Leah, Your Billie Bar review is helpful and all points make good sense to me. I think I will appreciate the width and multiple hand positions as I do tend to move my grip around on long rides. What gearing are you using on your Platypus? Doug
On Friday, May 21, 2021 at 11:42:03 PM UTC-4 Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! wrote: > Hi Friends, > > It has been unbelievably windy here in Vegas. My Billie Bars arrived > yesterday afternoon and I got them installed right away (which I documented > in a minimally helpful, mostly satirical video on Instagram). But, it was > too windy to ride. The weather still wasn’t cooperating today, but the > winds died down enough to let me out for a quick 10 miles with my new > Billie Bars. I wish I had more time and miles with them, but in the > interest of people trying to choose bars and stem for their new Platys in a > hurry, I’ll give you my unvarnished opinion. > > The 9 cm stem is going to be just fine, I think. There is enough of a > reach that I don’t feel cramped in the cockpit (oh, how I hate the term for > bikes). The Bosco Bars make a statement, like antlers, like a crown. The > drama queen of Rivendell’s bar line-up, they rise dramatically and sweep > way back, like a woman lifting her petticoats. That was the first > appreciable difference I noted between the bars - the Billie is flatter and > has less reach-back. Understated compared to the dramatic Bosco. But the > Billie is regal in its own way, too - those curves on either side of the > clamp are lovely. To use imagery from nature: the Boscos are a buck with > an impressive rack, the Billies are a bird taking flight. > > So, what about the width of those flared 58 cm Billie Bars? Sisters, I > know we were worried. We said, “They made those wide bars for full-grown, > broad-shouldered men and what about us?” But I have good news - I think > you’ll like that flare! It’s not too wide, and I think it is more ergonomic > the way your wrists meet those bar ends. > > Climbing. I love Boscos, but I really do think I had too short of a stem > for them. I think 11cm would be the ticket and I have a 9. I hated climbing > with my Boscos because they came back too far and it was awkward. I rarely > stood on my pedals because the bar ends came back to my hips. Ever ridden > your bike uphill with your hands behind your hips?! Also, I am a bar > puller. I pull hard on handlebars when I am really exerting effort to climb > a hill or to go fast and it was too cramped with the Boscos and a 9 cm > stem. I would get a sharp pain in my right wrist that would actually make > me gasp. But not tonight. I can yank those bars all I want - when I’m > starting from a dead stop, or climbing a hill or racing around on the flats > below the mountain and NO wrist pain. > > I did raise my stem another 1/2 inch to make up for the flattish posture > of the Billies. It was kind of nostalgic because Albatross was the bar on > my first Riv, my Betty Foy. I’m sure I’ll make further adjustments, but > those will come with miles. > > Hope that helps! > Leah > > On May 19, 2021, at 8:52 PM, Bones <ekstr...@gmail.com> wrote: > > Leah, I think the rise is probably more important here. The Boscos rise a > lot more than the Billies, and are only a little bit longer from the clamp. > If you wanted your hands in roughly the same place, you'd probably need the > stem maxed out... which is why the faceplater is a good idea. Because the > head tube angles toward you, the more you raise the bars up, the closer to > you they get. Judging from the pictures you posted earlier in this thread, > I'm not sure you could get the Billies that high. However, they still may > be comfortable if they are lower but closer. I would just try them out on > your current stem first. You'll know right away if they are too low, too > close, or just not going to work at all. I didn't consider Billies for my > wife's bike because A) I didn't think I could get them to a comfortable > height and B) she is medium to small and I did not think she would be > comfortable with the extra width. All that said, the Billies are great > bars. Lots of real estate, nearly as sharp looking as the albatross, and I > do dig the extra width. > > Hope this helps, > Bones > > On Wednesday, May 19, 2021 at 8:44:18 PM UTC-4 Jason Fuller wrote: > >> Leah - I don't think the 90 will be too short for you, although that's >> based on nothing but a hunch really. The Platy's are long bikes, and my >> comment about needing a real long stem for Billie bars is geared more >> towards someone who is moving to the Billie from drop bars and is used to >> that really long reach they have. In your case, coming from Boscos, you'll >> get more than a full fist's worth of forward grip area on the same stem, >> and I imagine that'll be enough. If you find the Bosco's reach to be short >> even when you're just cruising along, then yeah a longer stem is probably >> due. >> >> I am ISO that long Faceplater but I swear this doesn't affect my feedback >> :) >> >> On Wed, May 19, 2021 at 5:34 PM Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! < >> jonasa...