I was talking to David today via email about commuting bicycles. He had just returned from Italy, and noted that the typical bicycle there was kitted for practical commuting–comfy saddles and handlebars, upright riding positions, panniers, etc. And he said he was thinking about following suit. I couldn’t agree more. The commute over the past year has forced to re-think what makes a good (read: useful) commuting bicycle. When I started, the Steamroller was equipped with track drops and clips and straps, and was brakeless. Quickly, I added clipless pedals (for the hills) and flared drops for easier climbing. While the flared drops were fantastic bars, due to a too-short steerer on the fork, I couldn’t find a stem with enough rise to make the bars comfortable for extended rides. So off they went, and in came the Marys, which I’m still very happily running. The gearing has crept down again, back to 39×16, a happy medium between the easier spinning/get nowhere fast 42×18 and the nice city gear of 45×18.

And now, with a potentially longer commute and a blossoming interested in randonneuring, I’m considering a geared bike. At first, I thought I’d go with either what I could find used (likely a mountain bike converted for road use) or an inexpensive hybrid (like the Kona Dew). And of course, there is the dream bike, the Kogswell P/R. But I’ve settled on finding something a bit more unique, in the character of the Bridgestone bikes of the late 80s and early 90s–incredibly goofy, practical, comfortable machines, built for practicality rather than speed (for what it’s worth, this design mentality came to its pinnacle in the 1993 XO-1). Will I manage to find a Bridgestone? Not likely. But the early 90s Panasonic road frame in our basement might make for a good clone.

Posted on 2 October 2006