Re: [RBW] Re: Strange happenings out there

On Thu, 2013-05-23 at 06:19 -0700, Matthew J wrote: > > Is there much riding? > > If not there should be. Mild weather, relatively short travel > distances, high fuel prices. Cycling should be the primary means of > getting anywhere walking is not convenient. Well, except that if there aren't

Re: [RBW] Re: Strange happenings out there

big tires sound useful - I think we need some photos of Riv in the wild there On Thursday, May 23, 2013 8:19:55 AM UTC-5, Matthew J wrote: > > > Is there much riding? > > If not there should be. Mild weather, relatively short travel distances, > high fuel prices. Cycling should be the primary

Re: [RBW] Re: Strange happenings out there

> Is there much riding? If not there should be. Mild weather, relatively short travel distances, high fuel prices. Cycling should be the primary means of getting anywhere walking is not convenient. On Thursday, May 23, 2013 6:34:22 AM UTC-5, Steve Palincsar wrote: > > On Wed, 2013-05-22 at 1

Re: [RBW] Re: Strange happenings out there

On Wed, 2013-05-22 at 16:12 -0700, Fai Mao wrote: > I live on a small island in the middle of the Pacific. Is there much riding? -- 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

[RBW] Re: Strange happenings out there

I live on a small island in the middle of the Pacific. There are only two bike shops here; one carries Giant the other Cannondale. But the head mechanic at Hornet sports was incredibly supportive when I ordered the Soma. I was amused at the amount of positive comments the bike received as I wa

[RBW] Re: Strange happenings out there

Before we started dating, my wife was in the market for a new bike and, and at the urging of an (IMHO) unethical salesman ended up buying a too-small Orbea carbon fiber wonderbike, complete with brifters, skinny tires, and a 53/39 double crankset. She is not an experienced cyclist, much less an

[RBW] Re: Strange happenings out there

All of the bike shops I've been in have a pretty wide selection of bike styles and full-on road or mountain bikes are just a small segment of the stock on the floor. However, yesterday I was taking my wife's car for an oil change and happened to spot a bicycle store I didn't know existed. Sin

Re: [RBW] Re: Strange happenings out there

One of the nicest run shops in Denver is exactly this. Salvagettihas such a great thing going and the owner Scott is a huge asset to cycling in the mile high. He is super positive and has been a Surly advocate for a long time. I visit there quite a bit and they alway

Re: [RBW] Re: Strange happenings out there

I would love to see a shop selling only Surly products. Having Pacers, LHTs and Cross Checks along with the occasional Big Dummy and Pug. The CCs and LHTs could be built up w/ fenders and racks, or aggressive knobbies for trail riding. Pacers are good road bikes that fit wider tires or fenders. I t

[RBW] Re: Strange happenings out there

Hugh, Im in Colorado so there is certainly no shortage of bike shops here. There ARE a couple shops around town that do embrace a more universal usage point of view as opposed to the "racing" ends of the spectrum. They have basically evolved out of the fixie messenger scene and transitioned int

[RBW] Re: Strange happenings out there

I was at the grocery store right next to a big box type bike shop yesterday. A woman was test riding bikes when we rolled in and locked up. She was still there but test riding a different bike when we came out of the store. I began to load my 2 kids and 5-bags worth of groceries onto the Big Du

Re: [RBW] Re: Strange happenings out there

There was an interesting post on Bike Radar a few weeks ago that addressed the current road bike models and their narrow focus. Worth the read at: http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/article/angryasian-race-bikes-are-dumb-37270/ btw, here in Salt Lake we have at least 3 shops that would sell you a

Re: [RBW] Re: Strange happenings out there

I think a practical bike could be made out of CF, but from a marketing standpoint what is the subset of people who want something that takes 40's, racks, bars level with seat and is made out of CF? Way too small for the big boys to care about since they have been pushing for so long that CF is wha

[RBW] Re: Strange happenings out there

Hey Mike, My Brother visits that shop too. ~Hugh On Saturday, May 18, 2013 8:13:33 PM UTC-7, Mike Schiller wrote: > > actually there is a good shop in So Cal. Pacific Coast Cycles in Oceanside > sells steel bikes, has panniers in the window and the owner know is stuff. > He sells Surly and Sa

[RBW] Re: Strange happenings out there

Don, For you the Mini cooper is the most fun to drive! Is it the original or the BMW reinvention? Not trying to devolve this thread to cars but here is my submission for a seemingly impractical automobile that's fun to drive http://www.flickr.com/photos/pedalpusher61/8436398599/in/set-721576326

[RBW] Re: Strange happenings out there

Santa Cruz does make great quality bikes, and actually the fact that the aluminum Nomad broke before the CF frame is more telling about the perils of aluminum... in fact I've seen way too many aluminum swingarms (including one of my own) bust under normal use. And yet I have a friend with an a

[RBW] Re: Strange happenings out there

Things are a lot different here in Portland, OR. While there are high end shops clearly focused on plastic race machines and all the appropriate accessories, there are also plenty of shops where a person can walk in and get set-up with a bike with a comfortable position for camping and commutin

Re: [RBW] Re: Strange happenings out there

For the record, I was kidding. I personally don't need 11, but I do have 9 on the Fargo, to get both pavement and dirt cruising range on the outer, 38 t cog. (The 9 are shifted by friction -- Silvers -- though.) The Ram has 7. On Sun, May 19, 2013 at 7:43 AM, Matthew J wrote: > > Me, I think p

