I've been saying...we're the next big thing! Just like "gravel" - first the boutique custom brands, then the mid levels & finally the Treks, Giant & Specialized of this world. Standby for Trek ads extolling the beauty of lugged steel.
On Tuesday, August 24, 2021 at 5:32:47 AM UTC-5 john...@gmail.com wrote: > Thanks Abe, > > The Kona Coco looks like a good option, I like the 47mm tyres which are a > good size for gravel riding. There are a few Kona dealers near me too. > > Your Nishiki would be eaxctly what I'd do if I could find one! Perfect > colour and lugged frame and fork too. I've never seen one of the > three-pulley suntour derailleurs, except on the Disraeili gears site. Does > it work in practice? > > Like I say, higher end step through MTBs like your Nishiki are near > impossible to find here. Koga-Miyata did a couple of nice models, the > Heartbreaker and Terrarunner I think, but I've not seen one for sale > lately. I'll keep looking though. > > I think the Larkspur would cover most of what we want from a bike so if I > got one of those I wouldn't need to do a resto project, even though that's > always fun :-) > > Cheers, > Johnny > > On Mon, 23 Aug 2021 at 21:16, Pancake <abe.g...@gmail.com> wrote: > >> I've been looking at the Larkspur as a possible ride for my wife for the >> same reasons (and because it comes in a small enough size for her): wide >> 650b tire clearance, steel, step-through, 1x11 with 38t chainring by 11-51t >> cassette (or 1x10 on the Larkspur 1 with the same 38x11-51t), even comes >> with nice enough tires. Could take or leave disc brakes but the Shimano >> deore hydraulics are good (the Larkspur 1 with Tektro low end hydraulics >> are ... fine, not great). These have been hard to find in stock (and >> impossible to find used, likely a good sign). Unfortunately, between 2020 >> and 2022 the price has jumped substantially (the Larkspur 2 was $929 back >> then, $1,199 now without changes to justify the cost increase, appears to >> be related to supply and demand). That took it from a great value to a good >> value in my book. >> >> We ended up getting a Kona Coco which is similar to the Larkspur 1 but in >> aluminum (and significantly lower price, used [very little from what I can >> tell] on craigslist for $500). When our kiddos are a little older and we >> can go on longer rides together *then *I'll be looking for a used Clem L >> or Larkspur. In the mean time the wide tires and lower pressure are making >> up the difference for a comfy ride. >> >> That said, I like your 'find a used mixte and build it up as a poor >> person's riv' idea ... perhaps mostly because I'm currently in that same >> project with a Nishiki Bel Air ;-) This will be for my dad who, after 80 >> years, prefers a lower step through/over. >> *Notice that THREE pulley rear derailer!* >> [image: IMG_7421.jpg] >> *Notice that THREE pulley rear derailer >> <https://www.disraeligears.co.uk/site/suntour_xc_derailleur_3_pulley_system.html>!* >> Sugino >> VP triple crank, clearance for *maybe *2" wide 26" tires, MKS pedals, a >> nice setback seatpost hidden by being lowered all the way here, color >> matched stem, power ratchet Suntour friction shifters (not exactly but >> similar to the Silver shifter precursor), and nice Dia Compe brakes/levers. >> Steel and lugs and such. Happy with this find that seems to have spent 20 >> years resting in a basement. Already cleaned everything and removed some >> rust pitting, new cables/housing, trued the wheels (tension meter at 22 on >> the front, rear is 25 drive side and 17 non-drive side), a lubed/greased >> parts as I find them. Stem's original red grease was still in great >> condition, brake pads were barely worn so I think it's got very few miles >> ... so far. >> >> Good luck on your search, the Larkspur will be great but the used >> restomod is another fun option ... do both! >> >> Abe >> >> On Monday, 23 August 2021 at 05:08:00 UTC-7 Johnny Alien wrote: >> >>> stell frame, lots of clearance and 650B wheels seems like a nice setup. >>> I never rode one but my guess is that it could be a great bike if your wife >>> is comfortable on it. The 1x setup is pretty good with a wide range of >>> gears and they are using a sunrace cassette which have better gearing than >>> Shimano does. >>> >>> On Monday, August 23, 2021 at 8:01:15 AM UTC-4 john...@gmail.com wrote: >>> >>>> Hello all, >>>> >>>> My LBS has a Marin Larkspur 2 in stock. When I saw it in the shop, my >>>> first thought >>>> was that it's a knock-off of the Clem-L or Platypus. >>>> >>>> https://www.marinbikes.com/bikes/family/larkspur >>>> >>>> I'm interested in this bike because my wife has expressed an interest >>>> in gravel riding/easy mountain biking, and this looks like a relatively >>>> accessible way to get into it. A Rivendell isn't really feasible due to us >>>> being in Belgium, the way Rivs sell out within minutes of going online, >>>> etc. etc. >>>> >>>> There's a short review of the Larkspur on Path Less Pedalled, seems >>>> quite positive and gives the impression that it's quite well suited for >>>> what my wife wants her bikes to do - utility with a bit of off road at the >>>> weekends. >>>> >>>> My other idea was to find an old mixte/low instep mountain bike frame >>>> and do it up as a PPR (Poor Person's Riv), but all the ones I found so far >>>> are pretty nasty low end mid-90's BSOs, and all in stupidly small sizes >>>> for >>>> some reason. It's easy to find quite nice Mixte frames, but they tend to >>>> have limited tyre clearance so they probably won't work so well off road. >>>> I >>>> think it'd be less trouble to just go for the Larkspur in this case. >>>> >>>> Does anyone have any thoughts on the Marin? >>>> >>>> Cheers, >>>> Johnny in Belgium >>>> >>> -- >> 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/RMl4hhM7jGI/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/146e584d-3561-47bf-902f-8e36f514747bn%40googlegroups.com >> >> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/146e584d-3561-47bf-902f-8e36f514747bn%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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