$5,500 for a runaround? Maybe, once you read the spec sheet
Yeah, Paul Budnitz’s bikes might cost $5,500 apiece, but they look frikkin’ awesome. Appearing like a cross between a beach-cruiser, a hard-tail mountain bike and a hipsters’ single-speed, the bikes come with a component spec sheet that reads like a laundry list of all your fantasy bike parts.
There are two models, the Nº1 and Nº2, which differ mostly in purpose. Thus the Nº1 has thin, slick tires on 700c Velocity rims, a more upright position and harder gear ratios, while the Nº2 sports a 29er up front and a 26-inch at the rear, lower gearing, a more laid-back position and sweep-back handlebars.
Both bikes have Budnitz’s titanium frame, fork and all-in-one handlebars, Chris King No-Threadset, a choice of Fizik or Brooks saddles, a Phil Wood bottom bracket, Paul hubs and brake levers, Avid BB7 disk brakes and MKS pedals. I told you it was a wish-list, right?
It goes on. Instead of a dirty, noisy chain you get a Gates carbon drive belt drive and Shimano Alfine internal hub (or the already-mentioned Paul hub if you go for single speed, or even a chain). You can also spec alloy fenders, a brass bell and Pitlock locking skewers and bolts.
That $5,500 is starting to look less expensive.
These are both gorgeous machines, to be sure, but more likely to to be bought by Hollywood stars for trips to the store than by you and me. I know that if I had $5,500 to spend on a bike, I might certainly use some of those components, but I’d like to put it together myself.
Budnitz Bikes product page [Budnitz Bicycles via Uncrate]
See Also:
- Apple's Campus Bikes Are Classically Minimal
- CenterTrack Belt-Drive: Thinner, Stronger, Prettier
- Modular Cogs Bring Belt-Drives to Any Bike
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