Greetings esteemed list members,
I am a newcomer on this list. I am currently a Rivendell enthusiast
rather than Rivendell owner. I'd like to change that. :)
Here's what I'm (ideally) looking for:
• 650B, with room for Hetres.
• 61cm or 62cm frame size.
• Ideally, I'd like to buy a built up bike, but I'd also consider a
frame/fork.
• Pretty flexible on build, but a 46cm Nitto Noodle bar and a small
front rack would be nice.
I think this basically means a 61cm Bleriot, or (possibly) a 60cm or
(probably) a 62cm Saluki, or a custom 650B. PBH is 88.3cm. So
standover ought to be no more than ~85.75 cm. My saddle height is
~78cm. Center of saddle to center of stem is currently 70cm.
My total dream bike is Estaban's ProtoVelo. I LOVE that bike! I'm
trying to talk him into selling it to me....
My intention is to keep my bought-new-in-1992 59cm Bridgestone RB-T
for commuting, and use this new bike for fast and fun recreational
rides--starting with the STP this year. And next year, maybe my first
brevet...? The RB-T is too small for me, but works just fine for my
daily 8-mile RT commute. It's now set up with Albatross bars, a
Technomic stem and a 300mm seatpost, lots of lights and a Burley rear
rack for our Piccolo Trail-a-Bike. I just weighed it at Elliot Bay
Bicycles a while back and without the U-lock it was 32 lbs of utter
utility. So yah, something a bit sportier would be good. :) I also
like the idea of the S24O, and there are many opportunities for that
in the Seattle area. I'm 55, and, um, working on flexibility. I weigh
about 205 lbs right now, and according to the handy-dandy tire
pressure spreadsheet I need at least Gran Bois Cypres-like tire width,
and wider would be better. I'm not a parts snob, but I do believe I'm
too poor to buy cheap things. My RB-T has done me pretty well for 18
years, and I hope this bike will keep me happy for a couple decades as
well. So bring on the Phil Rivvy hubs, but I'm ok with Deore, if
that's what ya got. I'm intrigued by Campy brifters, but I've never
ridden with them. Seven speeds seems to work pretty well, but heck,
eight or nine might be even better. So far I definitely need a triple,
but if my bike was 10 lbs lighter and I wasn't carrying my laptop and
lunch, a compact double with a wide-range cassette might work.
Totally open to other suggestions, if you've got 'em. I'd consider,
for example, a nice yellow RB-1 or similar, vintage-ish, lugged steel
bike, if I can't yet find my Rivendell....
Apologies for the long post. Thank you!
Rob in Seattle
P. S. If you'd like to read some of my early musings on this subject,
have a look here: <http://bigbirdcage.blogspot.com/>.
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