This is such great news. Just read all the posts on her new blog! On Monday, April 22, 2024 at 3:38:11 PM UTC-4 Patrick Moore wrote:
> And Velouria has an April 2024 post! > > Leah might want to read back issues of Lovely Bicycle; Velouria/Constance > had a similar bike journey, including Rivendells and customs, from cycling > urban Boston to brevets, IIRC. > > On Mon, Apr 22, 2024 at 1:30 PM Bill Lindsay <tape...@gmail.com> wrote: > >> "I have to look up what “on the ramps” means. " >> >> Five hand-positions, defined and illustrated, by the lovely "Lovely >> Bicycle": >> >> >> http://lovelybike.blogspot.com/2012/06/drop-bar-hand-positions-introduction.html >> >> BL in EC >> On Monday, April 22, 2024 at 11:16:35 AM UTC-7 Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! >> wrote: >> >>> All of these replies are interesting. And when I read one I think, “Yes, >>> that’s right” and then read another which conflicts and change my mind. >>> This is going to be a journey. I can’t even believe how much there is to >>> know. >>> >>> I’m later getting here than the rest of you, I think. It was 2012 when I >>> first realized there were better bikes than the Walmart Schwinn I was >>> pulling my preschoolers around with. I got a Betty Foy with the biggest >>> racks and baskets money could buy and away we went. So happy! Still knowing >>> nothing! >>> >>> Now those boys are in high school, and I live in a vibrant bike >>> community and suddenly it’s a whole new world for me. Every riding season I >>> end up learning and being stretched. I’m doing new kinds of rides, meeting >>> lots of people, volunteering on bike committees, and venturing a lot >>> further from home. 5 years ago I would never have believed I’d ride a >>> metric century or enjoy club riding. This is all wonderful, but I’m >>> hamstrung by my lack of experience. I always thought drop bars would have >>> to be uncomfortable. It wasn’t until this thread that I even considered >>> trying them. Are they a rite of passage? “Oh, you’ll never use them forever >>> but just scratch the itch now so you can say you have.” Or are they the >>> gold standard “They’ve been used for 100 years for good reason.” I worry >>> I’m too late to start using them after all this time on albatross and >>> Billies. I have to look up what “on the ramps” means. I don’t know what the >>> “right” geometry is for a road bike belonging to a devoted Rivendell rider >>> would be. I dread being uncomfortable. I fear screwing up with the new drop >>> bars and crashing in a peloton. I have no idea what shifters I’d put on >>> drop bars. I thought albastache might be a good compromise but heard they >>> aren’t wrist-neutral and then that they are. So.Much.To.Know. But >>> everything I do now scares me, so let’s go. >>> >>> Keep your replies coming! I read every one, even if I don’t respond, I >>> am definitely thinking about them and chatting with other RivSisters who >>> have similar questions. >>> >>> Thanks for taking the time! >>> Leah >>> >>> On Monday, April 22, 2024 at 1:31:40 PM UTC-4 cz...@sonic.net wrote: >>> >>>> Hi Leah - >>>> >>>> I would generally agree with what Ted said. Riding position and fit are >>>> very important. But I don't think that's the only criteria I would use. I >>>> have ten bikes. Five are Rivs. I have a Custom, Quickbeam, Roadeo, Ram and >>>> Hubbuhubbuh. I find that geometry is important in my riding. Some bikes >>>> can >>>> be more "twitchy" and/or less stable because of their geometry. Things >>>> like >>>> trail, head and seat tube angles and bottom bracket drop can affect the >>>> handling and stability of a bike. I don't get hung up on numbers, and >>>> judge >>>> the handling and stability based on how a bike rides. >>>> >>>> All of my Rivs are rock-solid stable and handle exceptionally well. I >>>> know that the low center of gravity, trail and angles contribute to this. >>>> Stability and handling are very important to me because I ride lots of >>>> hills. Going uphill depends on gears, fitness and leg strength. The >>>> stability and handling come into play going downhill. Rivs provide a level >>>> of confidence I don't get on other bikes. You can be sure the bike will go >>>> where you point it. >>>> >>>> About Albastache and Mustache bars - I have five bikes (some of them >>>> Rivs) with Mustache and Albastache bars. I find I can get every bit as low >>>> on Mustache and Albastache bars as on drop bars. The rest of my bikes have >>>> drop bars. The main thing I like about drop bars is riding the hoods. On >>>> drops, I find there are primarily three hand positions: 1) on the hoods, >>>> 2) >>>> on the ramps (slightly farther back than on the hoods) and 3) on the flats >>>> on either side of the stem. I rarely get into the drops. With the >>>> Albastache and Mustache, I find I have more riding positions. >>>> >>>> Have fun on your road bike, whatever you get. >>>> >>>> Regards, >>>> >>>> >>>> Corwin >>>> On Sunday, April 21, 2024 at 2:07:47 PM UTC-7 Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! >>>> wrote: >>>> >>>>> I promise not to be offended by a great wave of advice coming my way >>>>> here - I have asked for it and you all have kindly delivered. >>>>> >>>>> Ok, ok….I really will consider drop bars. But I do wonder…everyone >>>>> says they offer so many hand positions; but I only see people with their >>>>> hands on the hoods. Are riders really utilizing different hand positions? >>>>> >>>>> Also, I saw a pic of an albastache with brake levers in the middle of >>>>> the bar. Would this mimic the freedom of hand position changes a drop bar >>>>> offers? >>>>> >>>>> I practiced tonight on my ride by grabbing the front of my Billie >>>>> bars. It felt nice to be stretched out like that, but with no access to >>>>> brakes or shifters from there I didn’t like to stay long. Unnerving. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Sent from my iPhone >>>>> >>>>> On Apr 21, 2024, at 4:54 PM, Patrick Moore <bert...@gmail.com> wrote: >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> This is going to be a fun thread. Please don't take a great volume of >>>>> advice as condescending; I think that this thread will elicit a very >>>>> large >>>>> amount of love for road bikes as a distinct genus of bicycle. >>>>> >>>>> I think you very particularly will benefit a great deal from the right >>>>> road bike and that once you get things basically sorted you will find >>>>> that >>>>> you enjoy it immensely for the kind of riding you describe. There is a >>>>> perfection of fit and feel and a real pleasure in riding a well set up >>>>> traditional road bike -- I don't mean racing bike -- that you don't find >>>>> with other combinations of frame, saddle, bar, and their relative >>>>> positions. Really, this sort of setup on the right sort of frame is >>>>> *more* comfortable, *more* natural, *more* pleasant for energetic >>>>> riding than other setups; at least, I've always found it so, and there's >>>>> a >>>>> reason why the traditional road bike was developed so quickly after the >>>>> chain-driven safety was invented and why it has remained largely the same >>>>> for going on for 150 years. >>>>> >>>>> Note: I don't say that *everyone* who rides energetically should have >>>>> a road bike, but everyone who does so and can try ought at least to give >>>>> one a try. Again, there is an efficiency and comfort -- really, a "fit" >>>>> like that of a custom suit or perfect tool -- offered by an intelligently >>>>> spec'd and set up road bike that, you don't -- or at least, *I don't,* -- >>>>> get with any other sort of bike. >>>>> >>>>> Me, based on my experience, I'd certainly start by keeping my eye out >>>>> for a used Roadeo or Riv Road or LongLow or Ram or Heron. But for the >>>>> final >>>>> and perfect version, I'd not close my mind a priori to other makes. I am >>>>> guessing, but I would not be surprised if, after your usual rapid >>>>> learning >>>>> cycle, this time with a road bike, you end up with a custom. My favorite >>>>> bike of all time out of several scores is a custom Riv Road, but I've >>>>> owned >>>>> 2 other Riv Road customs plus a Ram (and the Sam) not to mention many >>>>> other >>>>> road bikes, and I've sold them all on to finally get what for me is >>>>> belated >>>>> perfection in the 2 Matthews customs -- tho' these used the Rivs as >>>>> general design templates. >>>>> >>>>> I rode the gofast Riv fixie road bike to and from church today with >>>>> the usual annoying NE winds while inbound N and E and the usual SW winds >>>>> on >>>>> return N and W. For the umpteen millionth time I remarked to myself at >>>>> how >>>>> pleasant it was to be able to drop "intuitively" into the hooks when >>>>> turning into a wind, or to grab the long (Maes Parallel) ramps when >>>>> pushing, butt-back and elbows bent, up an incline, or sitting up and >>>>> holding the flats or the flat/ramp transition and spinning when the wind >>>>> became a tailwind. >>>>> >>>>> I've certainly passed my speed demon days, but there remains a very >>>>> distinct pleasure in riding energetically -- for me, particularly on >>>>> hills >>>>> and against winds -- on the perfectly set up road bike, and I have enough >>>>> experience to know that I would not enjoy this nearly as much on anything >>>>> else. >>>>> >>>>> *Bon chance!