[RBW] Re: 1/1/20 Blahg

I also enjoyed the new years day blahg... rambling, informative, entertaining. I think I need some new fidget gadgets on my desk... I have two bikes right now, QuickBeam (shift by loosening two 15mm nuts and sliding the axle or flopping the wheel) and LongLow (friction-mode Shimano 105 barends

Re: [RBW] Re: 1/1/20 Blahg

On Sat, Jan 4, 2020 at 7:36 PM James Valiensi wrote: > Oh Boy- > I hate friction shifting with modern cogs, ie the ones designed for index > shifting. I tried to use friction with these cogs and got nothing but ghost > shifts when I stood up or pedaled hard. > Friction is best with an old Suntour

[RBW] Re: 1/1/20 Blahg

Recumbents and tandems have lots of chain, too. I understand the irritation about longbikes needing long chains and wide racks (car racks), but neither of these are a design flaw from the perspective of what works to make a bike pedal well. -- You received this message because you are subscri

[RBW] Re: 1/1/20 Blahg

James writes: " A bike shouldn't have chain stays so long that you need to buy two chains to get enough length for it." That was a bit of a surprise to me when I built my Appaloosa. Rather than go to my local shop and buy two chains when I replaced the chain last year, I called Rivendell and tol

[RBW] Re: 1/1/20 Blahg

Oh Boy- I hate friction shifting with modern cogs, ie the ones designed for index shifting. I tried to use friction with these cogs and got nothing but ghost shifts when I stood up or pedaled hard. Friction is best with an old Suntour six speed freewheels. I like vinyl and film. But I jammed my

[RBW] Re: 1/1/20 Blahg

Well, Bill I am not sure if indispensable is the word I would choose, but they (index shifters) certainly are butt saver sometimes. The answer though, at least for the time being is Microshift. Surly's have come with'em for years. Unfortunately, that's pretty much it. To me the issue is not in

Re: [RBW] Re: 1/1/20 Blahg

Interesting generalization of the connection between tool technology and human flourishing. In this connection, I recall reading a very interesting book some 10 or so years ago about a MIT master's student who spent a year or so with a very technology-conservative (no black bumper cars, no gasoline

Re: [RBW] Re: 1/1/20 Blahg

+ 1 for this sort of shifting. I actually enjoy the wider variety of torque and cadence required by old fashioned drivetrains (with the exception that I do prefer very close ratios in the very middle, middle defined by use/terrain/type of riding; eg, pavement, 65-70-75 gi (thus must look for Sturme

[RBW] Re: 1/1/20 Blahg

On Thursday, January 2, 2020 at 9:33:42 PM UTC-8, Joe Bernard wrote: > > I don't think he's right about the return of dt shifters. I would also > contest his contention that manual shift is making a comeback in sports > cars; there's a stalwart few who never abandoned them, but I'm not seeing a

[RBW] Re: 1/1/20 Blahg

I don't think he's right about the return of dt shifters. I would also contest his contention that manual shift is making a comeback in sports cars; there's a stalwart few who never abandoned them, but I'm not seeing a mad rush back in that area. Dual-clutch semi-autos with paddle shifters are n

[RBW] Re: 1/1/20 Blahg

Interesting. While it would still be necessary to market friction shifting and long chainstays and rim brakes in contrast to what is on most other bicycles, you would really focus on the skills and the connection between the rider and the bicycle and the environment. I've long been interested in

[RBW] Re: 1/1/20 Blahg

As Grant well pointed out, SunTour lives on in every derailleur made today. In 1988, even Campy bit the bullet and copied SunTour -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owne

[RBW] Re: 1/1/20 Blahg

Now - since Benz mentioned it - transporting long Rivs in/on cars is a whole 'nother matter. My quite long Chevy Impala with big trunk and fold-down rear seats swallows a 45cm Clem L with the front wheel off easily. My recent 52 Clem H, not so much. That bike was big! -- You received this mes

[RBW] Re: 1/1/20 Blahg

On Thursday, January 2, 2020 at 1:55:08 PM UTC-8, masmojo wrote: > > Second, I think this whole long wheelbase thing is getting completely out > of hand. I agree that a super short wheelbase is sort of overkill, but > there's no reason a Clem should have the wheelbase it does. In fact all > sort

[RBW] Re: 1/1/20 Blahg

It is my understanding that Riv frames are the one product they sell as many of as they can make. The Roadini was an exception and it had shorter stays than the other stuff, I don't think Grant's longbikes are a marketing issue. I love Silver Power Ratchet shifters but they do indeed belong in

[RBW] Re: 1/1/20 Blahg

masmojo said index shifting is indispensable for mountain biking, but said he doesn't like trigger shifters. What do you use on your mountain bike(s) if you don't use trigger shifters? Grip shift? Bill Lindsay El Cerrito, CA On Thursday, January 2, 2020 at 1:55:08 PM UTC-8, masmojo wrote:

[RBW] Re: 1/1/20 Blahg

Agreed on both counts but especially LWB. There's a lot of things he's right about and it doesn't take a stretch to get on his side regarding, like steel, rim brakes, threaded steerers, leather saddles, and so on. Asking the average cyclist with Rivendell money to take a chance on a bike with w