Chuck, I’ll try to remember to measure my 53 for you tomorrow. But I would be surprised if it didn’t fit on a bus rack. Charlie is positively petite compared to my 55 Platypus!

On Oct 7, 2025, at 6:47 PM, '[email protected]' via RBW Owners Bunch <[email protected]> wrote:

Curious as to how long the Charlie's wheelbase is. In particular the 53 cm size.  If anyone could measure who has one? The buses around here (Cincinnati) have bike carriers on the front of them and wonder if the Charlie will be too big. Thanks.

Chuck 
 
On Tuesday, October 7, 2025 at 1:06:17 PM UTC-4 [email protected] wrote:
On Mon, Oct 6, 2025 at 10:26 PM Joe Bernard <[email protected]> wrote:
I think it's a very cool frame (your build is AMAZING) but definitely a niche within the Riv niche. The road bike world is still quite conservative and getting them to accept pullback bars to match the long toptube is never going to be an easy sell. The dropped toptube is also a quirk some will balk at.

It's certainly true that the Charlie Gallop isn't a conventional road bike. To be honest, though, there are plenty of reasons non racers won't pick the Charlie Gallop as well. For instance, the ultra long chainstays mean that the Charlie Gallop would be difficult to fit into a bike box to get onto a plane to do a bike tour far from home. (That's also what turned me off the Homer as well) That long wheelbase also can make it hard to fit into trains or vans or cars. (I've done it with a tandem which is even longer, but let's just say that I've had evil stares from fellow passengers, and obviously some bus drivers are more helpful than others)

The pullback bars also are much much wider than narrow drop bars. So for instance, while I can easily fit 2-3 drop bar bikes into the back of a Honda Odyssey with the rear seats down), my wife's Cheviot would take up so much room that I'd have to move it onto the roof rack instead even when I'm planning to only move 2 bikes. In fact, a pull back bar at a crowded school bike rack would necessitate that you'd park the bike backwards with the rear wheel first, and in many cases a standard cable lock would have a hard time reaching the rack in those situations, and don't even start talking about a U-lock!

Don't get me wrong, I like my Roadini (my wife shot this video on Saturday's ride: https://youtu.be/6hBpmSL6lRc?si=v7gIUKY-4WelAjk3), but the additional weight is definitely felt when I lift it, and even with its relatively short chainstays (still 2cm longer than my touring bike!), I find that when I have to stand up and sprint it just doesn't accelerate the way more touring bike does.

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