1. The Subrosa Alameda:
FACTS: Rich Hirsch's signature ride. Super-steep 76 degree headtube and a somewhat sensical but awkward-looking laid-back seat tube. Removable mounts and guides, low standover, butted e'rything, lower wishbone, 13.5-13.75" stays, micro-AOD dropouts. 4.8 pounds.
OPINIONS: Hey, another laser-cut brake bridge. But what is it? How much weight, exactly, does cutting holes in the stay caps save? Because it ALWAYS looks stupid. I guess the steep head tube and the Fat Joe seat tube is supposed to make for a shorter bike that feels longer. I don't get it. Seat position doesn't make a bit of difference if you're just gonna slam it anyway, does it? (This frame does not appear to be compatible with 330mm seatposts.) Toptube length becomes more or less irrelevant. I feel like it matters more where the BB is in relation to the headtube, not the seat.
2. Hoffman B-Rad:
FACTS: Just what you see here, pal. Nothing about angles or anything. Seatstay brakes, integrated seat clamp (with captured nut), Guiri tab drilling, small (but not microscopic) dropouts, no headtube/downtube gusset, what appears to be somewhat standard geometry. Keep in mind it's a prototype.
OPINIONS: There don't appear to be any crazy holes drilled in it, and aside from the lack of headtube gusset it could be Anyframe. Although if it can hold up to Brad, I don't see there being a problem for mere mortals. I'm just happy there's an '09 Condor.
3. Tree Bikes Lil Buddy:
FACTS: Full post-weld heat-treated, 21" or 20.5", 74.5/71, 11.5" BB, 13.75" rear end, mid BB, Guiri tab drillings, seatstay mounts or none, internally-gussetted downtube, built-in SPC and chain tensioners, clearance for monster truck tires.
OPINIONS: It's hard not to love these goofy, bike-obsessed bastards. They've done things the right way, starting small and working their way up. No Taiwanese catalog parts here, just new ideas from a rider-owned and rider-run company. Some things have caught on (spline-drive sprockets) others haven't (thread-in barends), but their products all appear to be well thought-out and tested. The Lil Buddy looks fairly traditional, but you can bet that every aspect has been obsessed over—just look at all the renderings. Wish it used a regular seatclamp (you bastards!), but I guess you can't have everything.•••••••••••••••••••••••
*guzzles Jack Daniel's*
