Tag Archives: Bike of the Week

Bike of the Week: Independent Fabrication Ti Deluxe 29′er

Independent Fabrication is, if anything, lustworthy.  This week’s Bike of the Week certainly fits that bill, and is of titanium, that most wonderful of bicycle frame materials.

Our friends at Indy Fab describe very well their Ti Deluxe mountain bike on their website, but research shows that readers really just want to see the photos. So, without further delay, Charles’ Indy Fab Ti Deluxe MTB, with components from Fox, Shimano (XTR), Industry Nine, and Thomson.

Bike of the Week: Kona Roundabout

NYC Velo is proud to offer the Roundabout, the newest offering from Kona’s diverse, purpose driven collection of Asphalt bikes. The Roundabout is designed specifically for people wanting a beautifully built, perfectly simple bike.

The Roundabout features a classic steel Mixte, AKA step-thru, frame, representing a clean, streamlined purpose-driven-bike aesthetic. It utilizes a user-friendly Shimano 9 speed drivetrain that offers a perfect range of gears to zip around town. The Kona HandPlant swept-back cruiser-style handlebar keeps the rider upright, comfortable and focused on the road in front of them. Kona offers this fender-ready model in two sizes: small and medium.  At $899.99, the Roundabout represents a quality mark that will keep it out of the service bay, without the need for frustrating repairs and adjustments (it will most certainly be out enjoying a carefree ride).

Bike of the Week: Independent Fabrication Mellow Fellow

The NYC Velo Crew was fortunate to get its hands on the limited edition, some call it a “collab”, Indy Fab Mellow Fellow bike last year which proved to be quite the crowd pleaser while in the shop. A beautiful single speed rig for the city, complete with (bag ready Nitto) racks, this bike found a happy home recently with a very pleased customer. After some test riding and a lengthy conversation about intended use, ergonomics, and riding position, the team set to work on a few “mods” to further customize the Mellow Fellow. A set of Honjo fenders, a Nordeast cruiser handlebar from Nitto, and Brooks leather handlebar tape complete the one-off package.

Originally, the Mellow Fellow was part of the Paper Labels design project uniting three crews hellbent on creating the best in their respective fields, Independent Fabrication, Bodega, and Bailey Works bags. Three bike designs were fabricated based on three color schemes that also integrated bag or rack combinations.

Paper labels of vintage and deadstock spraypaint cans were the color palette source upon which the three concept bikes’ paint colors were supplied. The color scheme and iconography of the Paper Labels bikes were derived from Bodega’s archive of discontinued vintage spraypaint. These colors were popularized by the 1980′s graffiti culture and are now coveted by spray can collectors. Krylon Aqua Turquoise #2008, Krylon O.D. Khaki #2301, and Krylon Metallic Blue #1903 serve as the foundation for the bikes color schemes.

Additional graphics for the bikes were created by referencing some designs from other old vintage can labels. Only 15 of each model were made and include matching bag(s), t-shirt and a can of spraypaint mixed and labeled for each bike.

Bike of the Week: Troy’s Fat Chance

This Bike of the Week is a bona fide winner: the Buck Shaver from Fat City Cycles. This particular Buck Shaver belongs to NYC Velo team member Troy O, who’s currently tackling the MTB scene in Copenhagen, Denmark on his classic “Fat”.

The Buck Shaver is a mountain bike from Fat City Cycles, a less expensive version of the fancier Fat Chance models, a “budget” handmade machine. Budget as it is, the Buck Shaver still has all the attention to detail of the more expensive bikes but used less expensive materials and a simpler mono-stay rear end. Troy’s Buck Shaver was made in the fames Fat City Cycles Sommerville, MA workshop, before Fat City Cycles was sold to the investors who owned Serotta Competition Bicycles at the time (Serotta has since changed hands a few times). The Buck Shaver was made from 1994 to 1996 and it is rumored to be a replacement for the Monster Fat Chance and was eventually changed to the “Bro Eddy”.

