Thanks for starting this thread, Leah. I enjoy your writing… as I enjoy Grant’s. He’s very funny even when discussing serious things. At least I see some humor there, whether he intends it or not.
Anyway, my daily ride is a Hunqapillar that I bought new about 11 years ago. I was precious about it for a hot minute, but a) I realized pretty quickly that it was futile and thus stressful to try to avoid dings and scratches; b) I reminded myself that a primary reason I got the Hunq was that I wanted a fun do-everything bike, an “all rounder plus”, the plus being that it is robust enough to carry me and any size load I wanted to haul, for as long as I want to haul it. So I use it in that way. I will take it grocery or farmers market shopping. I run errands with it. I use three or four locks. I used to occasionally commute to work on it (before my office went to mostly full-time remote work post-pandemic), but I realized that I do not enjoy *commuting* by bike. I live in a busy area in DC and the morning and afternoon rush hour commuting *energy* — definitely from cars, but also other bikers, including the rushing, the noises, the risk taking, the aggressiveness — was turning one of my very favorite activities, riding a bike, into another source of stress. It was as if commuting by bike was starting to sully my relationship to my bike and to biking. And I did not want that. This sort of goes against Grant’s notion, or at least hope, that biking will be a huge part of people’s everyday lives. As far as a commute goes, it’s aspirational for me. I will do that when there are protected bike lanes and much fewer cars on the road. I am not keen on being a martyr for the cause of biking (or commuting!). The sort of change in road and bike infrastructure that I’d like to see (and I imagine most of us want) requires collective action, organizing, and so on. Individuals can only do so much. By the way, my bike’s kickstand mounting plate also “peeled” partway off. I sent photos of it to Riv and Will said: “yeah we see that on some of our bikes, best thing to do is to buy the kickstand mounting hardware and a long bolt to pass through the (peeled) plate.” I believe it was a very rare for Rivendell design or manufacturing misstep. The weld simply was not strong enough. The peeling exposed a big area of raw steel on a part of the bike that is most likely to get wet and mucked up. I just have to be mindful of it. No rust has developed, I clean and treat it regularly, and one day I’ll get it repaired and reinforced and repainted (I’ve been telling myself this for a few years now! — I just can’t stand to be without the bike even for a day. Jim On Saturday, November 5, 2022 at 9:13:39 PM UTC-4 pi...@gmail.com wrote: > No damage to the frame? Or did you have to get it repaired? > > On Sat, Nov 5, 2022 at 6:08 PM Jay Lonner <jay.l...@gmail.com> wrote: > >> I don’t have a picture, just imagine the weld giving way and the plate >> separating from the seat stays. I was using a double-legged kickstand at >> the time and carrying a fair amount of cargo (see attached), and evidently >> the seesawing action was enough to pry things loose. It bummed me out for >> maybe half a day, but it’s been fine ever since, now I just use the >> kickstand plate as a fender attachment point. >> >> Jay Lonner >> Bellingham, WA >> >> Sent from my Atari 400 >> >> [image: IMG_0750] >> >> On Nov 5, 2022, at 5:54 PM, Piaw Na <pi...@gmail.com> wrote: >> >> >> What does a peeling mounting plate look like? Anyone have pictures? Not >> that I have kickstands on any of my bikes --- the one on the triplet got >> taken off ages ago... Just curious. >> >> On Sat, Nov 5, 2022 at 5:49 PM Richard Rose <rmro...@gmail.com> wrote: >> >>> When I was talking to Will about getting a double legged kickstand he >>> warned me about the “peeling” mounting plate on the Clems. But, he thought >>> I would be ok they had beefed them up. So far so good. >>> >>> Sent from my iPhone >>> >>> On Nov 5, 2022, at 7:44 PM, Jay Lonner <jay.l...@gmail.com> wrote: >>> >>> >>> My Hunq is a daily driver and has the dings and scratches to show for >>> it. Probably the worst one is that the kickstand plate is pried partially >>> loose — no big deal, I just took the kickstand off and used the mounting >>> hardware to snug things back up. Worst case scenario for me is that someday >>> I treat myself to a new paint job and maybe some frame modifications to go >>> along with it. >>> >>> Jay Lonner >>> Bellingham, WA >>> >>> Sent from my Atari 400 >>> >>> On Nov 5, 2022, at 4:28 PM, George Schick <bhi...@gmail.com> wrote: >>> >>> I haven't read Grant's Blahg on this matter (the ancient OS on my >>> computer is so out of date that I can't load certain websites), but what he >>> has to say does not surprise me. He's always been all about what he calls >>> "beausage," a term he coined to mean "beauty through usage," or IOW don't >>> sweat all of the nicks and scratches, "just ride" your bike and be happy. >>> The good news though is that there is a happy middle ground between the >>> complete over-the-top utility use of a bike (like Pam's), ignoring any wear >>> and tear versus a finicky protectiveness, hovering over the bike at all >>> times and worrying about theft, damage, etc. And in my way of thinking >>> that means "just ride" it for all it's worth, but don't just throw it in >>> the corner until the next ride, but take good care of it. Another way of >>> saying that might be, "... take good care of it and it will take good care >>> of you." >>> This is no different than what one might do having just bought a nice >>> new automobile and drives it everywhere, but also maintains it, washes and >>> waxes it regularly, and is careful where they park it. >>> >>> On Saturday, November 5, 2022 at 6:14:45 PM UTC-5 Joe Bernard wrote: >>> >>>> I love this topic! I had my