Re: [RBW] Re: Is it worth it? Am I crazy?

[Richard Rose]

Jamie(?). I am late to this conversation but I have some thoughts. I adore my 53 Clem - to the tune of closing in on 9,000 miles in three years. I cannot not ride it. I think the “Cadillac” of bikes is a huge disservice to the bike. It implied that the ride is smooth but not responsive. This is simply wrong in my experience. There is nowhere I would not take my Clem with the exception of serious singletrack. I have a Gus for that. That said, there is one other place I would not want to take my Clem - up stairs!  Mine is just a 52 & it’s unwieldy to move around tight spaces. I roll mine in & out of the garage & thats enough.:) Your description of moving up & down stairs in your Philly home sounds like torture to me. But I am old so… My two cents. Sent from my iPhone On Dec 11, 2024, at 4:01 AM, Roberta <rchas...@gmail.com> wrote: Hi Jamie.  Try Ben’s Clem. ( ben—I thinkknow you— you have an adorable child and a green Clem that you share with your wife?) The Clem is very long but I bet you love the ride. If you also want to try 55 Platy you’re welcome to try mine for testing.  It will be less long and lighter than the Clem.    I’m in center city i’ve had similar issues getting my bike in and out of the house.  Roberta On Monday, December 9, 2024 at 1:15:39 PM UTC-5 Jamie D. wrote: Hi Everyone! Sorry for this long first post, I hope you can help me navigate stepping into the Rivendell universe in a rational way. I'm just getting back into cycling again after a long absence. Previously I lead a no-car-multi-bike lifestyle for over a decade. I'm drawn towards the Clem Smith Jr. – the accounts I've read here range from something like riding Falcor through time and space to an existential crisis from owning 'The Cadillac of Bicycles'. My main mode of transportation was previously a Bilenky cargo bike. I loved/miss the upright posture and extra long wheelbase hence my interest in the Clem. I live in a small Philly row house with some challenges (I did not have the Bilenky at this house): To get into my house I have to get the bike up 4 stairs and in my front door which opens into a wall. I have to zig-zag bikes around this short wall to get them into the house. I store all my bicycles in my basement which is a 90 degree turn from the basement door to the relatively steep stairwell. To get bikes down the stairwell, I prop them up vertically on the rear wheel and walk them down the stairs in front on me holding the handlebars and strategically using the rear break. To get them out of the basement, I have a ramp that locks into the stairs. I shimmy the bike onto the ramp, put my left hand on the seat post, my right hand on the right handlebar grip and push the bike in front of me up the stairs and turn the bars at the precise moment navigate the 90 degree turn out of the basement door. My PBH is 85cm and saddle height 74cm so I could fit a 52 Clem but it sounds like a 59 Clem would be more ideal. There's a chance I would not have to take the front wheel off of the 52 to get the bike down the basement but it would likely require be turning the bars slightly which could be more sketchy. I would definitely have to take the front wheel off the 59 to get the bike down the basement. I might even have to take it off to get in the front door. What would you do if you were in my shoes? Is the Clem worth the hassle? Is sizing up to the 59 worth the extra hassle? Am I nuts for considering the Clem in general? Thanks for any insight you many have! -- 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 visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/eda24ebd-552e-40fd-bc90-a215ebbd5c3bn%40googlegroups.com. -- 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 visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/2B17B514-DD10-4351-B8F7-A6D0F4D748D4%40gmail.com.