Bill, I didn't say it was all or nothing.
Note: i can read about and talk about speed and peformance all over the internet. If I was going for performance riding/racing style of riding it wouldn't be a Rivendell anyway. Point is this type of riding has been a joy and revelation beyond what i dreamed possible.. practical is still fast.. yet versatile and I'm still shocked by that. I've given up virtually nothing For me building a fast bike is easy compared to this.. keeping it versatile and balancing trade offs .. that in itself is a joy Kelly Bill M. wrote: > I don't think it has to be either/or. I enjoy all sorts of riding. > Fast pacelines are fun, but they are a lot less fun on the wrong > bike. So, I have a Calfee with lightweight wheels, 25 mm tires, > Speedplay pedals and a minimal seat bag for riding with the local > club. It's a nice bike and doesn't beat me up unduly over our usual > 40 - 60 mile weekend rides. Coffee? We always stop mid-ride for > that, no need for a Thermos. I don't need wider tires or bigger > luggage for those rides. The Calfee is just enough bike for its > purpose, which makes it just right. > > That doesn't mean I can't throttle back and enjoy riding my old Riv > Road with 32 mm tires, or my Kogswell P/R with 38's or 42's. I rode > the Kog on a chilly 100k charity ride in February, when it was nice to > have a big rando bag for extra clothes. Later this summer I want to > take it up to the Sierras to ride some unpaved back roads, and maybe > over to Mt. Tam or Diablo for more of the same. The Riv will be my > ride for my next couple of 'organized' rides where a meduim sized > saddle bag will be perfect. In between, I'll commute on my my > racked'n'fendered Miyata 1000, and take a few spins around the > neighborhood on my old fixed gear. Each of those bikes has its own > purpose, and I appreciate each one for what it does well. > > Yeah, I'm lucky to be able to afford multiple bikes, but together they > cost less up front than a boat, a Harley or a mistress, and the > ongoing maintenance is less than any of the above so I'm fine with > that investment (and fortunately so is my wife). > > Bill > A bicyclist for over 30 years and counting! > > On Mar 29, 10:03 pm, Kelly Sleeper <tkslee...@gmail.com> wrote: > > Well the winter testing and riding has been spectacular for me. The change > > from challenge/workout/fast/race type of riding to just riding has been > > great. Now for some more surprises... > > > > Columbia makes great shirts that button up, wick mositure, and don't smell. > > > > Much as Grant describes the cowboy shirt I am finding the short sleeve large > > shirts to dry as quickly, more comfortable and cooler in 85 degree > > weather... tight riding jerseys (yes sunburn on the forarms is still > > there) > > > > Found some North Face shorts that felt like the same material as the MUSA's > > with a better fit in shorts for me. But still quick drying and reasonably > > priced. Also picked up some pants with the legs that zip off. Great but a > > pain in that I had to use velcro straps for my pants leg.. forget to take > > the straps off.. forget to put them on.. blah blah .. but great as temps > > went up and I wanted to be in shorts.. give and take. Loving my MUSA pants > > and will be ording more. > > > > Ordering more wool undies from Riv.. the 3 pair I have are spectacular and > > I'm looking forward to them this summer. > > > > My mental transformation is almost complete as well. I am a strong rider so > > it's not like I'm out to crawl. But I'm out for a decent pace while not > > making it a work out. To have a thermos of coffee with me. To enjoy lower > > gears where no hill really hurts unless I want it to. The little bit here > > (dyno hub) little bit there (lbs of steel frame and bags and a little bit up > > there (higher riding position) and of course the looser clothes. I can't > > feel any one thing... however as an overall accumulation I am slower on full > > out efforts.. (oh my) I miss my clipless pedals on occasion.. overall the > > tradeoffs have made riding more fun. Yes they are trade offs. If I was > > interested in going my fastest Rivendell and the other things would not be > > on my list of wants. But that 30 minutes over a 60ish mile day of fun > > riding.. it"s 30 minutes more of nirvana. More stops.. more looking > > around.. > > > > But the weight thing.. sorry I add my Stanley thermos of coffee in the > > saddle bag and don't notice it. The bike handles and does everything as it > > did before. > > > > My Bombadil tour bike rides as smooth with 75lbs on it as it does with 30 > > lbs on it.. and for you saying 75 lbs is to much.. hey.. I like having my > > stuff... the gearing and the bike get me there.. not wasted weight either. > > It all gets used. > > > > Take something to extreme and there are trade offs. Take every thing > > away from me.. put me back in spandex and a carbon framed bike.. only one > > thing I will never ride again.. 700x23's.. > > > > For me if it's a work out, and extreme climb, and three this or that > > challenge, blah blah.. been there done that.. have a closet full of jerseys > > and t shirts.. no thanks.. I'm enjoying my AHH and Bomba.. laughing at > > those worried about weight .. only now it's those who shun it .. :) > > > > So I started here ... > > http://www.flickr.com/photos/tksleeper/5155759637/in/set-721576252104... > > > > She was sweet .. but I'm happier now and just as challenged choosing gear > > based on different criteria.. > > I've ended here.. or have begun > > again..http://www.flickr.com/photos/tksleeper/5535822293/ (note that bag is > > smallish at times) > > > > For the riding the Rivendells are sold for and what I bought based on that, > > I believe there is no other bike that does it better. The Country Bike AHH > > has no match that i've found. the Bombadil as a tour bike / city bike / > > whatever has no match for purpose or versatility. > > > > I still have to be careful not to look down on the clipped in guys, the > > spandex, lack of fenders, those enjoying riding thier way instead of my > > way. I have to try and not be disgusted when someone says they found a > > comfortable 700x23 tire.. ok not disgusted.. just yelled a curse word and > > thought what do they weigh.. 50lbs.. here take another 150 off me and see > > how those 700x23's feel jerk.. lol > > > > I drank the koolaid.. oops can't say that anymore (don't hold your breath on > > that one) I tried the ideas presented with as open a mind as I could bring > > to the table. Gave many things a try and hare gone on a new for me exciting > > direction in cycling that continues to suprise and thrill me. > > > > So weigh it down .. sit up into the wind.. smile.. you're a bicyclist now.. > > and those cyclist out there can kiss my rear.. :) oops your rear.. mines > > taken. > > > > Kelly > > > > PS. I'm not knocking the performance wants in you.. I'm celebrating what > > doesn't get mentioned on here much anymore .. the joy of a ride without > > concern for performance. Yes I'm as bad as an x smoker (which I am so I > > know) but then shrug -- 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.