custom designed to answer the question, >>>> "What if I had all the qualities I love about Rivendells in a frame made >>>> exactly for my size, weight and riding preferences?", and at first I was >>>> super precious about it. Later I realized the whole point was to have a >>>> perfect bike I could ride every day for everything and that's what I'm >>>> doing. >>>> >>>> Of course I'm still absurdly touchy about scratching all that beautiful >>>> Joe Bell paint but I don't let it stop me, I lock it up at Walmart, I fill >>>> the bags with laundry and go to the laundromat. Because I want my bike to >>>> do all the things bikes do! >>>> >>>> Joe Bernard >>>> >>>> On Saturday, November 5, 2022 at 3:15:18 PM UTC-7 Bicycle Belle Ding >>>> Ding! wrote: >>>> >>>>> Did you read Grant’s Blahg? He covers a lot of ground, but most >>>>> notable to me was the Please Don’t Be Precious About Your Rivendell >>>>> section. In sum, Grant is saying it saddens him to think of people riding >>>>> beater bikes instead of their Rivendells to do daily, monotonous tasks - >>>>> because those tasks make up a lot of real life. If one “saves” their >>>>> Rivendell, it will not realize its potential, sit mostly unused and then >>>>> pass to one’s heirs who will sell it in “near mint” condition on EBay, >>>>> and >>>>> how sad. What was the bike for? >>>>> >>>>> I have found myself both guilty and innocent on the matter. My #1 >>>>> favorite bike is my raspberry Platypus. I ride it all the time, because I >>>>> bought it to ride it, but I also dread any harm coming to it, and I do >>>>> guard it from that. I got a second Platypus that I dedicated to shopping >>>>> and traveling with and promised not to be precious about it. But now and >>>>> then I still am tempted to backslide. When traveling to the Philly Bike >>>>> Expo I dithered about which bike to bring. I didn’t want my raspberry >>>>> Platy >>>>> damaged while locked up at racks and I feared it being stolen. Roberta >>>>> said, “I don’t think you have a choice, Leah. That’s the bike people will >>>>> expect you to bring.” And she was right, and I did. >>>>> >>>>> Then, there is Pam. Pam is at the other far end of the spectrum. Her >>>>> bike is a model of beausage. Innumerable paint chips and little spots of >>>>> rust cover her tiny Betty frame. Her Backabike bags are full of holes and >>>>> the elastic closures are worn out. She locks it up and never worries >>>>> about >>>>> it. She did not obsessively stare out the restaurant window to see if it >>>>> was still locked to the rack while we were at dinner (like yours truly). >>>>> But she loves her bike, has real affection for it. She looked at me, eyes >>>>> shining, and said exactly that. Ana, PurpleRiv, is another good example >>>>> to >>>>> us. She adores her bike, but has not spared it from hard work. Her bike >>>>> has >>>>> hauled obscene loads and taken her everywhere. I remember there was that >>>>> one fateful camping trip for she 1. Posed it for a photo, only to have it >>>>> topple and slide down the face of a boulder next to it. I believe she >>>>> said >>>>> she sat there and wept for 2 hours over her Joe Bell paint. And who among >>>>> us would not do the same? 2. Same trip, another photo op, and the bike >>>>> fell >>>>> off a cliff. >>>>> >>>>> So, who truly loves their Rivendell? The one who lavishes it with care >>>>> and protection? Or the one who pulls it out of the garage and into all of >>>>> life - the mundane and the adventurous? >>>>> >>>>> On one end of the spectrum we have those who will only take a >>>>> Rivendell out for special occasions so as not to spoil it, and on the >>>>> other…well, we have Pam and Ana, who will give it a good thrashing. (Oh, >>>>> don’t take it personally, friends, I’m being funny about both types of >>>>> owners.) >>>>> >>>>> I find myself wanting to be precious but fighting it and succeeding >>>>> *most* of the time. I’m lucky that the raspberry paint hides beausage and >>>>> dirt, so it looks pretty new. But a dent in the top tube or a large chip >>>>> in >>>>> the paint would really hurt my feelings. Heaven help me. >>>>> >>>>> Where are you on the spectrum? What words of wisdom might you have? >>>>> What strategies do you employ? Do you want to change? Or are you >>>>> unapologetically staying put on the matter? It might be fun to hear >>>>> perspectives. >>>>> Leah >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> -- >>> 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/bfe06075-ce3e-417c-ad25-ed90037e60d1n%40googlegroups.com >>> >>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/bfe06075-ce3e-417c-ad25-ed90037e60d1n%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-bun...@googlegroups.com. >>> To view this discussion on the web visit >>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/28AD2254-70C9-4C4E-9739-F7D5DC7F66B7%40gmail.com >>> >>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/28AD2254-70C9-4C4E-9739-F7D5DC7F66B7%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/fBVXpMqGxr8/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/051A8941-9C41-4353-8990-E1EC0099D646%40gmail.com >>> >>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/051A8941-9C41-4353-8990-E1EC0099D646%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/CAPh0EZ6%3DNZuSy%3D-ThbqXkAH-Ti8XsongknSi_FxduOTG-BHvkA%40mail.gmail.com >> >> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/CAPh0EZ6%3DNZuSy%3D-ThbqXkAH-Ti8XsongknSi_FxduOTG-BHvkA%40mail.gmail.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/fBVXpMqGxr8/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/E294C658-3F71-440F-8D69-BC812052636E%40gmail.com >> >> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/E294C658-3F71-440F-8D69-BC812052636E%40gmail.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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