This is largely a repeat of what others have said, but I already typed it, so here you go.
"My largest concern is this: most of my friends and neighbors go on 3 - 4 hour rides up into the mountains on their super-light carbon frames. Is there a way for me to set up the AHH so that it is functional on mellow gravel roads, but also keeps up with my friends on the steep climbs? " Short answer, as above, is: it depends on your friends. But the description sounds like they are dedicated race-enthusiasts. Most folks who have shelled out the money for the super-light carbon to ride 3 plus hours in the mountains have not "let go of their race fantasies." This is no insult to your friends, bicycle racing is a really amazing thing that humans do, but it's a narrow activity by definition with pretty specific equipment. And it's no insult to the AHH (disclosure: my purchase of same is in the works). I fully subscribe to the arguments made here and elsewhere about the relatively narrow differences in personal time for fattier vs. skinnier tire front, or the fact that it's the engine, not the bike, or the relatively small percentage of weight the bike is when you add in the rider to the package. But fast cyclists go faster on those little carbon things. And the AHH, while as close to all- purpose as a bike can or should be, isn't really designed to chase the peloton. Haven't had the honor of being in the presence of the Roadeo, but if you intend to follow your friends on the weekends as a primary purpose, I'd definitely give it a look. You can still get tires on that thing that will be fine in the gravel. But your intrigue on the camping front/multi-day trip will probably remain intrigue on Roadeo and definitely would on a super-carbon bike. Personally, I'd rather be able to pack a lunch and hit the gravel whenever I felt like it, or put on a rack (which ain't happening with any of the super-light carbon bikes I've ridden). Boulder, I'd imagine, would be a nice place to do that. Rick (whose bleriot was dropped by the peloton on Thursday, but who had a nice spritely ride to the lake on Sunday.) --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ 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 -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
