Nice story Kelly! Mine is similar, changes spread over a decade.
I'm almost ready to make the jump to a dyno-hub. Thanks! Angus On Feb 6, 12:25 am, Kelly Sleeper <tkslee...@gmail.com> wrote: > Well the change is almost complete to the point it feels normal, and > surprising. I honestly didn't think many of the things I was changing would > stay with me. I've ridden long enough to understand speed and sprints and > hurting and doing centuries all over the country remembering only the pace > line. So I wasn't as sure about platform pedals, heavier bikes, larger > tires, sitting upright, and all the other stuff. > > Well I have reference the joy several times. Well the newness has worn off > a bit, the bikes have earned scratches and scrapes. We bikes and I have > experianced snow, rain, dirt, mud, traffic and alone time on back pathes > along the rivers. They unlike me photograph beautifully. > > So after several hundred miles and on track for another 4 to 6 thousand mile > year the following is where I stand. > > *Platform pedals* - Still the thing I most often consider changing .. > however everytime I thing about it I realize that 85% of the time I like my > grip kings and shoe choice and comfort .. not to mention my feet just aren't > as cold in regular hiking shoes. > > *Wider Tires* - Ok on my tour bike I could understand 700x35's and enjoyed > them. I would never have considered 700x35's for daily riding however > untill I got my AHH. The JB lights have been fantastic and given me a great > fast ride. (especially when I put some air in them) Then when I got my > Bombadil with 700x50 big apples and road some 30 and 50 mile rides I was > just amazed. Yes they are slower, accerlation is slower.. but on a normal > social ride it hasn't mattered. Thrilled.. I am one who will NEVER ride a > 700x23 tires again. > > *Upright riding position-* My experiance had been on my older tour bike that > the more upright position meant my ass hurt sooner and was out of the > question for longer rides. (nose up saddle position fixed this fyi) I > always believed an aggressive riding position distributed the weight to my > hands and legs etc causing less stress on my rear. Also meant many miles of > base riding to get comfortable in that position for long 100 to 120 mile > rides. > > *Mental- *This goes with most topics but since I lost speed .. which I don't > care about or so I kept telling myself I was concerned. I'm at the point > where to quote someone on here.. it's been "fun per hour over mph" thus I'm > enjoying a new chapter in riding and back to riding .. the bikes don't just > sit.. I don't dread getting on the bike anymore. Sometimes change is good. > Please don't get me wrong. The fast days were fun. I reached all my speed > goals and distance goals and extreme stuff for me. I was burnt on it. > > *Dyno Lighting *- I bought a SON28 and then put it on my AHH as a temp thing > with thoughts of taking it off during the summer and spring and such. Maybe > putting it on a different bike for just night time runs to the store. Well > I fell in love with it. It hasn't been off the bike and won't be coming > off. When I ordered the Bombadil I ordered it with a Son28. I can't find a > reason to not run these hubs. > > Peronsal opinion here: I bought an Edelux light and then purchased the > supernova E3 Triple for the Bombadil. Yes the supernova is super bright but > the Edelux does more than I need and gets to full brightness at 2mph or so > ..if I had it to do over again I would purchase another edelux.. the beama > and the light are spectacular. Just my opinion and it may change as time > goes on. > > *Lycra Spandex Free - *I am just as comfortable without it. I don't > understand it and am not going to lose sleep over it. I honestly didn't > think I would last more than a few short rides. Now I've ridden several 50+ > and a couple of 60 mile rides where when I got home I was ready to go ride > more. It's been a non issue. The musa pants I purchased from Riv have been > very comfortable. Ilike the olive with the velcro better than the blue > with the zipper legs for looks only. The blue are less hassel for riding > actually. I always forget to velcro the legs closed on the olive ones. > Hell I've done 30 mile rides in blue jeans on a new brooks b17. I believe > it's the nose up saddle position that has changed things and maybe fit of > bike?? > > *Bags- *Nigel Smythe - kinda says it all. I used to use the fizik saddle > bag that slid into the saddle that would hold a tube and an inflater. > That entire bag would fit loosly into the side compartment of either of my > Nigel Smythes. Lovin it! > > *Bikes* > ** > *AHH *Regardless of having earned it's first gouge and being blown off the > kickstand a couple of times it is a joy. Everytime I get on it I feel like > it's a part of me. It's handled 40+mph downhills comfortably and has been > nothing but stable. > > *Bombadil- *I put a tubus nova lowrider on it then loaded up my panniers > with 60lbs or more of gear. I had planned a 2 block ride to test the weight > and see how it felt. 25 miles later I got back home. I was stunned.. > honestly .. it didn't ride like a loaded bike.. I enjoyed a ride in the snow > and through small bike pathes etc. Including a 45 mph downhill with one > hand holding my hat and one on the handle bars. Sweet!!! Wish I had had > this bike for all my other tours. This bike also has Albatross bars.. they > will be staying on for awhile.. I'm in shock ove that.. but a a good shock. > > Both bikes feel light on the front. Not a bad thing.. but then all I've > really ridden was compact frame designs with bars usually 3 to 6 inches > below the seat. I love these bikes. Last weekend I went for a morning > 30ish mile ride on the AHH then after getting home went on a 25 mile ride on > the Bombadil with another friend. > > *Touring note Tires:* I've toured on 700x28 marathon plus supremes and > 700x32 and 700x35's on the last tour. Riding on 700x50s was just as fast, > more stable and will be the standard for me going forward for loaded > touring. > So I'm 6'5" tall 220 lbs and carry on longer tours 60 to 70 lbs of gear .. > > *Friends- *I'm in St Louis Missouri.. folks think the bikes are beautiful > but think I'm nuts which is OK. I've found 2 or 3 kindred spirits and some > heading this direction while picking my bike up to see how heavy it is.. > shrug... and I can't quit talking about it.. :) > > Nothing is set in stone and I am not saying anyone "should" anything.. just > passing on what I'm experiancing. I have doubts but had many more just a > few months ago. The freedom and simplicty has made it for me. I remember > the days of taking 30 minutes just to get ready for a ride. Now I just get > on the bike .. oh ya.. no flats in last 3 months. > > Give things a try and make up your own mind.. :) > > Kelly -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
