I don't mean to minimize it though, it definitely is a consideration. I am fortunate to have the strength and health right now. But I suspect if you can carry a regular bike up, with a bit more effort you can get a long wheelbase bike up. If you can't carry a regular bike the point is moot. So it's really about those on the borderline. It is a factor, even a limitation that some might not have a workaround for (safe bicycle common area, foyer, etc.) My Le Tour mixte is certainly easier to get up and down that my Clementine.
On Wednesday, June 15, 2016 at 10:58:48 PM UTC-4, Eric Karnes wrote: > > Ha. I suppose 'very big disadvantage' was a bit extreme. I carted my > commuter up and down a lot of stairs that day. > > Eric > > > On Tuesday, June 14, 2016 at 7:14:37 AM UTC-4, Mark in Beacon wrote: >> >> I think "off road" is a little broad. Yes, at some point on some terrain >> somewhere, any particular bike design will start to involve compromise. In >> lots of directions, Rivendells take a lot longer to reach those compromises. >> >> Single track with lots of rocks and roots and logs would start to >> classify as "technical" to me. Most Rivs are designed for, at a minimum, >> handling basic dirt roads with aplomb, and "trail" models like the >> Appaloosa can get considerably rougher. But at some point, you may need to >> either consider another machine, or do some "underbiking." (A term I use >> here for ever so slight comic relief.) In other words, if a majority, or >> even a significant minority, of one's riding landscape includes a bunch of >> technical single track with many obstacles requiring constant wheelies, a >> Rivendell might not be the machine. Or it might, but you need to a. walk >> during the trickiest sections. b. figure a way to roll over them slowly, a >> la a curb half-pop half-rollover style maneuver, or c. start a weight >> training program to build upper body wheelie strength. Keeping in mind all >> the while that Rivendells are also designed with more bb drop, which will >> limit all that rock and log hoppin' probably as much as longer chainstays. >> As a design parameter, safety and smooth ride, predicable handling in an >> upright position would seem to be the goal more than gnarly single track >> capabilities. Still, I took my Big Dummy on a few not-quite-hairy stretches >> of single track without much problem. Definitely not a day to day thing, >> though. I plan to climb Mt. Beacon with my Clementine this summer, will >> report my findings! >> >> From the link I posted above: >> >> *Longer wheelbases make a bike more stable, smoother riding, less apt to >>> get redirected by wind and bumps. Safer, I’d say. Easier to control at high >>> speeds. So you can’t ride as small of a circle—who cares? You can still do >>> a U-turn, you can still ride the bike anywhere you ought to be riding a >>> bike. It’s just better when the chainstays are longer.* >>> >> >> I suppose you could add, "can't constantly pop over big logs and rocks as >> easy--who cares?" But that would be presumptuous, obviously. >> >> While I would I would not call it a "very big disadvantage," I would >> agree with Eric that the longer wheelbase bikes can present a little bit >> more of a challenge in apartment living, and when climbing and (especially >> with mixte/Clementine designs) when descending stairs. I would also agree >> the ride is worth it. >> >> On Monday, June 13, 2016 at 9:42:52 PM UTC-4, RJM wrote: >>> >>> Off road I feel they are a detriment especially when riding single >>> track. Getting a manual or wheelie happening (a skill used to pop over >>> logs, ext.) is not very easy with a long chain stay bike. >>> >>> But extra cargo capacity and probably stability are pros, I suppose. >>> They will probably help with a touring bike. >>> >> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