[RBW] Re: Strange happenings out there

>The factors that really matter to me are tire clearance and braze-ons. It's possible to have a crummy steel bike that lacks these features, and it's also possible to >have a versatile aluminum bike. Agreed. In fact, in the comments section of one his blog posts, Jan and another poster had a b

Re: [RBW] Re: Strange happenings out there

> Me, I think people who need 8, 9 -- gad, 10! gears in back, especially if they use -- gasp! -- brifters! -- are simply racer posers. Or perhaps touring wannabees. Wannabees being the optimal term. Many gears is not necessary for happy touring. Gears that suit the rider in an easy to maintai

[RBW] Re: Strange happenings out there

Brad, Just curious what part of the country are you located? And as the "Black Sheep" of your company what if any feedback do you receive from your colleagues egarding your steel-centric viewpoint? ~Hugh On Saturday, May 18, 2013 5:22:16 PM UTC-7, jinxed wrote: > > This is an exercise in futil

Re: [RBW] Re: Strange happenings out there

One more remark about CF and the modern racing bike. At Stevie's I was put to installing a wireless computer on the first high end Trek (electric Dura Ace) that I've encountered up close -- Madone? Forget. (In contrast, a 2005 Madone, in for consignment, looks practically traditional.) It annoyed t

Re: [RBW] Re: Strange happenings out there

http://m.pinkbike.com/news/santa-cruz-bicycles-test-lab.html -- 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 rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. T

Re: [RBW] Re: Strange happenings out there

Got it, and I agree. I'd really like to see an analysis of the real pros and cons of steel versus carbon fiber, leaving out "stupid light" issues. I don't know if it was on this list or, probably, on the boblist, but someone recounted being told to destroy a CF frame that had, I forget exactly wha

[RBW] Re: Strange happenings out there

Hey guys - I know! Someone should write a book dissecting racing's pernicious effect on everyday cycling and how to undo it in your everyday rides. Hmmm -J, with a gold plated idea -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To u

[RBW] Re: Strange happenings out there

I can't vouch for specific bike shops here in the N. CA. Bay Area because I don't spend much time in them, but the cycling diversity here is much better than it was 10-15 years ago. Along with the carbon wonder racers and motorcycles without motors, we have a plethora of commuters, cargo bikes,

[RBW] Re: Strange happenings out there

As the retail bike buyer moves up beyond entry level comfort bikes, s/he is going to be coaxed toward a race bike with 700x23 rubber or a full-on MTB. Nothing wrong with those, but it's too bad that other options aren't readily available in most shops. Surly would seem to be the gateway drug for

[RBW] Re: Strange happenings out there

actually there is a good shop in So Cal. Pacific Coast Cycles in Oceanside sells steel bikes, has panniers in the window and the owner know is stuff. He sells Surly and Salsa along with other brands. Luckily this is close to my home so it's the only real shop I actually go to. ~mike Carlsbad

Re: [RBW] Re: Strange happenings out there

Patrick, It's not about carbon vs. steel. It's about design and geometry. The only carbon bike that I have seen that looks good to me is the Calfee Adventure Bike. And, if I were to drop some cash on a new frameset, I would seriously consider that Calfee. But, it's hard to pull me from my nostal

[RBW] Re: Strange happenings out there

The these 30-somethings will tell you everything wrong with "the geometry" of the bikes we want. Last shop I was in he was selling one of those race bikes to a 50-something, and it will end up a $1500 garage decoration, because you know the guy won't be able to ride that way without cervical s

[RBW] Re: Strange happenings out there

Peter, I don't tour or carry much, but the ability to use any size tire and the long chainstays makes the Roadeo just a great bike for me. My friends with their Carbon creations look at me cross-eyed, but I just really enjoy riding the bike. Its like my car, a late model Mini Cooper. Its not as

Re: [RBW] Re: Strange happenings out there

Let's not let this discussion degenerate into a "us/them", carbon fiber/steel" jeremaid -- as fun as such things are. And let's make some basic distinctions. It's not carbon fiber that is bad; it may not even be carbon fiber racing bikes that are bad. Just because those who buy Cervelos and so fort

[RBW] Re: Strange happenings out there

DonI'm saving for a Rodeocan't wait...(smiling like a child waiting on Christmas)) -- 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 rbw-owners-bunch+

[RBW] Re: Strange happenings out there

DougP...My thoughts exactly...it was sad to be there and see it all happen. I just let them go on and on ( think I was a little stunned). Thank God for places like Rivendell, Hiawatha, Mtn Sports and the handful of caring shops who dare to buck the system (I know I'm missing a bunch)... -- You

[RBW] Re: Strange happenings out there

Peter: As sad as that state of affairs may seem, it's pretty typical of what to expect in Southern California. I wonder how many sales are lost because people decide they don't want to ride a twitchy bike all hunched over. They just want to ride something fun (maybe more fun than a beach crui

[RBW] Re: Strange happenings out there

I just finished a 73 mile on my Roadeo. Maybe I could go faster on a few short steep hills, but my rides are not about comparing my performance to someone else or some group. I just want to be fit enough to enjoy my rides. This mentality doesn't fit in with the carbon-race bike marketing BS. I a

[RBW] Re: Strange happenings out there

This is an exercise in futility. It's sort of like going to Walmart to buy USA made goods. It's possible, but you'll be searching long and hard and your selection will be extremely limited. The reality is, many of the big manufacturers DID stop making steel bikes a long time ago. Aluminum has c