Hi, Everyone. I had to borrow a computer today to respond. I can write more when I get home. Such a lively discussion. I don't mind any civil discussions, because it's on this board that I've learned so much!
First, let me say, I don't mind a heavy bike, but for for a female my age (or any age, or a child), we need a bike that we can carry, lift, etc., so for me, it was a lightening project as well as a ride better project. Mark and others with children, think of how important it is to get your son something he can handle, just because of his age/size/strength. I wanted to love this bike again as I did the first day I rode it. Kai--sharing the rack and our conversation on the way to the East Coast Riv meetup was MY pleasure! I was so glad to see your Roscoe Mixte in person. Leah, Joe, Joyce, CME and Tim. Thanks for your kind words. I'm glad so many of us are happy with the new rims, dyno, GravelKings and tubeless. Perhaps we would have been happy with tubes, but I am happy today with the tubeless. It's the sum of the parts. Who knows, perhaps when I need new tires, I'll do tubes to compare. Or not, if I stay flat free Doug, I really like the 1x11. I did check because (as Leah knows), my cast off parts from two weeks ago are still in my trunk--my old rear cogs were x9. It's flat where I live and I'd usually just go up and down the cogs anyway, so this isn't much different for me. If I'd need to shift the front, it was always a bit too much of a change. When Candice handed me the new wheel, I thought this is light with the dyno! Then, I realized that was the REAR wheel! Someone kind here (was it you? I cannot find the original emails) sent me pics of items he put in an XS saddle sack. Then he put those items in the Banana Sax with additional items he could also fit, and sent those pics. It does hold enough more that it will be right right size bag for me. I am putting together my list with weights and it might take a few day, but I can give you the official weight savings. I'm guessing 5-6 pounds. That along with the better tire is an ooh--lala ride! Least expensive and easiest: change the saddle and the bag, take off the rack and fenders (I didn't do the last two items, as I also need a practical bike.) Patrick and Ted, such a spirited discussion! No matter the new tires with tubes or new tires with tubeless, the overall effect of the changes are suburb for me! I had been considering selling the Appaloosa, but I loved the ride so much. I'd rather have put the money into this bike than just get another. It is the bike I would have built if I had known anything about bikes when I made my first purchase. Even if James had recommended these items to me back then, being an less educated bike person, I probably would have declined. Patrick, I'll get you the info on the kickstand later. It is detachable and very lightweight, folds in half and was about $30. There is another more popular one on Amazon and this isn't that one, as many people said that one sagged and suggested this one. I traveled with the AHH, because I can take off the front wheel, turn it on it's side, glide it thru my trunk opening to the back seat (and that is over a hybrid battery "shelf"--not easy) . I could never do that physically with my Appaloosa, even if I removed the fenders. Mark, putting on tubeless was easy for me: I just watched Candice do the work! They had an IG session on how to do it and it probably comes down to "Candice (Mark and James) do it so much, they are exerts at it)" I don't plan on changing the tires until they wear out. That's my MO for tires. Melanie--I am so glad that you are happy with your changes, too. Once Covid is over, we should ride our Appaloosas together. Erik, New 650B dyno wheel, that's exciting! Since we live near each other, I'm looking forward to seeing it in person. I hope everyone has a terrific biking day, Roberta On Sunday, June 7, 2020 at 12:11:10 PM UTC-4, Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! wrote: > > Good to hear from #RivSister Melanie! > > I am sure none of of us would complain if you chose to indulge us with > photos of your new wheels on your Appaloosa. 🤩 > > I agree that the bikes feel very different after getting these new wheels. > I’m not going to “quibble” about tubeless, but what was promised was a > lighter, smoother ride with fun, colorful bits. And that’s exactly what I > got. Therefore, I’m calling Analog tubeless wheels a great choice for me. > > I just got back from another 10 miler, fighting winds the whole time and I > didn’t even much mind. > Leah > Sent from my iPad > > On Jun 7, 2020, at 7:26 AM, Melanie <[email protected] <javascript:>> > wrote: > >  > Hi Roberta and all - I too have been "enlightened." Once Roberta said she > was going to go for it and lighten up her Appaloosa I got the courage to do > the same to mine. Analog built me some new wheels with Pacenti rims, Bitex > hubs, a SRAM 990 cassette and tubeless Gravelkings. Of course, some red > spoke nipples and valve stem as well. I just love it! It's still not a > light bike because I am keeping my Choco-Moose bars, my triple crank, and > Clem rack. But the feel is very different. That zzzzz of the hubs disturbed > me at first. But now I know it is just urging me on, "faster, faster, > faster." Such joy. > > So Roberta - how does riding with the 1x drivetrain compare with the old > triple??? > > - Melanie > > On Saturday, June 6, 2020 at 12:42:36 PM UTC-4, Roberta wrote: >> >> In April 2017, I rode a 2016 stock-built Rivendell Joe Appaloosa at >> Gravel and Grind and fell in love. James (formerly of G&G, now of >> Analog Cycles) recommended a Brooks B-17 saddle, fenders, a rear rack, and >> I happily pedaled away for the next three years. My