Mike Kone wrote:
I appologize for not following all the thread, so I hope I'm not repeating anything.
Many folks confuse randonneur bikes with touring bikes. Randonneur bikes have lighting, typically a front rack, and fenders. These machines do not carry much weight other than a handlebar bag, so these bikes can be built increadibly light - comfort is key. So while the bike looks touring in nature, it can take advantage of super light tube guages......
I think it's important to point out that there are some who consider randonneur bikes primarily machines for rondonneur events. But in the older, French, context they may be bikes that are used for long day rides and light touring. Unlike today, many riders in the past could only afford one good bike so the rando bike needed to be light enough for events and robust enough for a few days of inn-to-inn touring. Actually, that sort of all-around bike and its implied simplicity is very welcoming, at least to me. That's the sort of bike I hope to create with the Velo Orange randonneur.
Chris
http://velo-orange.blogspot.com/
Chris Kulczycki
Velo Orange
109 Colonial Avenue
Annapolis, MD 21401