Leah stated concerning her Mermaid Platy: " This one has a Brooks. I know it sounds crazy but this bike feels perfect to me and I believe it to be because the Brooks rails are a little longer and allow for just enough setback. "
My Comment: Brooks B17s are notorious for their rails having a short adjustment length. I measured 2.1 to 3.0 cm depending on how much you force the saddle fore and aft in the clamp. The Mermaid looks like a 'normal' setup form that type of frame. There seems to be more seatpost showing the=an on the Raspberry Platy. The Raspberry Platy seems more stretched out, which George has diagnosed in his replies Leah, if you think the Billie bars on the Mermaid are different than the Billie bars on the Raspberry., just place the 2 side by side, line up the bars and visually compare the 2. Any differences should be apparent. If NO differences are observed they are probably the same. John Hawrylak Woodstown NJ On Sunday, October 15, 2023 at 6:40:42 PM UTC-4 Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! wrote: > I have the mermaid Platy: > [image: image0.jpeg] > > This one has a Brooks. I know it sounds crazy but this bike feels perfect > to me and I believe it to be because the Brooks rails are a little longer > and allow for just enough setback. Either that or the Billie Bars are > somehow not made to spec and don’t come back as far. That’s my layperson > crumby understanding. But that bike fits great. > > The Clem: > [image: image1.jpeg] > > I rode it last night and decided I hate how it feels. Bars too close, too > bolt upright. This is the fault of club riding where I now like leaning > forward more. But I rarely ride this bike so it won’t get any new parts. > Poor thing. > > On Oct 15, 2023, at 6:36 PM, 'John Hawrylak, Woodstown NJ' via RBW Owners > Bunch <rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com> wrote: > > > > Curious if Leah has her other Rivendells set up the same way. > > John Hawrylak > Woodstown NJ > > On Sunday, October 15, 2023 at 5:03:31 PM UTC-4 George Schick wrote: > >> I'll probably get clobbered for my reply to this discussion - I'm used to >> it - but from viewing the pics of Leah's bikes in this thread plus others >> in previous threads, her bike always seems to be either in the highest gear >> or at least the next to highest. And she has admitted to as much in >> previous discussions that's how she likes it. And since she likes the >> saddle moved as far as possible to the rear this means that she's using the >> leverage of that angle while pulling back on the bar grips in order to >> "stomp" as hard as possible on the pedals. Since she has the leg >> development and strength to get away with that kind of riding due to her >> weight training and other off-bike workouts, that's just how she's using to >> riding. >> >> Many of the rest of us old farts who learned road riding on a >> diamond-framed bike with drop bars, having the saddle positioned more >> closely to the center of the BB so we could "spin" the pedals at as high a >> cadence (RPM) as possible, shifting gears when necessary in order to >> maintain that cadence (which is how I assume the pro racers still learn to >> ride). Which is probably why she gets some sideways looks by others in the >> pace lines of her bike club. That's not how she's learned to ride for >> whatever reason, so fiddling around with saddle position is likely to be a >> problem, or as least a considerable adjustment for her. Anyway, that's my >> 2¢. >> >> On Sunday, October 15, 2023 at 3:27:57 PM UTC-5 John Hawrylak, Woodstown >> NJ wrote: >> >>> Ok, I understand >>> >>> Moving the saddle back increases the saddle to bar distance by about >>> 2.5cm. This indicates the frame/stem/bar combination was too SHORT. >>> >>> Then, You cut 1 cm from the bars. This increased the saddle to bar >>> distance, indicating the frame/stem/bar combination was too SHORT, but >>> is OK now. >>> >>> So you ended up increasing the saddle to bar distance 3.5 cm to get to >>> an Acceptable position.. >>> >>> I think the Alba bar would be better based on this from the RBW write up >>> on the Billie: >>> 'The Billie straight grip section is 2" (5 cm) longer than an Alba." >>> >>> So an Alba with a 10cm stem would have a saddle to bar distance 1.5cm >>> longer (5 - 3.5) than what you ended up. >>> Replace the 10 cm stem with a 9cm and you are within 0.5cm (5mm) of >>> where you are at. A 8cm stem would also work, just 5mm on the other side. >>> A 8.5cm would be mathematically correct, but the 5mm either way probably >>> cant be felt.. >>> >>> Leah is also in a too short condition, excess seatpost SB and max length >>> stem.. The extra 5cm of straight grip length of the Billie contributes to >>> the 'shortness' by having the LONG straight grip section. The fact that >>> other Riv sisters had the same problem and they used Billie bars, indicate >>> the Billie bar is the common problem. >>> >>> >>> RBW supplies the Platy built up in Taiwan with a Tosco bar which has a >>> sweep back about the same a s a Billie. So they seem to supply Platy's as >>> too short due t9 the bar sweep back. >>> >>> John Hawrylak >>> Woodstown NJ >>> >>> >>> >>> On Sunday, October 15, 2023 at 02:45:29 PM EDT, Roberta < >>> rcha...