Sacha White video.

Must love lugged steel frames, or this won't do anything for you. All stills (and more) at http://www.vanillabicycles.com/

 What an amazing talent and such beautiful bikes....great video.

Yeah, I can't imagine waiting 5 years. If I have a specific purpose in mind for a bike, who knows if I will still want/need that in 5 years. I suppose by the time he gets to yours, it can be adapted to whatever you want. They take 6-8 weeks just paint a frame.

Several of the custom builders have a wait list in the 2-7 year range, your deposit is just holding your place in line, your fit, design,paint, etc.   will all be decided when your time comes up.  That way you are not locked into something that may not be relevent, you can also usually sell your place in line to someone else if something changes, but they make you find a buyer. 

The vanillas are hand built full customes by sacha, speedvagen is where he has the guest builders, desalvo being one.

Wow- thanks for posting that.  The orange 'Roadvagen' bike on the Speedvagen site is stunning.  Very bizarre asymmetrical seatstay design... I wonder if it's more than just cosmetic?  Really cool rear dropouts as well.  These pics really have me missing my old Reynolds 753 bike from a few years ago.

You may like this site as well, for cool retro steel stuff: http://www.velocolour.com/index.html.   I don't know the guy personally, but someone at a LBS (Toronto) spoke highly of his painting work.  I was inquiring about having an S1 painted, and wondering if there were any good local alternatives, rather than sending the bike to HotTubes.

Thanks a lot InIllinois.

Suddenly I went from loving carbon fiber beauties with max stiffness:weight ratios, to thinking I desperately want a Vanilla or Speedvagen steel beauty to add to my bike collection... Why does my Cunego Cento Uno suddenly seem inadequate ? Is it the post-Lombardy (the ride of the falling leaves) and cooler temperatures that have brought this change ? Was it Cunego's failure for a four-peat in Lombardy ?   Is it the disappointment in the 2010 bikes (including the 2010 cervelo lineup) ? Or is it the PDX espresso-loving, indie music vibe, and organic slow foodie thing that is pulling me away from carbon fiber.

You have ruined me now. I wonder how many people have a Vanilla or Speedvagen alongside their cervelo ? If so, how does one decide when to go with the steel and when do you pick up your carbon bike.

thom_y:

Suddenly I went from loving carbon fiber beauties with max stiffness:weight ratios, to thinking I desperately want a Vanilla or Speedvagen steel beauty to add to my bike collection... Why does my Cunego Cento Uno suddenly seem inadequate ? Is it the post-Lombardy (the ride of the falling leaves) and cooler temperatures that have brought this change ? Is it the disappointment in the 2010 bikes (including the 2010 cervelo lineup) ? Or is it the PDX espresso-loving, indie music vibe, and organic slow foodie thing that is pulling me away from carbon fiber.

You have ruined me now. I wonder how many people have a Vanilla or Speedvagen alongside their cervelo ? If so, how does one decide when to go with the steel and when do you pick up your carbon bike.

I think a person's temperament is what attracts them to one or the other. I love the lightness of carbon bikes but the change from quality builds in small batches to high production values in Taiwan or China is distressing. There are the small artisan builders who do custom work in carbon, like Parlee or Calfee, but their prices are out of the reach of many.

thom_y:

Thanks a lot InIllinois.

You have ruined me now. I wonder how many people have a Vanilla or Speedvagen alongside their cervelo ? If so, how does one decide when to go with the steel and when do you pick up your carbon bike.

thom_y,

I missed this quote last month. Funny! Just doing my part here to keep people questioning their core values!

I love my Honda Civic Hybrid for a lot of reasons (new technology, good gas mileage, SUPER quiet engine), but there are plenty of days I would just love to go for a cruise in a '66 Mustang. One of these days I will own one - if there are still any to be had.