[RBW] Re: How do you guys do it, buying a bike sight unseen

[Les Lammers]

+1 *If you are short armed/trunked, and ride drops, you may want to size 
down one size if the frame sizes are close. If you will be upright riding, 
then just stick with RBW sizing methods. *Excellent advice.
 
On Monday, August 14, 2017 at 6:43:30 PM UTC-4, lum gim fong wrote:

> I've had 4 Rivendells, sight-unseen, and they all rode great.
>
> 55 Bleriot (used)
> 53 Bleriot (new in box from Peter J. White Cycles)
> 52 Blue Sam (new from RBW)
> 54 Rambouillet. (used, traded my Blue Sam for it).
>
> Rambouillet (Noodle drop setup) is my favorite as it is the easiest to 
> pedal down the road.
> I have the 53 Bleriot still, that I have bosco bars on and use it to sit 
> upright when I go for rides with my wife.
>
> I would not hesitate to buy a Rivendell sight unseen. Just go by their 
> sizing methods and you should be fine.
> Or, if you know your ideal top tube length then go with that as long as 
> the standover in that size is also ok for you.
> My advice:
> If you are short armed/trunked, and ride drops, you may want to size down 
> one size if the frame sizes are close. If you will be upright riding, then 
> just stick with RBW sizing methods.
>
>
>
>

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Re: [RBW] Re: How do you guys do it, buying a bike sight unseen

[Garth]

If you are referring to the Origin 8 double looking as it does, hey, it's a 
crank and it works well ! I too used to think a crank ought to look a certain 
way, be cold forged, etc, but then I realized were opinions from where I know 
not, while I just want stuff that works well and forget about it altogether. 
Keep the head up and enjoy the broad view ! 

The Q with a 107mm bb is roughly 152mm, which I see is just slightly over what 
the modern Dura Ace/Campy racing doubles are these days - 146mm. 


Long ago I tried the TA Cyclourist crank, and to me it felt like a wet noodle, 
those fine looking arms flexed alot and required constant fd trimming from poor 
TA QC. I had to return it and bought the TA Zephyr at the time. 

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Re: [RBW] Re: How do you guys do it, buying a bike sight unseen

[Jay Connolly]

I have a couple of 46/30 cranks--one Velo Orange, one White Industries. More 
than enough top end and even at the bottom for all but loaded touring.

Jay

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Re: [RBW] Re: How do you guys do it, buying a bike sight unseen

[Daniel D.]

If I end up doing the build instead of letting riv handle it, considering the 
IRD Defiant cranks

 
http://www.interlocracing.com/crank-arms-chainrings/defiant-wide-compact-road-crank-set
 

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[RBW] Re: How do you guys do it, buying a bike sight unseen

[Garth]

Firstly, not all Sugino cranks are labeled as 9/8/7 speed, the Mighty Tour 
110 double and or triple is called a 10 speed. 

2.  The only difference it seemsFrom here, reply #13 and 15,  

* "10 speed cranks offset the rings apart 7mm vs. 6mm for 9 speed cranks. 
(According to a machinist in the Frame forum who measured.) I suppose to 
gain more cross chain clearance in the small ring and link alignment while 
shifting for the 2 special 10 speed ring sets. *"




*"The wider 7mm ring-center to ring-center spacing of 10 speed is 
ironically the same space that 7/8 speed rings had - meaning you can update 
an older crank if you want with new 9/10 speed rings assuming the bolt 
patterns are compatible. As to the 10 speed chain on the 9s rings... yes 
that will work fine."  *4. So in real world use it may not affect anything 
using a 9 sp crank and 10 sp. cogset. 

5. Frankly, I have been riding on Origin 8 110 double cranks for a year and 
am quite happy. The sell for $50 with a nice silver finish. I can honestly 
say these feel notably stiffer and thicker than the XD's which they 
replaced, at least the 3 pair I had. Standing I can tell. I had not ridden 
a double in a long time, and it reminded me of how much I love doubles. 
36/50 rings and a 13-32 sp. FW. And I do love the big rings and big cogs, I 
never liked the small small stuff, just never made sense to me. 

