Thanks again for the latest comments. I realized I had a mistake on the 650b tires I have to try out, they are Loup Loup Pass not Bon Jon Pass tires.
Coal Bee Rye Anne, new tires for the Ram is an easy first step and probably the way to go. I hadn't considered my 180 cranks might be a problem if I go with a 650b wheel conversion and I really don't want to swap out the cranks. I had found a couple of used Bon Jon Pass but in standard casing for $100 and I'm wondering if it's worth trying those or should I splurge for new ones with the extra light casing to make the difference/contrast a bit more stark? Patrick from an old thread <https://groups.google.com/u/5/g/rbw-owners-bunch/c/yWk2lv15MFE/m/81qMg8IbBAAJ> FullyLugged said: "The Ram came as a complete with 32mm Panaracer Pasela tires. It will also fit fenders with this tire. Without fenders, the Pasela 1 1/2" fits easily. This applies to both the 622 and 559 rim editions, EXCEPT for the early orange batch that came in with the rear brake bridge in too low. The 622 converts nicely to 584 with bigger tires and the 559 can also run 571 wheels with smaller max tire sizes." I think my orange one has the rear brake bridge limitation though. Garth, thanks for your comments and I think you might be spot on. Maybe I need to try something "radically" different only to find out that what I had is what I always wanted, or perhaps that a completely different flavor is fun to change things up. Oh and I am aware of the front load "requirement" of low trail bikes and was planning to run either a BagsxBird front bag with a Shovel Research Rod Steward or a Nitto front rack with a basket on it. As for trying a different fork on the Ram, I don't think I want to go in that direction - thanks for the thought though. Also, thanks for sending over the Nordavinden. Hard to tell with fit, I'm no pro and always find it hard to find a good fit given my long legs for my height. I think the XL is probably a better size for my 90.5 pbh but I could probably make that 58 fit with stem/saddle adjustments. I'm just unsure I'm ready to start investigating and learning about another brand. If I buy something, I'm pretty set on the Crust LB. What's clear to me now is that I should sell or trade the Ram just yet. I have limited time these days, so we'll see when I get around to making some of the changes we've discussed. Max On Wednesday, October 18, 2023 at 3:44:10 PM UTC-4 Garth wrote: > Max, While I initially thought trying out different forks or tires may > satisfy, I think it's entirely possible your just "branded out" on the > Rivendell design and the so-called "handling" characteristics, whatever the > heck that means if anything. You know, like too many chocolate bars from > the same factory ! > > So I'd be inclined to say yeah, try a whole new take on "the bicycle" from > someone else, and in doing so you just might find you see and experience > the Riv's you have in a different way, or be inspired to change something > about how they're fitted. I wouldn't necessarily sell the Ram unless/until > you were sure you like whatever frame you got. Even then, after trying > something else, it may spark something creative to do with Ram. Maybe the > bars, maybe your positioning, who's to say at this point. I know I'm set to > put some low positioned Zipp XPLR drop bars on my Bombadil with a narrow > road saddle. Since going back to low drop bars on my Franklin custom, > getting a nice narrow road saddle and moving it very far forward from where > it had been, when I hop on the Bomba it feels awkward and unrideable the > way it's setup currently. How you're positioned on a bike can have quite an > effect on how it feels and handles. > > I can't say the Crust frame you mentioned in good choice for you or not as > I know nothing of them. Also, it's been mentioned here how low trail bikes > like a front load of some kind, I assume you knew this and are okay with it > ? Also, you needn't get a low trail bike for a completely different > handing/ride/fun experience. The difference between my Bomba and Franklin > are so totally different, and the Franklin is very much in the "neutral" > handling category with a much higher BB, which is my preference. Yes, I > feel a little more "atop" of the frame and I like it that way, it's like > sitting atop a fine race horse, hell yeah, giddy up and go horsey ! In > that vein, in a relative whim after working out the specs I bought a VO > Rando frame during it's presale. I can't speak to how it rides as it's > still in the box, but I look forward to hopping on that race horse too :) > Point being, there's lots of chocolate bar factories to choose from ! > -- 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 rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/bec5a77a-7e1b-4a56-a7e4-69cfda817f40n%40googlegroups.com.
