I will be reading a lot tonight! There are a lot of points on your list that are on mine, like the shorter (for Rivendell) chain stays.I wish you so much happy riding.
Roberta On Thursday, November 20, 2025 at 5:26:22 PM UTC-5 maxcr wrote: > Thanks Roberta! For me, it's a grail bike because: > > - geo that takes a smaller (26) wheel even in a somewhat large (59) size > - can fit very wide tires with fenders with no issues > - short chainstays > - smaller wheels (no toe overlap, easier to get going) and a more > mid-neutral trail than say my Hunqa. > - compact fun all-rounder that's bomb proof, easy to transport and that I > know rides like a Riv > - Rivendell name on frame and Riv badge > > On top of all that, what makes this bike special is that it was handbuilt > by Joe Starck and painted by Joe Bell. Riv doesn't seem to do custom bikes > anymore, or if they do it's very hard to get them, essenetialy this is > unobtanium unless you luck out in the second-hand market with something > that pops up and fits. > > I suggest this thread for more informed comments: > https://groups.google.com/g/rbw-owners-bunch/c/DDjx68Z5zSk/m/ofIQ2FZCjXcJ > > Cheers > Max > > On Thu, Nov 20, 2025 at 4:42 PM Roberta <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Congratulations Max on the bike. It seems like it’s a grail bike for >> many people. What makes that so? What is it about this bike? I am truly >> interested and I’m looking forward to seeing more pictures and stories. >> >> Roberta >> >> On Wednesday, November 19, 2025 at 11:49:12 AM UTC-5 maxcr wrote: >> >>> Hi Everyone, >>> >>> As mentioned in the CL thread, I was the lucky buyer of the AR from eBay. >>> >>> Here's a bad photo from my basement last night after picking it up. I >>> promise better photos at some point in the future: >>> >>> [image: IMG_8327.jpg] >>> >>> I've always been curious about the early models, the 26 wheels on large >>> frame with a tighter geo, canti posts and great tire clearance made it >>> super appealing to me. The price was fair, larger ARs don't come up for >>> sale often. >>> >>> I'm really happy that my hunch was correct, it's a 59! Which is the >>> goldilocks size for me and more appropriate than 57 or 58. >>> >>> The seller said that the owner was a doctor who recently passed away and >>> his wife has been slowly selling his bikes through a friend who used to >>> work at their LBS (he has a couple of tandems, a Jack Taylor, a Ti Seven >>> and others that he's going to list). The bike has the original owners name >>> in the top tube, which is kinda cool, to keep the legacy going for him. >>> >>> Now the details. The bike is an early model. Based on the serial >>> (JS0030) and the JB in the chain stay, it's a Joe Starck /Joe Bell combo >>> from 2000. It's also number 30. 30 what? I don't know, the 30th All-Rounder >>> ever built? Maybe. >>> >>> The metallic blue paint with the cream head tube is just amazing even >>> after 25 years. There are some minor blemishes and chips as you would >>> expect from a bike that has been ridden, but it's really in top condition. >>> >>> I will probably ride it as is for a bit, but have plans to rebuild it. >>> The Ultegra group with brifters isn't what I want. I will probably keep the >>> drops (they say N Grand Randoneur which I assume is a Nitto noodle variant) >>> but need to see if they will work for me. I also plan to swap out the >>> drivetrain - probably put on a NOS Ritchey Logic crankset that I have or a >>> TA Carmina that I recently acquired paired with an XTR rapid rise RD (or >>> maybe an OM-1?). >>> >>> For tires, I'd love your thoughts. I'm thinking of RH Rat Trap Pass >>> tires, unless you convince me that the Naches Pass or the Simworks Homage >>> are a better option. I might want to keep it fendered, not sure... but >>> these fenders won't clear a really wide tire. >>> >>> Anyway, please offer your suggestions as I rethink this build. It won't >>> happen until next year given my time availability and other projects in the >>> pipeline. >>> >>> As you can see my downsizing isn't going well. I think I'm up to 11 with >>> the latest purchase of that time capsule brown Saluki and this AR. At some >>> point some will have to go, but I have a feeling that the AR is a keeper. >>> >>> Cheers >>> Max in Boston >>> >> -- >> > 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/P2Dm7BSwxDU/unsubscribe >> . >> To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to >> [email protected]. >> > To view this discussion visit >> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/c966443b-33ad-4d4b-ac10-e000f281c5d8n%40googlegroups.com >> >> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/c966443b-33ad-4d4b-ac10-e000f281c5d8n%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >> . >> > > > -- > Max Faingezicht > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. 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