I used to believe more $$ always gave you more ... it never did. 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000AOA6PK/ref=twister_B00R6R3ZPM


On Tuesday, August 15, 2017 at 2:40:23 PM UTC-4, Daniel D. wrote:
>
>
> Another thing was reading that the silver and sugino cranks are not 
> 10-speed friendly.  I like my current setup with SRAM bar ends, friction in 
> the front and 10-speed indexing in the rear.  But after checking out prices 
> and availability going to 9-speed isn't a big deal
>
> Thanks, Kellie.  We should ride again soon.  Definitely when I have a new 
> steed to show off.
>
> On Saturday, August 12, 2017 at 5:25:30 PM UTC-7, Kellie wrote:
>>
>> Congrats Daniel or your order! You are going *to love it!*
>>
>  
> Without that first visit to Riv HQ, unlikely I would've considered a 
> purchase from Rivendell.
>
> On Sunday, August 13, 2017 at 2:23:25 AM UTC-7, REC wrote:
>>
>> Still, without having a local dealer with built up stock, I never would 
>> have made this first purchase.
>>
>  
>

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Re: [RBW] Re: How do you guys do it, buying a bike sight unseen

[lum gim fong]

I use silver barend shifters with xd2 crankset and shimano HG50 7-speed 
cassette with 4.5 mm spacer and SRAM 8-speed chain on both my rivbikes.
This is fantastic for friction shifting.

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Re: [RBW] Re: How do you guys do it, buying a bike sight unseen

[Steve Palincsar]

On 08/15/2017 02:40 PM, Daniel D. wrote:
Thanks for the thoughts everyone. The worry's died down a bit.  Blue 
vs. gray is not quite as settled :p.


Another thing was reading that the silver and sugino cranks are not 
10-speed friendly.


There is a Sugino triple that is, the Alpina 2. 
http://store.somafab.com/sual10scr.html


Sugino Alpina2 Touring Triple 10s Crankset


I like my current setup with SRAM bar ends, friction in the front and 
10-speed indexing in the rear.  But after checking out prices and 
availability going to 9-speed isn't a big deal


The XD600 definitely is cheaper than the Alpina 2.

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[RBW] Re: How do you guys do it, buying a bike sight unseen

[Daniel D.]

Thanks for the thoughts everyone. The worry's died down a bit.  Blue vs. 
gray is not quite as settled :p.  

Another thing was reading that the silver and sugino cranks are not 
10-speed friendly.  I like my current setup with SRAM bar ends, friction in 
the front and 10-speed indexing in the rear.  But after checking out prices 
and availability going to 9-speed isn't a big deal

Thanks, Kellie.  We should ride again soon.  Definitely when I have a new 
steed to show off.

On Saturday, August 12, 2017 at 5:25:30 PM UTC-7, Kellie wrote:
>
> Congrats Daniel or your order! You are going *to love it!*
>
 
Without that first visit to Riv HQ, unlikely I would've considered a 
purchase from Rivendell.

On Sunday, August 13, 2017 at 2:23:25 AM UTC-7, REC wrote:
>
> Still, without having a local dealer with built up stock, I never would 
> have made this first purchase.
>
 

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[RBW] Re: How do you guys do it, buying a bike sight unseen

[lum gim fong]

I've had 4 Rivendells, sight-unseen, and they all rode great.

55 Bleriot (used)
53 Bleriot (new in box from Peter J. White Cycles)
52 Blue Sam (new from RBW)
54 Rambouillet. (used, traded my Blue Sam for it).

Rambouillet (Noodle drop setup) is my favorite as it is the easiest to 
pedal down the road.
I have the 53 Bleriot still, that I have bosco bars on and use it to sit 
upright when I go for rides with my wife.

