Thanks to you both! Let us know what you decide Mike. You can’t lose with either Riv.
On Tuesday, December 2, 2025 at 1:29:06 PM UTC-6 Mike in BK wrote: > Stephen, thank you. Most comfortable is tough to beat. > > On Tuesday, December 2, 2025 at 12:38:19 PM UTC-5 [email protected] > wrote: > >> Drew: Love the build! The tires/bars/saddle really gives the gallop much >> more of a ATB vibe. >> >> Mike: Here's a story that might help you decide. I got my gallop in July, >> built with albatross bars. I've ridden ~1,300 miles, almost entirely on >> paved trails and roads. It's the most comfortable bike I've ever ridden—to >> the point I keep going on longer and longer rides. I love it. I'm now >> considering where I could go for multi-day rides, likely credit card >> touring given the lighter weight limits of the gallop. As others have said, >> it's about the flex. (Here's a video that demonstrates it well: >> https://theradavist.com/video-rivendell-the-string-test-for-bike-flex) >> All of this is to say, if I were wanting to bike pack, I'd be considering >> something like the appaloosa as a second bike, but the majority of my >> riding is always going to be road, so I'd never give up the gallop as it's >> just so perfect for what I'll be doing 95% of the time. >> >> - Stephen in Dallas >> >> On Monday, December 1, 2025 at 6:48:34 PM UTC-6 Mike in BK wrote: >> >>> Oh, wow! You got the Charlie. Great build. Those tires have some teeth. >>> With the Quills it must be lightish. >>> That's a great take on the two bikes. I like hearing that Joe is amazing >>> on pavement. I look forward to further reviews of the Rivs. Thanks!! >>> >>> On Monday, December 1, 2025 at 6:33:48 PM UTC-5 [email protected] >>> wrote: >>> >>>> Mike! >>>> >>>> Great question…unfortunately, I cannot provide any legitimate feedback >>>> on the Charlie at the moment. I can’t ride for a bit longer. I did ride >>>> the >>>> bike enough (once) to know I needed a much shorter stem. So the bike sits >>>> as pictured, still in beta. >>>> >>>> I’ve been quietly attempting to grow in other areas, and enjoying >>>> everyone’s posts/videos of course. I will have to settle now for some >>>> very >>>> frigid and windy test rides in the near future. I will be able to report >>>> back if you are still searching at that time. There are many members here >>>> more qualified than myself to answer your question. But since you’ve asked >>>> me. I will offer my opinion. >>>> >>>> Both bikes are absolutely capable of the pavement riding you’ve >>>> described even with a dash of gravel. I think any Riv can easily do well >>>> on nice gravel for a stretch. >>>> >>>> On trails, even mellow trails. I would prefer the Joe. Throw some bags >>>> on the bike? Definitely the Joe. The Appaloosa can do everything you >>>> describe really, really well depending on choices like bars/tires. And >>>> the >>>> Joe is amazing on pavement. >>>> >>>> Mostly pavement and no bags? The Charlie could definitely be the one. >>>> >>>> [image: image0.jpeg] >>>> Sent from my iPhone >>>> >>>> On Dec 1, 2025, at 3:10 PM, Mike in BK <[email protected]> wrote: >>>> >>>> Drew, I'm curious about you having an Appaloosa and wanting to add a >>>> Charlie. I'm torn between these two models myself and getting both isn't >>>> an >>>> option for me, unfortunately. I'm actually trying to get down to one >>>> do-it-all bike if I can. I want a long wheelbase Riv with a 70 degree head >>>> tube, which sorta casts off the Roadini and Sam. The Homer won't be >>>> offered >>>> in 2026 and I'm not feeling the upcoming Platypus colors. I'm sold on the >>>> theoretical benefits of long chain stays and long front center and I want >>>> to run sweptback bars. The Joe would do everything including big tire off >>>> road riding. The Charlie sounds like a dream to ride and Grant is pretty >>>> jazzed about it. I will ride whatever I get mostly on paved roads, but for >>>> the times I will be on gravel and mellow trails I wonder if the Charlie >>>> could handle that. I'm 200 lbs and I'd be on a 61cm Charlie or a 57cm Joe. >>>> My hesitation with the Joe is the overkill factor. I won't be able to >>>> bike-pack anytime soon and the stoutness and copious rack mounts might be >>>> lost on me, unless they're not someday. It's been a tough decision. The >>>> prevailing advice has been to decide based on my type of riding, but what >>>> Rivs offer is the versatility to do multiple types of riding. I want ALL >>>> my >>>> rides to be on my first Riv. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> On Monday, October 13, 2025 at 10:57:04 AM UTC-4 [email protected] >>>> wrote: >>>> >>>>> That makes sense, thanks Bill. >>>>> >>>>> On Mon, Oct 13, 2025 at 10:53 AM Bill Lindsay <[email protected]> >>>>> wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> "I'm not actually sure why Charlie would have a lower weight limit" >>>>>> >>>>>> The caution probably centers on where the dropped top tube of the >>>>>> Gallop wants to bend the seat tube in the middle. In your imagination, >>>>>> stack 100 pound bags of concrete on the saddle. When something gives at >>>>>> some truly massive weight, it'll be the seat tube that bends in half at >>>>>> that intersection. The more triangulated diamond of the Roadini would >>>>>> fail >>>>>> at a higher weight and would probably be the fork or the head tube >>>>>> joints >>>>>> failing. >>>>>> >>>>>> Bill Lindsay >>>>>> El Cerrito, CA >>>>>> On Monday, October 13, 2025 at 7:44:32 AM UTC-7 Joseph Kolker wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>>> I got a Roadini with Albatross bars (in a standard Riv build >>>>>>> package, with a long stem) rather than a Charlie both for aesthetics >>>>>>> but >>>>>>> also after reading this language on Riv's website: >>>>>>> >>>>>>> "If you weigh over 207 pounds, get a Roadini, Sam, or Homer. They’re >>>>>>> plenty zippy, too. It’s doubtful that a 240 pounder would break the >>>>>>> Charlie, but it’s just not the right bike." >>>>>>> >>>>>>> I don't weigh over 200 pounds, but was close enough that this made >>>>>>> me wary, especially since this was a bike I hope to have a long time. >>>>>>> That >>>>>>> said I'm not actually sure why Charlie would have a lower weight limit >>>>>>> since as I understand it the tubing is pretty similar to Roadini and >>>>>>> Homer. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> I keep thinking about switching the Roadini to drop bars on the >>>>>>> theory that it's maybe better suited to that, but it feels so good as >>>>>>> it is >>>>>>> currently set up that I'm hesitant to mess with it. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> On Sunday, October 12, 2025 at 8:32:55 PM UTC-4 Jason Fuller wrote: >>>>>>> >>>>>>> I agree - to me, they are flat bar and drop bar versions of >>>>>>> otherwise the same bike. While you could run drops on a Charlie and you >>>>>>> could run swept bars on a Roadini, it doesn't make a lot of sense to me >>>>>>> - >>>>>>> better to get the frame that's optimized for the setup you want to run. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> And it would be easy to think 'well, the Roadini has a much shorter >>>>>>> rear end than the Charlie so they're not really the same bike', but I >>>>>>> would >>>>>>> challenge this by saying that the longer rear end of the Charlie is >>>>>>> simply >>>>>>> maintaining the correct weight distribution between wheels when going >>>>>>> from >>>>>>> drops to upright bars. We're conditioned to think the longer chainstays >>>>>>> are >>>>>>> not sporty, but having ridden the Charlie vs. "sporty" bikes set up >>>>>>> with >>>>>>> upright bars, the long chainstays just make this rider position work >>>>>>> better >>>>>>> all around. Climbing is noticeably better - each pedal stroke feels >>>>>>> like >>>>>>> its going towards forward momentum more than with the shorter wheelbase >>>>>>> bike. More control in low-traction situations thanks to more weight on >>>>>>> the >>>>>>> front wheel. And yes, also more comfort too (ie you're in the middle of >>>>>>> the >>>>>>> bus vs the back of the bus!) >>>>>>> >>>>>>> -- >>>>>> 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/O4ga65KM9ww/unsubscribe >>>>>> . >>>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to >>>>>> [email protected]. >>>>>> >>>>> To view this discussion visit >>>>>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/2e19f3a5-c2b1-4b1c-9558-fa40daaada57n%40googlegroups.com >>>>>> >>>>>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/2e19f3a5-c2b1-4b1c-9558-fa40daaada57n%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/O4ga65KM9ww/unsubscribe >>>> . >>>> To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to >>>> [email protected]. >>>> >>>> To view this discussion visit >>>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/c508ca10-4752-43f1-abee-36cc527ba648n%40googlegroups.com >>>> >>>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/c508ca10-4752-43f1-abee-36cc527ba648n%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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