Joe, While not a Roadini and not an answer to weight concerns, I had similar outcomes with tires on my Rambouillet.
My Ram came with 700 x 33.3 tires and most of the next decade I rode it on 28s. I had a few experiments with other tire sizes and during some fenderless summers, up to 38s which is when I realized that all of the tire sizes that physically fit the in frame, fork and brake calipers do not interchange without consequence. The 38's pneumatic trail took my bike out of its sweet handling envelope. The potential extra comfort they offered was voided by the effect on handling and the return to the nice handling behavior of 32s more than made up for their lesser air volume. Stampede Pass ELs seem made for this bike. The impression of any tIre size on a bike has to include the handling because the outcome is not an improvement if you now have to spend twice the mental bandwidth to point the bike than when on smaller tires. My need for greater volume tires necessitated another bike, one designed around adequately sized wheels and tires. Rivendell had no need to expand the tire capacity of the Rambouillet with the Atlantis on the next page of the catalog. That included way too many bugaboos with handling consequences and likely motivating for their early campaign for conversions to 650B wheels and tires for more air volume without elevating a bike out of its intended handling. Andy Cheatham Pittsburgh On Sunday, January 30, 2022 at 3:10:07 PM UTC-5 jmlmu...@gmail.com wrote: > Karl, > > I'll share my odd experience with 38mm tires. The bike came from Neal with > 35mm tires that are if I remember correctly, Soma's version of Pasela's. > They rode great and I was happy with them. I had a chance to try Rene > Hearse extra light Barlow Pass 38mm tires and they felt...not right. I > didn't ride with them very long as my initial impression was that the 54cm > Roadini likes being on 35mm. The steering felt different with the > 38's...not as organic if that makes sense. And the difference in ride > quality wasn't enough for me to warrant keeping them. I'd likely notice a > bigger difference going from 32-38 but 35-38 wasn't much. It actually felt > more sluggish with the extra light 38mm tires...contrary to RH's philosophy > of supple tires = faster. Maybe I just didn't spend enough time with them > dialing the sweet spot with tire pressure. I went back to 35mm. > > Joe > > On Sunday, January 30, 2022 at 11:36:29 AM UTC-8 kwi...@weimar.edu wrote: > >> Jeff, >> How did the 38mm tires work out on the Roadini? I have the first >> generation/shipment Roadini (gray/silver color), and I did not think that >> the frame would allow 38c tires. >> Cheers, >> Karl >> >> On Sun, Jan 30, 2022 at 9:56 AM Jeff B <jeff.b...@gmail.com> wrote: >> >>> >>> I own a Roadini that I bought from the other Joe who replied in the >>> thread. >>> >>> I wouldn't consider my Roadini heavy, for what it is. I've certainly >>> built lighter bikes for customers including an S-Works Utralight Tarmac, >>> which tipped the scale just under 13lbs. I ride a 54 Roadini at 5'11" but >>> always thought it would be fun to ty a 57. >>> >>> The general weight of most club ride bikes (specialized tarmac, Roubaix, >>> venge, cervelo s & r series, etc) I've weighed come in at 16.75lbs WITHOUT >>> saddle bags or bottles. >>> Some of those riders use a saddlebag but many put their flat kit, phone, >>> arm warmers, etc in their jersey pocket. I think of it though that I'm >>> riding the horse so why should the lumber be on my back so, I use a Swift >>> Industries handlebar bag which can carry ample supplies. >>> My Roadini comes in at 25lbs with 2 tubes, a multi-tool, tire lever & >>> mini pump. I routinely carry my wallet & phone in there too along with >>> house/car keys, sunglasses, snacks and anything else that might be helpful >>> on a ride. >>> >>> Like Johnny said, you can make a bike feel pretty light with a good >>> wheel set and ironically the club riders who add aero wheels to their bike >>> end up adding an extra few pounds because there is simply more material >>> there. I just use excellent aluminum wheels (HED Belgium with DT Swiss 240 >>> hubs) to keep the weight down and keep the bike feeling spry. I am also >>> geared down compared to most road bikes. >>> >>> My 11 speed setup is a 14-30 cassette with 44/28 chainrings. This gives >>> me a low gear inch of 25.5 and a high of 86.1 on 35mm tires. This came to >>> be from watching people's cassettes who's gearing was the standard 11-28, >>> 50/34. They were always in the 50 tooth chainring but cross chained up in >>> the19 or 21 tooth in the rear so they could spin the cadence fast enough. I >>> find that my gearing allows me to spin pretty fast on the Roadini, which >>> makes the bike feel lively to me. I've never needed the 100+ gear inches >>> that usually comes with the standard 11 speed road bike set up but a do >>> really appreciate having a .933:1 (sub1:1) gear ratio for climbing so again >>> I can spin seated up a hill while most are grinding away out of the saddle >>> at 10 rpm. >>> >>> Like Karl said, I've also hit close to 50mph on a decent to Estes Park >>> CO and the bike felt so stable it's miraculous. Some of the other guys, >>> especially the one riding a Venge with aero wheels, were getting blown all >>> over the road because the tall profile carbon frame & wheels were like a >>> sail catching the wind. Maybe because the Roadini had more weight it was >>> more planted and glued to the road so I was able to concentrate on the ride >>> & not fighting the bike to stay straight. I found the steering to be really >>> easy on that ride too. >>> >>> To me it really is about having a bike that offers so much more from the >>> normal club racer. The geometry, sloping top tube, ability for wide tires, >>> quill stem to adjust handlebar height throughout the day without silly >>> steer tube extenders, braze ons for simple racks, ability to run multiple >>> gear configurations (sti or downtube shifters), larger tire ability >>> (Largest I've used is 38mm) and a bike that will last forever means I >>> probably won't get rid of this frame for a long time. However, I'm nt sure >>> I'd get the latest batch with the longer reach calipers. A few people I >>> know with those longer calipers say they lack the power needed & I think >>> there have been a few instances in BQ where Jan found them substandard. I >>> have no experience with them though so I cannot confirm. >>> >>> If I did want to expand on my Roadini though and get something lighter, >>> I would look at David Kirk. He built himself, what he calls, a Montana Road >>> Bike which is probably closer to a Roadeo in terms of geo and non threaded >>> steer but his craftsmanship is beautiful & I'm sure it weighs loads less >>> being made from stainless tubes fillet brazed. He has an instagram post >>> from Dec 3, 2021 about that bike which really sums up what I think a road >>> bike should be. >>> >>> And lastly, If you are looking for Roadini inspiration with alternate >>> bars, just google image search for "bluelug roadini". There will be a few >>> photos of them with albatross, mustache and even chocomoose bars. >>> >>> Jeff, Woodland >>> >>> On Sunday, January 30, 2022 at 6:04:31 AM UTC-8 nlerner wrote: >>> >>>> On Saturday, January 29, 2022 at 9:19:13 PM UTC-5 jmlmu...@gmail.com >>>> wrote: >>>> >>>>> Neal, >>>>> >>>>> I’m the one you sold the Roadini to and I’m happy to report that I’m >>>>> loving it! I swapped the 80mm stem for a 60mm and it put me in a slightly >>>>> more upright position which causes no pain whatsoever. Every other drop >>>>> bar >>>>> bike I’ve owned just didn’t feel right after a few hours of riding. Thank >>>>> you again! >>>>> >>>>> Joe >>>>> Los Angeles, CA >>>>> >>>> >>>> Joe, that's great to hear. And a great example of how >>>> individual/ideosyncratic the fit and ride qualities of any bike might be. >>>> Ride in good health! >>>> >>>> Neal Lerner >>>> Brookline MA USA >>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> On Jan 29, 2022, at 3:43 PM, nlerner <lern...@gmail.com> wrote: >>>>> >>>>> I owned a Roadini for a relatively short time before selling it to >>>>> someone on this list, I believe. I liked the aesthetics a lot, but did >>>>> find >>>>> it on the sluggish side and have other bikes that fit the “country bike” >>>>> theme that I found myself riding instead. Previous to that, I owned a >>>>> Romulus, which saw many miles and lots of brevet riding, but also was >>>>> always a bit on the sluggish side, particularly when climbing. Still, it >>>>> was a really comfortable rig, and well suited to distance riding as long >>>>> as >>>>> the hills weren’t too brutal. I sold that once I got a Black Mountain >>>>> Road, >>>>> which checks all of the boxes for me: great fit, room for 35mm tires, >>>>> great >>>>> climber, planes like the dickens, super comfortable and versatile. So no >>>>> I’m Riv-less (even sold my ‘94 RB-T!), but I enjoy reading this list. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Neal Lerner >>>>> Brookline MA USA >>>>> >>>>> On Saturday, January 29, 2022 at 1:46:17 PM UTC-5 Jason Fuller wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> The tubing spec needs to be matched well with the geometry to provide >>>>>> what Jan calls planing - the flex in the frame needs to match your power >>>>>> output and rhythm to give you a small but important "springboard" effect >>>>>> with each pedal stroke, in order to feel fast. It really has little to >>>>>> nothing to do with the weight of the frame, but about how it is tuned to >>>>>> the rider. >>>>>> >>>>>> However, Jan tends to think that this basically requires superlight >>>>>> tubing, but I don't think that's quite true - I think the "rhythm" can >>>>>> be >>>>>> found in multiples, like harmonics, but if the stiffness of your bike >>>>>> lands >>>>>> between these harmonics, then it'll feel like you're trying to bounce on >>>>>> a >>>>>> trampoline where it's out of sync with your jumps. My wild theory is >>>>>> that >>>>>> the Rivendells that ride like magic despite being objectively quite >>>>>> overbuilt for a "fast" bike manage to land in the next stiffer >>>>>> "harmonic" >>>>>> for the average rider. I think my Sam does this for me and I think the >>>>>> Roadini could very well end up in this zone too. >>>>>> >>>>>> On Friday, 28 January 2022 at 13:21:45 UTC-8 kwi...