I would not hesitate to buy a Rivendell sight unseen. Just go by their 
sizing methods and you should be fine.
Or, if you know your ideal top tube length then go with that as long as the 
standover in that size is also ok for you.
My advice:
If you are short armed/trunked, and ride drops, you may want to size down 
one size if the frame sizes are close. If you will be upright riding, then 
just stick with RBW sizing methods.



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[RBW] Re: How do you guys do it, buying a bike sight unseen

[blakcloud]

I bought a Betty Foy for my wife because I liked the look. I was already 
riding Rivendell "inspired" bikes at the time and was content. After I 
built hers up, I decided that I would like to try one so I bought a Sam 
Hilborne. I made my decision by reading everything on the Riv website and 
reading this group. I also knew two other things. First any bike isn't a 
forever bike for me. If  I didn't like it I would sell it. Second the 
resale value on the Riv's is quite high which make decision number one even 
easier if I decided to sell. 

So far I am content and have no reason to sell and my wife likes her bike a 
lot..  


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[RBW] Re: How do you guys do it, buying a bike sight unseen

[Deacon Patrick]

One more thought ... If I'd been on this group at the time, I'd have gone 
round a few bends second guessing my choices and wondering if I should 
trust the way Grant sized me up. Grant and Co. nailed it.

Once you have your bike, this group is brilliant at helping dial in bits 
and bobs. We're even pretty good at suggesting pros and cons for one bike 
vs. another. But things like size, part selection, and the intangibles of 
how it all works together -- Grant and Co. are brilliant. Trust then and be 
delighted.

The amazing thing I've learned about my Rivs in the last five years is they 
are about riding, not about themselves. Unpretentious, hearty, svelte, 
smooth, stable, quick, flowing. Just. Ride. And you will, with a 
face-disfiguring grin that will have your friends wondering even more about 
you. Grin.

With abandon,
Patrick

On Thursday, August 10, 2017 at 3:08:54 PM UTC-6, Daniel D. wrote:
>
> I hopped right on the Roadini.  
>

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[RBW] Re: How do you guys do it, buying a bike sight unseen

[REC]

I am lucky enough to have two riv dealers within a 3 hour drive, although 
I've only been to and purchased from one. 

I'd only heard of riv for a few months before I went on a test ride of 
atlantis and cheviot.  I might have ridden a sam also.   I spoke a few 
times with Riv corp about which ones would be best for me, and then I went 
down again a few months later and rode sam and appaloosa,  which is the one 
I bought on the spot.

Now, with a few different  rides and information from this board, if I 
wanted another riv, and couldn't test it prior to purchase, I would trust 
rivendell recommendation.  

Still, without having a local dealer with built up stock, I never would 
have made this first purchase.

On Thursdeday, August 10, 2017 at 5:08:54 PM UTC-4, Daniel D. wrote:
>
> I hopped right on the Roadini.  Since it's a pre-order with a wait, a 
> tinge of worry has creeped in. I've never bought a bike before taking a 
> spin on it let alone not being able to touch it or a pre-order.  Will I 
> like it, will parts selection be a pain in the butt, what if it rides like 
> my drop bar touring bike, look at that shiny titanium thing over 
> thereblah blah blah
>
> Should've grabbed that $1600 minty choco-bar orange Sam...nah I wanted 
> something roadieish
>

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[RBW] Re: How do you guys do it, buying a bike sight unseen

[Kellie]

Congrats Daniel or your order! You are going *to love it!*

On Thursday, August 10, 2017 at 2:08:54 PM UTC-7, Daniel D. wrote:
>
> I hopped right on the Roadini.  Since it's a pre-order with a wait, a 
> tinge of worry has creeped in. I've never bought a bike before taking a 
> spin on it let alone not being able to touch it or a pre-order.  Will I 
> like it, will parts selection be a pain in the butt, what if it rides like 
> my drop bar touring bike, look at that shiny titanium thing over 
> thereblah blah blah
>
> Should've grabbed that $1600 minty choco-bar orange Sam...nah I wanted 
> something roadieish
>

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[RBW] Re: How do you guys do it, buying a bike sight unseen

[Jon BALER]

I have bought all my recent bikes (15?) without a test ride.  The LBS 
typically don't carry the XL sizes, and most models that I seek are sold as 
a frame only.  I think part selection is more critical, and I can always 
change those.

