Electra's Ticino Mixte is Alright

Actually this bike is pretty excellent. The 20spd version comes with a 105 grupo, hammered alloy fenders, bar end brake levers, panaracer tires and more. It's a road worthy cycle that screams comfort. The head tube higher than the seat post means a relaxed riding position. When equipped with high quality components the ticino may be a true country cycle. I just wonder about the frames. It seems the cheaper models are aluminum (boo) and the top of the line frames, alloy. Is the ticino too good to be true?

Frances and Me

I first saw a Frances cycle parked at the Ferry Building last fall. At that time, I was speculating it's origin and admiring it's beauty. Then in November 2009, I went to the SF Bike Expo and learned that Frances cycles are made by the most talented Josh Muir of Santa Cruz, CA. I instantly fell in love with his mixte frame, first mistaking it for an old bike(it reminds me of a pre-war roadmaster that I've had for years). It was the first time I'd seen an unfinished, unpainted hand built bike frame. I learned that Frances is Josh's mother's name. This picture is of Josh, Frances, and the mixte that caught my eye and stuck in my brain. I'm getting one. More to come on the subject, dear readers.

snoball update

new look for spring

Below is Snoball when she was a baby. A lot of things have changed since then (she was born in August 2009). Lately, she's wearing a red paper flower on her stem. She's got fenders a front carrier and basket now. Her old brooks saddle broke so now she wears a ladies flower embossed b-18. She recently became a francophile and traded in her soma sparrow bars for some phillipe bars. They're awesome.

Since her early days she's been rolling the planet bike rear carrier with army pannier bag, her polka dot scarf, the water bottle cage (from kathleen!), and pump for road rides. Early on I also covered the horrendous SOMA painted "headbadge" logo with a lakshmi on a lotus decal. She feels so me now, but like everything she's always changing.

somebody asked about my bike

Dear Readers,
I apologize that I never told you how my mixte worked out. I started a while back telling you I was building up a frameset and taking you on test rides. You know I chose a soma mixte. Here's how I set it up. Only thing missing in the foto is the fenders, which finally went on a week or so ago.

soma mixte frame set
soma sparrow bars
bar end shifters
shimano 650 brakes (they're gorgeous)
shimano 105 group
sugino cranks with 3 rings (i dunno the numbers)
some 7 speed freewheel
105 hubs with salsa rims
gold cable housing
b-18 embossed saddle
brown cloth tape grips
planet bike rack. us army backpack pannier bag
nitto mini front rack with wald basket on top (there's a whole story about the rack and andre. where are you andre?)
decals removed, head badge covered with lakshmi on a lotus

hand selecting every detail of my bike was quite a learning experience and has earned me some street credibility with bike nerds. graduating from found bikes to my own custom touring build has rekindled my cycle lust and left me wanting more. ready for my handbuilt (frances).

Rivendell vs. Soma Part !

In August, I bought my first new bike since I've known anything about bikes and it was a lot of work. I knew I wanted a mixte, which narrowed the choices down to just three, or so I thought.

Soma Mixte
Rivendell Mixte
Rivendell Betty Foy

Turns out, I missed Riv's last call for their mixte regular- the $2000 frameset with heart shaped lugs that are so beautiful they make me cry.

But there was still the Betty Foy Rivendell, which also has heart shaped lugs and checks in at $1000 for frameset.

Betty's Lugs

And then the Soma a mere $450 for frame and forks.

A Good View of the Buena Vista

Coming Soon: Find out exactly why I chose what I chose.