Linda, YES, THIS. There is a major physical difference between men and women. I’m so glad to hear your perspective. You are so right; Rivendell has to design safe bikes for people of all sizes and both sexes. But heavier/stouter may not serve women or lighter people as well.
I’ve mentioned that I love to work out; I’m in good shape. My husband is a suit and does only light exercise; he is thin, but not fit. We have 2 boys and sometimes the boys and I will take my husband on and wrestle, and he wins every time. Doesn’t matter how fit I am or how out of shape he is...I lose every time. That might be the difference with the bikes, too. What is a physical hurdle for me is not for a man? It’s a working theory I have but may not be able to prove. I don’t know if the Betty was lighter than the Platy. The Platy feels plenty light to me, and also NOT long. I know the chainstays are longer (“a hair longer” per RBW) than the Cheviot but they don’t feel excessive to me, at all. How fast was the Betty...well, I could take on the roadies on Killer Hill and often win. I’ve never accomplished that on the Clem. I know I shouldn’t push you towards a Platy if you don’t really see it suiting you, but it’s so good that I hope you get one anyway. 😬 Thanks for the info on the mounting techniques - I didn’t realize your way would put stress on a frame, either. But, it’ a Riv and you’re light, I’m sure it can take it. I know what you mean about mounting your mixte; I feel that, too. It’s my only complaint about my bike. The step-throughs are just fantastic. But heavy. Leah Sent from my iPad > On Jan 26, 2021, at 11:12 AM, Linda G <oregonju...@msn.com> wrote: > > Leah, > Wasn't your Betty Foy a little lighter than the Platypus? How did that > feel for speed? I was considering a Platypus until I saw that the chainstays > were going to be longer than the Cheviot. The top tube is already longer than > I need since I'm happy with handlebars than only curve back slightly. So all > of that adds weight I don't need. The Rivendell philosophy considers weight > to be unimportant. I get it. Their main customer base is men and with 2/3 of > the population being overweight or obese they have to design for people who > are significantly larger, heavier and stronger than I am. I love the > aesthetics and quality of their frames as well as their business philosophy. > I like my Roadini but I don't want a bike that's any heavier and I'm pretty > sure the frame could be lighter and still be safe and functional for me. > A lightweight step-through frame would be a design challenge. I like the > step-through idea since it feels safer on a crowded MUP such as I have near > me. I have thought that when I feel a need to switch to that type of frame I > will get a Bike Friday which has low step-over. > As far as getting on/off bikes I have always used the "cowgirl" method: > left foot on left pedal, push off with right foot and swing my leg over while > in motion. I have never had the flexibility to swing my leg over a > diamond-frame bike with my left foot on the ground. I had no idea until > recently that my mounting method is "wrong" because it puts sideways stress > on the frame. I have a true mixte frame, Velo Orange, and can just barely > step over. That frame has the traditional double "top tube" and there's too > much flex if I'm carrying a load or riding on gravel. Rivendell has the right > idea with a single "top tube" > Linda > >> On Tuesday, January 26, 2021 at 7:50:25 AM UTC-8 Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! >> wrote: >> 2 Thoughts: >> >> First Thought: Philip, fascinating! Thanks for posting that link; I had no >> idea there were so many variations of dropped tube bikes. >> >> Yes, I did see Sumehra’s bike years ago. It was her pink custom mixte (mixte >> sport?!) and Cyclofiend’s red Glorius that kicked off my desire for the >> mixte I finally have in raspberry metallic, which is the perfect combination >> of their colors. >> >> Second Thought: I don’t have the guts to call and ask Grant about a >> lightweight Clem L. Others will say that a pound or two doesn’t really make >> that much difference, and I should focus on the engine and get more fit. >> But I have to disagree. I’m happy to back it up with limited, biased >> personal information! 