I have a pretty good idea what I want, pick relatively simple bikes, and am 
not terribly picky over what makes a good bike.

If I was between a medium and large, and buying an uber-fancy, full 
suspension mountain bike, then it would be a different story.

Jon
Ellicott City, MD

On Friday, August 11, 2017 at 11:27:04 AM UTC-4, peec...@yahoo.com wrote:
>
> Experimental purchases, then discarding some of those purchases is 
> relatively more economical and best done with bicycles rather than cars or 
> motorcycles.
> tim
> On Thursday, August 10, 2017 at 10:52:07 PM UTC-5, Bill M. wrote:
>>
>> All I can say is, you do your diligence, take your best educated shot at 
>> a bike that will work, and accept that if it doesn't work out you will 
>> either have to live with it or sell it along and take some financial loss. 
>>  I think of it as the fee for the education I've gotten by riding the bike 
>> - if I didn't like it, I have at least learned why and won't buy that again.
>>
>> Bill
>> Stockton, CA
>>
>> On Thursday, August 10, 2017 at 2:08:54 PM UTC-7, Daniel D. wrote:
>>>
>>> I hopped right on the Roadini.  Since it's a pre-order with a wait, a 
>>> tinge of worry has creeped in. I've never bought a bike before taking a 
>>> spin on it let alone not being able to touch it or a pre-order.  Will I 
>>> like it, will parts selection be a pain in the butt, what if it rides like 
>>> my drop bar touring bike, look at that shiny titanium thing over 
>>> thereblah blah blah
>>>
>>> Should've grabbed that $1600 minty choco-bar orange Sam...nah I wanted 
>>> something roadieish
>>>
>>

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[RBW] Re: How do you guys do it, buying a bike sight unseen

['peech1...@yahoo.com' via RBW Owners Bunch]

Experimental purchases, then discarding some of those purchases is 
relatively more economical and best done with bicycles rather than cars or 
motorcycles.
tim
On Thursday, August 10, 2017 at 10:52:07 PM UTC-5, Bill M. wrote:
>
> All I can say is, you do your diligence, take your best educated shot at a 
> bike that will work, and accept that if it doesn't work out you will either 
> have to live with it or sell it along and take some financial loss.  I 
> think of it as the fee for the education I've gotten by riding the bike - 
> if I didn't like it, I have at least learned why and won't buy that again.
>
> Bill
> Stockton, CA
>
> On Thursday, August 10, 2017 at 2:08:54 PM UTC-7, Daniel D. wrote:
>>
>> I hopped right on the Roadini.  Since it's a pre-order with a wait, a 
>> tinge of worry has creeped in. I've never bought a bike before taking a 
>> spin on it let alone not being able to touch it or a pre-order.  Will I 
>> like it, will parts selection be a pain in the butt, what if it rides like 
>> my drop bar touring bike, look at that shiny titanium thing over 
>> thereblah blah blah
>>
>> Should've grabbed that $1600 minty choco-bar orange Sam...nah I wanted 
>> something roadieish
>>
>

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[RBW] Re: How do you guys do it, buying a bike sight unseen

[Bill M.]

All I can say is, you do your diligence, take your best educated shot at a 
bike that will work, and accept that if it doesn't work out you will either 
have to live with it or sell it along and take some financial loss.  I 
think of it as the fee for the education I've gotten by riding the bike - 
if I didn't like it, I have at least learned why and won't buy that again.