@gmail.com> wrote: >> >>> Jason, do you think my 90 stem is going to bring the Billie bars too >>> close to me? I can't find an 11cm Tallux (which I think would work) but >>> there's a used 135 mm Faceplater (which is really 124mm accounting for >>> rise) I might be able to get my hands on. Would Billies with the 135 >>> Faceplater be too much reach? I don't want to lean so far forward that I'm >>> bearing weight on my hands. I also don't want to be bolt upright. >>> >>> Bones, you might have insight here as well... >>> >>> I'm sure the other Platy owners would love to know for their own >>> builds... >>> Leah >>> >>> On Monday, May 17, 2021 at 4:22:43 PM UTC-7 Jason Fuller wrote: >>> >>>> Leah, I think you absolutely made the right call going with a Billie >>>> bar. That bar has bar-none (heh) the largest range of fore-aft hand >>>> positions of the options I'm familiar with. On the Boscos, while it's >>>> common practice to wrap the bar ahead of the brake lever, I don't see how >>>> anyone makes decent use of this area as a hand position. However, while >>>> the Billie extends back almost as far for cruising along, you can very >>>> comfortably and naturally slide your hands all the way into the front >>>> "hooks", which is a bunch of inches forward. These bars are so long your >>>> stem length does little more than determine where along the bar you put >>>> your brake levers - I suggest positioning them for your most popular hand >>>> position; Rivendell puts them further back on the bar than I would, I >>>> like >>>> 1.5 grip's worth about behind the levers, and it's still comfortable to >>>> put >>>> your hands forward even if they rest atop the levers partially. >>>> >>>> Tangentially related, a surprise benefit to the Paul levers, beyond >>>> their incredibly smooth operation, is that the clamp is extremely low >>>> profile and therefore comfortable to rest your hands on. >>>> >>>> My attachment is my opinion on the useful grip area of the Bosco (left) >>>> and the Billie (right) >>>> >>>> On Mon, May 17, 2021 at 4:05 PM <lucky...@gmail.com> wrote: >>>> >>>>> Where are you located, Doug? I have an Albatross in the garage you >>>>> could try in Sacramento. >>>>> >>>>> On May 17, 2021, at 15:59, Doug Hansford <dhansf...@gmail.com> wrote: >>>>> >>>>> Leah, >>>>> The Billie Bar is intriguing. I would love to be able to try out some >>>>> bars before committing to one. Feedback always helps though. You’re right >>>>> the top tube is soooo long even on the earlier Clems. I think on the 52 H >>>>> the ETT is about 60 cm. So I will need something swept back for sure. >>>>> Doug >>>>> >>>>> Sent from my iPhone >>>>> >>>>> On May 17, 2021, at 6:54 PM, Leah Peterson <jonasa...@gmail.com> >>>>> wrote: >>>>> >>>>> Doug, I have Boscos on my 2019 Clem and it needs them. The expanded >>>>> geo on that 2019 frame made me need an 8 cm stem and Boscos and there’s >>>>> still a reach! I don’t think you’ll have that same issue because you have >>>>> a >>>>> grilver Clem, and those came out before Rivendell changed the geometry. >>>>> But >>>>> I wonder if your Clem would like a Billie bar… Wish you lived next door >>>>> and >>>>> we could try it out! >>>>> >>>>> On May 17, 2021, at 3:51 PM, Doug Hansford <dhansf...@gmail.com> >>>>> 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/3F27FDD5-8EC0-4573-AF42-18B268405137%40gmail.com >>>>> >>>>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/3F27FDD5-8EC0-4573-AF42-18B268405137%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/BA0970D2-5CB4-4D9A-9D32-8B359C9CDA04%40gmail.com >>>>> >>>>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/BA0970D2-5CB4-4D9A-9D32-8B359C9CDA04%40gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>>>> . >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> 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-bun...@googlegroups.com. >>>>> To view this discussion on the web visit >>>>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/B49F1837-8A2F-4C10-88E4-A17FD11C6CBF%40gmail.com >>>>> >>>>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/B49F1837-8A2F-4C10-88E4-A17FD11C6CBF%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/DE4D2988-B7DC-4899-8593-CB3240F372FC%40gmail.com >>>>> >>>>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/DE4D2988-B7DC-4899-8593-CB3240F372FC%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/9eb55c9b-4985-474f-a425-e73d0e3b14c9n%40googlegroups.com >>> >>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/9eb55c9b-4985-474f-a425-e73d0e3b14c9n%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/30457301-2265-43f0-a9fb-49817914d9d2n%40googlegroups.com > > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/30457301-2265-43f0-a9fb-49817914d9d2n%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > . > > > -- 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/ee4ee0ce-8209-4002-a0da-afd90d4d22ban%40googlegroups.com.
