I know what you mean, though. I’ve kicked myself for three years as his waiting list and prices have grown proportionally. Great stuff. His sense of style is amazing, coupled with what those who own then report to be truly great bikes. I console myself with the piss poor knowledge that at least a Sachs is still $1100 and two and a half years more.
If you’re interested in comparable in terms of style but for similar money (there are those who are more like Spectrum, Moon, Mooney, etc,), try Johnny Cycles, Chris Kvale and Waterford. I own the latter and am considering one of the first two…
I crashed out of one of the Crank Bros GP races this season, and helped out some of the guys in the pits for the rest of the race.
The mechanics were all ogling S.Skerritt’s Vanillas - surrounded by a flock of super high-end race rigs, they were no doubt the coolest bikes anyone had seen…
Tom Kellogg, JP Wiegel and Chris Kvale do with simple lugs, what Columbine, Waterford, Sachs and Mooney do with ornate lugs, what others do so very well indeed (Goodrich, Kirk, and of the Match gang, etc, come to mind…not to mention what ST’s Ves is more than capable of). There are a lot of amazing artisans out there. It’s a wonderful world, filled with constructeurs of amazing skill…
“And they are steel! Hmmm, how long is the waiting list?”
I have this sickening feeling that we have probably passed one-or-two on local rides on occasion without even knowing.
Dangit.
If you ride in the SF Bay Area you may have as I ride mine all the time in Marin. Keep an eye out for a bright green road bike or a avacado green rando fendered bike.
Last I heard the wait is 5 (!!!) years. I’ve seen a couple around NorCo, and, believe it or not, they look even better in person. Simply stunning.
I was a naysayer on Vanilla for a while … for a bunch of dumb reasons … but I’m a believer now. The guy is tuned into the zeitgeist.
I’ve got the germ of an idea in my head for a Vanilla … if I put my deposit down now, and throw $20 a month in a dedicated account, the frame should be fully funded by the time I’m at the top of the list. Also check out Speedvagen, they might be even cooler. maybe.
Last I heard the waiting period was in excess of 4 years and he wasn’t accepting anymore orders (that was the rumor at least) They’re definitely nice bicycles and Sacha is a true artisan/craftsman, but they just don’t appeal to me. If they could throw a custom Pegoretti paint job on them (which they probably can) I’d probably try and pick one up.
he isn’t accepting orders. I think the wait list has hit five years at this point. I visited his shop in December - no dice on his taking my money for a deposit - imagine that, a bicycle maker who won’t take your money!!! Vanilla bikes is where it’s at.
he isn’t accepting orders. I think the wait list has hit five years at this point. I visited his shop in December - no dice on his taking my money for a deposit …
WOW - I had no idea that Sacha was no longer taking orders! I was lucky enough to get in before the MASSIVE wave hit - he had won the NAHBS twice and his waitlist was just over 2 years, but it jumped to nearly **five **shortly after I got in. My delivery is Spring '09.
Not to steal Sacha’s thunder, but I’d bet that Sam Whittingham’s waitlist has just exploded as well. It used to be pretty short - somewhere in the order of 12 weeks. But after *slaying *at the NAHBS with a bike that Lance Armstrong is rumoured to have paid $15k for, I’m sure the public have been beating a path to his door. Sam has always made nice stuff. It’s cool to see his work recognized.
