BTW, "couldn't get enough opinions" meant "I got a lot of opinions, but even more would have been even better." You know....more is more. :) This is a great board full of wonderful people. Thank you!
On Thursday, October 12, 2023 at 1:50:36 PM UTC-4 Roberta wrote: > I know this is an older thread, but I used this board a lot when I was > researching which "one" Riv to buy and couldn't get enough opinions. > > In 2017, I decided on the 2016 51 cm Appaloosa. Strong, stable, > smooth. I was in heaven. Then, I purchased a 2019 54.5 Homer to keep at a > second location. Light, lively, sprightly. I've come to love this bike > more. It now has racks and fenders like the Appa (same tire--Gravel King > slicks) but still rides like it did before, much more fun for me than the > Appa, For me out of 10, Homer is a 10, Appa is a 9. > > I'd guess that the Sam/Platy/Cheviot all ride similarly. Appa/Atlantis > ride most similarly. the only "lighter" bike I've ridden is Homer. > > Not a bad decision in the bunch. > On Thursday, October 12, 2023 at 11:52:13 AM UTC-4 [email protected] wrote: > >> I own three steel bikes: A 2003 Independent Fabrication Independence >> (their full touring frame, designed by Mike Flanigan), a low trail rando >> frame with 650b wheels made by a small builder, and a 2020 Roadini. The >> Indy Fab is a miraculous bike for loaded touring; incredibly stable with >> full panniers and surprisingly light and quick when stripped, given its >> stout tubing. I rode it across the US in 2004, and it has seen many, many >> miles since. I have converted my rando frame to function as errand >> runner, for I determined over the course of thousands of miles, that I just >> don't like the feel of 650 wheels. Since acquiring the Roadini in 2020, >> I've ridden nothing else. It felt, in so many ways, like the perfect bike >> for my needs. Exactly what I wanted from a "road + gravel" bike. The vast >> majority of my riding is done alone, on some combination of gravel and >> road, rides falling between 20-70 miles. I'm not as fast as I was in my >> twenties, thirties, or forties, but I keep a fairly brisk pace. I >> generally ride with a lightweight frame bag (made by Swift Industries) with >> no other bags or racks on the bike. I'm running Paul centerpulls which >> allows me to comfortably fit Rene Herse 38's, my favourite tires to date. >> Until last week, I sort of figured that the Roadini would be the bike that >> I would ride for the rest of my life. But then, after a short fifteen mile >> ride on mixed surfaces, on a different bike, everything changed. >> >> My wife and I finally caved and bought our son a great bike, as he is >> almost sixteen and wishes to join me on longer rides. He has just >> surpassed my height, so we bought him an A. Homer Hilsen as it will fit him >> longer if he keeps growing, and it seemed the most versatile of choices. >> After the build was finished, I took the bike out to make sure that >> everything was working properly, and within a few miles, I quickly >> determined that this was *without question*, my favourite bike that I >> had ever ridden in my life. No, it did not feel as quick as my Roadini, >> but it didn't feel as sluggish as my unloaded Indy Fab; which struck me as >> odd, given that the chain stays are MUCH longer on the Homer. The comfort >> level was astounding. There are moments on the Roadini where I hit a >> smooth stretch of recently paved road, the feeling of flying is accentuated >> and I think to myself, "this is such a glorious sensation!" The Homer felt >> that way the* entire* ride. On both road and gravel, I felt like I was >> simply gliding. The steering felt a bit slower and the bike didn't >> accelerate as quickly, but the stability and comfort were so incredible >> that I just didn't care. I live in New England and some of the old gravel >> roads can be rough, such that I normally lift off the saddle over bumps and >> hold the bars lightly. Not so with the Homer. It was, to my great >> surprise, even smoother than my Indy Fab. I should note that I was using >> the same Rene Herse 38's. >> >> Anyway, I could carry on and on, but I just wish to say that I find the >> two *quite* different. The bike also feels noticeably bigger (the frame >> is a 58) which may also contribute. To shorten what could be a long story, >> I came home, walked in the house, and ordered a Homer, which is set to >> arrive today. Once I build it up, I intend to sell the Roadini. After >> about thirty years of 3000mi annually, the Homer was instantly the bike >> that I'd dreamt of for a long time. You can't really go wrong with either. >> To me the question would come down to this: do you want to maximize the >> feeling of quickness or gliding comfort? For me, there was no comparison. >> With the Tektro side pulls and all of the same parts, I cannot tell a >> weight difference between the two; perhaps the Paul brakes and extra bits >> nullify the frame savings. Anyway, I was in a similar decision dilemma as >> you a few years back and went with the Roadini, and while it all worked out >> in the end, the Homer was the right choice for me. >> >> Good luck! >> >> On Saturday, October 2, 2021 at 1:08:07 PM UTC-4 [email protected] wrote: >> >>> The Homer will be 'heavier' or stiffer in terms of feel than the >>> Roadini; I actually find the Roadini too stiff for my riding style. >>> Karl >>> >>> On Thu, Sep 23, 2021 at 7:38 AM Bones <[email protected]> wrote: >>> >>>> I know these comparisons have come up frequently, but here is my >>>> particular situation: >>>> >>>> I had a 62 Hillborne. It felt too similar to my Appaloosa, so I got a >>>> 61 Roadini. I've been riding that for a year and a half and I love it. It >>>> serves the purpose the Hillborne was meant to serve (the Hillborne always >>>> felt a bit too bulky for my intended purpose... which is primarily riding >>>> on roads with light loads). >>>> >>>> Sometimes I feel like I overshot with the Roadini though, and the Homer >>>> would be the best choice. I sometimes wish I could put fenders on it, >>>> without having to go with a smaller tire (currently running Barlows on >>>> Quills --> ~41mm). I sometimes wish I could add a small front rack without >>>> using P-clamps. >>>> >>>> Being a tall and slender fella, pretty much every Rivendell is >>>> overbuilt for me for any of their stated purposes. What I am getting at is >>>> would I be losing anything if I swapped the Roadini for a Homer? Clearly I >>>> would gain in functionality. I am indifferent with respect to the >>>> chainstay >>>> lengths. I just want to be sure that the bike would have the same lighter >>>> feel that I experience with the Roadini. >>>> >>>> Any insight is much appreciated! >>>> >>>> Bones >>>> >>>> -- >>>> >>> 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/80fbb747-ab34-4d63-84ca-dfb80fd4cf83n%40googlegroups.com >>>> >>>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/80fbb747-ab34-4d63-84ca-dfb80fd4cf83n%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/1482d75f-ee29-4c35-8afc-1be8d5b33342n%40googlegroups.com.
