George, lol, that IS what I do. And I never knew there was really any other way! I dislike the feeling of spinning. It feels wobbly and out of control. So I don’t - I just leave it in the “hard” gear. BUT, I do shift to an easier one at stop signs now. My knees were killing me tryng to race up to speed from a dead stop and I didn’t want to hold up the riders behind me. But you are probably right about my riding style. Huh. I never thought about it.
Max - hearts are coming out of my eyes looking at the yellow bike!!!!!! What a lucky woman is yours!!!!!! On Oct 15, 2023, at 5:03 PM, George Schick <bhim...@gmail.com> wrote:
I'll probably get clobbered for my reply to this discussion - I'm used to it - but from viewing the pics of Leah's bikes in this thread plus others in previous threads, her bike always seems to be either in the highest gear or at least the next to highest. And she has admitted to as much in previous discussions that's how she likes it. And since she likes the saddle moved as far as possible to the rear this means that she's using the leverage of that angle while pulling back on the bar grips in order to "stomp" as hard as possible on the pedals. Since she has the leg development and strength to get away with that kind of riding due to her weight training and other off-bike workouts, that's just how she's using to riding.
Many of the rest of us old farts who learned road riding on a diamond-framed bike with drop bars, having the saddle positioned more closely to the center of the BB so we could "spin" the pedals at as high a cadence (RPM) as possible, shifting gears when necessary in order to maintain that cadence (which is how I assume the pro racers still learn to ride). Which is probably why she gets some sideways looks by others in the pace lines of her bike club. That's not how she's learned to ride for whatever reason, so fiddling around with saddle position is likely to be a problem, or as least a considerable adjustment for her. Anyway, that's my 2¢.
On Sunday, October 15, 2023 at 3:27:57 PM UTC-5 John Hawrylak, Woodstown NJ wrote:
Ok, I understand
Moving the saddle back increases the saddle to bar distance by about 2.5cm. This indicates the frame/stem/bar combination was too SHORT.
Then, You cut 1 cm from the bars. This increased the saddle to bar distance, indicating the frame/stem/bar combination was too SHORT, but is OK now.
So you ended up increasing the saddle to bar distance 3.5 cm to get to an Acceptable position..
I think the Alba bar would be better based on this from the RBW write up on the Billie: 'The Billie straight grip section is 2" (5 cm) longer than an Alba."
So an Alba with a 10cm stem would have a saddle to bar distance 1.5cm longer (5 - 3.5) than what you ended up. Replace the 10 cm stem with a 9cm and you are within 0.5cm (5mm) of where you are at. A 8cm stem would also work, just 5mm on the other side. A 8.5cm would be mathematically correct, but the 5mm either way probably cant be felt..
Leah is also in a too short condition, excess seatpost SB and max length stem.. The extra 5cm of straight grip length of the Billie contributes to the 'shortness' by having the LONG straight grip section. The fact that other Riv sisters had the same problem and they used Billie bars, indicate the Billie bar is the common problem.
RBW supplies the Platy built up in Taiwan with a Tosco bar which has a sweep back about the same a s a Billie. So they seem to supply Platy's as too short due t9 the bar sweep back.
John Hawrylak Woodstown NJ
Thanks, John.
I must have said it wrong. I moved my saddle AWAY from the bars, towards the rear end of my bike. I think that's called aft (I had to look it up). the bars were still too close, so I cut off 1cm (after a year of trying to feel OK). If the stem had come in an 11cm, I would have just done that.
I ended in a good position, so like you said "
then all is good in life."
Roberta
On Sunday, October 15, 2023 at 2:08:31 PM UTC-4 John Hawrylak, Woodstown NJ wrote:
Roberta
Pushing the saddle BACK to the back of the clamp, moves the saddle FORWARD the maximum amount. This indicates the saddle to bar distance is too long and your needed to reduce the reach. Maybe you pushed it too far forward, most Brooks have only 20 to 30mm of total fore/aft motion..
Did you cut 1cm off the bars after pushing forward the max amount??. Cutting the bars indicate the saddle to bar distance is too short, the opposite of your original action (push saddle forward). The 1 cm cut is within the range of Brooks adjustability.
But if you ended in a good position, then all is good in life.
John Hawrylak Woodstown NJ On Sunday, October 15, 2023 at 1:26:10 PM UTC-4 Roberta wrote:
I've had a few emails with other RivSisters who own Platys and there are quite a few of us who've commented on having to push one's saddle back as far as the rails could take it.
I'm on a 55 Platy with 83cm pbh--one or two more than Leah AND I like my saddle high-- and would probably like mine back a touch more, but I'm unwilling to buy a new seat post. My stem is one of the Nitto extra tall ones with 10 cm, the longest they make for the extra high model. I ended up cutting ("the horror") 1 cm off my Billie Bars. Her saddle/seatpost would be shorter than mine, closer to the handlebars, right?, so she might feel it more.
On Sunday, October 15, 2023 at 1:02:30 PM UTC-4 Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! wrote:
What’s weird is that I sized up! My PBH would technically fit the 50! Sent from my iPhone Reflecting on all the setback talk, I do think the reach may be inherently a tad short for the rider in question. I'm the same height as Leah - possibly even shorter, I'm aging and shrinking! - and Grant designed my Rivendell with a 54.2 ST, 63 ETT to work with Boscos up way high. It's perfect.
On Friday, October 13, 2023 at 10:33:09 AM UTC-7 Joe Bernard wrote:
I love the new look. I also love the old look! Basically I just love that Raspberry Racing Platy ❤️❤️❤️
On Wednesday, October 11, 2023 at 6:52:55 PM UTC-7 Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! wrote:
In the same vein as my Bike Style thread, I’m starting a Bike Makeover thread.
Every now and then, I get the urge to change up the look of my favorite Platypus. I have it perfect mechanically, but bags and grips and occasionally, saddles, beg to be changed up. It’s fully autumn here in the Great Lakes State, and my ivory Rivet was looking a little out of season. I was gifted a chestnut Rivet from a dear RivSister, so I decided to pull it out and put it on the bike. I took the brown Ergons from my other Platypus, slapped them on and sent her a photo.
“That bike deserves prettier grips. Those are ugly,” she said, giving me the unvarnished truth.
I looked again. She was right. Back to the drawing board. I finally found these grips from Rivet Cycle Works - Deb told me she had these but didn’t have them up on the website yet. She had the exact match to my chestnut saddle and days later, I had these gorgeous stamped leather grips in hand. The bike looks positively tonal. The colors of the paint throw out so many different shades of pinks and reds, thanks to the abundant glitter in the metallic; adding rich leather accessories only elevates the look. The stamped designs on the leather give the bike some texture and add visual interest at the handlebar area.
This Platypus is like a little autumn posey. Perfect and pretty, and wholly appointed to its duty.
Now if I can just convince Deb to make these in ivory, so I have a pair to match my ivory Rivet saddle when spring comes…
Attached in the next post are the before and afters. Leah
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