Bike Specs

Current Bicycles
Burley Trailers
Previous Bicycles

Current Bicycles

We rode our beloved Dolces that we used for our cross country ride, and they have been great for the US portion of the ride, but we realized that we needed something a lot different to handle the hardscrabble and the sand, gravel and mud that we’ll be running into in Mexico and Central and South America. We finally decided on the Novara Safari bikes – an REI store brand. They are the only adventure touring bikes that we could find that were reasonably priced. They are a really different experience to ride, but we like them so far. We’ll post any new input as we go. So here are the specs on them, and a link to REI to read even more about them (and see the cool pictures).
Novara Safari Touring Bike – 2009

Novara Safari – New Bikes

Picture of Our Novara Safari

• • Aluminum alloy, double-butted frame is strong yet lightweight; chromoly, double butted front fork is built for solid steering under heavy loads

• • Shimano 27-speed drivetrain designed for ease of use and reliability with low maintenance; ideal for the loads and long distances of touring

• • Ritchey angle adjustable stem gives you a precise fit

• • Durable Alex DP17 rims are mounted with Continental Town and Country 26×1.9 tires for excellent performance on- or off-road

• Unique handlebars allow a variety of hand positions; SRAM Attack shifters offer easy, intuitive shifting

New Bikes – Novara Safari

Part		Details/ Info
Frame		USix aluminum
Fork		Chromoly
Headset		Ritchey Scuzzy Logic V2
Stem		Ritchey angle adjustable
Handlebars		Trekking
Tape/ Grips		TBA
Brakes		Shimano M495 Disc
Brake Levers		Shimano Deore
Front Derailleur		Shimano Deore
Front Hub		Shimano M475 Disc
Rear Derailleur		Shimano Deore LX
Shift Levers		SRAM Attack
Cassette		SRAM PG-950, 9-speed, 11x32t
Chain		Shimano HG73
Crankset		Shimano Deore
Chainrings		48/36/26
Bottom Bracket		Shimano Deore Octalink
Pedals		Composite body, alloy cage, Cr-Mo axle
Rims		Alex DP17
Rear Hub		Shimano M475 Disc
Spokes		TBA
Tires		Continental Town & Country 26×1.9
Tubes		Specialized Turbo Ultra Light, presta valve
Saddle		Specialized Body Geometry, women’s, leather, Cr-Mo rails
Seat Post		Post Moderne Suspension

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Burley Trailers

Picture of a Burley Nomad

After much thought and research on the age-old dilemma of panniers versus trailers, we finally decided to go with trailers, and the key issue that finally won us over was the handling of the bike. Once we made that decision, then we had to decide about single-track versus a two-wheeled trailer. Once again, it was primarily the handling that won us over, but also the ease of hitching and unhitching, and the ability to lay the bike down and have the trailer be stable and upright. It makes loading and unloading a lot easier.

We also know that, even though we are going to be doing a lot of off-road riding, we won’t really be doing anything that will require a single-track, so that made the choice easier.

<font-face: “tk-anivers-1″,=”” “tk-anivers-2″=””>And finally, when Chelsea was 22 months old, we hauled her in a Burley trailer from the Oregon border down to San Francisco. Even though she was so incredibly young, she still remembers riding along eating her yogurt and crackers, with her books as constant companions, checking out life as it rolled by. From my perspective, the bike handled really well, and we could actually tip over (as in, fall off our bikes) and the trailer would never tip. Having a toddler in the back made that a seriously great feature! (One thing I do remember was when she would get restless and start wiggling around. Now there’s a strange feeling – hauling a talking, wiggling 35-40 pounds slowly up a hill!) So here’s Chelsea at 22 years old now hauling her own trailer, after being a passenger in one at 22 months old! We’ll dig out our old 35 mm slides and get them digitized, and post them here for you.

Here’s a link to the Burley Nomad on Amazon, so you can check it out yourselves. Burley NOMAD Bicycle Cargo Trailer

We are really excited about our choices and we will, as always, keep you updated with our experiences.

Nomad

The perfect Burley trailer for our touring. The lightweight, sturdy aluminum frame attaches quickly and easily to the bike. The two-wheel design ensures upright stability, and the large carrying capacity allows easy transport of camping gear.

We’ll be using the Cargo Rack and Carrying Bag.

• • Total trailer weight: 14.5 lbs (6.6 kg)

• • Length: 32.5 in (82.5 cm)

• • Width (overall): 25 in (63.5 cm)

• • Height (from ground): 23 in (58.4 cm)

• • Folded dimensions:
    • 32 x 19 x 9 in
    • 82.5 x 48.3 x 22.9 cm

• • Capacity: 100 lbs (45.5 kg)

• • Low tongue-weight places a lighter load on our bike: a ten-percent tongue load, fifty pounds in our trailer equals less than ten pounds on our bike

• • Non-tip design ensures off-the-bike stability and we can load or unload our contents without the trailer tipping over

• • Maneuvers easily when not attached to the bike, use the hitch to lead the trailer to its final “parking space”.

• • The Burley Nomad™ disassembles in less than a minute and stows easily

• Easily transports in the optional custom designed Nomad™ Carry Bag and includes bag to store wheels

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Previous Bicycles

Dolce Elite – Chelsea’s Bike

• • Specialized Designs For Women proportionally designed smooth-welded A1 Premium Aluminum alloy frame with replaceable derailleur hanger

• • Specialized Carbon-3 carbon fork

• • Shimano Ultegra short-reach STI brake/shift levers

• • Specialized women’s 3D forged adjustable “flip flop” forged alloy stem with proportionally designed women’s handlebars and Bar Phat thin gel handlebar pads, Body Geometry Dolce women’s saddle with Cr-Mo rails, Pavé advanced composite seatpost

• Alex ALX-290 superlight high-performance wheelset with lightweight Specialized aramid-bead 700 x 23c All Condition Pro tires

Dolce Comp – Rosemary’s Bike

• • Specialized Designs For Women proportionally designed smooth-welded Columbus SLX alloy frame with replaceable derailleur hanger.

