Not that I can maintain 20 mph any more -- I could, solo, in my youthful 40s; I can still maintain 18 solo on a flat out and back -- but as to Rivs being slower because of the favored riding position, let me say ad contram that the butt back position that Rivs encourage is, for me, precisely the position that gives me a low back and a lot of power. I wish I had had my two customs made with 72 seat tube angles instead of 72; as it is, I literally use a rubber mallet to get the saddles (Flites) all the way back on the considerable-offset older Dura Ace posts. Bars on short (8 cm) stems 2" below saddle. A steeper st angle would, for me, be awkward and slow.
I would not discount a Riv design for fast riding --or, for that matter, for low bars. Lastly, I am not sure, but I think that older racing bikes (I have a 1973 Motobecane Grand Record; I used to own an oldish school 1989 Falcon) have geometries similar to the Rivs: long rear-center, short front-center, slacker st angles, encouraging a butt back position good for power and good weight balance for precise handling. The Motobecane mimics my Rivs quite well -- which is why I like it. YMMV, of course. On Thu, Dec 3, 2009 at 6:43 PM, Bill M. <bmenn...@comcast.net> wrote: > Shawn, > > This thread has taken off on wheels and tires, so I'd like to propose > another factor to consider - position. > > I have an old Riv Road Standard that was my go-fast bike for many > years. After a gap of a few years spent mostly riding a recumbent I > returned to the Riv and took it on a few rides with the local club. > Now, this club as a rule rides fast and hard (cruising at 20+, bursts > to 28 mph on the last flatland ride I did with them), and I found that > sitting relatively upright on the Riv was not working for that kind of > effort. I tried adjusting the Riv for a sportier position, but wasn't > able to get it to 'gel'. I wound up falling into a deal on a modern > racing frame with a slightly shorter top tube and steeper seat angle > than the Riv, and darned if I'm not both faster and more comfortable > *for that kind of riding*. It may be heresy around here, but racers > ride racing bikes for a reason. When I'm taking it easy on my own or > riding with a slower friend I don't ride the racer, it would beat me > up too much. That's when I ride either the Riv (with the bars back up > where Grant intended and the widest tires that will fit), or my 650b > wheeled Kogswell, either of which are more at home at an easier pace. > > The AHH is built to be even slacker and more upright than my old Riv > Road was. I'd say try light wheels and tires on the AHH as a go-fast, > but recognize that it may not let you get into an optimal position for > sporting riding. If it's not what you need, and a new Roadeo is out > of reach, start scanning Craigslist or ebay for something used that > might work better for you. There are deals to be had if you're > patient - my go-fast frame cost me just over 1/3 of the price of a new > one, and it looked essentially new when I picked it up. > > Bill > > On Dec 3, 6:34 am, Shawn <sa240...@yahoo.com> wrote: > > Now that I have the Atlantis, I have been thinking of making my Hilsen > > more of a roadish type bike to use on week-end rides with my friends > > on our smooth local MUP. Can anyone tell me how the AHH might handle, > > ride and look with 25mm to 28mm tires on it. I know most people don't > > ride that skinny of a tire but any feed back would be appreciated. I > > am trying to separate the two bikes into two distinct categories; > > Atlantis- touring, camping, commuter= big tires; Hilsen- club rides, > > events, exercise, go faster=skinner tires. It seems like the Hilsen’s > > clearance are wasted now that I have the Atlantis. > > > > I know it sounds like I want a more traditional type road bike and the > > Roadeo would fit that bill perfectly, except there is the matter of > > finances, can’t sell the Hilsen to totally finance the Roadeo, and I > > am not crazy about the fact the Roadeo does not have brazeons for at > > least a Mark type rack. > > > > Is the Rambouillet a better road bike than the Hilsen? If so maybe I > > should trade or sell my Hilsen for a Rambouillet. I want to be clear > > that I do not want to race, I just want to make a clear distinctions > > between the two bikes. > > > > Sorry about the long post and thanks in advance for any advice or > > feedback. > > Shawn > > -- > > 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-bu...@googlegroups.com. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com<rbw-owners-bunch%2bunsubscr...@googlegroups.com> > . > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en. > > > -- Patrick Moore Albuquerque, NM For professional resumes, contact Patrick Moore, ACRW at resumespecialt...@gmail.com (505) 227-0523 -- 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-bu...@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.
