Joyce makes a good point about finding a way for your wife to try both and pick the one she likes best...and Joyce owns both. One good thing seems to be that there is no bad choice
Good luck whatever you decide! On Tuesday, January 2, 2024 at 2:49:50 PM UTC-6 JAS wrote: > I have both a 52 Clem and a 55 Platypus so I'll give you my 2 cents. I'm > 5'7" with long legs and a short torso so both are set up with Bosco > handlebars and bars just above saddle height. I like to sit up and look > around; they're both very comfortable riders. I'm 70 and retired; I ride > at an easy pace and set up the Platypus as my "go fast" bike. (My "go > fast" is probably not the same as yours!) Both bikes take me where I want > to go and can haul groceries. The Clem has a lower step-through, as Joe > has mentioned. Yes, the Platy is lighter and feels more agile, but what's > interesting is the way I feel on the bikes. With Clem, I feel like I'm > "in" the bike where as I'm "on" the Platy. I don't know if it's the > difference in size of the frames or wheels and tires (650 vs 700), the > other geometric design factors or tubing. It's just a different feeling. > Both bring me joy! > > I often ride the Clem on dirt trails and have knobby tires on it for mud. > The Platy has lighter, slightly more narrow, smooth tires and is mostly for > pavement, but I've also ridden it on the same trails as Clem without any > problems. It's a do-anything frame depending on how you set it up. Platy > is more stylish with the swoopy lines and beautiful lugs. Clem is heavier, > but I don't really notice the weight when riding and don't have any trouble > lifting it onto my rack. > > Here's an idea.....you can buy a plane ticket to Seattle for your wife and > I'll take her riding so she can decide! (There are other Clem & Platy > owners closer to Buffalo who would gladly allow her to try their bikes. > Are you going to the Philadelphia Bike Expo?) > > Joyce > > On Tuesday, January 2, 2024 at 10:38:11 AM UTC-8 Joe Bernard wrote: > >> I've just bought a 52cm Clem L (I've owned them before) and have a Riv >> Custom that was designed similarly to the Platypus: lugs, lighter >> pavement-oriented tubing, long chainstays, low stepover but not a true >> step-through like the Clem. >> >> My first impression after hopping off the custom and taking my first ride >> on the Clem yesterday is they ride remarkably similarly at the mellow-ish >> pace I prefer. Would I pick the Clem for speed? No, but that's not really >> my jam and it sounds like your wife rides like me. So my opinion - as a guy >> whose owned a Cheviot but not a Platy - is the Clem will be a lovely and >> comfortable ride for her IF you're committed to riding at her pace as >> you've suggested. >> >> Joe Bernard >> Lake County CA >> >> On Monday, January 1, 2024 at 2:29:59 PM UTC-8 SeanMac wrote: >> >>> Hi everyone. Happy New Year! >>> >>> I am the proud owner of a grey Cheviot. One of the reasons that I >>> purchased that bike was to ride on bike trails near me (such as the Erie >>> Canal Trail) with my wife. She and I have done a bit of riding together. >>> However, as I am a more experienced cyclists, she sometimes gets frustrated >>> with me. Happily, riding my Cheviot has helped me to slow down and enjoy >>> the ride with her. >>> >>> My wife has been riding a Trek hybrid bike that is at least 30 years >>> old. I would love for her to get something new for our rides together. >>> She is on-board with this idea (much to my delight). A new Rivendell seems >>> to be just the ticket to more quality bike time - for her alone and for us >>> together. The question, of course, is which model would be the best choice. >>> >>> Given that I have a Cheviot, a Platypus for her was my first >>> suggestion. I sense that it rides pretty similarly to my Cheviot - plush, >>> stable and relatively quick once it gets going. However, my wife was a bit >>> surprised by the price tag of the Platty, and began to focus on the Clem. >>> When she asked why the Clem was less expensive I spoke about the lugs, but >>> didn't know what else really differentiated the two bikes. This is why I >>> am reaching out to the group. >>> >>> I would be grateful if folks on the list who are familiar with both the >>> Clem and Platypus would provide some additional insight into the >>> differences between the two models. I think that either bike would meet my >>> wife's needs. However, thoughts on which would best meet those needs are >>> much appreciated. >>> >>> Thanks, >>> Sean >>> Buffalo, NY >>> >> -- 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/29126570-be32-489a-95bc-5b6590e46301n%40googlegroups.com.
