I’m fairly certain this is what Grant would say if I asked him to make such a bike - the Clem L isn’t that much heavier, stick with that.
I would guess you could shave off a couple of pounds of frame weight, which I believe I would notice. I don’t know how light you could make the bike, but I wish I could make the Clem a *bit* easier to work with. The XL wheelbase and stout tubing make it quite the workout to lift up on the stand. And the bike doesn’t exactly fly up the hills. But, it is supremely comfortable, and I think, beautiful. I can only imagine how a custom version would be even more wonderful. I remembered Laing’s cargo-type Rivendell. He has Keven’s rejected custom; it’s a step-through with integrated rack, so I guess we know of ONE step-through custom. It’s hard for me to believe a lighter step-through would be too flex; hasn’t Europe ridden such bikes for a million years? Are they all overbuilt tanks with nothing lightweight in the mix at all? What an interesting and fun topic! Thanks for chiming in! Leah Sent from my iPad > On Jan 25, 2021, at 8:08 AM, Mark Roland <[email protected]> wrote: > > > This is not correct. A mixte is not a step through. Because, at least without > serious contortions for a normal person, you can't step through it. They are > two separate designs. A mixte can more easily accomodate certain clothing > choices, and with more clearance allow for sliding off the saddle for > frequent stopping in city traffic. Can also be mounted similar to a step > through if you lean it enough or step like a Rockette. > > Step throughs do not have the same triangulation found in a diamond frame, or > even a mixte. (This is also why mixtes with twin, side by side skinny top > tubes are often rather noodley in larger sizes and/or carrying loads.) Start > using very light tubing on a step through, and you will start to introduce a > bad kind of flex--especially if you want to carry a thing or two, which is > part of the point of a Clem L, no? A loaded 59cm Clem L apparently verges on > this unwanted flexing, according to reports out of Rivendell during the early > days of the Clems. > > Even if you designed it using the same tubing as a Susie, by the time you add > everything back on, you will hardly have made a difference in terms of ride > response, other than to possibly introduce unwanted flexing under load. > Unlike peanut butter and chocolate, some combinations are just not meant to > be; they are contradictory by their very nature. Learn to mount the Platypus > like a regular diamond frame until you hit your 70s or 80s, or practice > leaning it away from you before performing the step through. In any case, I > suspect it's those big ole cowgirl boots causing the problem;^) > >> On Sunday, January 24, 2021 at 11:56:42 PM UTC-5 Joe Bernard wrote: >> Kai, >> >> I think the whole mixte/step-through thing can get convoluted and confusing >> because a lot of frames we nominally call mixtes apparently aren't. I >> believe - I could be wrong - the only true mixte is the Platypus frame style >> (also Purple Riv Ana's) where the dropped toptube meets a third set of stays >> that travel all the way to the rear of the frame. Therefore your Rosco Mixte >> and my Riv Custom Mixte are really step-throughs. But mine is higher than >> the Platypus mixte and Clem L step-through so what the heck do you call that? >> >> What I think Leah is asking is if there's ever been a Riv Custom >> step-through with a really low toptube, and I can't remember one. But it >> sure would be sweet, it could be done with a combination of lugs and fillet >> joints just like mine got. Check out the pic and imagine my toptube was >> dropped way lower, then did that nice Clemmy curve at the bottom to meet the >> seattube with a fillet weld. Someone should order this! I'll bet it would >> look great in Raspberry Metallic 😉 >> >>> On Sunday, January 24, 2021 at 8:24:05 PM UTC-8 Kainalu V. -Brooklyn NY >>> wrote: >>> Where does step through start? I consider my Rosco mountain a step through, >>> but I do need to lift my leg a bit. I think Clem L is lower, but I've never >>> swung a leg through one. >>> -Kai >>> >>>> On Sunday, January 24, 2021 at 11:21:14 PM UTC-5 Kainalu V. -Brooklyn NY >>>> wrote: >>>> There's a famous one in Seattle, it's purple. Maybe not step through >>>> enough? Pretty step through though.. >>>> -Kai >>>> >>>>> On Sunday, January 24, 2021 at 11:06:41 PM UTC-5 Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! >>>>> wrote: >>>>> You know I’m a Clem-lover, and mine took me through the worst days of my >>>>> life this last year. It’s nearly perfect and has only one tiny flaw - >>>>> it’s a bit heavy/overbuilt for a woman my size. I’m also a Platypus >>>>> lover, and it’s only drawback is that I miss my step-through top tube. >>>>> Otherwise both bikes are perfect. >>>>> >>>>> I was on a night ride tonight, and when I nearly kicked my top tube I >>>>> wondered...has anyone made a custom step-through? And why ever not? >>>>> >>>>> If Rivendell ever saw fit to make a Susie Clem, I’d jump. But I don’t >>>>> think there are plans for that, so I’m left to wonder...what a custom >>>>> step through could be like... This is speculation only. But isn’t it kind >>>>> of fun? >>>>> Leah > > -- > 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/vA47Guyb6pQ/unsubscribe. > To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to > [email protected]. > To view this discussion on the web visit > https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/d3efbc43-1a81-47f6-aa15-391c80532c34n%40googlegroups.com. -- 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 [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/DC448AC0-D0AE-438A-854D-4572D8AC6E45%40gmail.com.