Bill
Stockton, CA

On Thursday, August 10, 2017 at 2:08:54 PM UTC-7, Daniel D. wrote:
>
> I hopped right on the Roadini.  Since it's a pre-order with a wait, a 
> tinge of worry has creeped in. I've never bought a bike before taking a 
> spin on it let alone not being able to touch it or a pre-order.  Will I 
> like it, will parts selection be a pain in the butt, what if it rides like 
> my drop bar touring bike, look at that shiny titanium thing over 
> thereblah blah blah
>
> Should've grabbed that $1600 minty choco-bar orange Sam...nah I wanted 
> something roadieish
>

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[RBW] Re: How do you guys do it, buying a bike sight unseen

['Dave Small' via RBW Owners Bunch]

Of the 14 bikes I currently own, I was able to ride only 2 before buying 
them.  One is a Surly Cross Check that I bought new from a LBS in about 
2007, and while it's useful as my commuter-bike, it's my least favorite. 
 The other is a 60cm Hillborne, which I test rode at an Ohio Rivendell 
dealer in 2012 and liked and bought, but over the course of that first 
summer I decided it was a bit too big and I never could love it.  I still 
have it, and I *like* it, but I don't *love* it---but I love my 58cm Sam 
that I bought on presale 2 years ago without riding.  I also have a Homer 
Hilsen, 2 Velo-Orange bikes, and a Waterford that I love, none of which I 
could ride before buying, and I have a custom-built 650b rando that's the 
most expensive bike I own and is the one about which I'm most ambivalent. 
 Obviously I couldn't ride that one beforehand, but still, it was 
custom-built for me so it should be perfect, right?  It's not.  

Over time I've learned about myself, my riding style and bike 
preferences---both of which have "evolved" over the years---and can figure 
out now whether a bike will fit and whether I'll like it.  For example, I 
learned from the first Sam that I don't want to buy a Riv for which I'm on 
the edge of the recommended PBH range; I want to be in the middle of the 
range.  It's why I later bought the 58cm Sam, and why I won't buy an 
Appaloosa with the current sizing.  

Some bikes have been better for me than others, but none have been bad and 
most have been very good to great.  The ones I've sold I sold not because 
the bikes changed, but because my riding style moved away from the bike to 
the point that I no longer rode it.  In my case that means I've gone from 
racier bikes to less-racy bikes (country bikes, anyone?), and the bikes 
I've sold were ones with more aggressive geometry and lower-than-the-saddle 
bars.

The advice above to let Riv guide you is good; they know what they're 
doing.  On my 58cm Sam I thought I'd need to lengthen the stem and replace 
the bars with more narrow bars, but when I got it and rode it, the fit was 
perfect just as it was.  The folks at Riv had never met me, but they knew 
more about my fit than I did!  

You'll never know if buying sight-unseen can work for you unless you take 
the plunge, and I sense that if you don't then you'll always wonder what 
you've missed.  As one of Riv's less expensive bikes but with Riv-bike 
design features, build quality, ride quality, and great customer-service 
behind it, the Roadini would be a great one to take the plunge on if you're 
ever gonna do it.  

Dave 

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Re: [RBW] Re: How do you guys do it, buying a bike sight unseen

[Steve Palincsar]

On 08/10/2017 06:51 PM, Bill Lindsay wrote:

Steve correctly pointed out a qualifier

"Of course, there could also be an issue with the stoutness of tubing
required for a loaded touring bike vs an unloaded roadie, so tell us
about the frame tubing of the touring bike as well.  And by all means,
describe. "

My comment was deliberate.  That's precisely why I limited my offered 
comments to 'geometry and fit'.  I intended to withhold comment about 
the more qualitative aspects that are informed as much by the rider 
and the rider's preferences.  You are absolutely right that a 
perfectly fitting bike made from gossamer mithril is a different 
machine than a bike with the identical geometry made of thickwall OS.






But tubing stiffness is qualitative!  How it affects you, on the other 
hand, is not.


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Re: [RBW] Re: How do you guys do it, buying a bike sight unseen

[Bill Lindsay]

Steve correctly pointed out a qualifier

"Of course, there could also be an issue with the stoutness of tubing 
required for a loaded touring bike vs an unloaded roadie, so tell us 
about the frame tubing of the touring bike as well.  And by all means, 
describe. "

My comment was deliberate.  That's precisely why I limited my offered 
comments to 'geometry and fit'.  I intended to withhold comment about the 
more qualitative aspects that are informed as much by the rider and the 
rider's preferences.  You are absolutely right that a perfectly fitting 
bike made from gossamer mithril is a different machine than a bike with the 
identical geometry made of thickwall OS.  

