For a bike frame junkie nothing compares to the feeling that comes from slinging your leg over a frame that you've designed and had built. So for the last seven years I've been blissed out as I test each prototype Kogswell frame and fork that comes along.Of all the framesets that we've produced , one of the sweetest ride belongs to the 559 (26") wheeled P/R shown here.
It's an ugly thing. The top tubes slopes way too much. And I think the chain stays are a little short. But I forget all that stuff when I'm in the saddle.
The tires on this bike are from Cheng Shen, the Chinese super power of bicycle rubber. They're 1.9" slicks with only tiny sipping channels. And when they're inflated just right, they float over every little road anomaly and only send up hints of what they've encountered.The P/R geometry seems to be applicable to lots of different wheel sizes. I just spent three weeks on an older Model F which I fitted with a low-trail replacement fork. The new fork instantly improved that bike's handling and it became the best F that I'd been on.
And the other remarkable thing about the 559 P/R is that it shows what can be done if you combine the right geometry with a 559 tire. There are very few examples of good 559 road bikes, a couple of the XOs and to some extent the Atlantis.
I know that the world wants bigger wheels. But I'm going to continue to make a 559 P/R in my size and keep a couple of them around just because they're wonderful.
- the wheels on this bike were built by Jim at Hiawatha Cyclery in Minneapolis - if you need anything cycling, call Jim or Kevin, they really know their stuff (612-727-2565)
- the photos in this posting are Copyright(C), 2008, Kogswell Cycles
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