The presale C Lines started shipping out to customers last week and initial impressions and feedback have all been great.
Here it has been a week of true satisfaction on the New C Lines tires. With time constraints being pretty tight I was able to total up just over 60 miles so far, and the
C Lines are perceptibly smoother rolling then the previous New Express Tires.
I have pushed them both on and off the pavement to see just how much abuse they would tolerate. The sidewalls have faired ok riding through the rocky side trails that parallel sections of our local railroad lines.
I did manage to get one flat from a significantly large goat head thorn, but is should be considered that I have paired these initially with a set of super light Q Tubes, again for the sole purpose of establishing the boundaries for these will do in terms of flat resistance. Also, of note are the numerous patches of broken glass and other thorny areas I have ridden through on purpose, and no other issues. Thus, even with one flat this week, the ride quality makes the risk of flats well worth it IMO, and if thorns prove to be a problem there are ways to work around that without giving up much on the performance front. I will follow up on these in a month, but these are going to be my primary tires this winter.
The presale volume has been good, thank you to everybody who has made a purchase. As of today all tires ordered prior the start of distribution have been shipped. The initial sales volume has helped to establish better projections on where we need to price these tires to keep the project sustainable. The price of $49 a tire is really a bargain for the level of quality and performance for a tire this unique in the market. To keep things sustainable we will be bumping the price to $55 a tire this weekend, Saturday November 9.
We have a good stock of both colors on hand and ready to ship. The presale price will hold on all orders placed through Friday November 8 by midnight. As always shipping will still be free for two or more tires as all sales through out storefront over $75 ship free.
Click Here to Purchase
The New C Line Tires are available
CLICK HERE to purchase
We have been working with
soma since last Spring to bring some wide, supple, high quality tires to market. The results are in and the new
C-Line tires are looking great out of the box, and on initial test rides.
Background: 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.
The first batch made its way from Japan to Soma and now us. Testing and distribution began yesterday. Using aspects of a proven design and partnering with a high quality producer like Panaracer we are confident that the tires will meet and exceed expectations. This batch has two color options, Terra Cotta with tan skin walls and Black with Tan skin walls. The color does not influence performance, and is only aesthetic. I will be riding a set of the Terra Cotta tires over the next few months.
Knowing that the question will be asked the first thing i did after opening them up was take them to the scale and compare the weight to an existing 700x37 New Express.
The 76g drop per tire totals up to a savings of over a 1/4 pound of rotating mass. Paired with a lighter wheel set like the Velocity A23 rims and some light weight tubes the weight savings can add up fast. The weight saving in the tire comes from two places. The C-Line has a different, slightly narrower tread pattern, as well as no hypertext protective casing.
Both of these characteristics not only shave weight but decrease rolling resistance. This translated into a tire that is easier to accelerate to speed, keeps rolling longer, and delivers the silk pillow like ride that only fat tires can give. The days of wide tires being perceived as heavy and slow are quickly coming to an end.
Next up was getting them mounted up on My Velocity A23 rims, which are known to have a tight fit, particularly when tires are new. I am happy to say that both front and rear went on with my hands only, no tire levers needed. They inflated round and evenly along the bead without talc on the tube or any of the other tricks like soapy water at the bead.
Even with a week of my left hand attacking my right, there was new undue struggle or pain.
the tires slid on, the bead popped into place around 60psi. I took them up to 110psi to give a bit of initial stretch and confirm evenness than backed them off to 60psi for a starting point to wide. Initial width on the 23mm rims is 37.8mm, and I am sure they will stretch a bit in the first weeks of riding.
The only downside I can see to these tires is the lack of sidewall protection. This is not a surprise and is part of the design. Only putting the tread rubber where you really need it. The thickened tread section wraps just to the road side of the tires apex or bulge. The price of improved performance on the road means that these may not be the best choice for dirt roads with sharp or tall rocks. Like all things in life there are tradeoffs, performance often coming at the cost of durability.
I have been able to get out for a quick 8 miles or so, and am very happy with the ride quality. They feel in many ways just like the B-Line, as they should, but with the subtly different handling that the larger diameter brings to the equation. Like new "component" day often does I am excited to get out there and put some miles on these. Follow up impressions will come in a couple of weeks.
The
C-Line tires are available through out storefront
HERE at $98 a set
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 700x37, 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 700x35 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
We just added the Paul Component Engineering
Funky Monkey to the storefront. After trying most of the currently available stops, and a few vintage offerings it became clear that the Funky Monkey is hands down the best bang for your buck. The extra long arm drops down to prevent brake cable housing from bending too tightly and binding up, and the arm sticks out far enough to clear most headsets. A barrel adjuster is included to make front brake cable adjustments quick and painless.