😂 >> >> The engine, aka, me: I work out every day, and hard. I’m 39. I run. I lift >> weights. I do core. I ride every day. My husband likes to lift me up in a >> bear hug and say, “You’re like a biscuit. Solid.” This is about the best >> physical condition I ever expect to be in. I have not neglected the engine. >> >> So, what about bike weight? I spent 2020 trying to log 3,000 miles, and >> nearly all of those miles were on my big, blue Clementine. I bought new >> wheels and a tubeless tire set up and it noticeably lightened the bike, and >> it helped with the hills. But even so, I was never fast; I gave up trying to >> chase roadies up Killer Hill because I never caught them. When my boys were >> little and we began to bike to their new school (Killer Hill stood between >> it and us) I got my littler son, a 1st grader, a new bike with gears. A >> Giant in neon yellow. He was demoralized by that hill every day, while my >> 4th grade son had no trouble. One day I realized that the 24 inch >> Specialized was lighter than the 20 inch Giant. Ugh. I had put no thought >> into the weight of the bike - possibly because I was influenced here. That >> day, I bought an Islabike and my little boy danced up the hill and beat us >> all from that day forward. >> >> When the Platy came, magically, I was quick. I catch and pass men on road >> bikes all the time now, Bosco bars and all. My bike feels too easy to pedal >> even in its hardest gear. It’s not a workout for me, even up Killer Hill. >> It’s easy and it’s fun. >> >> Those two bikes now have the same accessories (bags, phone mounts, aluminum >> Boscos, metal fenders, rear racks, dyno) save one thing - the Clem has a >> basket rack with a Wald. And yet, the Clem is just so much heavier. I know >> it when I carry either bike over the median that intersects my bike path. I >> know it when I pedal up Killer Hill. I know it when I lift the bikes onto my >> vehicle bike rack. And every single time I think, “I wonder what it would be >> like to have this Clem in a light-weight version.” >> >> Leah >> >> >> >> >> Sent from my iPad >> >>>> On Jan 25, 2021, at 11:40 PM, Philip Williamson <philip.w...@gmail.com> >>>> wrote: >>>> >>> I have only ever heard mixtes referred to as a kind of step-through >>> bicycle, not as separate concepts. “All mixtes are step-through frames, but >>> not all frames are mixtes.” >> >>> >>> To my eye, the Clem L design starts out as an “Anglais,” and kicks in a >>> little “col de cigne” at the seat tube, for style. >>> >>> Philip >>> Santa Rosa, CA >>> >>>>> On Monday, January 25, 2021 at 8:07:56 AM UTC-8 Mark Roland wrote: >>>>> This is not correct. A mixte is not a step through. Because, at least >>>>> without serious contortions for a normal person, you can't step through >>>>> it. They are two separate designs. A mixte can more easily accomodate >>>>> certain clothing choices, and with more clearance allow for sliding off >>>>> the saddle for frequent stopping in city traffic. Can also be mounted >>>>> similar to a step through if you lean it enough or step like a Rockette. >>>>> >>>>> Step throughs do not have the same triangulation found in a diamond >>>>> frame, or even a mixte. (This is also why mixtes with twin, side by side >>>>> skinny top tubes are often rather noodley in larger sizes and/or carrying >>>>> loads.) Start using very light tubing on a step through, and you will >>>>> start to introduce a bad kind of flex--especially if you want to carry a >>>>> thing or two, which is part of the point of a Clem L, no? A loaded 59cm >>>>> Clem L apparently verges on this unwanted flexing, according to reports >>>>> out of Rivendell during the early days of the Clems. >>>>> >>>>> Even if you designed it using the same tubing as a Susie, by the time you >>>>> add everything back on, you will hardly have made a difference in terms >>>>> of ride response, other than to possibly introduce unwanted flexing >>>>> under load. Unlike peanut butter and chocolate, some combinations are >>>>> just not meant to be; they