(N+1)-3

Today’s post is brought to you by guest writer Amanda Eichstaedt.  Amanda recently had me build a Road+ bike for her, which prompted her to realize that, with this bike, she would likely never ride 3 different bikes she owned.  The answer to the question of “how many bikes can one own,” is routinely noted as N+1, where N=the number of bikes currently owned.  this is the story of (N+1)-3.  Amanda’s words:

Twenty years ago, I worked in a bike shop. I managed the shop, and spent a lot of time working with customers to get them out riding on a bike that was appropriate for their needs. Sometimes their needs were very different than their desires.

People’s desires are driven by many things including advertisements, articles, peer pressure, and now, more than twenty years ago, what they read on the world wide web.

I, along with my husband, prescribe to the “there is no such thing as too many bikes, just not enough room,” philosophy. I have my Klein Attitude mountain bike, a Santa Cruz Bontrager ‘cross bike, and my Independent Fabrications touring rig. There is a nice Bike Friday packed up for trips as well, and a fun three speed bike that is good to take to in to SF to tool around. A few tandems also hang in the barn. And when Black Mountain Cycles came out with the first Road bike, I had Mike build one up for me. That put my tally of single bikes at five.

I also believe in having the best tool for the job, and have held onto these bikes for all these years. It’s hard to believe that many of them are twenty years old!

I just got a new bike. It’s a Black Mountain Cycles Road Plus with disc brakes and these amazing tires that allow me to ride fast while feeling like a kid! It’s red, just like my first bike. It may be my last bike. In fact, this bike is like a multi-tool. I have decided that with this bike in my fleet I can confidently shed three bikes. It is fast and comfortable on the road, so the BMC Road bike is for sale. It handles the gravel and paved combination rides that I love out here in West Marin – see ya Bontrager cross bike. It also is good on trails, and frankly, not being twenty years younger, my single-track days are pretty much over. Bye bye Klein mountain bike!

When I managed a bike shop twenty years ago, this is the bike that I was wishing I could sell to so many of my customers. A nice long wheelbase, takes big tires (such an amazing selection these days), and even though it’s a road bike, I had Mike set it up with a flat bar and bar ends. I’m not one to ride in the drops, and if I haven’t started doing it yet, it’s not going to happen. He sets up plenty of bikes with drop bars, too.

I feel a bit like I’m riding a really fast mountain bike. The 650b wheels are great. The discs stop on a dime. And the whole thing is just comfy. I’ve done my cross rides on it and it’s zippy on the pavement. The bike even has enough rack mounts that if I wanted to do a little tour or load up for my commute – no problem.

I can only imagine the smiles on the faces of the folks looking for a road bike twenty years ago who crammed themselves onto tight wheelbase racing bikes, had they been able to hop on a BMC Road Plus! I sold a lot of heavy steel touring bikes back in the day because they had some of the qualities that folks were seeking. The Road Plus is lighter and the geometry with the compact frame is conducive to going fast.

What a nice bike. It is allowing me to lighten my load. If you are interested in buying any of the bikes that I’m shedding, let me know.

Amanda’s Road+

Thank you for that perfect description of the Road Plus bike.  It’s kind of the same way I feel about it.  And now her bikes that are for sale.  Good deals will be had on each one.  Email Black Mountain Cycles through the contact page for more details if you’re serious about owning one of these unique bikes.

Black Mountain Cycles Road Bike 53cm.  Built with Shimano 105 5700 triple 10-speed with XT rear derailer, DT Swiss R415 rims, White Industries hubs (28h), Continental 4-Season tires, Cane Creek 110 headset, Soma handlebars, Thomson seatpost, Fizik seat.  Very clean. 53cm frame size.

Klein Attitude Race from about 1999.  Full Shimano XTR M952 parts including hubs and brakes.  175mm cranks.  King headset.  Thomson seatpost (seat is not included).  Manitou fork.  Fits someone about 5’4″ to 5’6″ or so.

Bontrager Cross Bike.  About a 50cm frame size.  Top tube is about 56cm effective.  Fits someone about 5’6″.  XTR M900 172.5 cranks, Ultegra hubs, XTR M950 or 52 rear derailer with Paul Thumbies, Salsa stem, King headset, Shimano XT brakes.

(What’s playing:  Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds Carry Me)

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