BL in EC

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Re: [RBW] Re: How do you guys do it, buying a bike sight unseen

[Patrick Moore]

A wise woman!

On Thu, Aug 10, 2017 at 4:37 PM, Jay Connolly  wrote:

> ... When my wife found me tearing furiously at the packaging of a new part
> one day, she paused in the doorway for a moment and said, "This is instead
> of a younger woman, right?" And I said, "Absolutely and unequivocally,
> Yes!" And she said, "Then it's okay with me."
>

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[RBW] Re: How do you guys do it, buying a bike sight unseen

[Jay Connolly]

At my size (6'5", 260) and location (on an Island with a total population of 
not much more than 500k) it's hard to find bikes to test ride. My first 700c 
bike (a 60cm Trek 520) was too small, though the salesman/store owner insisted 
that it would be a good fit. In time, I bought a 62cm Surly Cross Check, which 
I loved, except the 613mm stack made it a trial to get the bars up without 
making the bike look clownish. Still, it was one of the best bikes I've owned. 
I ended up selling it to my brother, as it fit him beautifully. I used the geo 
of the Surly to guesstimate fit on a whole passel of bikes over the years, with 
particular emphasis on top tube length and seat post angle (see Bill Lindsey's 
discussion of his Sam Hillborne in his thread about 10 bikes and 2000 miles). I 
also learned more about how to finesse fit with stems, bars, saddles, & posts. 
If you have one bike that fits you very well, you can extrapolate pretty 
accurately, though you may be forced to drop some discretionary cash on changes 
to the items I mentioned above. The learning curve has been expensive for me, 
but for various reasons, I'm okay with that. When my wife found me tearing 
furiously at the packaging of a new part one day, she paused in the doorway for 
a moment and said, "This is instead of a younger woman, right?" And I said, 
"Absolutely and unequivocally, Yes!" And she said, "Then it's okay with me."

Jay

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[RBW] Re: How do you guys do it, buying a bike sight unseen

['Mark in Beacon' via RBW Owners Bunch]

https://youtu.be/aj5DccgBYeM?t=25s

On Thursday, August 10, 2017 at 5:36:51 PM UTC-4, Garth wrote:
>
>
>Well, you'll never get it wrong and you'll never get it right. 
>
> Every bike has a "sweet spot" and it is always revealed if you forget 
> about everything you thought you knew, the "supposed to be's and shoulda 
> woulda coulda" and just ride it.  
>
> Doesn't mean you'll ride it beyond that moment it doesn't mean 
> anything at all, and that nothing means everything. 
>
>
>
>
>

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[RBW] Re: How do you guys do it, buying a bike sight unseen

[dougP]

Daniel:

When I bought my Atlantis in 2003, I had never seen a Rivendell, let alone 
ridden one.  However, the bike got an excellent review from John Schubert 
in Adventure Cycling's magazine.  The jist of the article was that if you 
wanted a well thought, perfectly serviceable touring bike that was 
available with decent components, this was it.  The first time I saw a 
Rivendell was when the big box arrived on my porch & I unpacked my 
Atlantis.  In less than an hour I was on the road, and recall thinking 
"this is what a bike should feel like."  14 years later I still feel the 
same way.

BTW, Rivendell does an excellent job on the parts selection.  They've got 
the experience to know what works together & what doesn't, saving you tons 
of headaches.  I would just go with the flow & enjoy the ride.

dougP

On Thursday, August 10, 2017 at 2:08:54 PM UTC-7, Daniel D. wrote:
>
> I hopped right on the Roadini.  Since it's a pre-order with a wait, a 
> tinge of worry has creeped in. I've never bought a bike before taking a 
> spin on it let alone not being able to touch it or a pre-order.  Will I 
> like it, will parts selection be a pain in the butt, what if it rides like 
> my drop bar touring bike, look at that shiny titanium thing over 
> thereblah blah blah
>
> Should've grabbed that $1600 minty choco-bar orange Sam...nah I wanted 
> something roadieish
>

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[RBW] Re: How do you guys do it, buying a bike sight unseen

[Garth]

   Well, you'll never get it wrong and you'll never get it right. 

