The first thing I figured I should deal with is picking out a frame. I knew I wanted a bike for commuting and touring etc. Experience has taught me that steel is a better choice for everything I wanted to do than aluminum, carbon fiber or something more exotic. It has significant advantages in repair-ability, durability and ride quality. Steel is softer so it absorbs more of the bumps in the road than aluminum, and it will last longer than carbon fiber. This argument is hashed out all over the Internet if you’ve got more interest in it.
I also wanted a frame that would allow me to have the bars more or less level with the seat without having to go to extremes on the seat post or stem.
Rivendell A. Homer Hilsen
A few frames come to mind that fit this bill (and I’m sure may more that I don’t know about). I drooled over Rivendell’s A. Homer Hilsen for a couple of years. I also considered frames from Velo Orange, Surly’s Long Haul Trucker, and a Waterford. Rivendell also showed up late in the game with the Sam Hillborne.
Price was a concern for me here. The frames I listed cost anywhere from about $400 (the Surly, maybe the best deal in bikes) up through $3,300. $3,000 is more than I wanted to spend for the bike. I’m thinking $2,500 before fenders and bags and all that, and if I can get away for less thats awesome. I knew I wanted a lugged frame. I’ve heard there are some theoretical advantages to them, but mostly I’m a sucker for how they look.
Initially I was going to get over my proclivity for lugs and just go with the Surly Long Haul Trucker. Then Rivendell released the Sam Hillborne and I had to rethink the whole thing. I ended up picking the Rivendell because it seemed more suited to my needs. All of the Surlys I’ve ridden have the bars lower than I like, and to get a frame that fit me length wise I’d have to have a stack of risers. The Rivendell allows me to have the bars where I want without a big riser stack (it uses a threaded stem which IMO looks better if it has stick out a bit farther anyway).
Rivendell Sam Hillborne
I also like that its possible to replace tubes if I crash. The converse of course is that I could have bought two long haul truckers for what I’m paying for the Rivendell. The other big deciding factor for me was that Rivendell sells direct. To my knowledge Surly only distributes through QBP, and while that’s good for them it forces me to go to a bike shop. Local bike shops are great, and we should all support them but I don’t have one that I think sells the kind of bike I’m looking for and will spend the time with me helping me figure out how to build it, so I’d rather go direct from Rivendell.
Surly Long Haul Trucker
Note that its not that good bike shops don’t exist in my area, I just haven’t found them yet. From what I’ve seen in some forums Hiawatha Cyclery may be the place for me, but that’s on the other side of town. County Cycles also is a nice shop, but I’ve had mixed service there. Most of the other shops in town only sell the typical race / mountain / hybrid. I understand this is where the money is and you gotta do what you gotta do, and good for them for staying in business.
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