I've lost more cameras than I can count to theft, damage, drops, etc. But to me, that's the price of getting good photos. A camera sitting in a closet won't get good photos, and a bike in a secured garage not getting ridden won't leave you with good memories. (Worse, when that bike gets stolen the thief managed to get a bike with very little mileage on it!) I think there's no way around it. Again, my back up plan is to have a very firm idea of what geometry the bike has (down to the diagrams when possible), and then in a pinch I can have a custom builder replicate it. My recent experience this year of cracking a frame (the frame builder jumped me to the top of the queue since it was a warranty replacement) was what made me realized that having a second nice road bike isn't an extravagance. So that's another viable alternative.
On Tue, Nov 8, 2022 at 3:55 PM Scott Calhoun <sc...@zonagardens.com> wrote: > Great topic with interesting responses. Like Leah, I'm both guilty and > innocent. I ride my bikes a lot, but I'm also guilty of planning so I don't > have to lock up fancy bikes for significant periods of time. My most used > and useful bike, my MAP randonneur, was also my most expensive. I keep a > couple of u-locks at bike racks at stores and cafes I frequent. I also have > been riding a 1994 Bridgestone RB-1 that I love, and maybe it is not on the > radar for thieves as much, but I'd still hate to lose it. > > Which brings me to my biggest bike anxiety: my favorite riding bikes are > simply not replaceable (or at least not easily so). Mitch Pryor of MAP has > left the bike biz, and finding another nice '94 62cm RB-1 could take > forever. The bike thieves in our town are pretty indiscriminate about what > they take. Scanning the Tucson Stolen Bikes instagram profile, I see every > kind of bike: newer and vintage, MTB, and road, utility to fixie. > > On Tuesday, November 8, 2022 at 1:57:17 PM UTC-7 penne...@gmail.com wrote: > >> Theft scares me , too. I have some pretty hardcore locks and don't lock >> up for hours at a time if I can avoid it. >> >> It may be possible to breathe a little easier in places where the bike >> culture is, let's say, highly modern. This might encompass a lot of places. >> Even if I struggle to totally believe it, a bike shop owner around here in >> southern Alberta told me that a decently locked bike without suspension >> basically isn't going to be stolen. I'm sure that silver or polished (ie >> "old looking") components make a bike even less interesting to would-be >> thieves. A basket might make a thief roll their eyes! Swept back bars? >> Puke! Suspension mountain bikes dominate the scene here, and I'm sure that >> the rapid takeover of all sorts of e-bikes further concentrates the efforts >> of real thieves on a particular part of the spectrum. >> >> Something Riv-ish and well-locked so as not to entice an opportunist is >> probably pretty safe in my neck of the woods, at least, even if I still >> worry. >> >> Mack >> >> On Tuesday, November 8, 2022 at 1:34:52 PM UTC-7 Mackenzy Albright wrote: >> >>> after riding a lot of bikes in a lot of terrible conditions i've come to >>> find for the most part a semi well maintained bike is pretty robust and not >>> so worried anymore. >>> >>> the two things that DO worry me is >>> >>> 1. bike theft. Having a bike you can lock up. Ideally the workplace has >>> secure bike parking and if I park for less than a few hours neighborhood >>> pending. I no longer bar hop and in general pretty careful about where to >>> park for short periods. Knock on wood aside from a few stolen bits and bobs >>> off my bikes never had any real major theft. >>> >>> 2. SALT. Previously living in Alberta, they put some sort of demonic >>> liquid ice melt on the paths. I used the 45north Kavas on my winter bike >>> and they were great in all conditions and especially on ice and hardpack >>> snow. The ice melt would melt through snow and ice making some sort of >>> corrosive slurry that felt like riding on wet sand at a beach. The ice >>> slurry ate through an imperfect powder-coat on my SSFGmtb "winter bike". By >>> spring it was bubbling and flaking terribly and lead to a lot of rust that >>> I have yet to deal with since moving other than a good scrub and light >>> oiling. It's fine as "beausage" on my Marino winter bike - but would have >>> been pretty choked if it were a Riv or Crust 4x the cost and meant as a >>> "lifer". If they just left the packed snow it'd been fine and i'd ride any >>> bike in the snow with studded tires. >>> >>> I feel quite guilty if i'm not using most of my bikes regularly. >>> >>> On Tuesday, November 8, 2022 at 11:23:49 AM UTC-8 penne...