I think this bike looks awesome, the most natural way I've seen to get drop bars higher than the saddle, which I normally find to be a goofy look. Somehow this configuration, with the dirt drop stem and the curving top tube and the long chainstays and the thinnish (for a Riv) fork blades, it all comes together as an all-road drop bar explorer. As my neck protests the traditional drop bar setup (even modified to almost level) as the years go by, I would love to try a Gallop. Having just impulsively purchased a Susie, I might have to wait a bit.
I thought the bent seat stays on original run of the two smaller sizes of Clementines looked really nice, but IIRC they came about due to a slight snafu with the seat cluster. I think the current Clem Ls and the other Hillibikes look just fine with the Swooptop and the straight seat stays. In terms of how it fits into the current marketplace, all road, road plus, drop bar gravel, whatever you call it. And the V-brakes make sense here as a great alternative to disc (note the popularity of the recent canti Lighting Bolt from Crust. Only a matter of time before VO, which is now all-disc, issues a v-brake or canti model). As I pointed out way up in the thread, the Roadini is a tough sell--updated sport tourer with slightly wider tires (maybe--I have a 70s st that clears 42mm). But the Charlie looks to be a fun go go gravel bike with maybe the lighter tube set a la Susie. Fantastic is my initial reaction. If Romance Guy is still on the Riv payroll, he will rock this thing on some Utradyamicos. As far as practicality of the top tube design, to my eye, the lowest point is exactly where you need it, just forward of the saddle. And it's a more elegant way to raise the head tube/stack height than a straight diagonal tt. (And most traditional sloped tt designs slope down, whereas Riv sloped tubes always go up.) On Sunday, June 7, 2020 at 3:21:48 PM UTC-4, A. Douglas M. wrote: > > I was excited about this project but seeing that frame does not make my > eyes happy. It reminds me of a cheap “compact” road frame that > manufacturers make to offer fewer sizes. > > I guess that fits into the less expensive mold, but I was hoping for > something more closely akin to a tig welded AHH with longer stays. I’ve > stared at this picture a lot this morning trying to appreciate the top tube > to no avail. > > Maybe it will look better with a Tallux stem? Maybe it would look better > with bent seat stays? The top tube as shown would really only help stand > over clearance further midway along itself. When I dismount I stand over > the segment of TT immediately in front of the saddle. I guess I’m trying to > understand the practical advantage of the swoopy top tube. > > Best, > > Aaron -- 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. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/38a25ae5-dcf2-482f-b79c-e4fd9fede62co%40googlegroups.com.
