ok - she is built: my 58cm DosSimple: http://salamander.net/stage/SimpleOne/ (picture names starting with "built").
first impressions: -------------------- - rides like glass. even more than the cantiRom or Sam Hillborne I have. - these wheels feels as stiff as the 36 hole Deore XT Mavic 765 on my Sam, but feel as light and accelerate as easily as the 20 spoke aero Neuvation wheels on my Rom. - even without racks this one feels extra rigid and comfy both at the same time, compared to my others. - doesn't want to stop. the momentum on flat ground is just insane, and even going up hill it feels easy. - even more eager than the Rom, totally absent the laid back sedate glide feel of the Sam. - i love the noise of the freewheel. i feel 12 again. - much less standover than i expected in a 58cm. i've got like.. .5 cm, maybe in keens, and none barefoot (pbh of 84.5). - a taller, narrower ride than i expected, partly due to the 10cm DD stem and 45cm rando bars... i'll probably get used to it, but i'd sure love if these were a couple cm wider on the flats. the flared drops, however, are just about perfect, and the Sram Road levers' flare nicely meets that of the rando bars. - it feels like i'm up a lot higher than on the 56 Sam w bullmose or 59 Rom w 7cm lugged + m-bars, though "balancing" on the Simple is easier (on Mara Racer 35s, compared to the Sam with Mara Sup 40s and the Rom with Mara Racer 30s). - 38 x 16 gearing won't be too easy, which i was concerned about... wonder how the long final hill in my commute is going to be - don't think i'll have to change rings, but... - installing the brakes and cables this time was a lot easier, now that i've done it wrong on at least two other bikes. - a "4th hand" makes adjusting the straddle cable trivial. - i should have sprung for a WI chainring lockring tool before starting the build. the "alternative" 5-pin Park one they recommend really isn't ideal. - the Tektro CR720 brake pads hit the inside of the fork/chainstays when straddle is released. that's the way Rivendell build my Sam, it turns out, with these same brakes, so i guess that's ok. - i'm suddenly concerned that my other two Rivendells aren't going to get much love this summer. still to install (except for bar tape, this is all pending arrival in the mail): --------------- - BG clips, ss - Tubus Logo, ti - lights - orange newbaums and shellac - small right side drop bar end mirror - and i'll probably add a mini-front rack as well... th - i may abandon these bars for m-bars. -- 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.
