Kelly, I have enjoyed communicating with you on the various aspects of the "tall-rider-riv-enthusiast-still-enjoying-riding" thing.
I'm 54, 6'6", 258, and am actively doing the paleo thing-which is actually pretty eanjoyable. I too, am emphasizing smiles-per-mile. Going against the Grant ethos I still like to have moments where I'm Eddy, or Greg, and work hard over a climb, and I still have a bike w/ a power meter and download the ride afterwards, but on almost every ride I make a point to pick a section where I try to glide-like a little kid-as far as I can just to see how far I can go. I dropped all crap from my handlebars, even a computer-except as noted above on 1 bike-and instead log all my rides on MapMyRide. I still want to keep track of the mileage if for nothing else, as a conversation topic, but beyond that it's more a measure of time. But I'm really committed to a clean "cockpit". I recently received and put together a 62cm Hunqa, w/ Albatross bars and a sprung Brooks saddle. I've only gotten to ride it a bit due to absolutely shit weather, but what a revelation, sitting upright and pedaling!!! Longer, meandering rides are in order! I keep my road bike tires to 30mm GB's though. I find I can have all the comfort, speed, etc, I want/need on 25's, 28's, and 30's. My QB, just recently converted to an 8-speed internal, runs 35mm Paselas, but that's what Grant sent the bike with. The one thing I'm sticking with is STI and SPD. To me, just my opinion, this is the equivalent of indoor plumbing where people must have said, "How id we ever live without it?!". It's either A520's or Mtn bike SPD's on every bike, Looks have all gone on the shelf-no good if you intend to walk even a little bit off the bike. Still sticking w/ Lycra bibs too, again going against the GP mantra of being able to walk into a coffee shop, or whatever after a ride, but to me, that's the least important aspect of a ride. But like you, I agree that all of this stuff, is a matter of personal preference, and as long as your out there riding..... That's the thing. Happy Sunday RGZ I haven't gom On Sun, Feb 6, 2011 at 1:25 AM, Kelly Sleeper <tkslee...@gmail.com> wrote: > Well the change is almost complete to the point it feels normal, and > surprising. I honestly didn't think many of the things I was changing would > stay with me. I've ridden long enough to understand speed and sprints and > hurting and doing centuries all over the country remembering only the pace > line. So I wasn't as sure about platform pedals, heavier bikes, larger > tires, sitting upright, and all the other stuff. > > Well I have reference the joy several times. Well the newness has worn off > a bit, the bikes have earned scratches and scrapes. We bikes and I have > experianced snow, rain, dirt, mud, traffic and alone time on back pathes > along the rivers. They unlike me photograph beautifully. > > So after several hundred miles and on track for another 4 to 6 thousand mile > year the following is where I stand. > > Platform pedals - Still the thing I most often consider changing .. however > everytime I thing about it I realize that 85% of the time I like my grip > kings and shoe choice and comfort .. not to mention my feet just aren't as > cold in regular hiking shoes. > > Wider Tires - Ok on my tour bike I could understand 700x35's and enjoyed > them. I would never have considered 700x35's for daily riding however > untill I got my AHH. The JB lights have been fantastic and given me a great > fast ride. (especially when I put some air in them) Then when I got my > Bombadil with 700x50 big apples and road some 30 and 50 mile rides I was > just amazed. Yes they are slower, accerlation is slower.. but on a normal > social ride it hasn't mattered. Thrilled.. I am one who will NEVER ride a > 700x23 tires again. > > Upright riding position- My experiance had been on my older tour bike that > the more upright position meant my ass hurt sooner and was out of the > question for longer rides. (nose up saddle position fixed this fyi) I > always believed an aggressive riding position distributed the weight to my > hands and legs etc causing less stress on my rear. Also meant many miles of > base riding to get comfortable in that position for long 100 to 120 mile > rides. > > Mental- This goes with most topics but since I lost speed .. which I don't > care about or so I kept telling myself I was concerned. I'm at the point > where to quote someone on here.. it's been "fun per hour over mph" thus I'm > enjoying a new chapter in riding and back