I was going to hold back adding to this thread but now can't resist. I was the original owner of a 92 RB-1 and sent it off to a new owner about 4 months ago. It was light, "jumped" when I got on it (consider I'm 74 when reading jump), climbed like crazy and handled smoothly and predictably. Largest tire it would take was a 28. I got a Roadini from the last batch in order to get wider tires and built it up with the cockpit, drive train and wheels (now with 38 Gravelking slicks) from the RB-1. It is smooth, agile and handles exactly like a Grant bike. It feels noticeably heavier than the RB-1 when lifting it, doesn't feel heavy on the move but doesn't climb as well. On a curvy, small rises, downhill switchbacks bike trail for 10 - 15 miles any difference in time is lost in the wind conditions. I had a very early Waterford All Rounder that always felt slow compared to the RB-1; the Roadini doesn't. Then a friend made a permanent loan of a Gunnar Crosshairs cross bike with a comparable build to the Roadini. Aside from the quick handling and high bottom bracket geometry, the frame is great; snappy and climbs and fits 38s. This is my first and only experience with a cross bike. I second the suggestion above to consider a Gunnar road sport or Waterford. If a Gunnar road bike had similar comfort, handling and tire size to the Roadini I'd take it in a heartbeat. But, it is at least 50% more expensive than the Roadini and Gunnar/Waterford are shutting down. My wife has a Black Mountain Road v2 which is a really nice bike and fits 32s and maybe 33.3s according to Mike Varley. But, he doesn't make them anymore. My wife's is too small to really ride, but felt great and RB-1 like doing loops on the driveway. And, about as light when lifting into the van. Good luck.
On Thursday, July 20, 2023 at 2:55:06 PM UTC-7 [email protected] wrote: > The Saluki/Bleriot were 650B bikes, not 700c bikes. Wheel size makes a > world of difference to me. > > On Thu, Jul 20, 2023 at 2:51 PM J S <[email protected]> wrote: > >> I have a question regarding the Roadini vs. the old Saluki and Bleriot >> bikes. I wonder how similar it is to these? I have a Sam and found a Saluki >> in my size so sold my Bleriot. I am not a fan of the loooong chainstays, so >> the Sam works perfectly for someone like me. I have fat 48mm tires on it >> and 42’s on the Saluki. Speed is a non issue or will be when my knees let >> me ride again. As I get older a go fast bike would be at the bottom of my >> list, but I did love my old go fast bikes when I was much younger. >> >> On Wednesday, July 19, 2023 at 9:14:40 PM UTC-4 [email protected] >> wrote: >> >>> Hi all, >>> >>> I have really fallen for these luscious new Roadini builds I've seen at >>> Riv and Blue Lug. >>> >>> I have a Sam Hillborne and love it. It's been through several iterations >>> of cockpit/racks/bags/brakes/wheels/tires and all have been really fun. >>> Right now it has flat bars with sweep, chunky 47mm tires, and is an >>> excellent all around adventure/trail/camping ride. It's currently my only >>> bike! >>> >>> Before the Sam, I rode 90s road bikes exclusively for 20 years, and >>> those worked great for city/commuting/neighborhood/pub rides. I've heard >>> that the Roadini does NOT offer that kind of >>> ride/speed/feel/handling/gusto/whatever, from several folks in this group. >>> >>> So am I fooling myself into thinking another $2500 Riv build is going to >>> scratch the itch? Or should I buy a <$500 Japanese Road Bike that can hold >>> 33s and actually feel some performance? >>> >> -- >> > You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in the >> Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. >> To unsubscribe from this topic, visit >> https://groups.google.com/d/topic/rbw-owners-bunch/tAas6urcOwg/unsubscribe >> . >> To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to >> [email protected]. >> > To view this discussion on the web visit >> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/16e0e9bc-f9b0-4ce7-b418-97df271cf83bn%40googlegroups.com >> >> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/16e0e9bc-f9b0-4ce7-b418-97df271cf83bn%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 [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/e51bc928-891b-43d5-b03e-af4cbd204983n%40googlegroups.com.
