Bones' experience about Albatross vs. Choco was very interesting to me! I've only used the Albatross between the two, and chalked up the difference between the two (functionally, at least) to simply different rise and reach numbers. But it's a good point that the increased rise on the Albatross means that flipped-up, the 'hooks' are not very ergonomic because they angle downwards too much; yet flipped the drop is so significant that a) you need huge stem rise and b) looks weird. Both Choco and Billie address this, and I think they're both better bars as a result. They're basically interchangeable other than the Billie gives you a bit more forward range, and they flare out a bit more which imo gives increased bike control if you ride off-road too.
To Kate's concern about the Choco being too short-reach, I totally get that concern but I am pretty sure that the Platy's are long enough that you don't need to worry. Assuming the ST dimension is typical for you, I'd bet a 10-11cm stem would get you right where you want to be. I do wish full geometry tables were published for the Platy though! On Monday, 17 May 2021 at 18:52:14 UTC-7 Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! wrote: > Hi Kate, > > I’ve had Albatross bars on my original Riv, a Betty with a 10 cm stem. > With those bars, I wanted to sit up and hold the ends of the bars with my > fingertips - too far for me. The Platy is much longer, so I really think > the Albatross would be too far, though I adore the look of them. The other > thing about the Albatross: not a lot of real estate to put your things on. > I like my iPhone mount and a Randi Jo bag and a mirror and bell on my bars, > and the curves of the Albatross prohibit good placement of these > accoutrements. The Billie Bar will give you a lot more room, I think. The > Chocos look promising if you don’t want the rise in your bar, and you can > put lots of stuff on it. > > I think either Choco or Billie would make you very happy, and guess what? > If not, you can sell them on here and buy a different bar! It’s like $100 > investment and has good resale value. Bars are easy to swap out and you can > do it right at home. Just choose something and try it out! Get that Platy > built and in your hands this week, I say! > > Jason, I’m greatly encouraged by your opinion on the Billies. I have > wanted to slide my hands forward and never can because there are levers in > my way, and with the dip in the bar you cannot shift them forward. So I > always hang on to the grips. But how nice would it be to have THAT option? > I’ll soon know. > > Leah > > On May 17, 2021, at 5:50 PM, 'upyou...@yahoo.com' via RBW Owners Bunch < > rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com> wrote: > > This is the discussion for me!!!!! > Handlebar decision is keeping me from hitting the green light on my Platy > build. > I just don't know. > Doug H....same for me. Drops on my road bike (riding 90% of the time on > the hoods) and straight bars on my hybrid/mountain bike. > I would like a sweep and maybe a slight rise but don't want to be in a > Mary Poppins position. If it is too close to me and closes off the > cockpit, I will be super bummed. Also, how does that even work with > climbing hills? > Vince at Riv is suggesting the Choco but I'm not sold. > Leaning towards Albatross. > I might be losing sleep on this as I really need to pick something > like....this week. > Leah...Billie's also sound good. > I just don't know. > Kate-Trenton, NJ > > On Monday, May 17, 2021 at 6:51:51 PM UTC-4 Doug H. wrote: > >> I am most interested in a handlebar discussion. I’ve mostly ridden drops >> on the road and straight bars off-road but am looking for options for my >> Clem build. Albatross seems to be the one I’m leaning toward but am open to >> hear what others think. I had Boscos on my first Clem (didn’t keep it long) >> and agree with you Leah they came back a touch too close to me. >> Doug >> >> Sent from my iPhone >> >> On May 17, 2021, at 6:45 PM, Leah Peterson <jonasa...@gmail.com> wrote: >> >> Also, here’s an article Will wrote with some hard facts and numbers >> regarding Rivendell’s bar lineup: >> >> >> https://rivbike.tumblr.com/post/176999224484/an-overview-of-our-upright-bars >> >> On May 17, 2021, at 3:37 PM, Leah Peterson <jonasa...@gmail.com> wrote: >> >> Does anyone wanna talk handlebars? I went with my standard Bosco bars, >> but the more miles I ride, the more I’m irritated that the bars feel too >> close to me. I have cramping in my right wrist (not my left, don’t ask why, >> I have no idea and it makes no sense!) when I go really hard and it hurts >> enough that I have actually said “ow!” out loud.I’ve also been known to >> sing and dance on my bike so the locals are used to this behavior by now. >> Anyway, I have a 9 cm Nitto XL stem (it is 280mm vs the 225 mm Tallux) on >> there because the 10 cm wasn’t available. I just ordered a Billie bar, >> which I’m hoping pulls the bars away from me enough, though it’s only about >> 1.5 inches further away from me than my Boscos. >> >> Does anyone have a Billie or an Albatross bar on their Platypus? What are >> your impressions? >> >> Thanks! >> Leah >> >> On May 17, 2021, at 11:08 AM, Philip Barrett <philipr...@gmail.com> >> wrote: >> >> That's interesting, mine is a very tight fit as well, 2 more mm and it >> would not be a fit at all. It's pretty soft aluminum alloy if want to take >> a file or grinder to it though. >> >> On Monday, May 17, 2021 at 12:50:07 PM UTC-5 Tom Wyland wrote: >> >>> That kickstand looks great! Mine is all black and tarnished. Want to >>> hear an odd one? My Pletscher 2-leg kickstand (like Phillip's pictured) >>> wouldn't fit on the mounts on my Platypus. It was too narrow by a couple >>> of mm. So I got a different kickstand. Quality control issue I guess. >>> >>> Tom >>> >> >> -- >> 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/5Qe4GAOJReQ/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/1f647857-209d-41b2-bf15-77f140e761d7n%40googlegroups.com >> >> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/1f647857-209d-41b2-bf15-77f140e761d7n%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >> . >> >> >> >> >> -- >> 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/5Qe4GAOJReQ/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/A46EC5EE-6EDA-4996-9163-84FEDA0624DF%40gmail.com >> >> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/A46EC5EE-6EDA-4996-9163-84FEDA0624DF%40gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >> . >> >> > -- > 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/5Qe4GAOJReQ/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/af08aa4a-7e61-4c87-8474-2de499e5d5een%40googlegroups.com > > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/af08aa4a-7e61-4c87-8474-2de499e5d5een%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > . > > > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. 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