Everything about it just works they way the component should, no fussing, no BS, just works. Bonus points for looking good, matching the aesthetic of the brakes and being made here in California.
Keep an eye here and on the storefront. In the coming weeks we will be adding a few more components for building out your
Rambler to the
online store front
Pocket Knives September 19 2013, 0 Comments
Today I was packing up a decade old daily companion for a trip back to its makers for a refresh.
This had me thinking about my pocket knives, and other tools that I carry every day. There has been a knife in my pocket since I was about 12 years old. They are one of those things that you will use throughout the day every day if you have one with you. Having carried a huge variety, vintage, new, folding, fixed, cheap and expensive I have formed my own set of biases. There is a place for cheap knives, in general though you get what you pay for, and if you are going to use it every day why not have something well made that will last you decades or more? Really with a budget of a nickel a day and planning for a decade you end up with about $180 to spend. I have thought about bringing knives into the online shop, but held off. There has been a trend towards all manner of "camping" gear entering the bikeosphere, us included. I try to bring things that a different and better in some way than what most people in the cycling or fashion community may be familiar with. As cool as French pocket knives and Swedish axes can be, there are plenty of other fantastic options out there.
So, is there any interest out there in knives that I believe offer a better solution for the cyclotourist? Tools that bring everyday function to the occasional camper maximizing versatility for the weight? The term curator is overused these days, but I could help you cut to the chase and pick tools that I have personally used and put to the test over the years.
So what is in my pocket while the William Henry is out? This is the knife that is usually riding in my Docena, Bark River Pro Scalpel (first production for the collector nerds)
We did the poll, the response was good, the cool folks at Soma saw value and the C-Line tires are going to happen, better, they are happening this year
The tire is loosely a 700c version of the fantastic and popular B-Line series of tires. These take the well loved Panaracer Pasela and kick it up a notch. The basic guidelines are 38mm wide with the slightly narrower and thinner tread from a 35 pasela, folding bead, Supple casing, no puncture strip (not really needed) and colors. This first run will have both the Tera cotta and Black with Tan sidewalls. This tire is getting a new mold since the existing 37mm pasela is no more and the 35 was not up to the job. Current status is "in production". Once these are on a container and heading this way I will have the green light to start a pre-sale.
Without the awesome team at Merry Sales / Soma Fabrications this tire would have never happened. My persistence and their willingness and capital are making it real. Things like tire molds and importing are what they do best. They see the upcoming swing in growth of out niche and are putting the money into it on the front end. The best we we can all say thank you will be to buy, sell and ride the hell out of these once they get here.
I will keep you all posted as things progress.
Updated Here:
The
Rambler is a true Cyclotouring bike, steeped in traditional French design, but brought forward to work with modern components and fittings. It is the kind of bike that once dominated the market, but went away as racing came to the forefront.
As we, the cycling tribe, move back to a cycling style that is more practical, able to function as transportation, take the load off our back, yet handle well and with a lively ride, the
Rambler is there to fill that need.
The larger market is slower to move, has longer design cycles due to their economic scale, and may have generally different motivations. I decided it was time to take my dream bike, and bring it to the market as a fully developed product and the
Rambler was born. In many ways it is unique in the market, the only production bike of its kind. All of the details are there to build out a functional sport bicycle, that also serves as practical every day transportation.
Rambler Specs:
- TIG welded, double butted CroMo tubes, custom matched to the frame size for optimized performance.
- Room for 42mm tires and fenders on all bicycle sizes
- Designed with the provision for Paul Racer brakes, mounted with braze-on bosses. These provide unparalleled power and modulation in a rim brake.
- Paul Racer brakes are included in the frame set package.
- Double eyelets for rack and fender mounts at the front and rear dropouts.
- The fork has an investment cast crown with cast and machined rack mounting bosses, with provisions for small upper and low rider racks, & fenders.
- Lighting wire guides on the right fork leg. Reinforced entry and exit ports for internal routing of lighting wires, from front to rear of the frame.
- Columbine Quickchainger braze-on, for easy rear wheel changes without having to touch the chain.
- Braze-on fender mounting points placed so installation is simple and results in even fender line.
- 130mm rear spacing to work with modern road bike components.