only change was to >> a Brooks Flyer saddle. >> >> >> I love the ride of the Appaloosa and rode it at home on the weekends. When >> I wanted another bike at my office for after work rides, I bought an A. >> Homer Hilsen from a fellow RBW member. My only issue with the Joe >> Appaloosa was it was heavy for me to maneuver on mass transportation, >> steps, and general lifting. Now I had a lighter AHH, and that is the >> bike I chose to travel with. >> >> >> But…I still loved the ride of the Appaloosa…it was just so…heavy. A >> call to James and Candice one day to talk about tubeless tires options, and >> I was signing up to change nearly everything on it to lighten it and get an >> even better ride. I changed the saddle back to the B-17, removed the >> heavy and too large for my use Carradice bags. Rack, fenders and kickstand >> are too practical, so I kept them. >> >> >> On Memorial Day weekend, I drove both bikes to Analog Cycles. AHH got >> 1.75” Gravel King tubeless tires and a shorter stem. Instead of regular >> grips, they wrapped the grip area with Fizik tape over gel. Deity valve >> caps in red for the finishing touch. I didn’t need to change out >> anything else on the bike—it already had dyno lighting and the correct >> rims. My new bag is a Sackville Banana Sax, just the perfect size! >> >> >> The Appaloosa got the most work. They changed the handlebar from steel >> Choco-moose to aluminum Albatross and changed my 3x8 (or 3x9, I forget) >> drive train to a 1x11 with indexed shifting. However, the biggest >> difference came with the new wheels, tubeless tires and dyno lighting! >> Candice >> recommended purple spoke nipples and they look great with the butterscotch >> frame. Near the valve stem, she changed the colorway to gold, topped >> off with chartreuse valve caps, and I think it looks smashing! I also >> got nice cork grips that probably a “blend” because they have more give >> than the Rivendell ones. I also like the ergonomic “bulge” in the >> middle, like the older cork grips Riv used to sell. >> >> >> The ride with the tubeless tires on both bikes, wheels built by Analog’s >> master wheel builder Mark, is sublime. The more I ride them, the more I >> LOVE them. They soak up the bad city pavement and cracks in the MUP >> sidewalks. Even going over railroad tracks isn’t jarring. The tires >> just “smush” to take up as much road vibrations as it can. Yet, they >> are not slow or plodding. I explained it to Bicycle Belle Ding Ding, >> who was anxiously awaiting delivery of her new wheels, this way: “By >> the time I get home from my rides, I feel so much less beat up and feel >> like I can keep on going.The ride was so much more pleasant.” It took a >> few days to get to this state. Every day I rode them I liked them so >> much more than the previous day. I think part of that is getting the >> psi down to my optimal level. On the day that the pressure felt too low >> and I just pumped it up to 35 psi. Over time, I’ll find my sweet-spot, >> pressure wise. >> >> >> Then, there is Dyno lighting! I can now just jump on the Appaloosa >> without worrying if I charged my lights. The Edulux light Analog speced >> is so bright. I have Busch + Muller IQ-XS on the AHH. It’s very nice, >> but not nearly as bright as the Edulux. >> >> >> Now the Appaloosa is light enough for me to pick up, move it around, even >> carry it up steps if needed, or onto a train if there is no boarding >> platform. I just love it! Candice, James, and Mark did a fantastic job >> and I’m SO pleased. They are easy to work with and are meticulous with >> their work. They picked the parts and basically, I said “OK.” >> >> Going tubeless took a lot of consideration. I heard so much pros and >> cons, but after speaking with James and Candice, I decided to take the >> chance. What would happen if I didn’t like it???—I’d take the goo out >> of the tires and put in tubes. And, I’d be out some money. But, I’m >> so glad (in the two weeks I’ve had the “new” bikes) I took the chance. The >> ride quality is AMAZING. Beyond anything I could even imagine. >> >> >> Here are my new Appaloosa parts: >> >> >> Shutter Precision PV-8 Hub >> >> Bitex Center lock Disc 145mm Rear Hub >> >> Schmidt Edelux II dynamo light >> >> Busch & Muller Toplight Line Plus rear light >> >> Pancenti Brevet Rims >> >> Sapim Lazer spokes >> >> Sapim Allow Spoke Nipples in purple >> >> White Industries ENO Square Taper 1x >> >> White Industries Titanium Bottom Bracket >> >> Sram NX 11 Speed Trigger Shifter >> >> Sram GX Rear Mech rear derailler >> >> Connex Nickel Plated 11 speed chain XL >> >> Shimano XT 11-46 11 speed Cassette >> >> Tallux stem—80mm >> >> Albatross aluminum handlebars >> >> Cork grips >> >> Teravail Rampart 650bx47 light and supple brown wall tires (originally, >> these were to be GravelKings, but there was a mix up in the order, so James >> and Candice recommended these, as they were in the shop and they were on >> their personal bikes.) >> >> >> > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in the > Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. > To unsubscribe from this topic, visit > https://groups.google.com/d/topic/rbw-owners-bunch/pWpMrkiVUlk/unsubscribe > . > To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to > [email protected] <javascript:>. > To view this discussion on the web visit > https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/23a2734d-cd97-4df7-8332-af90e79b2c1fo%40googlegroups.com > > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/23a2734d-cd97-4df7-8332-af90e79b2c1fo%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > . > > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. 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