Dear Darin, I started riding brevets in 2004. That first season, I tried a few different machines.
I started on a straight racing bike, a Waterford 2200. I put the widest tires that would fit it (the 27mm Roly Poly, which, due to their width, had to be faster than the 22mm veloflex I had been using, right?), and bodged on Berthoud racing fenders. That bike did far better than I did, though my experience on a hilly 300K started a game of musical saddles (for bikes with steep seat angles--I ride a Brooks for ones with 72deg and slacker) that took two years to settle down. I also recognized that trying to hang with a group that included RAAM champions revving up for their summer race wasn't a good idea for the second half of the ride. I bonked, took wrong turns, had to adjust my cleats, and, worse, lost my cue sheet! I groveled back in, chasing a group I couldn't quite catch (but who knew the way).... So, for the 400K, I decided I was going to ride solo anyway, so I took the Heron Touring bike. Brooks Professional saddle, SPD cleats, triple crank. A wonderful, comfortable bike, and a well-behaved one with a handlebar bag. I mounted my "fastest" tires, the RP 27mm mentioned above (taking off a set of 35mm Paselas, which turned out to be both objectively faster and far more comfortable, but that is another story). This time, I'd have snacks in the handlebar bag, a map in front of me, and my hub generator lights. Well, in practice, that touring bike, so comfortable for day rides up to 200K, became a different animal on longer rides. The bike just didn't play well with a front load, and I had to keep a firm grip on the handlebars to keep the bike on-track. I still got misplaced even with a map in front of me (still true, unfortunately). And the bike was more work than the "racing" bike. I switched back to riding the machine that was more comfortable for distance at speed--my criterium racing bike (though equipped with a different saddle). I eventually switched tires to Vittoria CX clinchers (25mm), which were both more comfortable and faster than the RP's, and added a small handelbar bag. The bike did better with that than the touring bike! It wasn't perfect (I still had to store stuff in a saddlebag, and battery lighting was a hassle), and I went through a few different machines before I found one that was completely congenial for the sport--an integrated front-loading randonneur, which provides the performance of my racing machines and the carrying capacity of my touring bike, at the expense of a (historically) difficult to source machine. My point: ride the bike that fits you best and that agrees with your riding style. You'll get a chance to refine once you discover what works and what doesn't. I'd suggest, unless you're a really big fellow, that the (already pretty stout) Romulus is going to ride better over distance if the fit is equal than the Atlantis unless you're planning to carry rear Panniers (in which case I'd question your packing strategy for a brevet. I'm considered a heavy packer, and I carry <5lb of gear, clothing, and food for a summer 1200K ride. Try to keep your dry weight under 4lb). TRY YOUR RIG before you ride it a long way. For example, I just strapped a handlebar bag to my Heron and discovered the hard way that it really didn't like a front load. No sir. These days I commute on my randonneuring bike, so I also have the chance to keep an eye in its condition and work out any very tiny issues at the home shop before I'm stuck with them on a brevet. You're already on the right track with tires, and your biases trend toward mine--light, fast-rolling, high-volume. The Marathons will definitely affect your ride vs the Barlow Pass, but, again, I'd be riding 32's on a different machine, and there are many, many successful randonneurs out there on Atlantises and Surly LHTs (which is a close relative of the Atlantis) as well. I also finished my ride on the Heron, though 2h slower than expected and in some discomfort. All experiences that improved and refined my approach to brevet riding and randonneuring. Best, Will William M. deRosset Fort Collins, CO On Friday, March 20, 2015 at 9:32:53 AM UTC-6, Darin G. wrote: > > I'm getting ready for a brevet series starting late next month. I'd been > planning on riding my Romulus which is set up with the original factory > wheels and the extraordinary Compass Stampede Pass tires and fenders. My > thoght was to add the Mark's rack to the Romulus and be ready to go with > battery lighting, but I'm sitting here in my office staring at my mighty > Atlantis with its dyno, Luxos headlight with USB charging, brake lights, > and luggage and wondering whether it wouldn't be the better choice, > especially if I replaced the Marathon Supreme's with Barlow Pass tires for > the Brevets. First world problems, I know. I'm confident the Atlantis is > the more comfortable bike of the two, but the Rom is faster. Most of the > folks here in Utah ride brevets on racing style bikes, usually without > fenders, and I'm apprehensive about not being able to keep up with anyone > and having to ride alone. Thoughts on the Atlantis with the Barlow Pass > would be appreciated. > > DG > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. 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