- Color options: American Blue , Orange Soda and Sunflower Yellow
Partnering with an US engineering and fabrication team, the Rambler delivers on all levels of build accuracy, quality, hand-built craftsmanship, as well as looks and performance. Unique in the marketplace, it serves as the backbone for the custom-built bike you have been dreaming of.
Ocean Air Cycles is the embodiment of my passion for cycling in a form that shares what I know to be a better alternative with you. It is my work, and my dream, to apply my skills as an engineer and an entrepreneur to deliver a bicycle that can change the way people see local transportation and recreation. Using the Rambler as a tool for travel, transport, running errands, getting to work, etc. Getting out and around under your own power will transform you, your family, and community. Having the best tools available will make the transformation more lasting. Adding to the function is color, function with flair, because color choices make thing more fun
Our first large production run of Ramblers is currently in the powder coating phase. They will be going final QC and prep over the next two weeks, then distribution begins. I need your help, spreading the word, or better yet buying a Rambler of your own. You can start with a frame set and build up your own, or we can facilitate custom builds for your ready to roll custom dream bike. You can click-through any of the
Rambler links or photos in this post to place your deposit today, reserving you place in this batch. The next run will not be here until next Spring, and this is your chance to get rolling before Summer passes by.
Do not hesitate to contact us with any questions, we will make sure you are getting exactly what you want.
We are in this for the long haul, but can not do it without your support, Thank you. We provide the tools, but you make the wheels go round and round.
Hill Repeats June 25 2013, 0 Comments
I decided to put my new bag through the paces climbing and descending some steep hills behind town on my way back from the post office today. June gloom, fog and mist aside it was a great time.
I have had a handlebar bag design bouncing around in my head for years now. Never making the time to sew it up myself I approached
Swift Industries (Martina) about the possibility of a collaboration while we were up in Seattle for the Expo. A few sketches, a meeting, time on the phone, material exchanges, a few speed bumps with the design, and then shazam! My dream bag showed up the other day. Martina did an amazing job translating sketches, pictures and videos into a 3d object. As I was searching for a contractor to partner with, Swift's bags were the closest to what I envisioned, their business ethic was a good match and we hit it off pretty well, i.e the vibe is right on.
The bag is named the Docena, Spanish for a dozen or dozen eggs. My
Rambler is primary transportation, we eat an average of 2 dozen eggs a week in the house, and I wanted a safe way to get them home from the farmers market. Most bags are not wide enough to hold the eggs, this one is. There are a bunch of other details going on, taking cues from traditional Sologne or French style bags for the form factor, material and elements from the light weight bikepacking world, a pinch of messenger bag and a twist of old school backpack all come together in this one. The bag is 11 inches tall and primarily a solution for larger/taller bikes. I do have a sketch for the Docenita, pulling many of the unique elements into a smaller bag, but that is in a holding pattern for the moment.
I will have a more detailed post in the coming week or so, explaining all of the key features, dimensions and clearances for given handlebars. Since it comes up first, my Nitto RM013 bars are 41.5cm C to C at the hoods and I have over 3cm of room for my thumbs on both sides. Second is that for over 17L of volume the bag weighs in at 1.5lbs with stiffeners, if that sort of thing matters to you, that is pretty light for a full sized bag like this.
I have pushed them both on and off the pavement to see just how much abuse they would tolerate. The sidewalls have faired ok riding through the rocky side trails that parallel sections of our local railroad lines.
I did manage to get one flat from a significantly large goat head thorn, but is should be considered that I have paired these initially with a set of super light Q Tubes, again for the sole purpose of establishing the boundaries for these will do in terms of flat resistance. Also, of note are the numerous patches of broken glass and other thorny areas I have ridden through on purpose, and no other issues. Thus, even with one flat this week, the ride quality makes the risk of flats well worth it IMO, and if thorns prove to be a problem there are ways to work around that without giving up much on the performance front. I will follow up on these in a month, but these are going to be my primary tires this winter.
The presale volume has been good, thank you to everybody who has made a purchase. As of today all tires ordered prior the start of distribution have been shipped. The initial sales volume has helped to establish better projections on where we need to price these tires to keep the project sustainable. The price of $49 a tire is really a bargain for the level of quality and performance for a tire this unique in the market. To keep things sustainable we will be bumping the price to $55 a tire this weekend, Saturday November 9.
We have a good stock of both colors on hand and ready to ship. The presale price will hold on all orders placed through Friday November 8 by midnight. As always shipping will still be free for two or more tires as all sales through out storefront over $75 ship free.
