Hi Patrick, I really like a front basket. It is more convenient than a handlebar bag or a saddlebag. There is not fixed amount to put in, like a bag. With a small cargo net- like motorcylists have to lash a helmet on their bike, allow me to make an unplanned stop at the store and get what I need withijn reason. I even have a large front basket on my hunting bike and load it crazy large. As far as on Rivendells, I understand they were heavily into saddle bags and work very well for that, but the front basket just works. I am experimenting with a wider bar to get the handling where I want it. That is the fun of dialing in a bike. I put the Soma Port Mann bars on but have not ridden yet- winter has arrived and it may be a bit before the roads clear.
Tom Palmer On Thursday, December 15, 2022 at 2:19:30 PM UTC-5 Patrick Moore wrote: > Tom: congratulations on the Platypus. I'd love to test ride one, set up > per all the Rivendellian specifications, too. > > Cold and wind: I'm no arctic rider, but I'm fine down to high teens with > light wind and no rain; secret? 3 things: (1) wool and layers of wool; (2) > add and remove clothing per conditions (I just added the winter > Barley/Junior to my 1999 Joe Starck stripped down gofast exactly to carry > outer layers as temps warm up), and (3) start out a bit cold; don't worry, > you'll warm up in 5 minutes. > > My main problem areas in cold weather are ears and fingers. Solutions, > imperfect but they help: balaclavas or wool neck gaiters that you can use > to keep your neck warm and pull up over your head and ears and wear under a > winter cycling cap or helmet; gloves 2 sizes too large; and gloves in > layers instead of big fat down-filled arctic-type gloves. Silk liners under > wool liners under lightly-lined windstop gloves -- I use ex-German Polezei > leather gloves with light fluffy lining and snap wrist straps in XL over L > woolies and M (my real size) silk liners. > > Loads and handling: Rivendell brought Carradice saddlebags back to the US > market and later developed with the Sackville line what I believe are truly > the best saddlebags on the market. Why do so many people want front loading > on their Rivendells? > > On Mon, Dec 12, 2022 at 7:10 AM Tom Palmer <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Hi all, >> After many shortish 8-10mile rides, I finally did a real ride on the >> Platypus. over 20 miles, 37 degrees and rain for about half of it. It was >> actually a pleasant ride because almost no wind. If it was 5 degrees cooler >> or blowing, it would have been miserable and I would have cut it short. >> The bike is brilliant. Did some decent hills (for west Michigan) that >> included nice flowy descents. I put a small front rack and basket and moved >> tool/tube and neck warmer/hat to the rack. Handling not quite as quick as >> with the handlebar bag with same contents. I think the handling was >> affected by the weight being out front more, even though it was lower. Will >> be going to wider bars soon as the Albas just a tiny bit narrow for my >> standing and rocking the bars climbing technique. >> Back to the brilliance of this Platypus. The bike is a big floaty couch >> that is still quick to accelerate and climb. It handles amazingly well. It >> is my most enigmatic bike by a long way. >> >> Tom (riding as much as possible before real winter strikes) Palmer >> Twin Lake, MI >> >> -- >> 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 [email protected]. >> To view this discussion on the web visit >> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/3f707664-16ad-40ee-80d8-27d05d8b3399n%40googlegroups.com >> >> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/3f707664-16ad-40ee-80d8-27d05d8b3399n%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >> . >> > > > -- > > ----------------------------------------------------------------------- > Patrick Moore > Alburquerque, Nuevo Mexico, Etats Unis d'Amerique, Orbis Terrarum > > -- 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 [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/3909e70f-f013-40ee-94ae-75f5fbe1b5e4n%40googlegroups.com.
