I got in a nice shopping ride on the LongLow this morning, after riding only the QuickBeam for a few weeks. Apart from the freaky feeling when I stopped pedaling and coasted along, the main difference I noticed was more relaxed handling, maybe "less quick" steering is the way to describe it. Anyway, it prompted me to take some side-by-side measurements. Here they are, if anyone is interested (all in cm)
Measurement, LL, QB Head Tube, 23.7, 24.7 Top Tube, 62.1, 62.3 (center of HT to center of ST) Seat Tube, 65.0, 66.0 (BB to top of TT) BB Height, 27.1, 28.0 (above ground, similar tires on 700c rims) Chainline, 4.3, 4.5 (middle ring, Ritchey Logic on LL, Sugino XD2 on QB) Wheelbase, 108.5, 108.5 (both are adjustable, happen to be same) Chainstay, 45.4, 44.5 (BB to axle) Seatstay, 58.9, 60.0 (axle to top of TT) Seat Height, 84.6, 86 (BB to top of saddle) Seat, 19.5, 20.0 (top of T to top of Saddle) Front Reach, 60.0, 56.5 (center of clamp to front of saddle) Rear Reach, 88.5, 85 (center of clamp to rear of saddle) Pedal Height, 9.2, 10.0 (spindle center above ground) Bar Height, 104.3, 113.5 (clamp center above ground) Cranks, 175, 175 Q-factor, 150, 160 Funny thing, they both feel "right" even though the LL has its bars further forward and lower than the QB. Same moustache bars on both, with an old Nitto Pearl on the LL and a non-name dirt drop on the QB. Some obvious differences, the frame height is a clean 1 cm largwer on the QB, and the chainstays are longer on the LL. TopTube is only 2 mm longer on the QB.I could probably stand to adjust my stem and seat on the LongLow, they have not been changed in several years and maybe would feel better after adjustment. And I'm going to try the Qb again with a lower and longer stem, to see if duplicating the LL seat "reach" is useful. But they're different bikes, for very different purposes. The other obvious difference between them is that the LL was custom built by Joe Stark to Grant's specs, based on all my measurements, back in 1998. Not that I've gotten any taller, or grown longer arms, but RBW's design criteria may have changed between the custom-frame LongLow era, and the QB introduction. And yes, I have hit pedals to ground on the LongLow, but not yet on the QuickBeam. The higher BB is working out fine. - Andrew, Berkeley -- 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.
