James: No need to apologize at all; you answered my question thoroughly and clearly --many thanks. Interesting comparison. I liked the way that my blue Ram handled, but it felt a bit "sedate" compared to my customs; perhaps the Legolas would be just enough quicker. And you say it takes 42s, which I think would be just fat enough as an all rounder sweet spot size for firm dirt and pavement.
Not that I'll have a chance to test ride a Legolas, but it's nice to think out loud. On Sun, Dec 11, 2022 at 11:14 AM MoVelo <jlpoul...@gmail.com> wrote: > Patrick Moore asked these questions, and since I own both a Ram and > Legolas I will attempt to answer them. Be forewarned I am not the best > writer, nor do I believe I am the best at describing the subtleties of > various different bikes (ie handling, ride and so forth). > > <I'm intrigued by the Legolas. Can anyone compare the ride -- handling, > "planing"? -- to the Roadeo or to the Rambouillet, or to the old Road > Standard or to an older Road Custom?> > > The short answers is that my Ram has a lower bottom bracket (7mm) which > seems a small increment but does make the Ram handle a bet less twitchier > than the Legolas. I will say I was looking to move the Legolas along until > I found someone to thread the steerer tube for me. Evidently the flex the > cockpit now possesses now makes the bike much more comfortable yet still > comparatively twitcher , or more subject to minute steering inputs, which > perhaps can be attributed to the one degree steeper seat tube angle? > > I currently have my Ram set up 650b which allows me to run a true 42mm > width which works well for the loose river run gravel the local road > department folks like to slather about. > I have no peddle strike issues with the Ram with the 650b conversion, but > I will say that I do not peddle thru corners. > > <Does it have less bb drop than Rivendell road models? Does this affect > handling or feel?> > > Yes, the Legolas BB drop is 70mm whilst the Rambouillet BB drop is 70mm. > In my opinion this does make the Ram feel more stable but slower. The > Legolas has .5mm longer chain stays than the Ram which should theoretically > make it a bit more stable. > > The head tube angle is the same for the two sizes have. 59cm for the > Legolas, 58cm for the Ram. > > What I don't know is the weight difference. The Legolas seems lighter to > me yet stiffer, or less 'planey', but I'm sure the tires make a bigger > difference in that regard. > > <What is the fattest tire that will fit on a Legolas, no fenders? > > > I am experimenting with this and currently run a Gravel King 43mm up front > which is a true 43mm; and a Soma Vitesse 42mm in the back which is > actually 40mm width. looks like I could squeeze a true 42mm in there if I > could find one. I see on Rene Herse website they say 44mm is in actuality a > 42mm on the type of rims I have. I'm not sure the extra 2mm in width back > there is worth it tho. I am running these with tubes and OS (thanks for the > huge tip on that), but might experiment with tubeless when the weather > becomes more agreeable. > > Both bikes I would consider all-rounders. The Ram with the 42mm width tire > is a great gravel/country road bike. I am currently running Panaracer > Pari-motos which I love. I have the ability to easily change the wheels by > sliding the Tektro 559's to the top of the slot for 700c and the bottom of > the slot for 650b. I know a lot of folks on this list do not like the 559s > breaking feel or strength but I have no complaints. I will say tho that I > live in the flatlands and do not have miles long descents to contend with. > > The Legolas now with the handlebar makeover and my testing with wider > tires is becoming more lovable. With 35mm or 38mm it is a go fast road > bike, with the 42mm tires it is a very capable gravel/dirt/country road > bike. > > Let me know if you have more questions. I posted pics of both bikes a few > days back in this thread if you want to see them. > > I apologize that this has gotten a bit long winded and so to quote Twain > "it would be a lot short if I had more time". > > Cheers > James P > > -- 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/CALuTfgvQV-4R72nFG5ZPg2VOBDWSWfBL2ayn-FNh%3DrSksL7wJg%40mail.gmail.com.