* >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> On Sat, Apr 20, 2024 at 1:33 PM Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! < >>>>> jonasa...@gmail.com> wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> I’m starting to wonder about a roadbike. But it has to be a Rivendell >>>>>> roadbike because I’m loyal and all that. Anyway, I don’t know that the >>>>>> Roadini really offers enough of a change for me. I have no idea what is >>>>>> going on with the Gallup. Then there’s the Roadeo - that one looks great >>>>>> but there’s a 2 year wait, unless I can find one used. Which would be >>>>>> ideal. >>>>>> >>>>>> Who rides their Rivbike in club rides and what do you ride? Who has a >>>>>> Roadeo that never gets ridden and wants to sell it? I don’t even know >>>>>> what >>>>>> size I’d be but I’m an 81 PBH. Must I ride drop bars? I never have >>>>>> before. >>>>>> I know nothing about any of this. Clearly. >>>>>> >>>>>> Note: I still like my raspberry Platypus for club riding but it does >>>>>> take a toll on me in wind. I recently got a shorter-height, longer-reach >>>>>> stem which marginally helped, but our high spring winds are taking it >>>>>> out >>>>>> of me. I did a club ride yesterday with my women’s group and my heart >>>>>> rate >>>>>> was in the 170s the whole 26.3 miles. It was brutal. Everyone else >>>>>> agreed >>>>>> it was a hard ride, but I felt like it was harder on me than them, and >>>>>> I’m >>>>>> the youngest and probably the most fit. >>>>>> >>>>>> Leah >>>>>> >>>>>> -- >>>>>> 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-bun...@googlegroups.com. >>>>>> To view this discussion on the web visit >>>>>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/fab5132f-e8ca-4a76-842d-9b994853e099n%40googlegroups.com >>>>>> >>>>>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/fab5132f-e8ca-4a76-842d-9b994853e099n%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>>>>> . >>>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> >>>>> Patrick Moore >>>>> Alburquerque, Nuevo Mexico, Etats Unis d'Amerique, Orbis Terrarum >>>>> >>>>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>>>> >>>>> Executive resumes, LinkedIn profiles, bios, letters, and other >>>>> writing services >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>>>> >>>>> *When thou didst not, savage, k**now thine own meaning,* >>>>> >>>>> *But wouldst gabble like a** thing most brutish,* >>>>> >>>>> *I endowed thy purposes w**ith words that made them known.* >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> >>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in the >>>>> Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. >>>>> To unsubscribe from this topic, visit >>>>> https://groups.google.com/d/topic/rbw-owners-bunch/uXZ6OSH6T-s/unsubscribe >>>>> . >>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to >>>>> rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com. >>>>> To view this discussion on the web visit >>>>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/CALuTfgt2zr1c-C1mVdfZT7Pmw8beof8ym%2BaKo2ECu1HyNFVFtg%40mail.gmail.com >>>>> >>>>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/CALuTfgt2zr1c-C1mVdfZT7Pmw8beof8ym%2BaKo2ECu1HyNFVFtg%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>>>> . >>>>> >>>>> -- >> 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-bun...@googlegroups.com. >> > To view this discussion on the web visit >> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/47f93ca8-eec5-47df-9ba9-1aa858a4c67an%40googlegroups.com >> >> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/47f93ca8-eec5-47df-9ba9-1aa858a4c67an%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >> . >> > > > -- > > Patrick Moore > Alburquerque, Nuevo Mexico, Etats Unis d'Amerique, Orbis Terrarum > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Executive resumes, LinkedIn profiles, bios, letters, and other writing > services > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > *When thou didst not, savage, k**now thine own meaning,* > > *But wouldst gabble like a** thing most brutish,* > > *I endowed thy purposes w**ith words that made them known.* > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. 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