• • Specialized Carbon-3 carbon fork

• • Shimano Ultegra 27-speed complete group with Ultegra short reach STI levers

• • Specialized women’s 3D forged adjustable “flip flop” forged alloy stem with proportionally designed women’s handlebars and Bar Phat thin gel handlebar pads, Body Geometry Dolce women’s saddle with Cr-Mo rails, Pavé advanced composite seatpost

• Mavic Ksyrium Equipe high-performance wheelset with lightweight Specialized aramid-bead 700x23c All Condition Pro tires

Dolce Elite – Chelsea’s Bike

Part		Details/ Info
Frame		Specialized Designs for Women, compact geometry, A1 Premium Aluminum, fully double butted, heat-treated, replaceable derailleur hanger
Fork		Specialized Carbon-3, high modulus carbon fiber legs, crown, carbon steerer
Headset		Intellaset, 1 1/8″ integrated threadless, alloy cap, alloy cone spacers and washer
Stem		Specialized Team, 3D forged alloy, 26.0 bar clamp, 4- position adjustable
Handlebars		Specialized Women’s Pro, 26.0mm diameter
Tape/ Grips		Body Geometry, thin Bar Phat, black cork ribbon
Front Brake		Dual pivot, forged alloy, w/ cartridge multi-condition pads
Rear Brake		Dual pivot, forged alloy, w/ cartridge multi-condition pads
Brake Levers		Shimano Ultegra, STI, short reach
Front Derailleur		Shimano Tiagra, 31.8mm clamp
Front Hub		Alex ALX-290, 20 hole, sealed bearing, black
Rear Derailleur		Shimano Ultegra, long cage
Shift Levers		Shimano Ultegra, STI, short reach, flight deck compatible
Cassette		Shimano Tiagra, 9-speed, 12x25t
Chain		Shimano HG 73
Crankset		Specialized Comp, five arm, polished arms
Chainrings		52Ax42Ax30A
Bottom Bracket		Shimano BB-UN-25, square taper, 68mm shell, 118mm spindle (triple)
Pedals		Composite body, alloy cage, Cr-Mo axle
Rims		Alex ALX-290, 700c, alloy double wall, machined sidewalls
Rear Hub		Alex ALX-290, 24 hole, sealed bearing freehub, black
Spokes		Alex, 2.0mm (14g), stainless, brass nipples
Front Tire		Specialized All Condition Pro SL, 700 x 23c, 120TPI, aramid bead
Rear Tire		Specialized All Condition Pro SL, 700 x 23c, 120TPI, aramid bead
Tubes		Specialized Turbo Ultra Light, presta valve
Saddle		Specialized Body Geometry, women’s, leather, Cr-Mo rails
Seat Post		Specialized Pavé, advanced composite, 27.2x350mm
Seat Binder		Forged alloy, w/ Cr-Mo binder bolt
Notes		Chain stay protector, reflectors, clear coat

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Dolce Comp – Rosemary’s Bike

Part		Details/ Info
Frame		Specialized Designs for Women, compact geometry, Columbus SLX, fully double butted, heat-treated, replaceable derailleur hanger
Fork		Specialized Carbon-3, high modulus carbon fiber legs, carbon crown, alloy steerer
Headset		Specialized Mindset, 1 1/8″ integrated threadless, with triple sealed cartridge bearings, carbon cone and headset spacers
Stem		Specialized Team, 3D forged alloy, 26.0 bar clamp, 4- position adjustable
Handlebars		Specialized Women’s Pro, 26.0mm diameter
Tape/ Grips		Body Geometry, thin Bar Phat, black cork ribbon
Front Brake		Shimano Ultegra
Rear Brake		Shimano Ultegra
Brake Levers		Shimano Ultegra, STI, short reach
Front Derailleur		Shimano Ultegra, 31.8mm clamp, bottom pull
Front Hub		Mavic Ksyrium Equipe, 20 hole, Mavic QR
Rear Derailleur		Shimano Ultegra, long cage
Shift Levers		Shimano Ultegra, STI, short reach, flight deck compatible
Cassette		Shimano Ultegra, 9-speed, 12x25t
Chain		Shimano HG 73
Crankset		Shimano Ultegra, Hollowtech arms
Chainrings		52Ax42Ax30A
Bottom Bracket		Shimano Ultegra, Octalink spline, 68mm shell, 118.5mm spindle (triple)
Pedals		Composite body, Cr-Mo axle
Rims		Mavic Ksyrium Equipe, 700c
Rear Hub		Mavic Ksyrium Equipe, 24 hole, sealed freehub, Mavic QR
Spokes		Mavic Ksyrium Equipe, stainless steel
Front Tire		Specialized All Condition Pro SL, 700 x 23c, 120TPI, aramid bead
Rear Tire		Specialized All Condition Pro SL, 700 x 23c, 120TPI, aramid bead
Tubes		Specialized Turbo Ultra Light, presta valve
Saddle		Specialized Body Geometry, women’s, leather, Cr-Mo rails
Seat Post		Specialized Pavé, advanced composite, 27.2x350mm
Seat Binder		Forged alloy, w/ Cr-Mo binder bolt
Notes		Chain stay protector, reflectors, clear coat, owners manual

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