The Rivendell Sam Hillborne

A Country Bike, originally uploaded by EcoVelo.

I stopped by Freerange Cycles in Fremont to have a look at a built up Rivendell Sam Hillborne. Along with the Surly Long Haul Trucker, the Bleriot 650B frame they have at Elliot Bay, and Davidson and Boxer customs, the Sam is a frequent denizen of my new bike dreamworld.

This is Art.

Eric's rando., originally uploaded by jp weigle.

A gorgeous seat cluster on a J. P. Weigle randonneaur.

An Even More Perfect Vehicle?

Storm Ride, originally uploaded by protorio.

I might as well jump right in on what looks to be the next direction here. I suspect I'm about to start chronicling my shift over the last few months from the obsession with motorcycles that held sway over the last twelve years to a focus on bicycles.

Here we have a Rivendell Bicycle Works Custom Protovelo that comes pretty darn close to being exactly what I have in mind for my next bicycle. It's a 650b randonneur. White 42mm Grand Bois Hetre tires, fenders, drop bars, cantilever brakes, front rack, leather saddle and classy Acorn bags. The finish is clear coat over raw steel.

For more info on the full build, please see Estaban D's flickr set on the bike, with lots of luscious photos.