on 12/23/08 8:20 AM, Atlantean at softlysoftlycatcheemon...@gmail.com wrote:
> > I understand why a lot of cyclists want to hang on to forged aluminum > stems for aesthetic reasons. But like lugs, pneumatic tires, > cotterless cranks, aluminum rims and dozens of other things, they were > introduced as a technical improvement. Forged aluminum stems are much > lighter than forged steel stems, and they don't rust. We like forged > aluminum stems for the same reason we like lugs. They look great. > > Like cassette hubs, index shifting, dual pivot brakes, single rail > saddles, and on and on, threadless forks have a certain inevitability > about them because they are technical improvements. Yes, it's easier > to raise and lower your bars within a narrow range with a quill stem, > but that's the only advantage I can see other than the aesthetic one. > For someone like me, the higher I go with a quill stem, the floppier > it gets, so raising the bar by exposing more quill is not exactly an > advantage to me. Having the option of a threadless fork on a Riv is > not a crazy idea. It's even a reality, in said Legolas. I would bet > there's more than one Legolas out there all tricked out for touring, > like all those Cross Checks. I'd probably take that bet... ;^) I don't think there are a lot of Legolases (Legolai?) out there to begin with, but the Warning has always been that these are racing-type bikes, with lighter than Riv-normal frame tubing thicknesses. Specifically, "Please don¹t get one with the intention of using it as a lightweight version of an Atlantis it¹s not designed for loaded touring." I've seen one set up as a long distancey brevet type rig: Veronica's over at TandemHearts - http://tinyurl.com/89ar82 But, never one with bags lashed to racks... - Jim -- Jim Edgar cyclofi...@earthlink.net Cyclofiend Bicycle Photo Galleries - http://www.cyclofiend.com Current Classics - Cross Bikes Singlespeed - Working Bikes Send In Your Photos! - Here's how: http://www.cyclofiend.com/guidelines "'You both ride your bike?' He held his hands out and grabbed imaginary handlebars, grinning indulgently, eyeing Tom's helmet. Double disbeleif: not one, but two grown Americans riding bicycles." -- Neal Stephenson, "Zodiac" --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ 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 -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
