I too abide with a simple stable. I have a road bike that's proven able to leave the pavement, another bike built intentionally for any road or path and an unattractive rackbait commuter. I've been happily riding along with each in their places.
My satisfaction with my Disc Trucker as a commuter is wearing thin while riding through a year long utility renovation destruction / reconstruction project including the last mile and a half of my commute to work. The utility has be allowed to get away with leaving an utter moonscape of a lane. It looks scary in the dark with deep humps and undulations but thankfully few if any edge drops risky to tubes and rims. That ride is so jarring that getting through it is a relief. Wednesday I took a lateral jerk through my bike that impinged my left Sciatic nerve and made my day a huge unresolvable pain. I do ride through that mostly out of the saddle to suspend myself but between pulses of dense traffic released by stoplights and the intermittent construction equipment and trucks at the curb I was less attuned to the exact wheel path of my wheels and staying alert so as not to not be pushed out of lane and trapped at the curb when coming to an obstructing vehicle. My first experienced negative of this commuter in my use. I long appreciated under biking because I am not hard on equipment and appreciated riding my RB-1 on 700 x 28s on gravel and dirt in the '80s-'90s for a more supple and accurate steering ride. I appreciated my MB-0's ride and steering acuity compared to all the riding brutality suspension forks being added to rigid geometry bikes were introducing. I could pick my downhill lines so accurately to avoid tire and rim trashing bits and reach the bottom of downhills way ahed of newer riders on their suspension forks who were facilitated in slamming through any consequences of poorer line-picking on the way down. They just sledge hammered their way down and got away with it because the forks travel. Skill may be equalled by equipment advances and some never having the opportunity to learn them because of it but they are not replaced if they matter to you and are rewarding to retain and practice. I'm still happy with my stable of three and will alter my riding to accommodate the commute since it isn't to the point of riding another bike. Andy Cheatham Pittsburgh On Friday, March 14, 2025 at 2:42:43 PM UTC-4 Patrick Moore wrote: > The usual cycle goes like this: get disgusted with too many bikes; sell > ‘em off and keep only the favorite; learn in 6 months that the favorite > won’t do [insert special riding conditions here] as well as x or y, so buy > a replacement or several. > > Me, I don’t like excess, which is why I’ve decided that 3 bikes is the > natural if not statutory minimum: road bike that is equipped to pedal as > easily and comfortably and fast as possible on pavement; a road bike with > carrying capacity, fenders, lights, and tires that can handle light dirt; > and a dirt road bike that is nice on pavement. On this foundation you can > expand in any direction you care to. > > This scenario avoids the “perfect bike” syndrome — unattractive, I agree — > by having 3 perfect bikes. > > On Wed, Mar 12, 2025 at 3:14 PM Nicolas H <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Lately I've actually been really intrigued by this idea of doing less >> with more, which I guess is what we consider underbiking. I guess the idea >> of having the "perfect" bike seems both naive and a little un-attractive >> for some reason. Maybe others can chime on this indescribable feeling I'm >> trying to articulate. On the other hand, I might just be trying to talk >> myself out of buying an Atlantis. >> >> Thanks, >> Nic >> >> >> On Sun, Mar 9, 2025 at 5:38 PM John Bokman <[email protected]> wrote: >> >>> Ahh...the One bike to rule them all. I've tried for years! My Sam can >>> indeed fulfill pretty much all the riding I'm likely to do. This means city >>> riding (commute and recreation), touring, and off-pavement riding that >>> isn't gnarly (anything requiring more than the 43mm Bruce Gordon Rock n' >>> Road tires I use for off-roading). BUT: my limitation is fenderability. >>> Here in Western Oregon, I like fenders, most of the year. My Sam won't >>> accept 43mm tires with fenders...And I don't want to commute nor tour >>> without them. Thus, my thoughts of a second bike. If I lived in Riv's >>> locale, I