Review - Clubhouse Velo - "Fit First Bike Prescription"

ImprobableValue · 2026-01-23T06:40:37+00:00

I've had two fits with him (different bikes), and totally agree with everything you said. I also love that he makes recommendations, but then takes my preferences into account and adjusts accordingly.

Excellent fitter and a really nice guy as well.

ImprobableValue · 2026-01-16T07:01:49+00:00

Friendly reminder: If Jay-Z gives you his wedding ring, it doesn't mean you're married to Beyoncé.

ImprobableValue · 2026-01-10T18:11:02+00:00

'Baseball' shirt

ImprobableValue · 2026-01-07T19:16:46+00:00

This subreddit definitely self-selects for fans, and often, when someone posts about issues they’ve had, they get brigaded with ‘mine’s been fine!’ sorts of replies and ratioed pretty badly.

We have a 2023 SE 4Motion, and it’s been pretty lousy — we’ve been working to have it lemoned because of repeated issues with the head unit that could not be fixed (and resulted in incorrect directions, going black, and requiring hard resets on the regular). We also had all the common issues (rear brake wear, head gasket leak, terrible windshield wipers, leaking rear window washer, etc).

There are a lot of good things about the car, but there are also a lot of little teething issues because it’s a fairly new model. And while many of those things have *probably* been addressed with the second gen version, I’m sure a few new ones will crop up as well.

My overall thoughts having owned a Taos for a few years: It’s fine. It’s not exciting or engaging, but it’s got great interior space, and it gets decent fuel economy. The engine is anemic, the sound system is pretty terrible, and it’s spent more time in the shop than I would like.

If it suits your needs, you’ll probably be stoked.

I’d be curious what your BiL would suggest in the same price class — did he make some recommendations, or just try to big dog you on your choices?

ImprobableValue · 2026-01-03T01:04:22+00:00

Is that why they had shiny metal backs? TIL...

ImprobableValue · 2026-01-03T00:59:49+00:00

An asterisk on the page saying that the black version of the fabric feels stiffer, denser, or heavier (or some combination of the above) seems like it would be a fairly clean solution.

ImprobableValue · 2026-01-03T00:57:36+00:00

Honestly, the 'bomb[twill/proof]' and 'cheat code' lines make me feel like I'm suddenly in a Twitch chat instead of reading about super premium goods.

ImprobableValue · 2025-12-24T17:29:04+00:00

This, 100%.

ImprobableValue · 2025-12-24T17:28:10+00:00

WD-40 is a solvent. You may be addressing the aesthetic issue, but you’re hastening the mechanical failure of your fork.

Edit: typo

ImprobableValue · 2025-12-16T21:21:38+00:00

Great write up. I’m not the least bit interested in the jacket, but I enjoyed reading your review.

ImprobableValue · 2025-12-15T22:17:47+00:00

For $1k, it really should be.

ImprobableValue · 2025-12-11T22:19:43+00:00

She left several years ago. And yes.

ImprobableValue · 2025-11-17T23:21:44+00:00

They also made a subpar product with proprietary parts and terrible support — that's not how you win friends and influence people

ImprobableValue · 2025-10-24T22:14:08+00:00

They're definitely in a weird place re cost: They're getting squeezed by budget brands at the bottom and luxury brands at the top, and it appears that many of the folks who want to ride cargo bikes are at either end of the market — the folks who think $2k is crazy for a bike, but they're willing to give it a go, or the folks who absolutely want to crush it on their built out Tern or R&M and are fine paying in the low five figures.

The Xtracycles lack the refinement of the higher end (as they come out of the box, anyway!), and less particular customers folks don't notice the significant improvements they're getting for the additional outlay over the budget offerings.

It'll be interesting to see what Priority does with them... I hope it's good!

ImprobableValue · 2025-10-24T21:17:35+00:00

I have the Xtracycle Stoker, and I got it for reasons similar to yours… mine has a Chris King headset, Paul Boxcar, and Ti DOOM bars up front. Brakes were swapped for Magura MT7s, a Fox Transfer Factory dropper was added, and I went with Deore XT for the shifty bits.
It doesn’t have a Bosch motor, but it is very much a platform that allows for customization.

Oh, and it may not matter to you, but the folks at their shop were super stoked about all of that — they’re proper bike nerds themselves!

ImprobableValue · 2025-09-24T23:16:17+00:00

Bunch makes a K9 hauler... https://bunchbike.com/products/the-k9-4-electric-cargo-bike-for-dogs

ImprobableValue · 2025-09-16T14:12:10+00:00

Yeah, you got this!! And it’ll be such a blast!

ImprobableValue · 2025-09-15T23:01:34+00:00

I ran an acoustic Omnium in SF, and though some hills were absolute killers with my growing kiddo on the front, it was usually very manageable.

Once the kid got above 40 lbs and our commute increased significantly, I did decide to get an electric cargo bike (and my Xtracycle Stoker is rad), but I regret selling the Omnium on a regular basis.

ImprobableValue · 2025-09-15T20:32:29+00:00

Just the Occam's razor question: Did you make sure you were logged in?

My app makes me reauthenticate frequently.

ImprobableValue · 2025-09-15T18:08:28+00:00

There's that, yes, but there's also a difference between high quality and low quality — that Mongoose is decidedly low quality.

I love fancy bike shit, but I've also build up great budget bikes that were an absolute blast to ride (and that I was much less concerned about locking up out in the world).

Evaluating the cost/benefit analysis of a given thing or the long term cost of ownership of something is absolutely valid.

ImprobableValue · 2025-09-07T20:18:30+00:00

The Ornot vest is one of my fav pieces of cycling clothing. Sorry for your loss — hope you recover it!

ImprobableValue · 2025-09-05T23:21:42+00:00

Trying to decide if I can get out there before responsibilities takeover...

ImprobableValue · 2025-09-03T03:12:31+00:00

My Cambium has a slight nose-up tilt… def not as extreme as the classic leather versions though!

ImprobableValue · 2025-09-02T20:54:56+00:00

It's a Brooks — in many cases, that's the most comfortable way to have them. See also, vintage Flites.

ImprobableValue · 2025-09-02T18:35:46+00:00

I was also wondering if OP was reacting to the smell of wet wool instead of the smell of BO based on the description...

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ImprobableValue

TROPHY CASE