill only to find you are 3 gears too high :crap:
That'll give you an appreciation for Ergos or STIs real fast.

[miguel]

townie bikes with race geometry
all rounder/priest bars
down tube shifters (though i disagree with the "lazy and cheap" comment)
rear racks and fred style panniers
multiple lights on the front of the bike

i see more utilitarian bikes because the rent is too damn high. my truck takes a $40 drink every 6 days, about $200+ a month. 6 months of that and i'm commuting on ck/corsa concepts.

[ti_boi]

As the economy continues to contract, look for Unicycles to become very big! Less maintenance than a single speed and portable!

[ti_boi]

The retro thing is cool I guess, sort of like wearing Chuck Taylor's, using a rotory phones and hand writing letters. It might be fun, nostalgic and fill a niche, but it was improved upon for a reason.
Agreed, Though i remember 'not' carrying any form of electronic communication and whem you were out...you really were! Miss that i do! P.S.refriend me at facebook will ya? :-)

[oliver1850]

I leave my cell phone at home all the time. Very rarely carry it. And when I'm home, I like to leave it in an upstairs bedroom with the door locked.

[learlove]

DT's for me on my new main ride. Back to the way it was when I was a junior. It's not like I'm racing anymore so the DT's make it simplier and cleaner IMHO.

[Fixed]

class set up imho
cheers

[Louis]

It's not like I'm racing anymore so the DT's make it simplier and cleaner IMHO.

+1

[dancinkozmo]

i noticed the allez comes with an 8 speed drivetrain.... do DT shifters work better with 8 cogs rather than 9 or 10 ?

[learlove]

i noticed the allez comes with an 8 speed drivetrain.... do DT shifters work better with 8 cogs rather than 9 or 10 ?

I bolted the 10spd (dura ace) DT's on and ran the cable. Shifted just as perfect as the Ultegra STI levers I had on before with no fussing/adjusting.

This bike BTW is currently getting a new down tube installed due some stupid basement riding/crash I had a few weeks ago.

replacement process pic'd here:

http://dreesens.wordpress.com/

[dancinkozmo]

I bolted the 10spd (dura ace) DT's on and ran the cable. Shifted just as perfect as the Ultegra STI levers I had on before with no fussing/adjusting.

This bike BTW is currently getting a new down tube installed due some stupid basement riding/crash I had a few weeks ago.

replacement process pic'd here:

http://dreesens.wordpress.com/

thanks for the info.
do you use friction mode or SIS ?

[learlove]

Sis

[woolly]

The Affinity 212 (http://affinitycycles.com/frames/bk212/) would be a MUCH better choice if you had to have a NEW bike for dt shifters.

Kona also makes one (zing iirc) but it's far less nice and has a sloping top tube :no: (not my thing on a steel road bike).



I believe you're thinking of the Kona Honky Tonk. But, you'd have to go back to the 2009 model to get downtube shifter bosses - 2010-2011 have cable-stops instead. Fun bikes though.