[RBW] The ups and downs of my Clem Smith Jr

2018-09-05 Thread Jim Bronson
The good news about my Clem is that I've been riding it a lot more since I
moved.  I now live on a busy 4 lane highway with no shoulders, so I was
having to either brave the traffic to get to a side street or trail, or put
the bike on the car, which I hate to do if I'm just going out for a fun
ride.  I found a gravel path behind my condo complex that goes about a
quarter mile to the next cross street to the highway.  From there I can
cross the highway and access the regional mixed terrain trail system.

The shortcut I found has got pretty rough big-ish rocks so I am loath to
ride my more roadish Rivendells with their relatively fragile Compass
tires.  The Clem though tackles this section with aplumb so I find myself
wheeling it out for rides more than my other bikes.  I also find the
traction just a little bit better on the pea gravel sections of the
regional trails, where the slick Compass tires might kick out a bit going
around a corner, the Clem and it's big Kendas track straight and true where
I point my wheels.  It just feels a little less squirrely, so to say.

Which is a good segue into what I don't like.  I bought my 65 ClemH
complete and one of the things that it came with that I am not super
enamored of is the Bosco bars.  This may sound odd since they are 58cm wide
(I think) but they feel too narrow and too far back for me.  I feel like I
might hit them with my knees when I'm out riding.  I feel I would prefer a
bar with less intrusion into my midsection.  I'd also prefer something a
little less upright, which I think having a bar that's not so far into my
midsection will take care of itself.  It just doesn't feel dialed in the
way it is now.

Looking around on Rivendell's website, I like the look of the Billie bars.
I'm just not sure if 58 will be wide enough for my preference.  I'm
thinking maybe because they flare out a lot more and much less back than
the Boscos, that the 58 might be fine in this form factor.  Truth is my
drop bar bikes are only 48cm so having a bar not so far back like the
Billie would work I think

Or there is the Aherne+MAP handlebar which is 61.5 cm wide in the wider
version.
https://www.ahearnecycles.com/shop/ahearnemap-handlebar if you're not
familar.  I still have some store credit at Rivendell though so this route
would cost me more out of pocket.

Anyone tried either of these bars on their Clem?

The other thing I don't like is friction shifting.  Does Microshift or
SunRace make an indexed 8 speed thumbie?  I was hoping to re-use the thumb
pod and just get the shifter part of it, but I can only find 8 speed in
friction.  I could switch to Shimano 8 which would require a different
thumb pod or go 9 speed indexed T09 Microshift thumbies which would require
a 9 speed cassette and potentially a different derailer.

Any thoughts?

-Jim



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Re: [RBW] The ups and downs of my Clem Smith Jr

2018-09-05 Thread Eric Daume
I had a Clem with the stock build, and like you, I found the Boscos weren't
for me. Lots of real estate, none of it valuable. I much prefer my Jones
Loop on my Clem. You'll have to get a 31.8mm stem, though. It's worth the
minimal hassle.

I wasn't big on the soft index/friction shifting, either. I have indexed
Sram grip shifter 9 speed on my bar now. That's a nice combination with the
Jones bar.

Eric

On Wed, Sep 5, 2018 at 4:51 PM Jim Bronson  wrote:

> The good news about my Clem is that I've been riding it a lot more since I
> moved.  I now live on a busy 4 lane highway with no shoulders, so I was
> having to either brave the traffic to get to a side street or trail, or put
> the bike on the car, which I hate to do if I'm just going out for a fun
> ride.  I found a gravel path behind my condo complex that goes about a
> quarter mile to the next cross street to the highway.  From there I can
> cross the highway and access the regional mixed terrain trail system.
>
> The shortcut I found has got pretty rough big-ish rocks so I am loath to
> ride my more roadish Rivendells with their relatively fragile Compass
> tires.  The Clem though tackles this section with aplumb so I find myself
> wheeling it out for rides more than my other bikes.  I also find the
> traction just a little bit better on the pea gravel sections of the
> regional trails, where the slick Compass tires might kick out a bit going
> around a corner, the Clem and it's big Kendas track straight and true where
> I point my wheels.  It just feels a little less squirrely, so to say.
>
> Which is a good segue into what I don't like.  I bought my 65 ClemH
> complete and one of the things that it came with that I am not super
> enamored of is the Bosco bars.  This may sound odd since they are 58cm wide
> (I think) but they feel too narrow and too far back for me.  I feel like I
> might hit them with my knees when I'm out riding.  I feel I would prefer a
> bar with less intrusion into my midsection.  I'd also prefer something a
> little less upright, which I think having a bar that's not so far into my
> midsection will take care of itself.  It just doesn't feel dialed in the
> way it is now.
>
> Looking around on Rivendell's website, I like the look of the Billie
> bars.  I'm just not sure if 58 will be wide enough for my preference.  I'm
> thinking maybe because they flare out a lot more and much less back than
> the Boscos, that the 58 might be fine in this form factor.  Truth is my
> drop bar bikes are only 48cm so having a bar not so far back like the
> Billie would work I think
>
> Or there is the Aherne+MAP handlebar which is 61.5 cm wide in the wider
> version.
> https://www.ahearnecycles.com/shop/ahearnemap-handlebar if you're not
> familar.  I still have some store credit at Rivendell though so this route
> would cost me more out of pocket.
>
> Anyone tried either of these bars on their Clem?
>
> The other thing I don't like is friction shifting.  Does Microshift or
> SunRace make an indexed 8 speed thumbie?  I was hoping to re-use the thumb
> pod and just get the shifter part of it, but I can only find 8 speed in
> friction.  I could switch to Shimano 8 which would require a different
> thumb pod or go 9 speed indexed T09 Microshift thumbies which would require
> a 9 speed cassette and potentially a different derailer.
>
> Any thoughts?
>
> -Jim
>
>
>
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>
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