I sort-of inherited a 61 cm Homer that I named Thumper Buttercup. My only problem with it was that it rode so well and beautifully that it practically sang, and got me to buy another Rivendell, a QB. So that's my warning about Rivs, it's a slippery slope and then it's like trying to pick your favorite child when you go to your bike stable. First world problems, I know.
But seriously, it's a great all-rounder - I've used it for short distance, long distance, errands with heavy loads, being a lousy ride leader (I kind of left my followers behind). It's my most comfortable bike in the stable. And it grows on you- and I suspect like most of us who have AHH, it becomes a part of us. And it's very, very photogenic. Here's proof: https://www.flickr.com/photos/ejchang/albums/72157644207754985 E. On Thu, Nov 12, 2015 at 8:08 PM, ted <ted.ke...@comcast.net> wrote: > > I have a 56 Homer I bought through this list. As others have said the AHH > is a really lovely bike. Whether or not its what you are looking for may > depend on what you mean when you say "springy" or "responsive flexible > tubing". If you are wanting the flex of a standard tube diameter thin wall > frame that some associate with "planing", then the Homer may not be for > you. > > The AHH tubing is somewhat lighter than the Hillborne or Atlantis. I think > mine weighs about 7lbs (frame, fork, headset and binder bolt), which I > believe is about 1.5 lbs more than a Rodeo. Like other Riv's the tubes are > "oversized". I think my bike is quite lively and very responsive, but I > don't think the folks who wax on about planing and thin walled standard > sized tubes would favor the AHH. > > I used to ride a late 70's Nobilette built frame with then standard sized > 531 tubes (still have it just don't ride it much). When jumping or climbing > hard I believe I felt the frame flexing. I didn't really feel one way or > the other about that. I really liked that bike. > My next frame was an ~1980 Gios that had a shorter wheelbase and short > beefy stays. I was struck by how direct and immediate the connection > between the pedals and the contact patch of the rear tire was, and I really > liked that. The handling was also very precise and very responsive, which > was kinda great (particularly riding crits and such). I immediately much > preferred the Gios for the riding I was doing at the time, though it was > kinda unforgiving and perhaps not so great (still have that bike too). > When I got my Homer the first real ride I took had me thinking of Will > Smith in 4th of July yelling "I have got to get me one of these". It was > (and still is) comfy. It's handling was (and still is) responsive and > precise without seeming the least bit twitchy, and the sense of immediate > and direct connection between pushing on the pedals and the bike jumping > foreword was (and still is) every bit as strong and solid as the Gios. > Since I changed tires from 32s to 42s the handling seems a bit more stable > or slightly less quick but I still like it a lot. The next tires I buy for > it will probably be 38s. > > I frequently ride with a group in which my AHH is the only non MCFRB. > Sometimes one of the guys will say its amazing what I can do on that bike. > I tell them the bike is not a handicap, though my fat belly is. I also ride > it wherever I want. Paved roads, fire roads, wide trails, single track. The > MCFRB guys I ride with seem unwilling to venture off the pavement on those > bikes. Once when I said I had ridden a route they were saying you couldn't > do on a road bike the response was "yea but that bike goes anywhere". > > > > On Thursday, November 12, 2015 at 2:51:40 AM UTC-8, Daniel Jackson wrote: >> >> Many other Rivs get a lot of press here, but I really haven't heard much >> on the Homer. Curious about the ride of this bike - it's liveliness as >> compared to an Atlantis or Hillborne. Is its tubing relatively lighter? Is >> it a softer feel? Is it more beautiful? >> >> Considering one as my all round dirt road bike and looking for something >> springy with centerpulls and clearance for 38s with fenders. >> > > On Thursday, November 12, 2015 at 4:09:43 PM UTC-8, Daniel Jackson wrote: >> >> Thank you all for your considered ideas on this bike - its great to hear >> more about it. >> >> I'm considering it among the Riv lineup as a potential dirt road >> randonneuring/pass hunting bike. I live and ride at the top of VT in the >> Northeast Kingdom - if you look at a map, there aren't really any major >> roads. Its a very rural area, I'm sure there aren't any other Riv bikes, >> and every ride I do is 95% dirt road. I want something that works well with >> a front load (15 lbs. or so) and has responsive, flexible tubing. I'm long >> and lean at 6' 3", 175 lbs. >> >> I'm attracted to the Homer because it seems like it might be the bike in >> Riv's lineup that has the lightest tubing for a bike with good tire >> clearances ( at least 38 is mandatory for the roads I ride) and center >> pulls. >> >> Any other ideas? If I want a Riv, is this the bike for me? >> >> With a PBH of 90, should I go for the 61 or the 63? >> >> Thanks folks. Always wonderful having the list's input. >> >> On Thursday, November 12, 2015 at 6:33:17 PM UTC-5, ttoshi wrote: >>> >>> I have a Homer, Ram (650b for brevets) and a Roadeo, so I am leaning to >>> the lively side of Riv bikes. I weigh 150 and have a 54 cm 650b Homer. I >>> have ridden it on a 600k brevet with PariMoto tires and it did great. >>> After I converted my Ram to 650b (with 42 mm Hetres), I converted the Homer >>> to my deluxe commuter with rear rack etc. I find the Homer rides with some >>> spring and flex when I load it up with about 20 lbs of groceries/commute >>> bags, so I suppose if you weigh 170, the Homer could be ideal (although the >>> weight distribution would be different than with rear bags). >>> >>> Much like the Sam, I think the Homer fits between the brevet/club bike >>> and the credit card tourer. A wonderful bike no doubt!! >>> >>> Toshi >>> >>> >>> On Thu, Nov 12, 2015 at 3:04 PM, William R. <wrom...@optonline.net> >>> wrote: >>> >>>> That's awesome. I don't recall seeing that before. Get one if you can! >>>> >>>> Bill in Westchester, NY >>>> >>>> -- >>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>> Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. >>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>>> an email to rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com. >>>> To post to this group, send email to rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com. >>>> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. >>>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>>> >>> >>> -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "RBW Owners Bunch" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. > Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. 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