An impossible choice - what would you do...?

[jawj]

Hi all,

Thought I'd pop this little dillema I'm having in here to see what all you experts think.

The new(ish) Raven Nomad is without doubt the bike for me. It's very awesome.

BUT

The delicious matte green is sold out!!!!
(Image of it: http://www.sjscycles.com/xxlimages/12756nomad_xxl.jpg)

Should I buy the gloss black instead? Or wait "several months" for more green...?
[?][?][?]
(Image of black: http://www.sjscycles.com/xxlimages/12755nomad_xxl.jpg

Any thoughts are much appreciated.

[geocycle]

Very tricky.  I considered gloss black or green for my raven tour.  In the end it had to be  black, classic, understated and it looks great with black or even silver components.  Several months of riding time would be a long time to wait...!!!

[Swislon]

If it was me ,Black.[8D]

[freddered]

Have you seen them in the 'flesh' ?

If not, you should try to.

I was definitely going to buy my Raven in Blue or Red until I went to SJSC and saw the British Racing Green.  The photos don't do them justice.

For example the Thorn Audax (Red/Blue Billiard cue) looks bloody horrid in the photo (imo) but gorgeous in reality (imo).

Matt Green looks very special for Nomad Raven though.

[ians]

matt green - reminds me of the folding paratrooper bikes from WW2

you're only going to buy your dream bike once (aren't you?) so get it right.  Or factor in the cost of a respray 12 months down the road.

ian

[jawj]

Thank you all for your thoughts, I'm still chewing it over...

I know I could just go for the black and, of course, it would still be the same bike, BUT this is a big ol' investment and my "bike for life" so it has to be perfect. The delivery time is now apparently early September, so not too bad, and everyone at SJSC has continued to be very helpful.

Maybe I'll spend some time saving up and treat myself to some bling parts when the time comes: any recommendations? :-)

[jawj]

Hey, Ian, you're right! Check it out, about half way down this page:

http://www.geocities.com/lupinpooter/bikes.htm

That was the original and have a look at this rather nasty 'modernised' version:

http://www.bikefold.com/montague_folding_paratrooper_bike.htm

[ians]

quote:Originally posted by jawj

Thank you all for your thoughts, I'm still chewing it over...

Maybe I'll spend some time saving up and treat myself to some bling parts when the time comes: any recommendations? :-)

I treated myself to a Tubus rack - probably over the top for an RST - but it looked nice.  And it is my last bike (or so I tell the Mrs).  And the Brooks B17 titanium in Honey looks rather good on my blue bike.  Would go with WW2 green.

ian

[stutho]

quote:And the Brooks B17 titanium in Honey

Seconded - Very comfortable.

[jawj]

quote:Originally posted by stutho

quote:And the Brooks B17 titanium in Honey

Seconded - Very comfortable.

Thanks for this suggestion guys, but being vegan a leather saddle is not really my thing... [8D]

I do, however, very much like the look of Tubus racks, especailly as they feature a dogleg to stop stuff flapping into the rear wheel. This very useful appears to be missing on the Thorn rack, but I'm sure they know what they're doing.
Anyone tried their expedition rack? Any good?

[stutho]

Doh!

My next suggestion would be to get a 2nd pair of forks (ie one fix one suspension).

[jawj]

No worries there, Stu: having owned far, FAR too many bikes and bits, I've got forks coming out of my ears...

Looking into Tubus racks right now, very nice!