So, with the understanding that this is a very personal choice, what do the *between-frame-sizes* people choose with the Clem? TC, it seems like you could have gone with the 52 cm Clem – do you ride trails on yours?.. Do you find the standover to be sufficient?
- Max "52 vs. 59" in A2 On Sunday, October 28, 2018 at 10:14:56 PM UTC-4, tc wrote: > > People, if you don't have a Clem, go get one. I'll even make it easy for > you: > > *Complete builds:* > Clem H > <https://www.rivbike.com/collections/framesets/products/clem-smith-jr-h-complete> > (and > mustard's are on sale for less, here > <https://www.rivbike.com/collections/web-special-framesets-and-bicycles/products/clem-h-mustard-complete-17> > ) > Clem L > <https://www.rivbike.com/collections/framesets/products/complete-bicycle-clem-l> > > *Frames:* > Clem H > <https://www.rivbike.com/collections/framesets/products/clem-smith-jr-h-frameset> > Clem L > <https://www.rivbike.com/collections/framesets/products/clem-smith-jr-l-framesets-2017> > > The Clem is such a phenomenally fun knock-around bike. If you're thinking > of the H style, then hurry...per Grant's Oct 2nd BLAGH (pay attention to > his last sentence, emphasis mine): > > "CLEMS..well, the current batch of H-style (with a top tube) may be the > last of these. We sell about 50-50 H’s and L’s. They’re only $1650 because > they come assembled to us, but cash flow won’t allow that anymore—or > greatly reduced, anyway—so they’ll likely get up to about $1,800 next. > Plus, it turns out they cost us $100 more than we thought. It’s not a > tariff thing, it’s an import duty thing. There was a change in the rate > that may have come when we changed importer, but in any case they say we’re > paying the right amount. > *Although the plan is for no more CLEM H anythings, I can see us getting > some 52’s again in a few years. I can’t see any more 59s or 65s. *" > > When I read that, the seed was planted (nice, it worked, Grant!). The > twitch got worse the more I thought of it. NO MORE CLEM H's. Sheesh. > That would be a-shame. I know loads of you love the L, but that H speaks > to me. I had a Grilver 59 H a while back and sold it because I was trying > to make it into something that, for me, it would never be -- something to > zoom around really rooty/rocky single track. I loved how it felt on > pavement though; it had that special something that people can't seem to > put their finger on. > > Anyway, I pulled the trigger again, this time on a dark green 59 H. Man, > I l-o-v-e that green. The Grilver is very nice, too, but I kinda missed > the green of my former SimpleOne, and so decided to change it up. This > particular Clem green has a touch more cream and/or yellow, though, and it > really pops in the sunlight. > > It's a stock complete build, except for these mod's: > > - Bullmoose bar instead of Bosco > - Brooks Plump Leather grips (honey) > - Brooks B17 Imperial (honey) > - G-One Speeds > - Shimano Saint platform pedals > - Mark's rack > - VO Retro Cage, no tab > - Road Morph pump, seat tube mount > - Acorn roll bag > > [image: Clem_Neuse_3_28Oct2018.jpg] > > > Yes, it's pretty heavy. But really, the crazy thing about this bike is > that it doesn't *feel *heavy when you get on it and "Just Ride". Once > you're up to speed, which is really no effort at all, it really wants to > keep going. It will coast forever. Yep, I imagine that the G-One's have > something to do with it, but still, it feels surprisingly faster than you'd > think after lifting it off a bike rack. > > You sit *in* this bike, not *on* it. It is the most stable bike I've > ridden. My Atlantis is close, but gosh -- with the wheelbase of this thing > -- it's like it has a gyroscope spinning away inside the HT. > > I must say the Bullmoose bar is one bada$$ lookin' bar. First one I've > had, and I love it on this bike. For those who've always wondered how far > the bar ends come back on the Bullmoose, well, they come back about a 3/16" > behind the stem bolt. They tilt ever so slightly up on the grip end, but > that angle seems to work for the HT angle of the Clem. It's also > comfortable to put your hands on the fwd portion of the bar and let your > thumbs rest just in front of, and inside, of where the Y joins the bar. > This provides a more athletic position. On some uncrowded straight-aways > today I hunkered down just to see what ol' Clem would do, and -- with > gyroscopic, rock-steady speed -- I was flyin down the path in no time, > grinning ear to ear. > > The Brooks Plump Leather grips are superbly comfortable. Larger in > diameter than most grips, they provide a larger platform to rest your > hands, with no digging in. And, with the slightly rough exposed leather > ring edges (to which I applied some proofide), you really get a good hold. > They're lock-on's, too. I had to apply the slightest bit of wd40 to the > bar to get them to slide all the way on. > > Standing up to pedal the Clem is just as fun. Again, very stable, and the > Bullmoose provides really sturdy leverage for the push/pull from > side-to-side. > > The few decent hills I rode today (my first chance to ride) were just > plain fun. After riding this bike a while, you get this feeling of utter > trust and confidence. There is nothing remotely 'twitchy' about the Clem. > But again, don't get the impression it's a slow, lumbering boat anchor. > You'll just have to go get one to believe it :) > > The stock components are really just fine. I personally might opt for a > slightly larger ring up front, but we'll see. I'll probably leave it as-is. > > I really, really hate to see the H go away. I love my other Riv's, but > this one has it's place now, too. Have you ever known a big, > happy-go-lucky dog that loved to play, could pretty much run into a tree > full bore and act like nothing happened, and could cover 10ft effortlessly > with each stride? *THAT'S* the Clem! > > [image: Clem_Neuse_1_28Oct2018.jpg] > > > Tom > > -- 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 https://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