@gmail.com> wrote: >>> >>> >>> Thanks, John. >>> >>> I must have said it wrong. I moved my saddle AWAY from the bars, >>> towards the rear end of my bike. I think that's called aft (I had to look >>> it up). the bars were still too close, so I cut off 1cm (after a year of >>> trying to feel OK). If the stem had come in an 11cm, I would have just >>> done that. >>> >>> I ended in a good position, so like you said " then all is good in life." >>> >>> Roberta >>> >>> On Sunday, October 15, 2023 at 2:08:31 PM UTC-4 John Hawrylak, Woodstown >>> NJ wrote: >>> >>> Roberta >>> >>> Pushing the saddle BACK to the back of the clamp, moves the saddle >>> FORWARD the maximum amount. This indicates the saddle to bar distance is >>> too long and your needed to reduce the reach. Maybe you pushed it too far >>> forward, most Brooks have only 20 to 30mm of total fore/aft motion.. >>> >>> Did you cut 1cm off the bars after pushing forward the max amount??. >>> Cutting the bars indicate the saddle to bar distance is too short, the >>> opposite of your original action (push saddle forward). The 1 cm cut is >>> within the range of Brooks adjustability. >>> >>> But if you ended in a good position, then all is good in life. >>> >>> John Hawrylak >>> Woodstown NJ >>> On Sunday, October 15, 2023 at 1:26:10 PM UTC-4 Roberta wrote: >>> >>> I've had a few emails with other RivSisters who own Platys and there are >>> quite a few of us who've commented on having to push one's saddle back as >>> far as the rails could take it. >>> >>> I'm on a 55 Platy with 83cm pbh--one or two more than Leah AND I like my >>> saddle high-- and would probably like mine back a touch more, but I'm >>> unwilling to buy a new seat post. My stem is one of the Nitto extra tall >>> ones with 10 cm, the longest they make for the extra high model. I ended >>> up cutting (*"the horror"*) 1 cm off my Billie Bars. Her >>> saddle/seatpost would be shorter than mine, closer to the handlebars, >>> right?, so she might feel it more. >>> >>> >>> >>> On Sunday, October 15, 2023 at 1:02:30 PM UTC-4 Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! >>> wrote: >>> >>> What’s weird is that I sized up! My PBH would technically fit the 50! >>> Sent from my iPhone >>> >>> On Oct 15, 2023, at 12:55 PM, Joe Bernard <joer...@gmail.com> wrote: >>> >>> Reflecting on all the setback talk, I *do *think the reach may be >>> inherently a tad short for the rider in question. I'm the same height as >>> Leah - possibly even shorter, I'm aging and shrinking! - and Grant designed >>> my Rivendell with a 54.2 ST, 63 ETT to work with Boscos up way high. It's >>> perfect. >>> >>> >>> >>> On Friday, October 13, 2023 at 10:33:09 AM UTC-7 Joe Bernard wrote: >>> >>> I love the new look. I also love the old look! Basically I just love >>> that Raspberry Racing Platy ❤️❤️❤️ >>> >>> On Wednesday, October 11, 2023 at 6:52:55 PM UTC-7 Bicycle Belle Ding >>> Ding! wrote: >>> >>> In the same vein as my Bike Style thread, I’m starting a Bike Makeover >>> thread. >>> >>> Every now and then, I get the urge to change up the look of my favorite >>> Platypus. I have it perfect mechanically, but bags and grips and >>> occasionally, saddles, beg to be changed up. It’s fully autumn here in the >>> Great Lakes State, and my ivory Rivet was looking a little out of season. I >>> was gifted a chestnut Rivet from a dear RivSister, so I decided to pull it >>> out and put it on the bike. I took the brown Ergons from my other Platypus, >>> slapped them on and sent her a photo. >>> >>> “That bike deserves prettier grips. Those are ugly,” she said, giving me >>> the unvarnished truth. >>> >>> I looked again. She was right. Back to the drawing board. I finally >>> found these grips from Rivet Cycle Works - Deb told me she had these but >>> didn’t have them up on the website yet. She had the exact match to my >>> chestnut saddle and days later, I had these gorgeous stamped leather grips >>> in hand. The bike looks positively *tonal.* The colors of the paint >>> throw out so many different shades of pinks and reds, thanks to the >>> abundant glitter in the metallic; adding rich leather accessories only >>> elevates the look. The stamped designs on the leather give the bike some >>> texture and add visual interest at the handlebar area. >>> >>> This Platypus is like a little autumn posey. Perfect and pretty, and >>> wholly appointed to its duty. >>> >>> Now if I can just convince Deb to make these in ivory, so I have a pair >>> to match my ivory Rivet saddle when spring comes… >>> >>> Attached in the next post are the before and afters. >>> Leah >>> >>> -- >>> >>> 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/u_2mo2hU3Xo/unsubscribe >>> . >>> To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, 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/f856ed0e-45fe-49ea-9831-aaacaa76a6b6n%40googlegroups.com >>> >>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/f856ed0e-45fe-49ea-9831-aaacaa76a6b6n%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>> . >>> >>> -- >>> 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/u_2mo2hU3Xo/unsubscribe >>> . >>> To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, 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/7db68c7f-d35f-49b8-9ebd-be9e3ac3f547n%40googlegroups.com >>> >>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/7db68c7f-d35f-49b8-9ebd-be9e3ac3f547n%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>> . >>> >> -- > 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/u_2mo2hU3Xo/unsubscribe > . > To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, 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/72ff3963-e06e-406e-9495-20b1cb6d92bdn%40googlegroups.com > > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/72ff3963-e06e-406e-9495-20b1cb6d92bdn%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > . > > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. 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