Pretty much agree with the general thoughts expressed here so far, although the only Rivendell I have is a Rambouillet with Jack Browns and a couple small bags front and rear, so more towards the road end than some of the 4X4-type Rivs. Man, I enjoy that bike. In addition to the classic aesthetic, the Brooks saddles, the wool and cotton tape, I appreciate the high-and-back riding stance that Grant seems to champion. I've always felt that I like a lot of setback for the saddle, with my butt a ways back from the pedals, and the handlebars at or slightly below the saddle and on a stem of reasonable length, so I don't feel lunge-y. It just feels like a natural riding position for me personally. Some of Grant's design choices don't appeal to me, but overall, I really buy into the casual, human approach to bike riding. Functional, durable and enjoyable to pilot, with just the right amount of nerd styley flourishes to enchant. KJ Toronto, Canada On Wednesday, November 20, 2013 12:05:09 AM UTC-5, Michael wrote:
> Thought hearing from you all would make an interesting thread. > I have been enjoying my Sam for a long time now. > I call these RBW ideas because that is where I first heard about them > (thought I know they have been around for years, just not embraced so much > these days). I was an alu/composite race bike kinda rider until I started > to fear carbon failures and wanted to look into an all metal bike. > > I'll start: > > *RBW ideas that worked for me:* > *1. Wider tires.* This has made a huge diff for my quality of riding. I > used to own a typical race bike with 700 x 25, 120psi tires. > It was great to ride, but hard to handle as it banged and bounced and > tires got yanked around on gravelly, busted up shoulders. Not to mention > the fear of getting the narrow tires caught in longitudinal road cracks. > Got my Rivendell bikes and have used 32mm-40mm ~55psi tires on them and > what a difference. > No more bike bouncing. Slight rumbling and I am through the rough road > parts. Tires stay on their straight course through the bad patches and I > feel so much safer. Cush to boot. Very stable handling. > I cannot see myself ever going back to anything narrower than 32mm wide > tires. They seem dangerous to me now. > *2. Fenders.* I never woulda dreamed of putting these on a bike in the > past. But now I don't see riding without them making any sense to me. It is > just good to be prepared and not have to worry about grunging up the bike > with the street scum. They look great to boot, and are standard equipment > on my bikes. I love the ultra coverage of the longboards. > *3. Leather saddles.* No more butt pain. yay! What a smooth surface to > sit on. I did have a little break in for a coupla weeks, but another dab o' > proofhide broke her in and now its great. > *4. Steel bike/lugs/cream headtubes/metal head badges.* Such a stable > ride, beautiful to look at, and no worries about "did I tension that bolt > 1nM too far?". Feels good to not have to wonder about failures. The lugs > and paint jobs are intoxicating. > *5. Smaller chainrings/bigger cassettes/Triples.* Healthiest pedaling I > have ever felt in my legs. The Sugino toothcounts work great for my neck of > the woods. I would never want to go back to 39-52 or 30-40-54 cranks again. > And, I have discovered that compact cranksets aren't for me. I love triples. > *6. Big Saddle bags.* I love that I can carry lunch, repair > kits/tools and a jacket in my Carradice, etc. So convenient. No more > wondering how will I fit everything into my small nylon wedge. > *7. Cotton tape/twine and shellac.* I balked at the idea as just taking > things too far. But when my Sam arrived with it, it just looked so > beautiful and natural and much better than electrical tape. Its fun to do, > too! > *8. Bar end shifters.* At first I thought that it was ridiculous not to > have the convenience of brifters on a bike. But when I got my first Rivbike > with bar ends, it was love at first shift. Just makes it so much more fun > to play with those things than brifting. I think it also encourages your > hands to move around more on the bars and I think that helps keep the > numbness at bay. A quiet friction shift is a very satisfying sensation. And > trimming is fun, too. > *9. Platform pedals/ditching the click-ins.* I started using MKS Touring > pedals and cannot see myself ever going back to click ins. It is so nice to > be able to move the foot around and to just hop off the bike and walk > normally and not feel weird in public duck walking. Starting up at green > lights, all I have to do is just stand on the pedal and go. I don't have to > fumble across the intersection anymore to click in. And think of all that > cash I save by not having to buy expensive click in shoes and cleats/pedals. > *10. Kickstands.* Having previously viewed these as bike anchors, I > started realizing it just makes things sooooooo much easier when parking > the bike in the garage, hopping off the bike for breaks/taking pictures, > and they are just fun to install and look at. I love the rat-at-at-at-at > sound the Pletscher makes when it is flipped. > *11. 650b.* At first I thought: "........why?......". And then: "Aw, man! > Now I am forced into getting these smaller wheels if I want a Rivendell. > Why is this guy messing around with these bikes like this?". But the > clearance allows me to enjoy the convenience of fenders and safety and cush > of wide tires. > *12. Ponchos.* Air circulates. Less sweating under cover. > *13. Wool.* In summer, any material will be drenched and sticking to my > skin. But come seasons of 75 degrees and less, the wool dries out so > quickly that things don't stick anymore. A Nice feeling to ride off after a > break - dry and warm, rather than clammy and chilled by the breeze. > *14. Flat ramps drop bar setups.* Very comfy. Stem extension in line with > bar ramps and brake levers is just pretty to look at, too. > > *What doesn't work for me:* > *1. High bars.* While riding drops up high on a Technomic is tops, my > body likes drop bars below saddle, or else sitting *bolt* upright with > Albas. That in-between, high drops, where you are still leaning forward > just kills my lower back. I've either gotta be straight-up, or bars below > saddle. Not in between. Took a year to figure out it wasn't me or the bike, > just the position that was killing me. Be glad if it works for you. Riding > drops up high on a Technomic is a great experience if your back can take it! > > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. 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