think I could pretty much do it all on Sam. But, I don't. I'm >>> surprised you aren't be-fendered in your neck of the woods. Must be drier >>> up there than I thought. Or your tolerance for slop is greater than mine. >>> Either way, good on you, Jay. >>> >>> John >>> Oregon >>> >>> On Saturday, March 8, 2025 at 6:48:26 PM UTC-8 Jay wrote: >>> >>>> Lot's of great info shared - thank you! >>>> >>>> My takeaway so far is that the nature of "unpaved" varies and that my >>>> Roadini, in comparison to my Fargo, will win some, and lose some. >>>> >>>> As an example, I've been riding my Fargo throughout the winter, mainly >>>> with 2.2" tubeless gravel tires on paved roads. Some of these roads have >>>> had work done in the past 6 months and the paving is awful. The Roadini >>>> is >>>> so much smoother over these roads (Roadini with 43 GKSS, tubed). The >>>> frame >>>> flex is noticeable, in a really good way. >>>> >>>> My local mixed-surface trails, which are mainly crushed limestone, with >>>> technical sections, is where I'm hoping the Roadini will do well. I've >>>> only taken the Fargo on these trails because that's why I bought the bike >>>> in the first place. It does awesome on the trails, and I'm moving around >>>> a >>>> lot on the bike, so the bike has fine been fine. But on long road rides >>>> in >>>> the winter, not so good. >>>> >>>> I still dream of the Roadini being the one bike to rule them all (my >>>> *them*), and having like 4 wheel sets! figured I could have my two >>>> existing wheels: 43mm GKSS for most road rides, which includes doses of >>>> trails; 30mm fast rubber on dura-ace wheels for road rides with friends; >>>> and then I would add, knobbies for trail rides, and a set of winter >>>> studded >>>> tires. I would be reluctant to ride her much in winter due to the salty >>>> roads (even though I clean my Fargo after every ride), plus the rim brakes. >>>> >>>> On Monday, March 3, 2025 at 5:53:20 PM UTC-5 [email protected] >>>> wrote: >>>> >>>>> TRAIL: >>>>> Honestly the biggest factor has been cockpit. You are correct the geo >>>>> is almost identical. I’ve never made a 1:1 comparison between my two >>>>> bikes >>>>> with same cockpit, but the drop bars I had on Sam are now on Leo. When I >>>>> had only one bike, it was Sam, and I would switch from drops to other >>>>> bars >>>>> too often, and thus decided to get a second bike. On technical trails >>>>> with >>>>> drop bars the Sam felt great, until descents get steep, then it’s >>>>> sketchy. >>>>> Now that it has Billie bars (I've also used Simworks getaround and >>>>> ahearne >>>>> MAP) those same descents are fun. The geometry of both bikes can handle >>>>> trail riding if you are skilled and comfortable with that stuff. Biggest >>>>> impact to the trail riding experience will be cockpit and wheel/tire >>>>> choice. Also if you weigh 175lbs or more and only want one of these two >>>>> bikes, I’d say Sam all day. Roadini flexes a lot for me. I don’t think I >>>>> knew what flex was until pushing myself and my Roadini. >>>>> >>>>> ROAD: >>>>> I don’t have any carbon or aluminum road bike experience to compare >>>>> to. Compared to 80s-90s steel road bikes with 25mm tires, both Sam and >>>>> Leo >>>>> are Cadillacs. Super comfy. Road manners are most affected by tires and >>>>> cockpit. I’ve done centuries on both and they rule. Again I would stress >>>>> that since the geo is the same, I’d consider the Roadini if you have a >>>>> slimmer build, and if you’re closer to 200lbs I’d go Sam all day. The >>>>> “road >>>>> performance” of Roadini was negligible in comparison. I consider my >>>>> Roadini >>>>> 'faster' only because it has drops, lighter wheels, smoother tires, no >>>>> racks, minimal baggage, just less weight overall. Never weighed either >>>>> bike. >>>>> >>>>> OBVIOUS: >>>>> The trails that felt sketchy on my Sam w/drop bars do not get ridden >>>>> by me on the Roadini, at all. Yes the Roadini is way more trail capable >>>>> than most dedicated road bikes, because the geo is chill and the tires >>>>> (on >>>>> mine) are fat (42 Cavas). The bike does have limits, though, and I don't >>>>> need to push those limits because I have a Hillborne. Despite the >>>>> matching >>>>> geometry I would hastily rate the Sam [60/40 Road/Trail] and the Leo >>>>> [80/20 >>>>> Road/Trail] >>>>> On Monday, March 3, 2025 at 2:22:13 PM UTC-8 [email protected] wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> Interesting thread. I own a 57 Sam set up with drop bars / 42mm >>>>>> gravel kings. I had the opportunity to build a lugged 54 roadini, I’m >>>>>> luckily on the cusp of both sizes. What persuaded me to follow through >>>>>> despite the quite obvious similarities, was the ability to size down. >>>>>> Looking forward to a more road build. Will report back once I have some >>>>>> riding done, super stoked. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> Franco Rinaldi >>>>>> c: 646.403.0661 <(646)%20403-0661> >>>>>> >>>>>> -Pardon any typos, Siri typed this message- >>>>>> >>>>>> On Mar 3, 2025, at 5:00 PM, John Bokman <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>> I have more or less the same questions as Mike in BK. I ride a 2017 >>>>>> 58cm Sam, and the equivalent sized Roadini (a 57cm as it happens) has >>>>>> almost identical numbers. The number I'm most interested in would be the >>>>>> front center. But they don't list those stats anymore in the geo charts? >>>>>> From email exchange with Will, the two frames will ride very similarly. >>>>>> I >>>>>> wouldn't be surprised if the tubing is indeed slightly different - or >>>>>> not - >>>>>> but I'm not sure if I'd notice it. What I would notice, however, is the >>>>>> front center measurement; Ideally I would want more than I currently get >>>>>> with my Sam (61.8cm, according to Bike Insights). >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> John >>>>>> Oregon >>>>>> >>>>>> On Monday, March 3, 2025 at 8:17:38 AM UTC-8 Mike in BK wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>>> Hi Brenton, >>>>>>> >>>>>>> If you have a 57 Roadini and a 57 Sam from a recent MIT generation, >>>>>>> their geos looks very similar (like, very). With the Sam being more >>>>>>> stout >>>>>>> and a little longer, how would you compare the rides? Interested in the >>>>>>> feel on the road and capabilities on non-paved roads (which you've >>>>>>> already >>>>>>> described a bit here). >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Thanks! >>>>>>> Mike >>>>>>> >>>>>>> On Saturday, February 8, 2025 at 11:39:25 AM UTC-5 >>>>>>> [email protected] wrote: >>>>>>> >>>>>>>> I ride my Roadini all over. I'm on a 57 as well. 6'1" and 185lbs. I >>>>>>>> have 32H dyad hoops. Only used Ultradynamico Cava 42s on it so far. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> I have thrown the rear wheel out of true after getting "air" off >>>>>>>> some roots on familiar trails. That's about as crazy as I get, and >>>>>>>> I've >>>>>>>> learned not to beat on it the way I can do with my Sam. Sam has 36 >>>>>>>> hole >>>>>>>> Atlas wheels. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> On Saturday, February 8, 2025 at 6:10:35 AM UTC-8 >>>>>>>> [email protected] wrote: >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Looking forward to answers to this. I have a Hilsen set up for >>>>>>>>> road riding, with slicks and a dark-boston-winter-inspired dynamo, >>>>>>>>> and I >>>>>>>>> love it -- it's fast and so comfortable -- and have no plans to make >>>>>>>>> any >>>>>>>>> big changes. >>>>>>>>> (Except maybe to Paul brakes -- big for the wallet.) >>>>>>>>> Thinking of getting a Roadini or an Atlantis next, for trail >>>>>>>>> riding but also, sometimes, commuting. On first glance, it seems like >>>>>>>>> the >>>>>>>>> Atlantis would be the smart choice, but I like the geo of the roadini >>>>>>>>> better, like that it's a little lighter, like that the lugged version >>>>>>>>> seems >>>>>>>>> more rack friendly, and I'm just not convinced that a somewhat >>>>>>>>> experienced >>>>>>>>> (def not expert) rider needs anything bigger than a 43/45 tired >>>>>>>>> unless >>>>>>>>> he/she is hitting mountain trails. (For which a mountain bike will >>>>>>>>> always >>>>>>>>> be better.) I have a crust bombora, which I would gift to my son, and >>>>>>>>> on >>>>>>>>> all kinds of trails I've never felt any ride-feel difference between >>>>>>>>> a 42 >>>>>>>>> tire and a 50. So curious about others' experiences. >>>>>>>>> Jay, thanks for asking this questions, and as far as tire advice, >>>>>>>>> I really love the soma cazaderos for what you're describing. >>>>>>>>> Cheers! >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> On Saturday, February 8, 2025 at 7:50:23 AM UTC-5 Jay wrote: >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> I have the 2023 Roadini, size 57. I LOVE the bike and how it >>>>>>>>>> feels, every time I get on it after a long break (riding another >>>>>>>>>> bike on >>>>>>>>>> snowy/salty roads) I'm reminded of just how good it fits, handles, >>>>>>>>>> and >>>>>>>>>> feels. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> I'm thinking of adding a third wheel set, for mainly unpaved >>>>>>>>>> riding (more below). *I'm curious as to your experience with >>>>>>>>>> this bike on gravel roads, trails, etc.* I realize bike configs >>>>>>>>>> will differ, as to the specific riding conditions, but to me this is >>>>>>>>>> not a >>>>>>>>>> road bike like the ones I've had previously, so I want to push the >>>>>>>>>> envelope >>>>>>>>>> and see what terrain I can ride, somewhat comfortably. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> *Recap*: Bought it a year ago and had two wheel sets from the >>>>>>>>>> start, one with Dura-Ace wheels I already had, and 30mm tires for >>>>>>>>>> road >>>>>>>>>> rides with a friend, who is faster than me (me and the bike can keep >>>>>>>>>> up! so >>>>>>>>>> it has replaced my road bike); the other with new 105 hubs and H >>>>>>>>>> plus son >>>>>>>>>> archetype rims with 43mm GKSS tires for every other ride, which >>>>>>>>>> includes >>>>>>>>>> rail trails, short sections of gravel paths connecting roads, and >>>>>>>>>> 100% >>>>>>>>>> paved rides when on my own (I like the added comfort and versatility >>>>>>>>>> over >>>>>>>>>> the 30mm tires). Swapping wheels is so easy, pop the quick release >>>>>>>>>> on the >>>>>>>>>> TRP levers and on the other one on the brake callipers, swap wheels, >>>>>>>>>> barrel >>>>>>>>>> adjuster on the calliper to adjust pads to rim, done. I'm always >>>>>>>>>> playing >>>>>>>>>> records when messing around with the bike, and this is a "one song" >>>>>>>>>> adjustment lol >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> If I was to add a third wheel set, I think I would want go >>>>>>>>>> tubeless, with supple 43-45mm tires with an aggressive tread. I >>>>>>>>>> want to >>>>>>>>>> maximize comfort and also have a tire that can corner on loose >>>>>>>>>> gravel, and >>>>>>>>>> ride comfortably over choppy gravel roads (on longer mixed surface >>>>>>>>>> rides). >>>>>>>>>> The 43mm GKSS tires are great, and I run that at 30psi if mixed >>>>>>>>>> surface, >>>>>>>>>> but they lack comfort on chunky terrain and don't handle my twisty >>>>>>>>>> gravel >>>>>>>>>> trails very well (where as my Salsa Fargo with 2.2" tubeless tires, >>>>>>>>>> smooth >>>>>>>>>> centre / knobby corners, is great). >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> Looking for your input about this bike's capability >>>>>>>>>> unpaved/off-road, our experience, and recommendations for TLR rims, >>>>>>>>>> and >>>>>>>>>> tires as described above. Thanks! >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> -- >>>>>> 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 visit >>>>>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/ef0bac3b-ec32-47cb-9d83-f15ca5bf02c0n%40googlegroups.com >>>>>> >>>>>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/ef0bac3b-ec32-47cb-9d83-f15ca5bf02c0n%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 visit >>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/c8b71a18-d511-4f12-8080-d66f54e2e642n%40googlegroups.com >>> >>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/c8b71a18-d511-4f12-8080-d66f54e2e642n%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 visit >> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/CAC_QeUKQ-%3DjDajB8dSgbXB0kL%2BZcxb%2B%3D6Q76Hvag%3Dw%2Bdug9tEw%40mail.gmail.com >> >> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/CAC_QeUKQ-%3DjDajB8dSgbXB0kL%2BZcxb%2B%3D6Q76Hvag%3Dw%2Bdug9tEw%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >> . >> > > > -- > > Patrick Moore > Alburquerque, Nuevo Mexico, Etats Unis d'Amerique, Orbis Terrarum > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Executive resumes, LinkedIn profiles, bios, letters, and other writing > services > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > *When thou didst not, savage, k**now thine own meaning,* > > *But wouldst gabble like a** thing most brutish,* > > *I endowed thy purposes w**ith words that made them known.* > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. 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