Fixed Gear Rider: December 2007

Monday, December 24, 2007

Sometimes brute force is your only option. And this is why Swobo makes the Folsom and the Otis: Full-throttle bash bikes for all the low-speed, high-impact adventures all-too-common in the Big City. But other times arise when pounding it ain't the ticket. Nuance, skill, and speed are sometimes in demand, and schussing your way through the concrete jungle is exactly what you need to do. Doing 25mph in gridlock traffic takes 10 times the 5-sense alacrity you need to singe black diamond singletrack on your 5" MTB or survive a race-pace Alpine descent on your wispy carbon road bike. Ballsy speeds, bullshit urban traffic: That's when you need a Swobo Sanchez.

The heart of the Swobo Sanchez is its 700c wheelset: It's the same size the fancy lads use to race the Tour de France. By mounting skinny 23c tires to them, Swobo fully intends for every bit of jedi you put into the pedals to get you hauling ass. Like a set of Chuck Taylors, the idea is to outrun anyone trying to catch you.

Maybe the most crucial detail on the Swobo Sanchez is its flip-flop hub. On one side you get a 16t fixie cog for hardcore kamikaze riding. But for those of us whose suicidal tendencies are more fleeting, you can flip around the wheel to get a 16t freewheel cog. The Sanchez comes sans brakes, but the Swobo CroMoly steel front fork is drilled for a front brake, so you can always install one if you'd like to hedge.

Don't let the lithe wheelset fool you, though. The Swobo Sanchez is amply built for brutal conditions. Its butted CroMoly steel frame is galvanized(!) The steel tubing is coated with zinc to make it completely rust-proof. Ride it in the rain, sleet, snow (or even in a Critical Mass ride!) and it'll soldier through for the long haul.

The Truvativ drivetrain is every bit as tough as the frame itself. And, the 48x16 gearing is small enough to let you get rolling at a red light, but big enough to hit warp speed once you get it turned over.

There a Swobo decal on the top tube to let the world know your good taste. And Swobo's fetish for detail comes across in other ways, too. The tastefully logoed headset top cap, handlebar end caps, seat clamp, stem, grips, seatpost and saddle (complete with bottle opener) all whisper (but don't overwhelm with) Swobo.