Hi Dave, I was quite surprised at the handling difference as well. I went from a heavy canvas military surplus bag attached to the handlebars to a light mini rack that attaches to the brake posts and a very light low basket from a 1950's office paper in box, or was it an out box? The weight is very similar so the slower handling was unexpected. The mass with the rack is probably 6" farther forward, and I thought lower, but the bag actually is pretty long and would hit the rack top, now that I think of it. Maybe just the weight being farther from the steering axis is all I am experiencing. For bars, the options are VO Granola and Soma Port Mann and both are 31.8 so a new stem may be an issue. Tom
On Monday, December 12, 2022 at 12:21:06 PM UTC-5 DavidP wrote: > Thanks for sharing, Tom. I'm glad to hear you've gotten some nice miles on > the new Platypus. It really is "a big floaty couch" with a cruisy zoomy > feel. > > I was interested to read your impressions on the handling change going > from a bar bag to a rack bag, even with what sounds like a light load. I'm > planning on using a front basket/bag on my Platypus and wonder how > noticeable I'll find the change from the small and light bar bag I'm > currently using. > > Will also be interested to see where you land on bars. I've been very > happy with the width and riding positions of the 65cm Toscos on my Platy > but they do require a 31.8 stem. > > We got a coating of snow last night here in MA but the forecast looks warm > enough that "real winter" is still a bit off and I will be trying to get > more miles on the Platy before the end of the year. > > -Dave > > On Monday, December 12, 2022 at 9:10:21 AM UTC-5 Tom Palmer wrote: > >> Hi all, >> After many shortish 8-10mile rides, I finally did a real ride on the >> Platypus. over 20 miles, 37 degrees and rain for about half of it. It was >> actually a pleasant ride because almost no wind. If it was 5 degrees cooler >> or blowing, it would have been miserable and I would have cut it short. >> The bike is brilliant. Did some decent hills (for west Michigan) that >> included nice flowy descents. I put a small front rack and basket and moved >> tool/tube and neck warmer/hat to the rack. Handling not quite as quick as >> with the handlebar bag with same contents. I think the handling was >> affected by the weight being out front more, even though it was lower. Will >> be going to wider bars soon as the Albas just a tiny bit narrow for my >> standing and rocking the bars climbing technique. >> Back to the brilliance of this Platypus. The bike is a big floaty couch >> that is still quick to accelerate and climb. It handles amazingly well. It >> is my most enigmatic bike by a long way. >> >> Tom (riding as much as possible before real winter strikes) Palmer >> Twin Lake, MI >> > -- 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/55d4e130-1d9d-4062-a603-9b78a648db11n%40googlegroups.com.