The model name Buck Shaver was a nickname for a Fat City employee named Pat Egan (he used to race in a bowling shirt with “Buck Shaver” embroidered on it) who was, according to old Fat City catalogues, “always on the look out for a good deal”. The Buck Shaver frame was named for him as a tribute after he passed away in 1992. The Buck Shaver has the same geometry and dimensions as the Yo Eddy but, according to longtime Fat City and Independent Fabrication employee Lloyd Graves, it utilized AVR top and down tubes and an MHT head tube, as well as a wishbone seatstay that took longer to make than the traditional seatstays found on the higher end “Fats”. I don’t know what those tube designations mean, but they sound great and support the notion that this frame is basically a entry level, handmade frame made of stock materials and lotsa soul.

Troy and I, as part of the NYC Velo MTB Team, raced our (almost) matching Buck Shavers for a while “back in the day” — in this case back in day means 2005 or so — to modest amounts of success. Unfortunately, low race finishes were never the bikes’ fault…

We’re huge Fat City fans here at NYC Velo and look to bring our readers more “Fat” bikes in the future. Until then, enjoy Troy’s:

Engineering: it’s what they do. The 2012 Scott Carbon Scale Expert 29′er

The engineers at Scott Bicycles are back at it again. Like kids set free in a toy store, these bike gurus head straight to the best tools, materials and technologies they can find to build the ultimate toys for the bike enthusiast. The 2012 Scale 29 Expert (little brother to Scott’s 899 29′er aka the lightest 29 mountain bike frame around at 899 grams) is an impossible mountain bike model to ignore given its enviable combination of cutting edge technology, extensive R&D, and affordable price.

For 2012 this softer riding hard-tail has more built-in compliance, meaning that the bike can flex vertically to absorb trail or street feedback, yet is laterally stiffer for more efficient climbing and faster acceleration — a few more steps towards the “holy grail” of ride qualities. Scott has once again raised the “laterally stiff/vertically compliant” bar for the MTB industry.

Though the 29′er wheel is larger than its cousin the 26″, the Scale’s carefully considered geometry makes it a tight and nimble handing machine, dominating rocks, trees, cars and street construction. The Scale’s nimble handling, combined with the inherent ability of the larger 29 inch wheels to roll over technical terrain, its light/efficient/compliant carbon frame, Shimano XT/SLX components, DT Swiss wheels, and Reba Rock Shox fork make this a ride we highly recommend.

Bike of the Week: Ti Factory Lightweight by IndyFab

So hot it’s not even listed on Indy Fab website, the Titanium Factory Lightweight from the new company digs in New Market, NH (just north of Boston) is this week’s BOTW (Bike Of The Week).

A brilliant integration of titanium and carbon, this Ti FLW is reflective of the most contemporary of custom frame design. With an integrated carbon fiber seat mast, custom milled seat clamp, press-fit BB30 bottom bracket shell, oversized headtube allowing for an integrated Zero Stack headset, and drilled-out titanium dropouts, the TiFLW is truly at the sharp end of the custom bike industry.



When it’s all said and done, this ride sits comfortably in the dream bike category. Some exotic bikes are built for the wall, some for show and some for the occasional loop in the park. This bike was built to ride. The customer chose components from Sram, Industry Nine, and 3T and a one-off Matte-Black-on-Ti paint job to ensure she stands out on any ride.

Bike of the Week: Parlee Z5 SL Limited Edition

As cyclists we are often tempted by the sirens’ song of the latest and greatest lightweight wheel, part or frame and fork combo. The Z5 SL Limited by Parlee is a bike that COULD be marketed solely by its breathtakingly light weight (making it very tempting indeed) but this Z5 SL is much more than just a sub 800 gram frame.



Last year the original Z5 was the lightest frame in the closely watched German Tour magazine frame test, however, light weight is not the defining characteristic of this machine. It’s the ride quality that makes this bike so desirable. Building upon their experience with the very first Z1, the Z5 SL Limited is a bike designed and built for a lifetime of sublime riding without the compromises often found in what others ache to call the “lightest”

With no rider weight limits, no reduction of (lifetime) warranty, no reduction in function or fit, the Parlee Z5 SL Limited is a machine that inspires long rides and fast race days any day of the week.

This one, recently sold to a very happy customer of ours, is spec’d with Reynolds Assault carbon clincher wheels, SRAM Red components, Edge (now Enve) and 3T components.

Available in 12 Flex-Fit sizes to suit all riding styles. The SL in the SL Limited Edition means 100-150 (size dependent) grams of weight savings over Parlee’s (already light weight) Z5.

