Mathias, Max, Damien, thanks. A lot of good information in your posts. Riding and experimenting with different models may be the only way to find that "perfect" bike, if there is such a thing. I have to admit that I've been riding an All City Space Horse for a while now, which I picked up to see me through while I wait on the "right" Rivendell to become available. It's actually very comfortable and stable, but a bit heavy for the hills. The 52cm model I have has similar chainstay, wheelbase, head tube angle, stack, and reach to a 50cm Roadini, so maybe I should be satisfied with what I have? I don't know. I am rethinking the requirement I have had in my mind for drop handlebars, though. Some of the Nitto bars (Losco, Choco, Albastache) look like they could be fine for long distance road riding with multiple positions that could mimic some of those of a drop bar. And they might work better with the longish top tubes.
Chuck On Tuesday, March 5, 2024 at 12:27:31 PM UTC-5 Damien wrote: > I had a Sam up until recently but sold it and have very recently replaced > with a Ram which I've yet to get out on (am going to swap out the Albatross > currently on them for drop bars). Not sure what size you're looking at, but > the thing for me was I wanted a 700c bike, and the Sam that fit me (51) was > 650b. I had a Roadini in size 50 which was great, but ended up selling that > and keeping the Sam as it better met my needs at the time (dragging kids > around, carrying random stuff, more mixed terrain stuff). Sam is great, but > didn't feel as quick (subjective) and was definitely more sluggish in its > handling on road - felt a bit like overkill tbh. I attribute most of that > to set up and the chunky tire size I was using on the Sam (650b x 48 on Sam > vs. 700 x 32 on Roadini). I would say if you go with the Sam for your use, > 42 would be the ideal tire size (as someone mentioned earlier!). > > I can't wait to get out on the Ram to see how I like it, but if it's > anything like the Roadini, I feel I'll be on a setup that makes sense for > the type of riding that I do - which seems similar to the type of riding > you'll be doing! Hope that is in some way helpful! > On Tuesday 5 March 2024 at 08:44:06 UTC-5 Max S wrote: > >> Really great points made by Mathias, and also by Patrick in his post >> about iterating... >> IMO, the easiest way to find a good bike is to set your budget and then >> make a post whose subject starts with "WTB:.. " – all sorts of cool and >> awesome bikes will emerge that fit your criteria! >> >> - Max "it's a journey" in A2 >> >> On Tuesday, March 5, 2024 at 8:14:36 AM UTC-5 mathiass...@gmail.com >> wrote: >> >>> Hi Chuck, >>> >>> I've never owned a Rivendell, so I believe it's important I chime in... >>> because of this: >>> >>> >> I tried a Roadini (which I recently listed here and sold), but I >>> think it was too big for me. >>> >>> It probably wasn't too "big", it was probably too long in the top tube. >>> >>> In the current Riv idea space, the Albatross is the handlebar of choice. >>> The one Grant says he'll ride when he's old. I'd argue you can't build a >>> bike that accomodates swept back AND drop handlebars for the same rider in >>> the same size. The difference is only a few cm, but they matter. >>> >>> I tend to pick one bike every year and build it from the frame up, to >>> ride it and see how I like it, and what I can learn from it. And since I >>> always use a Brooks B17 and a Nitto Noodle, that provides a handy size >>> reference. The distance from the saddle tip to the handlebar cross tube is >>> always the same when I'm done fitting it.. and it matches the ancient rule >>> that if you put your elbow against the tip of the saddle, the finger tips >>> should just reach the handlebar. Stem lengths go from 70 to 100 mm, on >>> frames ranging from from a 52 cm Bruce Gordon BLT to a a 25 inch (63.5 cm) >>> Cannondale ST600 to and a few in between. Top tube length (effective) >>> ranges from 56 to 59 cm. >>> >>> So figure out what YOUR saddle/bar distance or top tube length should >>> be, and find your size accordingly. Were I to buy a Roadini, and the >>> thought has crossed my mind, I'd have to go for a fairly small frame. For >>> my 6 ft height and 89 cm PBH, I'm between the 57 and 61 cm size for the >>> Roadini, and the 57 cm has a 59 cm top tube, so that would be my size, and >>> the stem would have to be short, which doesn't look good to my eyes. >>> >>> For what it's worth, our pavement here in freeze/thaw country >>> (mid-Michigan) is famously nasty, and for road riding, I like 32 mm >>> GP5000s... add some dirt roads, and I'm currently riding 35 mm Paselas, >>> which seem to roll pretty fast and do OK on loose surfaces. I see no reason >>> to go wide on asphalt. >>> >>> To buy any bicycle: >>> - decide on the tire you want to ride, which means pick the target roads >>> and routes. >>> - decide if you'll mount fenders. >>> - now look at the frames that will accomodate the first criteria, and >>> see if you can find your size. >>> >>> It may be that a detour through an older (~1980) Trek or Raleigh is the >>> way to find your setup... most of the parts will move right over, plus it's >>> fun. >>> >>> cheers -mathias >>> >>> >>> >>> To view this discussion on the web visit >>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/43ff7469-c029-4b2a-83bf-3ce31d020790n%40googlegroups.com >>> >>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/43ff7469-c029-4b2a-83bf-3ce31d020790n%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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