Rawland Cycles, a new bike company based in Minnesota, is launching its Olaf and Sogn models at next week's Interbike trade show in Las Vegas.
I first met Rawland owner Sean Virnig at the 2005 Fixed Gear International Symposium in Traverse City, Michigan. He was riding an original Ibis Scorcher, and we hit it off immediately. I saw him a second time at the 2007 North America Handmade Show, when he shared plans about launching Rawland.
The Rawland line, steel models based on the emerging 650B wheel size, are reminiscent of early Steve Potts bikes. Biplane fork crowns, ornate dragon-shaped dropouts and flaired dropbars are a throwback to early 1980s mountain bikes. Virnig worked closely with 650B evangelist and frame component designer Kirk Pacenti, speccing the Pacenti Neo-Moto tires.
The Olaf is a singlespeed, and the Sogn is geared. Rawland will be exhibiting at Interbike booth 6577. Visit Rawland.
© BikeRadar 2007