are contradictory by their very nature. Learn >>>>> to mount the Platypus like a regular diamond frame until you hit your 70s >>>>> or 80s, or practice leaning it away from you before performing the step >>>>> through. In any case, I suspect it's those big ole cowgirl boots causing >>>>> the problem;^) >>>>> >>>>>> On Sunday, January 24, 2021 at 11:56:42 PM UTC-5 Joe Bernard wrote: >>>>>> Kai, >>>>>> >>>>>> I think the whole mixte/step-through thing can get convoluted and >>>>>> confusing because a lot of frames we nominally call mixtes apparently >>>>>> aren't. I believe - I could be wrong - the only true mixte is the >>>>>> Platypus frame style (also Purple Riv Ana's) where the dropped toptube >>>>>> meets a third set of stays that travel all the way to the rear of the >>>>>> frame. Therefore your Rosco Mixte and my Riv Custom Mixte are really >>>>>> step-throughs. But mine is higher than the Platypus mixte and Clem L >>>>>> step-through so what the heck do you call that? >>>>>> >>>>>> What I think Leah is asking is if there's ever been a Riv Custom >>>>>> step-through with a really low toptube, and I can't remember one. But it >>>>>> sure would be sweet, it could be done with a combination of lugs and >>>>>> fillet joints just like mine got. Check out the pic and imagine my >>>>>> toptube was dropped way lower, then did that nice Clemmy curve at the >>>>>> bottom to meet the seattube with a fillet weld. Someone should order >>>>>> this! I'll bet it would look great in Raspberry Metallic 😉 >>>>>> >>>>>>> On Sunday, January 24, 2021 at 8:24:05 PM UTC-8 Kainalu V. -Brooklyn NY >>>>>>> wrote: >>>>>>> Where does step through start? I consider my Rosco mountain a step >>>>>>> through, but I do need to lift my leg a bit. I think Clem L is lower, >>>>>>> but I've never swung a leg through one. >>>>>>> -Kai >>>>>>> >>>>>>>> On Sunday, January 24, 2021 at 11:21:14 PM UTC-5 Kainalu V. -Brooklyn >>>>>>>> NY wrote: >>>>>>>> There's a famous one in Seattle, it's purple. Maybe not step through >>>>>>>> enough? Pretty step through though.. >>>>>>>> -Kai >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> On Sunday, January 24, 2021 at 11:06:41 PM UTC-5 Bicycle Belle Ding >>>>>>>>> Ding! wrote: >>>>>>>>> You know I’m a Clem-lover, and mine took me through the worst days of >>>>>>>>> my life this last year. It’s nearly perfect and has only one tiny >>>>>>>>> flaw - it’s a bit heavy/overbuilt for a woman my size. I’m also a >>>>>>>>> Platypus lover, and it’s only drawback is that I miss my step-through >>>>>>>>> top tube. Otherwise both bikes are perfect. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> I was on a night ride tonight, and when I nearly kicked my top tube I >>>>>>>>> wondered...has anyone made a custom step-through? And why ever not? >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> If Rivendell ever saw fit to make a Susie Clem, I’d jump. But I don’t >>>>>>>>> think there are plans for that, so I’m left to wonder...what a custom >>>>>>>>> step through could be like... This is speculation only. But isn’t it >>>>>>>>> kind of fun? >>>>>>>>> Leah >>>> >>> -- >> >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in the >>> Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. >>> To unsubscribe from this topic, visit >>> https://groups.google.com/d/topic/rbw-owners-bunch/vA47Guyb6pQ/unsubscribe. >>> To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to >>> rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com. >> >>> To view this discussion on the web visit >>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/9bcee3f6-05f3-4750-95e3-ede4cc7c3df3n%40googlegroups.com. > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in the Google > Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. > To unsubscribe from this topic, visit > https://groups.google.com/d/topic/rbw-owners-bunch/vA47Guyb6pQ/unsubscribe. > To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, 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/b3920362-2422-40f3-b5e1-281f2ce9e3f9n%40googlegroups.com. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. 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