Hello all, Well, I can finally post here as a Rivendell owner, pretty exciting!
About a month ago everything finally came together and a Rambouillet frame I bought last year is now a *bike* and is rolling the streets of Seattle. I'm very happy with it so far -- "smooth" is the word I keep coming back to to describe the ride. Just really smooth! That was true with the pre-fender Jack Browns (greens) but is proving to be equally true with the be-fendered Grand Bois Cypres. I've been putting off posting until I got the fenders on, which happened Saturday. There are still a couple things I'm pondering changing, but there's no nagging "I gotta change that!" aspect. It's ready to ride! Here's a set on flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ratrocket/sets/72157624126974480/ or: http://bit.ly/coKwm8 The frame is a 60cm, orange. It's a mongel-y build -- barely anything "matches" (and there's not a single Shimano part on it -- which wasn't on purpose, it just happened). Some of the highlights are TA Pro5 crank (with 42/26 rings), Campagnolo front derailer, Suntour XC Pro rear derailer, Silver downtube shifters, lugged Nitto stem, Nitto Noodles (narrow ones -- 42cm), Suntour Superbe Pro brake levers pulling on Mafac Racers (with non-Mafac-style Kool Stop pads, however), American Classic seatpost holding up a B17 Champion Special (that started life honey colored), and the wheels are Torelli Masters (bane of my tire-changing existence!), Suzue Campy-copy hubs and an IRD 7 speed freewheel. Honjo fluted fenders round it out. Plus the previously mentioned Grand Bois Cypres tires. I guess those aren't highlights, that's everything! Oh, pedals: Black Ops platform pedals. Some thoughts on a few of the parts: I hadn't used downtube shifters in awhile, so that was a change in direction for me. So far so good -- just another way to shift. I've been wanting to try narrower bars. I have 46cm Noodles on my (previous?) main bike, an 80s Specialized Expedition. I'm sort of narrow-bodied, so I thought the 42s might suit me. Again, so far so good. Also, I like the feeling of changing from wider to narrower and vice versa when I switch between bikes. The gearing was a big question for me. I've never had a wide range double before, so didn't know exactly what direction to go with it, but I knew I wanted to try it out. My one worry about the gearing was that I might want something bigger than 42x13 in some situation (an incredibly strong tailwind perhaps?). So far it hasn't been a problem though. And overall the range of gears and shifting pattern (such as it is) has worked great for the riding I've been doing, which (unfortunately!) has mostly been around the city and commuting. But that includes long hills and short steep hills -- up & down -- and long straight flat sections (with plenty of wind lately). Pretty varied I think, and an all right test of a bike's gearing. The pedals were a last minute change from using a rat trap-type pedal. My shop completely sold me on the giant Black Ops studded platform pedals and I'm glad they did. They're so grippy and the big platform is really comfortable. I think these are my favorite pedals I've ridden since I quit clipless a couple years ago. Black Ops is a J&B Importers brand. The American Classic seatpost is just for fun. I hope it doesn't break my saddle rails. Or is it the seatpost itself that's reputed to break? That's about all. I think there are fun times ahead! I'm really looking forward to riding this bike a lot this spring & summer & beyond. Thanks for reading/looking if you've read this far. If you see me rolling around Seattle (or anywhere), say hi. (Or nod in my direction... or... something!) Stuart Fletcher Seattle, WA -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
