We've discussed gearing quite a bit here.  I find the stock  40/32x18
to be GO ANYWHERE gearing. It requires some spinning, and some out-of-
saddle climbs occasionally (I'm writing from hilly San Diego), but it
gets me up almost any hill in the big chainring, with the bail-out
just in case.  I think its brilliant - and again, ready for your
personalization with cheap freewheels.

Quickbeams can be great candidates for "one bike to rule them all."
Commuting, road, off-road, touring (it can be done), with minimal
tweaking; you just want to ride this bike.  Its simple.  But they are
also great as the "A Fixed/Singlespeed Iteration of a Bike You Already
Have" ala Bike Snob:

http://bikesnobnyc.blogspot.com/2008/06/multiples-how-much-is-too-much.html

The GP Iteration is a given on this forum!  Happily!


On Apr 27, 10:03 am, Rick <rp.hous...@gmail.com> wrote:
> A big yes to everything Grant said...and that's why my wife and I each
> bought one; when we decided to voluntarily "downsize" (although I've
> come to be a bit defensive about that word, because The American Way
> Of Life tends to associate it with being economically bereft, which is
> hardly the case) our lives, we wanted to use bicycles for everyday
> transportation to and from work, to the store, to the library, to
> school, to the coffee house, etc., etc, and use the car sparingly, if
> at all. We wanted a bicycle that could handle both the mundane and the
> occasional thirty-miler; one that could be modified to our preferences
> of utility, be reliable, comfortable, and not a heavyweight (we've
> also just moved to a third-floor studio apartment, where the bikes
> will share living space with us), and even, lastly, look good.
>
> For us, that's why we decided on Quickbeams: we can't wait to start
> riding them.
>
> On Apr 26, 8:59 pm, "gr...@rivbike.com" <grantmill...@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> > Silver's a nice color...it's never anybody's first pick..hardly ever,
> > at least, but I always thought silver bikes looked nice, and the guys
> > here think it's pretty striking. Some of us wanted to get one--being
> > the last of them, and silver and all, but we aren't allowed to (and we
> > all agree this is a good idea) "steal" bikes from customers.
> > The seat tube decal is a bit short, but there's a long story to that,
> > and I don' wanna tell it. It's neither fascinating nor boring. The
> > purplish blue goes well with the silver, I'd say, but I WOULD say,
> > wouldn't I?
> > We'd planned to make this the last run of QBs, and it may be that.
> > There are a few details that, while not "upgrades," are certainly not
> > "downgrades." I wish people would focus on these, rather than the font
> > (HELVETICA) in the panel. Good ol' Helvetica. Can't go wrong with it.
> >  The seat stays have a mid-stay barrel boss. The fork crown is fancy.
> > The rake is pretty darn good. The new brakes are super dupe. The rear
> > hub isn't a fixed-specific hub, and that might seem-2-some as a less
> > than hardcore choice, but you CAN run a fixed cog on it, especially on
> > a bike with brakes, and it'll never, ever come loose.
> > Putting together a bike like this, or any bike, to a large extent,
> > always going to be a "can't please everyone, so you got to please
> > yourself" proposition. Critics (and I use this word kindly--and not
> > defensively) tend to overlook the things they agree with, the things
> > they'd've done themselves, and harp on what they'd have done
> > differently. It's just the nature of things, and people.
> > I/we DID consider Sheldon-style dropouts, DID consider a der tab (not
> > that anybody complained about the lack of it), DID consider other rear
> > spacing...but ultimately opted this way. The QB has always been a
> > quite tweakable bike. It begs to be modified, but in its unmodified
> > form, is capable of a whole lot. Two-speed, fenderable, great
> > clearance, braze-ons.....truly trail-worthy. Still...there's fun in
> > the modifications, so go to town...
>
> > We'd do it again if the ¥ would fall/the USD would climb. We might
> > bring out a less-expensive version, from Taiwan. We have one on paper,
> > but not in the oven just yet.
>
> > Best,
>
> > Grant
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