Zach Kaplan Cycles wrote:

Tom Sherman wrote in message ...
Randy Schulman wrote:
...
The other two are versions of what I call "The Hurricane" (liked the
sea-weather theme) ; One is an above-steering version of their PB960
with two major upgrades: A 20" front wheel instead of their 16" wheel; I
think tiny wheels are deadly....

You have just alienated the entire ownership of ISO 305-mm/ISO 406-mm
wheel lowracers owners.

Tom Sherman - Quad Cities
Red Sunset and Blue Dragonflyer

I own a couple 305/406 wheeled low racers and don't feel alienated by
that statement. However just because one owns a Sunset doesn't mean it
is their prefered ride. My Sunset is collecting dust and I consider it
obsolete because my Bacchetta Aero with its dual 559 wheels is faster
on level ground, faster up hill, faster down hill, smoother riding,
better handling at high speeds, safer in traffic, lower rolling
resistance, lighter, has a more efficient drivetrain and is better
looking (all IMHO of course). As far as the wheel diameters go I'm
really becoming a believer in bigger is better. The small wheeled
compact lowracers like the Sunset only seem to have an advantage if
the rider is short or is trying to transport it inside a small
hatchback or a suitcase on an airplane.

My Sunset does also have an edge over my Aero for practical
transportation in terms of having a high capacity rear rack,
mudguards, fat tyre clearances and disc brakes. However for practical
transportation in the conditions where I'd need mudguards I prefer the
added safety and stability of a trike and for transportation in dense
urban areas I prefer the practicality and higher ride height of my HP
Velotechnik Street Machine GT which has a 406mm front wheel, 559mm
rear wheel and full suspension.

The Sunset is still a very high quality bike with many nice features
and was ahead of its time but I just don't see myself riding it much
anymore.

Zach,

The comment about alienating small wheel lowracer owners was tongue in
cheek - our numbers are so small as to be of little concern to the
importer of bikes from what is presumably a high-volume factory.

Did you decide to use ISO 559-mm wheels on your Aero for tire
availability reasons, and do the brakes have enough adjustment to
properly compensate for the 6 mm difference in wheel radius?

Looks are subjective as I find the Aero a merely acceptable looking bike
except for the "tweener" handlebars, which I would replace with narrow
T-bars for aesthetic reasons if I bought one. I have also observed many
women reacting to the Sunset in a manner similar to the way they would
to a cute puppy or kitten which I do not see happening with an Aero.

I do transport my Sunset inside a small hatchback on a regular basis and
not having to do any assembly/disassembly is a positive attribute, as I
find assembling and disassembling bikes on a regular basis to be a major
PITA.

Small wheels have a psychological advantage as most upright riders as
consternated to find a bike with "kiddie wheels" going faster than they
are.

Finally, a lowracer will be more responsive than a highracer due to the
shorter vertical moment arm between the tire contact patches and the
center of gravity of the combined bike/rider. Whether or not this is an
advantage will depend entirely on rider preference.

Tom Sherman - Quad Cities USA (Illinois side)