to riding .. the bikes don't just > sit.. I don't dread getting on the bike anymore. Sometimes change is good. > Please don't get me wrong. The fast days were fun. I reached all my speed > goals and distance goals and extreme stuff for me. I was burnt on it. > > Dyno Lighting - I bought a SON28 and then put it on my AHH as a temp thing > with thoughts of taking it off during the summer and spring and such. Maybe > putting it on a different bike for just night time runs to the store. Well > I fell in love with it. It hasn't been off the bike and won't be coming > off. When I ordered the Bombadil I ordered it with a Son28. I can't find a > reason to not run these hubs. > > Peronsal opinion here: I bought an Edelux light and then purchased the > supernova E3 Triple for the Bombadil. Yes the supernova is super bright but > the Edelux does more than I need and gets to full brightness at 2mph or so > ..if I had it to do over again I would purchase another edelux.. the beama > and the light are spectacular. Just my opinion and it may change as time > goes on. > > Lycra Spandex Free - I am just as comfortable without it. I don't understand > it and am not going to lose sleep over it. I honestly didn't think I would > last more than a few short rides. Now I've ridden several 50+ and a couple > of 60 mile rides where when I got home I was ready to go ride more. It's > been a non issue. The musa pants I purchased from Riv have been very > comfortable. Ilike the olive with the velcro better than the blue with the > zipper legs for looks only. The blue are less hassel for riding actually. > I always forget to velcro the legs closed on the olive ones. Hell I've done > 30 mile rides in blue jeans on a new brooks b17. I believe it's the nose up > saddle position that has changed things and maybe fit of bike?? > > Bags- Nigel Smythe - kinda says it all. I used to use the fizik saddle bag > that slid into the saddle that would hold a tube and an inflater. > That entire bag would fit loosly into the side compartment of either of my > Nigel Smythes. Lovin it! > > Bikes > > AHH Regardless of having earned it's first gouge and being blown off the > kickstand a couple of times it is a joy. Everytime I get on it I feel like > it's a part of me. It's handled 40+mph downhills comfortably and has been > nothing but stable. > > Bombadil- I put a tubus nova lowrider on it then loaded up my panniers with > 60lbs or more of gear. I had planned a 2 block ride to test the weight and > see how it felt. 25 miles later I got back home. I was stunned.. honestly > .. it didn't ride like a loaded bike.. I enjoyed a ride in the snow and > through small bike pathes etc. Including a 45 mph downhill with one hand > holding my hat and one on the handle bars. Sweet!!! Wish I had had this > bike for all my other tours. This bike also has Albatross bars.. they will > be staying on for awhile.. I'm in shock ove that.. but a a good shock. > > Both bikes feel light on the front. Not a bad thing.. but then all I've > really ridden was compact frame designs with bars usually 3 to 6 inches > below the seat. I love these bikes. Last weekend I went for a morning > 30ish mile ride on the AHH then after getting home went on a 25 mile ride on > the Bombadil with another friend. > > Touring note Tires: I've toured on 700x28 marathon plus supremes and 700x32 > and 700x35's on the last tour. Riding on 700x50s was just as fast, more > stable and will be the standard for me going forward for loaded touring. > So I'm 6'5" tall 220 lbs and carry on longer tours 60 to 70 lbs of gear .. > > Friends- I'm in St Louis Missouri.. folks think the bikes are beautiful but > think I'm nuts which is OK. I've found 2 or 3 kindred spirits and some > heading this direction while picking my bike up to see how heavy it is.. > shrug... and I can't quit talking about it.. :) > > Nothing is set in stone and I am not saying anyone "should" anything.. just > passing on what I'm experiancing. I have doubts but had many more just a > few months ago. The freedom and simplicty has made it for me. I remember > the days of taking 30 minutes just to get ready for a ride. Now I just get > on the bike .. oh ya.. no flats in last 3 months. > > Give things a try and make up your own mind.. :) > > Kelly > > > > > > > > > > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "RBW Owners Bunch" group. > To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en. > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. 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