@gmail.com >>> wrote: >>> >>>> Thanks, Jim. I’m running studs in the front (Schwalbe Marathon 29x2.0), >>>> but not in the back. On days like today, studs on both ends would be >>>> better, but where I live we are prone to warm (and fierce) chinook winds, >>>> which means that the roads will be clearish for a big chunk of the winter, >>>> so I compromise. There is a 90+% chance that I’ll lose rear traction and >>>> fall a time or two this winter, but I’ll be wearing lots of clothes so it >>>> won’t hurt too bad! If I had the clearance you’ve got on a Clem, I might >>>> even run something bigger and spikier (?) like the Schwalbe Ice Spiker, >>>> which I think comes in 29x2.25. Along with Schwalbe, 45NRTH seems to be the >>>> other good option for studs. They have a tire called the Kahva that is also >>>> 29x2.25. >>>> >>>> Mack >>>> (apologies to the thread if this message appears twice, I'm having >>>> email problems) >>>> >>>> On Tuesday, November 8, 2022 at 11:55:07 AM UTC-7 Jim Whorton wrote: >>>> >>>>> Mack, I like that setup on your Joe a lot. Cool! Are those 2-inchers >>>>> studded? >>>>> >>>>> I use studded tires in winter (Continental Spike Claw 26 x 2.1") that >>>>> I got cheap through Craigslist. I have thought of getting a set of >>>>> studded >>>>> tires for my Clem, but would need 700c and haven't begun to sort that out. >>>>> >>>>> On Tue, Nov 8, 2022 at 1:39 PM Mack Penner <penne...@gmail.com> wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> Grant's blahg was a bit of a kick in the pants for me. Here is a >>>>>> photo of my just-winterized Joe in a snowbank on my commute this morning. >>>>>> This commute would have previously been earmarked for my "beater," which >>>>>> I've decided to give to my brother, so he can squirm through the snow on >>>>>> 30mm studded tires while I plow (and sometimes squirm), on 2-inchers. >>>>>> Coping in -20 degrees on the prairies, >>>>>> Mack >>>>>> >>>>>> On Sunday, November 6, 2022 at 7:35:19 PM UTC-7 Jason Fuller wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>>> Your two examples, Pam and Ana, are by no coincidence also my two >>>>>>> biggest role models when it comes to using the heck out of one's >>>>>>> beautiful >>>>>>> bike. I try to channel them all the time, and in fact, I recently sold >>>>>>> the >>>>>>> Charlie because I was finally able to fully accept that its existence >>>>>>> in my >>>>>>> quiver was to be a "lockable" alternative to the Hillborne - and I >>>>>>> should >>>>>>> just ride the Hillborne [but be smart about it]. The Hillborne is >>>>>>> closing >>>>>>> on 8000km and the Bombadil nearing 5000km which is nothing compared to >>>>>>> Pam's numbers, but I'm proud of the mileage nonetheless - and optimistic >>>>>>> that this is just the beginning. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> I spent a somewhat embarassing amount of money on the Bombadil's >>>>>>> repaint, but generally haven't been too fussed about the scratches I've >>>>>>> put >>>>>>> into that paint - with one exception: it fell over once and the Paul >>>>>>> brake >>>>>>> lever put a sizeable gouge in the top tube's paint. It looks horrible >>>>>>> because it doesn't look like a scratch from riding, it looks like a >>>>>>> scratch >>>>>>> from poor care. So if you ever wonder why I put a "BIKE" sticker in >>>>>>> such an >>>>>>> odd spot on my bike... it's to cover that scratch (photo from today's >>>>>>> cold >>>>>>> and wet ride) >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> On Sunday, 6 November 2022 at 18:04:25 UTC-8 krhe...@gmail.com >>>>>>> wrote: >>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Since this is the my first time owning a Rivendell bicycle; a Clem >>>>>>>> Jr. "L", I have grown to appreciate it more and more when I ride it. >>>>>>>> Purchased it mid-September of this year. I am relieved and happy at the >>>>>>>> same time to be able love this bike, after years from retiring my road >>>>>>>> bike >>>>>>>> (2012); a 1973 Cilo Sprint-X turned into a sports touring bike with >>>>>>>> drop >>>>>>>> bars. It fit me well. However, I became older and grew tried of riding >>>>>>>> in >>>>>>>> the drops. I struggled with my Raleigh Elkhorn in a lot of >>>>>>>> modifications >>>>>>>> that led to not riding the bike very much in the long run. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Generally, the material possessions that I own, I take good care of >>>>>>>> and not see them neglected. Knowing that my Clem Jr. "L" is not your >>>>>>>> everyday production bike and not that easy to replace, I plan on not >>>>>>>> locking it up and not letting out of my sight. My Cilo I never locked >>>>>>>> her >>>>>>>> up nor out of my sight. I do have a garage for my bikes. Yes, I would >>>>>>>> be >>>>>>>> very sad to have my Clem Jr. "L" stolen. I do not have a back up bike >>>>>>>> for >>>>>>>> it at his time. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> I know over time, there will be nicks, scuffs, scratches and deep >>>>>>>> cuts into the paint and frame. To me, that is a reflection a well loved >>>>>>>> bicycle, just like the Velveteen Rabbit children's book story. Isn't >>>>>>>> it ? >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> It as been quite a journey owning fourteen bikes before my Clem Jr. >>>>>>>> "L" in my life. I am glad that I made this purchase and crossed over a >>>>>>>> bridge to finding comfort and feeling the joys of cycling once again >>>>>>>> in my >>>>>>>> retirement years. I long to ride off road, again soon. It handles very >>>>>>>> confident and true over the terrain. It just wants to keep on rolling. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> I need to buy some Honjo fenders for it. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Kim Hetzel >>>>>>>> Yelm, WA. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> On Sunday, November 6, 2022 at 2:33:03 PM UTC-8 Jim Whorton wrote: >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Great thread. I would love to ride my Riv every day but I have >>>>>>>>> the following problem: I live in Rochester, NY and during the winter >>>>>>>>> that >>>>>>>>> means riding in a salty gray slush. So I have what I used to think >>>>>>>>> of as a >>>>>>>>> "beater," a Rivified 80s mountain bike (Peugeot US Express) that I >>>>>>>>> ride to >>>>>>>>> the grocery store a couple time a week, in winter with studded tires. >>>>>>>>> I >>>>>>>>> painted the bottom bracket shell and dropouts with red Rustoleum. >>>>>>>>> Rear >>>>>>>>> derailleur is rusty, chain is rusty, it gets nasty. Can't rinse the >>>>>>>>> salt >>>>>>>>> off during sub-freezing weather, as I learned, or the shifter cable >>>>>>>>> will >>>>>>>>> freeze inside the housing. I have not got to the point where I can >>>>>>>>> imagine >>>>>>>>> taking my Riv out in that mess. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Here's the other thing, though--I love the Peugeot US Express. I >>>>>>>>> paid $40 for the frame--later added Nitto bars, a dyno front wheel, a >>>>>>>>> huge >>>>>>>>> double rear basket--but I ride it with very much pleasure. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> On Sunday, November 6, 2022 at 12:51:48 PM UTC-5 Ted Durant wrote: >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> On Saturday, November 5, 2022 at 5:15:18 PM UTC-5 Bicycle Belle >>>>>>>>>> Ding Ding! wrote: >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> 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. >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> I'm in the "lucky to be able to afford several bikes for lots of >>>>>>>>>> different purposes" camp. I don't obsess over them as precious >>>>>>>>>> objects - >>>>>>>>>> none of them are "collector" bikes that will make my kids >>>>>>>>>> millionaires. I >>>>>>>>>> do, however, like to keep them clean and well maintained. (Chain >>>>>>>>>> waxing is >>>>>>>>>> easy and therapeutic.) My wife and I gave each other a Santana >>>>>>>>>> tandem for >>>>>>>>>> our wedding and rode it around Vermont for our honeymoon. Over the >>>>>>>>>> years of >>>>>>>>>> riding, carrying it in or on the car, putting the kid converter on >>>>>>>>>> it, >>>>>>>>>> getting hit by a car while towing our infant daughter in a Burley >>>>>>>>>> trailer >>>>>>>>>> (!!!), it gathered its fair share of beausage. For our 30th wedding >>>>>>>>>> anniversary we gave it a fresh paint job in Waterford French Blue >>>>>>>>>> and a >>>>>>>>>> bunch of new parts. It's doing lighter duty, now, and staying pretty. >>>>>>>>>> That's the thing about steel-framed bikes, right? You can have it >>>>>>>>>> both ways >>>>>>>>>> over time. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> My Rivendell Road just had a visit to the chiropractor. A week >>>>>>>>>> ago a low-flying hawk took my front wheel out from under me. The >>>>>>>>>> scratches >>>>>>>>>> will remain, but it's sure nice to have the frame straight again. >>>>>>>>>> Another >>>>>>>>>> 25 years and maybe I'll get it painted again, but I'll keep the Joe >>>>>>>>>> Bell >>>>>>>>>> paint on there as long as I can. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> My "errand" bike (complete with twin-leg kickstand, but no >>>>>>>>>> plate!) is a custom Terraferma designed originally for brevets. The >>>>>>>>>> geometry is perfect for carrying a bunch of stuff in the basket on >>>>>>>>>> the >>>>>>>>>> front. I keep it reasonably clean, but it lives in the garage and is >>>>>>>>>> going >>>>>>>>>> to be riding on salty streets soon. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> This thread could easily occur on a Porsche mailing list, too. My >>>>>>>>>> Boxster is definitely not "precious"! >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> Ted Durant >>>>>>>>>> Milwaukee, WI USA >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> -- >>>>>> >>>>> 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/b719e22c-ed80-4026-8913-bc6c6d244686n%40googlegroups.com >>>>>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/b719e22c-ed80-4026-8913-bc6c6d244686n%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/fBVXpMqGxr8/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/671908f3-913c-4f2e-a9ad-09004c071501n%40googlegroups.com > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/671908f3-913c-4f2e-a9ad-09004c071501n%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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