@weimar.edu wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>>> The Roadini is a very nice looking bike, too. I hope this does not >>>>>>> sound superficial, but I enjoy the head badge, the decals, and the >>>>>>> painted >>>>>>> cutouts on the seat lug more than if it were just 2 pounds lighter! >>>>>>> Also, >>>>>>> I rode a 'Redwood' (tall Romulus) frame back in the 2000's and really >>>>>>> liked >>>>>>> it, but the Roadini is a more advance frame design in general (long >>>>>>> head >>>>>>> tube, sloping top tube, wheel clearance, and more.). I have an old >>>>>>> Calfee >>>>>>> carbon frame I got used. It is very light. But I hardly ride it. >>>>>>> Why? >>>>>>> Hard to say, but I suspect that it has a lot to do with how the Roadini >>>>>>> feels 'planted' or secure (words fail me here), but on the human level, >>>>>>> I >>>>>>> just prefer the look of the Roadini-- it has character and a timeless >>>>>>> beauty that makes the sum of all its parts more than just a 'fast >>>>>>> bike', a >>>>>>> 'super light frame', or even a practical 'get the job done' machine. >>>>>>> And, >>>>>>> of course, it is always comfortable! This is key: the Roadini does not >>>>>>> cause neck pain, back pain, hand tingling or stress from the worry of >>>>>>> going >>>>>>> down if I hit a pot hole. I won't be selling mine. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> On Friday, January 28, 2022 at 12:48:36 PM UTC-8 Patrick Moore wrote: >>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Well said, Karl. Add to that the probably (I've not ridden one) >>>>>>>> signature Rivendell handling of the Roadini* and the pros may well >>>>>>>> outweigh >>>>>>>> the cons. And of course, weighing the balance between pros and cons is >>>>>>>> largely a matter of individual taste. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Patrick Moore, ruthlessly botton-trimming his replies, in ABQ, NM. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> * I certainly loved this in the customs, and found it in the Ram >>>>>>>> and even in the Sam, tho' the same had too much wheel flop for my >>>>>>>> taste. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> On Fri, Jan 28, 2022 at 1:31 PM Karl Wilcox <kwi...@weimar.edu> >>>>>>>> wrote: >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> It might be helpful when considering a Roadini to observe that >>>>>>>>> frame stiffness or compliance are not the only things that matter. I >>>>>>>>> find >>>>>>>>> my Roadini stiffer than I prefer, but the >>>>>>>>> Roadini offers other features that I just can't find in other >>>>>>>>> production frames. For instance, the roadini fits me perfectly and I >>>>>>>>> can >>>>>>>>> get my bars up higher without making the bicycle appear silly or >>>>>>>>> handle >>>>>>>>> funny (my bars are exactly 1 inch below my saddle height). Also, I >>>>>>>>> can >>>>>>>>> ride 33c tires (I have the 2018 roadini), and the long wheelbase is >>>>>>>>> wonderful. The Roadini is also versatile: I ride it on trails and on >>>>>>>>> pavement. I can ride with fast club rides and I can do light >>>>>>>>> touring, >>>>>>>>> too. I have a 1977 custom Mercian that is wonderfully compliant, but >>>>>>>>> on >>>>>>>>> fast descents it can be scary and it cannot carry any kind of load. >>>>>>>>> My >>>>>>>>> point is that the Roadini has many virtues, but no individual frame >>>>>>>>> can be >>>>>>>>> any other frame. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> -- >>>>> >>>>> 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 view this discussion on the web visit >>>>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/41fba8dc-754a-4b68-a8db-ed83ab3751b9n%40googlegroups.com >>>>> >>>>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/41fba8dc-754a-4b68-a8db-ed83ab3751b9n%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>>>> . >>>>> >>>>> -- >>> 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 view this discussion on the web visit >>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/b370e149-c06e-49f4-8332-16e86a6f3b76n%40googlegroups.com >>> >>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/b370e149-c06e-49f4-8332-16e86a6f3b76n%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>> . >>> >> -- 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 view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/42254604-0c0f-4c42-b681-003f7ed675aan%40googlegroups.com.
