Ben: It wasn’t that I didn’t enjoy the Ram; I did indeed. I built it as a workhorse errand and commuting bike even though I had that modified (to fixed) 2003 Curt 26” Riv custom built up for errands and commuting. So there was overlap and I thought that the 2003 — a clone of the 1999 — fit and handled better, despite what I later learned was its excessive stoutness, and, of course, it was a fixed gear.
The Ram didn’t feel “spritely” enough, to me, in pedaling or handling, to the point where it was a no-conditions-asked keeper, and because of the overlap I sold it on. Note that what I am looking for now is a “pure road bike” where light weight and “agile” handling and “easy” pedaling are priorities. I’m covered for dirt and errands. Noted about tubing on the Roadeo, Crust; thanks. Again, I’d take a chance on a used Roaeo at a non-Sotheby’s price. Patrick Moore, who, seeing that “they” predict rain by 50% tomorrow morning, might just try the befendered 2020 Matthews IGH fixed gear (54” low; it’s as much the downhill I worry about, with a 72” high and the hub’s lash) on Tramway hill, if I’m feeling particularly energetic and daring. On Wed, Sep 10, 2025 at 11:37 PM Ben Miller <[email protected]> wrote: > Patrick, > > Very curious you didn't enjoy the Ram as a road bike. I currently own a > Roadeo, Rambouillet, and a Crust Lightning Bolt: all very great road bikes. > But I'd probably put the Ram as my top road bike. I run 38 mm Rene Herse > Barlow Pass's on both the Roadeo and Ram and it's absolutely perfect for > me. They're functionally the same bike, but I prefer the extra mounts and > DT bosses of the Ram over the Roadeo. But... I've also put way more miles > on the Roadeo than any other bike ever, (shrug?) > > The Crust Lightning Bolt has 45x650b UltraDynamico tyres (from the ever > Romantic "Ron" :) It's a great road bike, and after getting it immediately > inspired me to do a century as my 2nd ride. Rides great and is stunningly > beautiful in person, but has I have the disc brake version and well, mixed > feelings about that... > > Regarding Josiah's comment on the tubing thickness: It's exactly the same > on the Roadeo and Crust LB as measured by Reed Kennedy > <https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1XeS2nJhBPSDRbqgG1-F2VOI_vK1QZnZmysARDJWyGps/edit?gid=500288468#gid=500288468>. > The Ram has an ever so slightly thicker tube set (8-5-8 vs the 7-5-7 of > Roadeo/LB). I didn't have my Crust LB at the time Reed took his > measurements, but my Crust LB is OS DT, not the standard tubing Reed has > recorded for the LB he measured. I'm pretty sure this is consistent with > older copy from Crust. And I'm pretty sure the Malocchio has similar > tubing. All in all, I believe the Ram/Roadeo/Ligthning Bolt/Malocchio have > very similar tubesets (but definitely differing geo's, at least the the 2 > Crust offerings). > > Anyways, I absolutely love all 3 road bikes, but would give an ever so > slight edge to the Ram. > -- 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/CALuTfgtE6o5B-gQ0SSUrMPzDJcYEtYr3nhtsPuAz5NHi4b32VQ%40mail.gmail.com.
