Because I love you; More Sneak Peeks!

Because I love you all so much, I have more sneak peek pics for you to slobber over. You can thank me by running out to your local retailer and ordering a few of these... today works for me, does it work for you?
Meet the new SoulVille Mixte (7spd)! All of the feedback received here previously helped to craft the beautiful bike you see here. The step-through version/s of the SoulVille are a direct response to feedback and comments received here through the blog- I hope YOU are happy with what YOU helped to create. (Also available in the Antique Beige.)

And, as promised, here's the new 3spd version as well! It's a beauty! I promise you the photo does it NO justice. The white is our pearlescent Ano White. Note the saddle; it is a padded vinyl saddle made to look like the leather saddle used above. This saddle has a very nice classic look for much less than the leather version and does not require "breaking in". This saddle will be made available for aftermarket purchase for all those folks who like the look of the classic leather saddle, but not the hardness.

Both bikes will come in 16" and 18" sizes- we have killed off the 14" size since these run a bit small (by design) and the 14" just didn't have the sales to support keeping it. These are part of our Spring product release so you can expect to see these two fine specimens showing up around May. The SoulVille (7spd) will still sell for a little less than $850 and the 3spd (with a matching men's version) will sell for less than $700.

As was the case with the original SoulVille, I am predicting sales will be strong (we were WAY oversold for months), so if you want one of these beauties I'd really recommend getting your favorite Masi retailer to place an order for you now (or soon) so that you can get the bike when they first show up, instead of having to wait several months for inventory to be strong enough for "at once" shipping. Not trying to "sell" to you... I'm just tellin' ya what we have seen so far with the SoulVille bikes. No order = no bike...

So let the heavy breathing and sweaty palms begin... I'll leave you guys alone now...

Tim

"Your moment of Zen..."

Tim

And the winner is...

So, as I write this post, the SoulVille stepthrough frame design winner is; Option B

The votes, via Pollhost are- 83 to 56 in favor of the Mixte. With the votes placed via the comments section added to this, the Mixte lead grows even greater.

So, being that I promised that the votes/ comments would decide the future of this frame design, the new stepthrough version of the SoulVille will be the Mixte!

Congratulations to you, the readers and voters here- you truly and sincerely decided this outcome. Barring any mechanical issues that prevent the use of the Mixte frame (first sample will determine this), the SoulVille range will soon include a Mixte frame... and it's all because of you!

I dunno 'bout you, but I think that's damned cool!

Tim

Vote!

Voting ends tomorrow. Vote now and tell your friends to vote too!

Remember- voting will determine the future of this model. True democracy at its best. No recounts. No court time... just a beautiful new frame design!

Tim
(Poll is to the left on home page.)

SoulVille Step-through frame designs;

Ok folks, I will have a formal poll posted on the blog soon, but here you go;

SoulVille step-through Option A- borrowed from the Dutch bikes. Simple and elegant with a single swooped top tube, joined to the down tube with "struts".

SoulVille step-through Option B- this is actually a modified mixte frame, complete with small diamter double top tubes that bypass the seat tube and are welded to the drop out. Very much like the old Euro bikes of years past.

Go ahead and vote for your favorite. As far as I am concerned, I like them both and do not feel like there is a bad version either way. Being that I like Democracy, I am leaving it to a vote, so start voting and tell all your friends to vote as well.

NOTE; This poll is just for the frame design itself- nothing else. This isn't for color, or graphics, or part spec... just frame design. You can comment here, but please place your vote in the poll that will be on the left side of the page.

As always, thank you for your valuable feedback!

Tim

Cool stuff...

Ok, I found this in my email when I returned from Germany and it is just too darned cool not to share... I've always been a fan of Wired, so this is pretty exciting for me.

Now for some bike porn from Germany!


The bike of Theo Bos... I felt insignificant just standing in front of it.

This was one of the nicest old bikes I saw at the show and in Germany.