Every bike has a "sweet spot" and it is always revealed if you forget about 
everything you thought you knew, the "supposed to be's and shoulda woulda 
coulda" and just ride it.  

Doesn't mean you'll ride it beyond that moment it doesn't mean anything 
at all, and that nothing means everything. 




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Re: [RBW] Re: How do you guys do it, buying a bike sight unseen

[Steve Palincsar]

On 08/10/2017 05:24 PM, Bill Lindsay wrote:
I think it's the same as ordering a custom.  Trust the supplier + 
comprehend the numbers.  If you don't or can't comprehend the numbers, 
then it's a leap of faith.  Move it on if you hate it and try to learn 
something from it that you can use next time.


Well said!



Do you have the geometry chart for your drop bar touring bike?  Let's 
see it and perhaps you could describe why it would be a bad thing if 
your Roadini rode like your touring bike, and I'm sure we could point 
to differences in geometry and fit.


Of course, there could also be an issue with the stoutness of tubing 
required for a loaded touring bike vs an unloaded roadie, so tell us 
about the frame tubing of the touring bike as well.  And by all means, 
describe.


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[RBW] Re: How do you guys do it, buying a bike sight unseen

[Bill Lindsay]

I think it's the same as ordering a custom.  Trust the supplier + 
comprehend the numbers.  If you don't or can't comprehend the numbers, then 
it's a leap of faith.  Move it on if you hate it and try to learn something 
from it that you can use next time.  

Do you have the geometry chart for your drop bar touring bike?  Let's see 
it and perhaps you could describe why it would be a bad thing if your 
Roadini rode like your touring bike, and I'm sure we could point to 
differences in geometry and fit.  

BL in EC

On Thursday, August 10, 2017 at 2:08:54 PM UTC-7, Daniel D. wrote:
>
> I hopped right on the Roadini.  Since it's a pre-order with a wait, a 
> tinge of worry has creeped in. I've never bought a bike before taking a 
> spin on it let alone not being able to touch it or a pre-order.  Will I 
> like it, will parts selection be a pain in the butt, what if it rides like 
> my drop bar touring bike, look at that shiny titanium thing over 
> thereblah blah blah
>
> Should've grabbed that $1600 minty choco-bar orange Sam...nah I wanted 
> something roadieish
>

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[RBW] Re: How do you guys do it, buying a bike sight unseen

[Deacon Patrick]

Those questions, well my version of them, drove me round the bend. The good 
news was I hadn't far to go. Grin. At which point I realized there was no 
way to answer those questions except after I rode the bike. I attempted, 
and largely failed, to enter into a peace, accepting that I couldn't do 
anything but spin my imaginary wheels, so I might as well trust my initial 
discernment (St. Ignatius says never to change a decision made in 
consolation when you're in desolation. Wise man.). Where I managed to be 
successful, I refocused my efforts to things I actually could do whenever 
the imaginary spinning began. Kept me (just) this side of sanity. Unless 
you ask anyone other than me. Grin.

With abandon,
Patrick

On Thursday, August 10, 2017 at 3:08:54 PM UTC-6, Daniel D. wrote:
>
> I hopped right on the Roadini.  Since it's a pre-order with a wait, a 
> tinge of worry has creeped in. I've never bought a bike before taking a 
> spin on it let alone not being able to touch it or a pre-order.  Will I 
> like it, will parts selection be a pain in the butt, what if it rides like 
> my drop bar touring bike, look at that shiny titanium thing over 
> thereblah blah blah
>
> Should've grabbed that $1600 minty choco-bar orange Sam...nah I wanted 
> something roadieish
>

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