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Boulder Bicycle A Sister Company to Rene Herse Bicycles Inc. (303) 284-9721 4949 Broadway Street Suite 126 Boulder, CO 80304 (contact us for retail hours)
Randonneur Bicycles from Boulder Bicycle
Photos of frame and rack making in Boulder |
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Why Another Bicycle Brand
After listening and examining the market, we realized that something was missing. Performance oriented randonneur cyclists until now had very few if any complete bicycle options. Most randonneurs typically "piece together" their machine. Most typical bicycles while suitable for randonneuring with modification are suboptimal for the task. A serious randonneur needs low trail geometry designed for a handlebar bag and wider tires, full lighting, and frame tubing optimized for rider performance.
The reality is that many bicycle producers equate randonneur riding with "take your time and smell the flowers." We love that attitude - but it isn't for everyone. Some randonneurs are very concerned with speed as well; for those riders, compromises in design that detract from the performance of the bicycle are unacceptable. Boulder Bicycle makes bicycles that are a tool for the performance oriented randonneur and a treat for those more casually minded.
At Boulder Bicycle, we realized that it would be possible to offer a bicycle that offers nearly everything the randonneur cyclist could want (our Rene Herse Bicycles offer everything, but not everybody is ready for that step). We merge lightweight tubing in skinny or oversize shapes with classic French geometry based on classic Rene Herse designs. We offer a complete bicycle package for under $3,000 that includes premium parts such as a SON generator and White Industries rear hub. While someone could spend considerably more on a randonneur machine, we are proud to offer bicycles that are an uncompromising value.
Who Else might Want a Boulder Bicycle?
In addition to performance oriented randonneurs, we believe that your neighbors and friends will benefit from a Boulder Bicycle. Here in Boulder, we meet up with lots of folks who like to ride, but don't "compete". They enjoy charity rides, brisk 25 mile training rides, and aspire to do the 120 mile Triple Bypass Ride in the mountains. They also know that there is a nearly endless network of dirt roads waiting to be explored. Their typical road bike is not fun on the dirt and to do the longer rides means trying to figure out how to carry all sorts of stuff a typical race bike won't accommodate. Most of these folks don't realize that wide tires are typically just a fast (or faster!) as skinny tires but offer a world of advantages. At Boulder Bicycle, we encourage you to spread the word!
The Bicycles
We offer two bicycle models, the Boulder Brevet and the Boulder All-Road. These models are extremely similar but differ primarily by wheel sizes. The Brevet model is designed and optimized for 700c tires from 37mm through 31mm. We specifically had the wonderful Grand Bois 30mm tire in mind when we designed this bicycle. The Boulder All-Road is a machine optimized for 650b tires in the 38 to 42mm range. Unlike some 650b frames, the All-Road uses lightweight tubing and is perfectly suited for Brevet riding as well as a gentle meander down a dirt road. All frame models in each size are available in either a standard or lightweight version!
For smaller riders, the Boulder Brevet is optimized for 650b 32mm tires to give added front center.
Our bicycles are designed for lighting and a premium lighting system built around the SON generator hub is included. We can omit the lighting system (but will always provide provision for it) for a cost savings - please inquire.
All of our bicycles include include a proprietary front rack. The typical production racks we see are often a bit heavier than those we prefer, and by building them ourselves we are certain that they meet our exacting standards.
The frames are tig welded by a company that has both talent and capacity. Capacity is important since we want to be able to get our customers on their bicycles quickly. The name of the outfit that does the welding is a secret - but the initials of the city and state it is located in begin with a W. It is important to use a top-notch frame maker. To use the lightweight tubes we like with inferior build quality can cause problems; that is why many steel frames are often overbuilt. Weight itself is not terribly important, but heavier tubing often deadens the feel of a bike (especially to lighter riders or those who spin gently on the long rides). That is why we offer both standard and lightweight versions of each frame we sell. Our goal is to have the flexibility to match geometry and frame flex usually reserved for full custom machines with the affordability and quick delivery of a production bike.
The frames will be painted in a standard color that we think looks great. In case you think differently, we are planning to offer custom paint options using a local paint shop. We will soon have photos up of our graphics.
The Sizes
We are currently finalizing the size options, but we like to think of Boulder Bicycles in terms of top tube length. The following is a preliminary breakdown of the sizing options. We will be finalizing in the coming days.
The Parts and Specifics
We are also finalizing the expected parts packages. These selections are not finalized, but should give potential buyers a good idea of what parts to expect in the final build spec. The idea is to provide a bicycle with top quality frame and wheels as these are among the most important parts of the bicycle. That avoids the need for costly/complicated upgrades later.
Complete Bike Price (assembled) is expected to be $ 2,985 plus freight and tax depending upon location
To Order To order, we require a $200 deposit which is Fully Refundable pending your approval of finalized geometry/tube spec and photographs of our work. The idea is that we need to know how many of each size to build, yet we understand that folks don't want to be locked into a commitment until they see final product. If Boulder Bicycle is right for you, please email or contact us. Our phone number is (303) 284-9721 and email is mikekone@comcast.net While at some point we will have a spiffy on-line ordering system, we feel it is optimal to have close interaction with our customers and simply ordering into a shopping cart won't do. While your Boulder Bicycle is not a full custom machine, it must be a wonderful match for your body and riding style - and if it isn't, we'll tell you. Our goal is customer satisfaction. Anything less is not an option!
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