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For 2012 Spot Acme has a brushed aluminum frame, post-mount carbon fork, Avid Juicy hydro brakes, Gates Carbon Drive with CenterTrack, Alfine 11-speed hub, and flatter handlebars instead of last year’s swept-back bars. $2199. An 8-speed version, called the Ajax, is $1699.

Don’t I have to retension the belt when I change a rear flat? No, you don’t. With this drivetrain and these dropouts, popping the tire in and out is faster, easier, and a lot cleaner than with a chain and external drivetrain.

Sayeth Spot from the foothills of Golden, Colorado: “The gorgeous industrial design of the frame (Spot custom 7005 aluminum) gets hand polishing to show off every curve, shape and edge. The Spot carbon fork, with a perfectly designed post mount, gets a matte finish. With fender and rack compatibility, this is the fastest and most reliable utility bike around.”

They’re not done yet:

“Proprietary, shaped, butted and tapered frame tubes designed for optimum strength, comfort, and durability. Lightweight aluminum tubing with precise tubing configurations for each frame size, results in a smooth and stable ride. Advanced performance styling of seat stays, top tube and down tube, in conjunction with finely tuned geometry deliver an astonishingly nimble ride in the urban environment.”

Available in March in sizes 42-62 cm. Preordering (50% down) is highly recommended for sizes 52, 55, 57, and 60.

Joe Bike’s Portlandistan Edition ($2699 for 2012; similar to the photo above of a 2011 Acme) adds an Alfine dyno hub, Busch & Muller f/r lighting, Axiom Rainrunner fenders, Axiom Streamliner or PDW Payload rack, and a brass bell. Options include Portland-made Sykes wood or bamboo fenders, dyno-powered USB charger, SuperNova lighting, etc.

Everybody loves the Portlandistan Edition, you know.

It doesn’t have the pleasant if predictable ring of ‘Bread Basket,’ but this is an election year, damn it. Yuba’s new Bread Platform ($129) adds some easy new utility to the world’s best longtail cargo bike.  It does two things that might seem mutually exclusive: it lets you carry more weight up front while actually enhancing handling and stability. That’s because it mounts to the frame, not to the handlebars and axle like most baskets. The riding experience is uncanny at first, with more confident turns and laser-clean stability on straightaways. The Bread Platform was made for work, not for play, yet it makes riding a Mundo even more fun.

–Aluminum

–Weighs about 4 lbs.

–Rated by Yuba to carry 50 lbs.

–Aesthetically pleasing curves

–Compatible with both the standard V-brake and disc.

–$129, in stock now.

–Mounts in a few minutes with the threading of four screws. We can mount it for you for free.

It seems like ages have passed since we sold the last of our Flying Pigeons, so it was a nice surprise to find this photo today at BikePortland.org of reporter Will Vanlue’s own Pigeon roadster decked out with Christmas lights. We had the frame and fenders powdercoated candy-apple red with a silver undercoat, then built it up with 28″ wheels, Schwalbe Delta Cruiser creme tires, Brooks saddle, and a Shimano 3-speed hub. Thanks to Will (The Prudent Cyclist on Flickr) for letting us post this photo.

Here’s one of our photos of almost the same bike from way back when.

The 6 oz whiskey flask from Spot Bikes. With a cage that matches its gentle curve. It’s like $25 for the flask and like $20 for the cage. In stock.

http://www.christophemachet.com/?p=6