Continuing our series on getting a proper rack(s) onto your Rambler, today we will tackle an easy one. The Bruce Gordon Lowrider Rack with the upper mounting point in the vertical configuration will bolt right up. It fits both the 700c and 650b Ramblers from the current batch onward with no modification needed. These are hands down the best deal going for a strong and light set of front pannier racks. I added the custom light mount, but for a nominal fee Bruce generally will add some custom details.
In the coming week I will be tackling a couple of Mark’s rack, the upper silver one, installations and document the process.
Back in the spring when we visited with Merry Sales (Soma Fabrications) the conversation turned towards some projects that we would like to see come to fruition and possibly collaborate a bit on. They have been good to me as a wholesale account for the parts I need on complete bikes, and their expertise and sourcing relationships in Japan and Taiwan run deep. They see value in the fat tired road bikes, as well as the French inspired bicycle geometries, as do we. Things went well and our first project is coming to fruition.
There has been a bit of a hole in the market for a well made, light weight and wide 700c tire. I have been happy with their New Express 700×37, but having ridden both the NE and B-Line versions of this tire in the 650b size I knew that there could be more. Starting with everything good about the well-regarded Panaracer Pasela and New Express tires, the inquiry was made about the status of their 700x3xxmm molds. Apparently it had worn beyond use, they were in the process of making new molds and we were given a bit of a clean slate. Taking notes from the B-Line we asked for the tread width and pattern of the 35mm Pasela, the casing of the 37mm, No extra protective lining, a folding bead, and since we were going this far we asked for color options on such a relatively small run of tires. Panaracer said yes, and the wheels were rolling. I kept checking and persisting, then an email showed up confirming that the tires were done and shipping soon. Continuing to push for info, I requested photos. A bit of time passed, then this gift hit my inbox last week.
Coming in at 400g exceeded all my hopes. At that weight we got everything we asked for. This is in the same weight league as the well-regarded 650bx42 Grand Bois Hetre. Combine this with the favorable rolling resistance data that the 700×35 Panaracer Pasela received in the Spring 2013 issue of Bicycle quarterly and I am convinced we hit it out of the park with this one. This tire meets and exceeds everything that was good about the tire they reviewed and takes it a step further.
With delivery slated for early November I set up a Pre-Sale on out store front, the tires start at $49 each, buy two or more and you will qualify for free shipping.
I think this is just the start of some good projects with us and Merry. They deserve a huge thanks for backing projects like this, as well as Panaracer for their willingness to make tires in runs of hundreds when they generally do thousands of a model.
As part of the program here at Ocean Air Cycles I have been working on sourcing components and materials for complete builds. Often times the materials or parts we are used to as cyclists end up being tied up by distributors who have exclusive import deals and will not work with us as a bicycle producer or based the fact that we do not have a physical retail presence. As an aside we may never have a “retail” presence that certain suppliers define as a retail bike shop, and thus we have been developing alternate sources or products that may be familiar in the Rando or touring bike market, i.e. berthoud, Schmidt, and B&M are just a few.
The entire supply chain for high end dynamo powered lighting systems in the USA ends up being funneled through Peter White. I am sure he is a great guy, I bought a fine set of wheels from him years ago, and those of you who have worked with him have your own opinions I am sure. Aside from all of the great information on lighting and wheel building, he is also the importer and distributor. Without the ability to get things wholesale, I started the search for alternates to many of the products offered. Some are much harder to get than others. We are still looking for a reliable source on the metric electrical connectors out favorite lights and hubs use. I was able to source lights from Europe earlier in the year but that is getting harder.
When setting up the Lighting systems on the bikes, there is quite often a need for longer or better wire to make the long run to the tail light. After a long search and testing a few different options out we have been having good luck with a coaxial microphone cable.
Setting up the ends is a bit more work with careful trimming, stripping and shrink wrapping. In my opinion the results are worth it. The cable itself is easier to run, the flexibility helps in fishing it through the frame. The outer diameter is 3mm and fits perfectly though the guide eyelets on out Rambler forks. The resilient outer casing will help reduce the chance of nick or breaks and possible short circuits.
The best part of the source? Pricing is well under Schmidt branded wire coming from Europe. In the next couple of weeks we will add shrink wrap kits to our offerings.
Special Offer: For the first 25 customers we are selling the wire in a 9 foot length (enough to do most bikes front and rear) for $0.25 plus shipping. I am limiting this to one per customer, and once all 25 are gone pricing will go to $0.32 a foot
I was working through the normal Wednesday morning routine where I sneak out early, coffee and camera gear packed, and head out into the predawn to brew up a cup outside. This morning a few minutes before leaving, the best Plan B ever kicked in. Out 3 year old decided she was going to wake up with daddy at 5:15, and 34week pregnant mommy was not so stoked, as she figured I was already gone. I headed upstairs, grabbed the munchikin, cereal fixins and moved all the gear over to the Xtracycle. Then in a flash, we were off to set up “camp” under the glow of the sodium lights.
