Since that time, it has been used for transportation, utility and recreational riding. All the while looking good! It is in fact a screaming pink that neither of us would have chosen, but it's never been a negative. In fact it's girly-ness has really grown us and is fully enjoyed!
The details throughout the frame are absolutely stunning. It's understandable that Rivendell had to pull back from the Baroqueness of it and produce the more moderately detailed yet still lovely Betty Foy.
This last week I was able to complete the final piece in it's build with some Honjo fenders. They're 700C fenders, so took a bit of massaging to get to fit the 650B wheels. Plus the mixte stays are a touch different. In the end, the fenders add so much visually to the bike. It just looks complete and correct now while previously there was just a little something missing. I'm sure they even work well when it rains!
It came with a real nice build, Rich Lesnik wheels, Nitto and Sugino components, Brooks B67, and Paul Racer brakes that I couldn't find fault with. The only updates other than the fenders was going to a 1X9 drivetrain with a wide-range cassette. I think I changed the stem to a shorter Dirt Drop one, but can't swear to it. The Peterboro basket up front is the only other addition and a highly recommended one to any bike!
The bike is quite a joy to ride. There is something really special in the design. Maybe it's the seating and handlebar combination that works so well. Or the 650B puffy tires that are still lightweight. Plus the step-through frame is amazing to hop on and off. I don't know, but it all just works!
So there you have it... a tribute page to an awesome pink bike! I am always on the lookout for a Wilbury in my size to match this one! It'll happen some day!
5 comments:
Didn't know you had one! I've thought of getting one for my wife, or one of the Soma mixte frames, but then I sadly realize she probably wouldn't ride it any more than the gunnar I have built up for her using Albatross bars.
Fantastico!
The SOMAs are pretty nice.
This is the first bike my wife has had that was comfortable and she could ride for longer than five minutes without getting a headache. But most of that is probably the bars which you've replicated on the Gunnar.
How big is your wife? The albatross bars are too wide for most people, especially small women! I had a set on a bike and they were unbearable, the bike unridable.
The soma buena vista looks good, but the top tube distance is very long, too long for most petite women riders. I started thinking about the betty foy again last night, wondering what the top tube length is as Petersen designed them with women in mind. The only issue I have with rivendell is focusing on albatross bars so much, especially smaller riders.
She's 5'8", so maybe that makes a difference. Although Riv sells plenty of smaller ones as well. The long top tube (virtual) of both the Riv mixtes and the Soma BV is specifically for Albatross type bars. They make it hard to use drops.
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