Look at the SOMA Speedster. For $800 it's a lugged steel sport frame and fork built for 57 mm reach brakes, with chromed head lugs and fork crown, room for 32's, and two sets of rear eyelets. Yes, the steerer is 1-1/8" threadless, but that's not a deal breaker for most riders these days. It's even painted dark red as requested here. The SOMA has angles within 1/2 degree of my '95 Riv Road, and probably better clearance (the Road used short reach brakes, as did the '91 RB-1 I owned), and costs $100 less than I paid for my Riv in '95.
I'd want the Speedster to have an extended head tube and a little more BB drop, but I could make one work for me. IMO it would be pretty tough for Riv to compete with the Soma in the RB-1-like go-fast market. I can't really blame Grant for sticking to turf where he can offer something more unique. This isn't an ad, I've never ridden the SOMA (or even seen one in person), and my old Riv Road will continue to be my go-fast bike. I'm just saying... Bill On Jan 17, 2:28 pm, Aaron Thomas <[email protected]> wrote: > I fully concur with Patrick and James. I've recently come into > possession of an old RB-2 (a hand-me-down from a generous friend). By > Rivendell's high standards, the lugwork is kind of cheap in > comparison. But, man, does that bike smoke! > > As the proud owner of a Romulus, my allegiance has been slowly > shifting to the RB-2. It is quick, responsive, and simply flies up > hills in ways that make the Romulus feel tired and plodding. I don't > know what to chalk it up to (non-OS tubing, different geometry, > lighter weight, who knows?), but it sure makes me wish that Rivendell > could bring back something like the RB-1 (or -2) for unloaded, fast, > road-specific riding. > > Produced in Taiwan at Bleriot-ish prices with a simple, one-color > paint job (maybe the old, deep RB-1 or Legolas red), and designed > around, say, a 25mm Pro Race tire -- I bet it would sell like > hotcakes. > > -Aaron > > On Jan 17, 1:23 pm, James Warren <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > Patrick, I agree. I think the Rivendell offerings are amazing, but > > nothing is perfect. If it were possible, I would love if Rivendell added > > just one more bike to their line-up, basically one like the Heron road, > > with that sport geometry you mention, and nice understated looks and a > > resonably low cost. Lugged, maybe Taiwan, single-color and Heron road type > > geometry. But still with mini-rack braze-ons! > > > -Jim-----Original Message----- > > From: PATRICK MOORE > > Sent: Jan 17, 2009 1:07 PM > > To: [email protected] > > Subject: [RBW] Re: Rivendell Bike Models Page - some updates > > With the not-so-recent proliferation of high bars, retentionless pedals, > > fat tires, load capacity, and so on, does Riv have any model that in basic > > theme if not details corresponds to the RB-1, that is, a decently priced, > > unpretentious, well performing sport bike? My last Riv was '03 and it as > > well as the other two were very much in the category of "fast sport bike > > meant for riding very much exclusively on pavement". I'm not particularly > > fast, but that's the kind of bike I want for much of my riding. If I want > > to ride off road, I'll use another bike.On Sat, Jan 17, 2009 at 11:10 AM, > > James > > Warren<[email protected]>wrote:http://www.rivbike.com/products/list/bicycle_models#product=none > > Note the Quickbeam and the new Which Bike For What Chart. I like it. > > Atlantis/Ram/Rom/Redwood: that's so 2003. Things change - embrace it. > > Now it's Atlantis/Homer/Sam/Bombadil/Betty/QB > > The new regime has more versatility than the old. And with Homer taking > > Ram's duties, I think things have evolved quite nicely. > > I wonder if outsiders who just think Rivedell is "old school" can recognize > > even one bit of the evolution. Fun stuff. > > -Jim --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