“We ride many superb bikes. But once in a while, one comes along that shines a little brighter. The Parlee’s Z5 SL ” – Bicycling Magazine

BOTW: IF Corvid

Since its official launch at the 2009 NAHBS (North American Bike Show) – where it won Best Carbon Bike – the Corvid has certainly taken its rightful position atop the Indy Fab hierarchy. Further investigation of the Corvid proves that all bikes are not created equal. Utilizing carbon fiber lugs, each made and molded individually to customer specification (or “to spec”, for the shop rats), without limitation.

ENVE Composites supplies the carbon tubes: fabricated specifically for each frame, depending on rider weight, ride style and desired ride quality. Much is factored into the major ingredients from which each and every Corvid frame is, cut, mitered, jigged and aerospace epoxy baked into the world.

This Corvid was born from the same evolution in custom production. With a 56.5cm top tube and weighing in at 14lbs this one (including its impeccable build) could be yours! OR, drop by to put together the Corvid of YOUR dreams.

Bike of the Week: Parlee Z4

Tour of California. Fitchburg. Gila. Redlands. Beauce. Herald Sun Tour. Super Week. For those who have ever pinned a number to your back, these names will ring a bell. Haven’t heard of those races? No worry as the Z4, aside from being a race worthy competitor, is simply a brilliant riding bike on any country road, path, city street or race course. No need to be a world-class competitor to appreciate its superior ride qualities . For anyone looking for a bike with proven pedigree, the Z4 is it – Parlee’s vision for a perfect road machine.

Since its introduction, the Z4 has been ridden and raced millions of miles. With classic, race proven geometry and handling, the Z4 is at home on any ride, regardless of rider ambition. With real-world weights rivaling bikes twice the price, the Z4 offers a lifetime of real world durability all-day cruising comfort and the crisp power transfer needed from a race bike without the typical bone-jarring stiffness. Forget the disposable, one-season-wonder bikes (this bike has a lifetime warranty), Z4 owners fully enjoy and appreciate the precision and attention to detail in each iteration of this bike. This very Z4 (see photos) came to us recently from Parlee for a customer who I’m sure (at his moment) is enjoying every penny spent.

Bike Of The Week: Responsorium by Dario Pegoretti

For those who aren’t familiar with this true Italian master frame builder, Dario Pegoretti‘s works are coveted the world over, by collectors, enthusiasts and all who appreciate the highest available level of quality and workmanship. Tucked away at the base of the Dolomite mountains, outside the town of Trento, one finds Caldonazzo and the studio of Dario Pegoretti. A pioneer of TIG welded steel (often hand painted – with a brush), Dario’s frames are a true dialogue between design, art and craftsmanship (form, function and aesthetics). Combining the truly artigiano tradition of hand building road bike frames one at a time, with the most sought after, state of the art steel tubing, Pegoretti remains both progressive and influential in the evolution of contemporary custom frame building.

Recently, Pegoretti’s work (and influence on his peers) was honored at The Museum of Arts and Design (MAD) in New York City. He is an award winning builder who’s bikes have been ride proven by world champion riders.
But, how does this bike ride? Pegoretti maximizes the influence he has over the ride quality (compliance), comfort and performance of each frame by utilizing custom designed triple butted steel tubing. This means the frame will flex where it is needed – for comfort – and be stiff and responsive where those attributes are desired. Long comfortable rides with easy climbing and a fast (if you like) finish!

This brings us to the reason for this post … this week’s BOTW (Bike of the Week) – the Reponsorium by Dario Pegoretti. This specific frame, 55cm stainless steel (triple butted) was selected by Dario exclusively as part of his booth at NAHBS (National Hand-Built Bike Show) 2011 this past February in Austin, TX. The 2012 Responsorium is built with an oversized headtube, allowing for a better surface for Dario to weld the oversized stainless steel downtube. Consequently, the frame requires an oversized headset, luckily, Chris King makes an appropriate headset to fit the new headtube.

With its unique paint job, and though it is not strictly a custom frame (based on a potential buyer/collectors physical geometry) it is a one of a kind. Looked at, coveted and lusted over by the thousands who attended NAHBS 2011, this frame now resides here at NYC VELO, where it retails for $4500.00 (including the fork and custom Chris King headset).

Imagine all of the build possibilities as you gaze into it’s yellow eyes!