Mommy was able to grab an extra hour or so of rest, and we had a blast. I am pretty sure this is going to happen again, maybe even planned ahead, is that is possible with kids.
One of the surprising challenges managing the online storefront has been keeping the shipping costs somehow fair for everyone. That is so that small purchases do not go out for free, stings on our end, or you having to pay $5 shipping to get some stickers in an envelope.
While there are tools in the storefront software, some part of their logic keeps alluding me, and there have been glitches, most I do my best to make right, i.e. we usually eat the shipping. As part of keeping this a business and not just a labor of love I need to get this part sorted out.
The only ways, without more complexity for us both, is to build the cost of shipping into the price of each item, or move towards flat rates. I have chosen flat rates.
Sales Under $75 will have a shipping and handling charge of $5
Sales over $75 have free shipping with the exception of large items like frames and wheel sets.
Rambler Frame Sets have a flat rate of $45 in the US
In the long run we are still picking up a chunk of the costs, but not all of them.
With more Ramblers starting to head out into the world I am starting to get more questions on selection and fitting of accessories like racks and fenders. One of the challenges in transitioning from a one-off custom Rando bike with custom accessories and associated price, to a production bike like the Rambler and fitting production accessories, is the fact that said accessories will likely need a bit of adjustment for an optimal assembly. I will start working through these one by one, in bite sized pieces, tag them and then add them to the site as summaries.
The first installment is related to Porteur Racks. These are most commonly used with an upright “CityBike” or Porteur build. The rack has a larger platform that will carry any thing from large loads, purpose-built bags to the best basket support you had ever imagined. A strong support for the load will reduce wiggle, and help with better handling. Here is a Rambler set up this way:
Of all the commercially available options on the market I have been the most happy with the Soma racks. They are well made, stout tabs connecting to the dropouts, and have a position to mount panniers if needed. The down side is with out of the box fitment. The top is designed around a center point mount to crown, and here at OAC we much prefer two point mounting at the top. The double mounting points provide greater stability and redundancy in the event of hardware getting loose. The center mount can work, but experience and testing have proven that is not as stable.
I am in the process of installing one of these racks on a first generation Rambler for testing and will document the process. Today I will start with the adjustments I make to the bottom mounting points.
Out of the box the rack comes with the welded tabs a little bit long. The are by design intended to have extension feet bolted on and extend to the front hub axle. IMO this is overkill for the loads that 90% of users will be carrying and I modify the rack to connect to the connecting point on the front dropout. To avoid interference with the front hub mounting a bit of the tab needs to be removed. Mark the tab to indicate where material removal stops, and then start at it with files or tool of choice, that is up to the installer’s tool and skill set. I usually do this with files and a bench vise to hold the rack. If the rack is one of the non-stainless steel versions I would also recommend touching up the paint on the cut edges.
The end result is a solid and neat lower mounting, and no interference with the quick release hardware.
I will take a minute to spotlight one of the refinements between the Generation 1 and current Ramblers. The above fitment still requires a small spacer between the rack and dropout to clear the general shape of the dropout. The latest generation of Ramblers has a stainless steel dropout that is better shaped for rack and fender mounting.
These better facilitate this style of rack mount as well as using all of the Soma hardware should you choose a mount with full axle support of the rack.
The upper mounting can be solved in a variety of ways, from using the stock hardware, welding in additional struts or additional hardware that is on the market. I will address all of these an a separate post. That said here a teaser shot of some hardware we are setting up for testing, there is still some work to be done with the mock-up.
Today the first two Ramblers to be delivered internationally should be showing up at their new home in Japan. I owe a giant thank you hug to everybody who helped me connect the dots to make this happened to Wakako at Blue Lug for seeing the value in our offerings for their market.
I am so stoked to get this relationship going. Martina at Swift, Paul Components and Katty Geekhouse all helped me make this happen, thank you.
This also means that I have sorted out the basic issues for international sales. Over the last year I have had more than a bit of interest from other shores, and now I can get this part of the business going. In a nut shell Ramblers can be shipped overseas at retail, freight will generally be handled via fedex and runs about $200 give or take depending on where you are in the world. Import duties, taxes and fees are on the buyer. If you are a shop looking to bring in multiple Rambler frame sets, as in the above mentioned transaction, contact me for a dealer agreement and we can get the ball rolling. With regard to custom complete builds, I am still a bit buried, but can help get you there, it will just take a little more time.
The best way to start the day, play outside, have fun, work hard and do what you love