This was one of the prettiest looking city bikes I saw at the show, but certainly not the only one. There are more useful, simple, utilitarian bikes in Europe than you can possibly imagine. The US is way behind Europe on this front... way, way behind.


This beauty was in the Brooks booth... I nearly had to lie down after I saw it. Ok, I did lie down, but it might've been from the heavy lunch and the jet lag.

This bike came nicely accessorized... to say the least. The brand is called Starshot and they are primarily a clothing company (with really cool stuff), but they are moving into branded bikes too.

I know this is just a tiny little teaser... but you'll just have to wait another day for more (there's only about a thousand pictures left to go through).

Tim

I guess you like it...

Wow, I guess it is fair to say that new the Speciale SoulVille and Speciale Commuter are proving to be "hits". I mean, the SoulVille has been getting press all over the place- all over the world actually. I found blogs in Turkey and Hong Kong talking about the SoulVille and the Commute by Bike blog has seen some good discussion about the Commuter (as has Cycle-licious). Sure makes a Brand Manager happy... believe me. This is the stuff I live for!

There has been a lot of good dialog going on about these bikes and so I thought I'd pose a few questions and see what you all (y'all) think;

1) Is there enough interest in bringing that Masi leather saddle in as an aftermarket item? It'd sell for somewhere between $75-100 probably, unless I bought insane numbers of them. Would you buy one for that kind of money?

2) Should the Masi fenders be brought in too? They will have a laser etched Masi headbadge on the front and rear ends. Not sure yet of the price, but would they be worth bringing in for sale?

3) I'm already planning more versions of the SoulVille. Wayne (my product manager) and I are already working up different ideas, but what do YOU think the next version should be? 3 or 4 speed? 10 speed? Drop bar or flat/ curved bar? Frameset? Racing frameset- I admit I really want to do this personally- Reynolds 631 or 853 tubing and race geometry. But what fork? The same steel fork or a lightweight carbon fork? A fixie version?

4) Bringing back the Speciale steel road bike with carbon fork and 105/ Ultegra drivetrain. Do we keep it as it was in 2006, with 105/ Ultegra or do we go higher market? Do we even bring back the Speciale Carbon frameset or bike? That Speciale Carbon was the best riding bike I've ridden in 25 years of racing... but that Dedacciai tubing is darned expensive stuff... are you going to buy it? If so, is it a complete bike or just a frameset?

I know I had more... but I'm tired and my brain is turning to mush. So I'll be posting more questions in the near future. Maybe it's time for more Polls to be created for your enjoyment.

(Germany/ Eurobike just two days away.)

Tim

Out of the bag...

Good news travels fast... so now that the bag is open and the cat is running around, might as well make the big announcement;

Say hello to the Speciale SoulVille!


Ain't she a beauty?! (The answer is "yes", of course...)


Double butted chromoly steel with steel fork with lugged crown.


Alloy fenders- very minimal to keep the lines nice and clean. This sample doesn't have it, but we got these with the Masi head badge artwork laser etched on the fenders.


And the custom Masi embossed leather saddle is an awfully yummy touch! I mean... how can you argue with this thing? Oh yeah... you can't!


Though it's really hard to see in this bad photo I took, the grips are fo-real natural cork.

I know... you're already getting sweaty palms and beginning to get dizzy- it's pretty common.

Here are the other pertinent details to get you all hot and bothered;
Internal 8spd rear hub with Revo shifter
Coaster brake (for doing cool skids!)
Simple arc bar
Ritchey adjustable stem
Rack and fenders mount
Cool leather saddle with springs
Super sweet steel tubing and steel fork

It's gonna retail for a little over $800 and is worth every penny- it's just a beauty...


AND it comes in two colors!

Here's the deal- it's designed to be a great all around city bike. Perfect for cruising around town, one hand on the bars, sipping your favorite cup of coffee, wind in your hair and a smile on your face. This bike isn't about "fast"- it's about "fun"... lots of fun.

Ok, discuss amongst yourselves...

Tim (Oh yeah... and this is mine too.)