The Wright Brothers are making bikes again and doing so to fund the work of a family foundation dedicated to preserving the Wright legacy worldwide. The foundation’s initiatives include maintenance and programming of Hawthorn Hill (the Wright brothers’ success mansion), restoration of the original Wright Company buildings (the first U.S. airplane factory) and preservation of aviation history around the globe.
The bikes include the Van Cleve 1896 for $4750 and the St. Clair 1896 at $3950. Both townies are named in homage to the Wright family history.
Van Cleve 1896
The Van Cleve model harkens back to the Wrights’ top-of-the-line build and pays homage to their mother’s ancestors the Van Cleves. For commuting or weekend the Van Cleve features Shimano Alfine 11-speed internal rear hub, TRP Spyre brakes, and Gates Carbon Drive CDX belt. The MSRP is $4750.
Accessory Mounts: 2 water bottle mounts, rear rack mounts, front low-rider mounts, front and rear fender mounts
Bottom Bracket: Co-Motion eccentric with Shimano external bearing cartridge
Brakes: TRP Spyre, PM front, 160 mm 6-bolt rotor. TRP Spyre, IS rear, 160 mm center-lock rotor
Crankset: Shimano Alfine 170 mm arms with Gates CenterTrack 39t front sprocket (U.S.A.)
Drive: Gates Carbon Drive CDX belt 118t (U.S.A.)
Fork: Co-Motion taper-gauge Cro-Moly with CNC steerer (U.S.A.)
Grips/Tape: Co-Motion/Lizard Skin Lock-on grips, Black
Handlebar: Co-Motion/FSA city bar
Headset: Chris King NoThreadSet 1-1/8″, Black (U.S.A.)
Kick Stand: 2-leg center stand
Levers: Shimano flat bar levers, road pull
Saddle: Selle Anatomica X1, Black with gunmetal rivets (U.S.A.)
Seatpost: Thomson Elite, straight, 27.2 mm diameter, Black (U.S.A)
Shifter: Alfine 11 Rapid Fire
Stem: Thomson Elite, X2, 100 mm, 10 deg, Black (U.S.A.)
Tires: Vittoria Randonneur Pro 700 x 35
Wheelset: DT 350 Disc front hub/Velocity Dyad Rim 700c. Shimano
Alfine 11 rear hub/Velocity Dyad rim 700c (U.S.A.)
Color: Metallic Black
Sizes: 46 cm, 50 cm, 52 cm, 54 cm, 56 cm, 58 cm, 60 cm & 62 cm
Weight: 24.2 lbs (54 cm size)
St. Clair 1896
The original St. Clair bicycle was named for Arthur St. Clair, the first president of the Northwest Territory of the United States, comprised of Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. Today’s version is designed for everyday and recreational weekend rides with a comfortable riding frame made of Reynolds 725 tubing, easy-to-shift Shimano Alfine 8 drivetrain components and smooth stopping SRAM Avid BB5 disc brakes. The MSRP is $3950.
Accessory Mounts: 2 water bottle mounts, rear rack mounts, front low-rider mounts, front and rear fender mounts
Bottom Bracket: Co-Motion eccentric with Shimano external bearing cartridge
Brakes: Avid BB5, 160 mm rotors, 6-bolt front, center-lock rear
Crankset: Shimano Alfine, 170 mm arms, 39t chainring
Drive: Sram 850 chain
Fork: Co-Motion taper-gauge Cro-Moly with CNC steerer (U.S.A.)