Another factor of Gus to consider: tire size. You say you would be riding the largest frame size in either, but would want tires suited more for paved riding. The Gus is such a huge bike ( I feel like my Medium 54cm is massive), and the XL sizes just furthers their massiveness. No slight to anyone running an XL Gus, but I think even with 2.5 - 2.8 tires, they look small and disproportional on the XL size because everything is so spread out. Maybe fitted with some fenders to take up some of the room it could look better, but I just find it a bit odd-looking and I would say the same for all the long wheelbase Riv models and skinny(er) tires. All that extra space just begs for fat rubber, IMO. I know it probably comes across as superficial and picky, but I'm a stickler for function and the form of proportion when it comes to bikes.
On Sat, Nov 12, 2022 at 12:36 PM Jacob Byard <jacob.by...@gmail.com> wrote: > Thanks for all the replies. It has given me some new things to consider. > > @Mark C- I'm tall enough to ride the largest frame in either the Platy or > Gus. Then reach comes into play. Right now I'm using a 120mm stem on a > large Surly Bridge Club and could probably stand a 130mm or even a 140mm. > I've also got an Ibis hardtail in an XL size. With the sloping top tube I > clear the stand over and I'm able to use a short 60mm stem for a very > comfortable reach. The high bottom bracket doesn't bother me and in my > local area it's a plus. All the trails here are very rocky so the extra > height is welcomed. The Ibis would be the bike normally ride on those > trails but at times I do pick the wrong bike. > > @Brian- I've used Billie bars on my Long Haul Trucker and found them > comfortable but they made me so upright that I never got out of the wind > and it felt like my pedaling changed to a less efficient position. I had > Doom Bars make me a copy of the Uncle Ron's Ortho bars and put them on my > Crust Lighting Bolt and ran into the same problem. True those bikes are not > designed around a hugely sweptback bar so the Gus/ Platy would be better > suited. I like the width and angle of the Jones bar or even the Crust Juan > Martin bar. Those are probably my first choice. I don't think I'd be as > upright with either. > > I can't imagine any bike being more overbuilt than my Bridge Club. I've > loaded that thing down with full racks/ panniers with zero flex. I'm heavy > and have never managed to get disc rub. Have to say it's a well built bike. > On Saturday, November 12, 2022 at 11:40:57 AM UTC-5 Mark C wrote: > >> The Platypus sounds perfect for you. I got the Rosco Platypus with the >> same geometry and am amazed at how versatile it is. It is turning into my >> favorite mountain bike, and for everything else too. Yes, the "top tube" is >> shorter than the Gus, but far longer than most bikes. I was surprised that >> I needed about a 110 stem extension, but that is with Bosco bars; you >> should be able to use about anything on a Platypus with the right stem, at >> least if you don't buy too small a size. >> >> The other big thing is bottom bracket height (drop). You don't need the >> higher bottom bracket, and I certainly prefer the lower one. If you do >> still want the longer reach and longer wheelbase, it would be worth >> conidering the Clem too. >> On Saturday, November 12, 2022 at 10:00:30 AM UTC-5 rmro...@gmail.com >> wrote: >> >>> This will be interesting to watch. I’ve not ridden either but; Platy is >>> prettier (lugs), a true step through (bonus!), maybe a bit lighter, in >>> stock, less $$ & on paper more “roadish”. But, extra long wheelbase of >>> Gus/Suzie might give an even smoother ride, along with bigger rubber. I >>> assume the bottom bracket is lower on the Platy - again more roadish. Can’t >>> go wrong… >>> >>> Sent from my iPhone >>> >>> On Nov 12, 2022, at 8:55 AM, Jacob Byard <jacob...@gmail.com> wrote: >>> >>> >>> >>> I've got the new bike itch and have shortlisted a Gus or possibly a >>> Platypus. The Gus has called to me for a couple of years but something or >>> other always came up. >>> >>> The purpose of the new bike would be mostly to ride 25-35 miles on paved >>> country roads. I live in central Pennsylvania and most of the unpaved stuff >>> is rougher than I care to ride. There's trails that I do ride but any bike >>> with 45mm tires can handle that. Once a month I'll do a 50-60 mile ride. >>> >>> I do C level group rides but nothing over 12-13 mph. Frequent in town >>> rides to get food/ coffee. Maybe some overnight camping. My solo riding >>> usually sits around 11 mph unless I'm in a hurry. >>> >>> My torso and arms are long so reach has always been an issue. I know the >>> Gus has a long toptube and I think the fit would be a bit better. I'm not a >>> fan of super upright positioning. My hand/ wrist got broke in a fall last >>> year so I like bars with lots of sweep (Jones Loop is wonderful). >>> >>> Gearing and tires being equal would the Gus perform as well on the road >>> as the Platypus? >>> >>> Thanks for the help! >>> >>> Cheers, >>> >>> Jacob >>> >>> -- >>> >>> 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/9c2c5d11-d7ff-45b7-a872-13389b34d872n%40googlegroups.com >>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/9c2c5d11-d7ff-45b7-a872-13389b34d872n%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/d9e04813-81d5-41f5-8cfd-ca3648b69b84n%40googlegroups.com > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/d9e04813-81d5-41f5-8cfd-ca3648b69b84n%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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