Re: [RBW] Re: Weight question / I'm obviously confused

PS Your 59 Clem looks great, TC. On Sunday, January 17, 2021 at 1:51:19 PM UTC-5 Jim Whorton wrote: > TC, thanks for this suggestion. I've been looking at the Schwalbe G-Ones > on the Riv site, trying to decide between the "Speed" vs. the "Allround." > Maybe I will splurge for the more expe

Re: [RBW] Re: Weight question / I'm obviously confused

TC, thanks for this suggestion. I've been looking at the Schwalbe G-Ones on the Riv site, trying to decide between the "Speed" vs. the "Allround." Maybe I will splurge for the more expensive Speeds since you all have talked me out of buying a new bike. Jim W On Sunday, January 17, 2021 at

Re: [RBW] Re: Weight question / I'm obviously confused

Jim, Try some *Schwalbe G-One Speed *' tires with Schwalbe's Extra Light tubes. Expensive, but from my experience with diff tires (from road to knobby) on my 59 Clem H, they are simply excellent. About as light as you'll get, fast, grippy,

Re: [RBW] Re: Weight question / I'm obviously confused

Paul, these are all good questions, and I wish I could answer analytically. Joe Bernard's phrase "road-hugging weight" sounds right to me. Whether the steering was more controllable with the extra weight--maybe. An interesting thing about having a pipe sticking out over the front wheel is that it

[RBW] Re: Weight question / I'm obviously confused

Many interesting/helpful electrons already spilled on this. I'll only add 1. I have a very hard time myself characterizing frame-related ride characteristics. That said, here I'm having trouble contrasting "lumbering feeling on a hilly ride" with "gets smoother with more weight." Also, "not

Re: [RBW] Re: Weight question / I'm obviously confused

Perhaps this point is obvious to some but it just occurred to me. A manufacturer must design the bike for intended use (touring, racing, etc.) so that's one major influence on tubing choice & geometry. For production bikes (as opposed to customs), the design must also address maximum load, i

Re: [RBW] Re: Weight question / I'm obviously confused

Thanks all. When I said "lumbering hulk" I should have included myself + the bike, not the bike alone. Peter Fonda looks very serene with his arms up in the air, there. Brendonoid, I respect your experience carrying 50 kgs of mail. I tried the Kwick Nines with less air today--got the rear

Re: [RBW] Re: Weight question / I'm obviously confused

If you are going to talk about the flexing of a Rivendell, built from fairly sturdy OS tubing, I think going from a 59cm 700c diamond frame to a 52cm 650b diamond frame will affect flex characteristics more than strapping a pipe to the top tube. Extra weight can definitely induce flex, but usua

Re: [RBW] Re: Weight question / I'm obviously confused

This thread is so good I just needed to let everyone know how much I enjoyed reading it. My immediate thought was as others then said, to lower the tyre pressure and then get rid of those tyres ASAP. Loaded bikes vs. unloaded bikes is a very real and noticable thing also. My postie bike goes f

Re: [RBW] Re: Weight question / I'm obviously confused

Jim, You are not imagining things. I have a Surly Cross-Check that has been used as a commuter, grocery-getter, randonneur, single-speed and as a cyclo-tourer. When I had it configured as a tourer I had it fairly heavily laden in front (2 large Ortlieb backroller panniers + Tubus Tara) with a

Re: [RBW] Re: Weight question / I'm obviously confused

I think I have an idea. The stiff tubing on your Clem wasn't flexing without a load. Bikes work best when they flex a little, your other bikes weren't as stiff, the extra weight allows the Clem to "plane". I've heard Jan Heine talk about stiffer bikes needing more weight to ride better. On Sund

Re: [RBW] Re: Weight question / I'm obviously confused

Jim M, thanks for sharing that about the 52 Clem. I had wondered how a 52 would feel. I can't help thinking the 55 Atlantis would be perfect, though I'm hesitant to spend that money on a new bike for all the reasons people have said. Really appreciate all the comments and advice. I've learn

Re: [RBW] Re: Weight question / I'm obviously confused

On Saturday, January 9, 2021 at 8:24:28 PM UTC-8 Jim Whorton wrote: > I'm not sure why I picked up the pipe, Jason. It seemed like a good > pipe. > I have a pipe like that (slightly shorter) to use as a cheater bar. I have the same pbh and bought a 52 Clem H that was on sale. It was too sma

Re: [RBW] Re: Weight question / I'm obviously confused

Jim, the bike may seem "too big" , but is it really or are you simply comparing it to your other bikes and equating that with "too big", "a lumbering hulk" ? Your Clem is what it is, so rather than comparing it and thus diminishing it, play around with it. I've seen many a tales here how som

Re: [RBW] Re: Weight question / I'm obviously confused

Jim, several years ago I had a double TT 64cm Atlantis that I took on a tour up around the Olympic peninsula. It also was a touch too large for me. In touring mode I had it loaded up with a Pass and Stow front rack with a basket on top and two medium sized low rider front panniers. On the rea

Re: [RBW] Re: Weight question / I'm obviously confused

Anything bike related that I don't want goes to my local bicycle co-op. They depend on donations to keep bikes owned by low income people running. What feels like a crappy, sluggish tire to me could be wonderful to someone who just needs new rubber to get back'n'forth to work on. Never toss o

Re: [RBW] Re: Weight question / I'm obviously confused

Thanks for the ideas and observations, everyone. I will try lowering the tire pressure tomorrow. New tires soon, too. Jason and Mark, I think you are right that the Clem *ought* to fit me. By the numbers it does. My favorite bike to ride around town is an old mountain bike with a 53cm seat tub

[RBW] Re: Weight question / I'm obviously confused

I doubt the pipe is doing much for your Clem other than perhaps contributing to some beausage on your top tube. The bike certainly doesn't seem like it would be too big for a 6'1"--Grant runs a 59 Clem and he is under six foot. I never changed the Kendas on my OC (Original Clementine) and yeah

[RBW] Re: Weight question / I'm obviously confused

My Atlantis has a much softer, more cushy ride with 20-30 lbs of weight. The cost is slower acceleration & generally more effort. OTH, I've ridden the long wheelbase Atlantis & even unloaded it rides noticeably softer than my 2003. The longer chainstays probably account for that. dougP On

[RBW] Re: Weight question / I'm obviously confused

Makes sense to me. I ride around with two kids on my bike all the time (first an Appaloosa with one kid in front and one in back, now a Clem L with an xtracycle). They both cruise like Impalas. On the other end I stripped the stock wheels off my Clem H and put on some cliffhangers + thunderburt

[RBW] Re: Weight question / I'm obviously confused

That's what car ads in the '60s called road-hugging weight. To extend the car analogy, I've had several lighter/smaller ones with decent power, and now a basic big Chevy Impala with a little more power and a LOT more weight. It's probably not any faster than those hot hatches but oh baby does i