Dear Stephen, Thank you so much for this reply, it is very helpful! I really appreciate your (and Leah's) comments on Charlie's ride qualities. I wish I could pop over from Australia for a test ride!
With thanks again, Tom On Fri, Jan 9, 2026 at 12:06 PM Stephen Edmondson < [email protected]> wrote: > Tom, > > The wheelbase on the 61 Gallop is something like 49" or 1,244mm. In > comparison the largest Lightning Bolt is about 7" or 200mm shorter! > The size adds a little bit of weight and slows down the handling a bit. > The dropped top tube also adds some flex (that I suspect adds to the > comfort). You can see it here: > https://theradavist.com/video-rivendell-the-string-test-for-bike-flex > > I've not ridden a Lightning Bolt, but I have done back to back rides with > a friends' Bombora. They couldn't have felt more different, but it's hard > to say if that was the 1x drivetrain, disc brakes and indexed shifter vs > the actual geo/handling. > > The Gallop never feels heavy but it's also not a super stiff and quick > steering bike. Touring is probably a good word, although I love going fast > on the thing. It is fantastic for long rides. I regularly am doing 40+ > miles and it just asks for more. > > -Stephen in Dallas > > On Thu, Jan 8, 2026 at 5:22 PM Tom Powell Davies < > [email protected]> wrote: > >> Thank you so much for this excellent report, Stephen, and for the photos! >> >> I've been wondering about getting a Charlie myself, and would be the same >> size. I love the concept of a light road bike that works with swept back >> bars. >> >> Can I ask - does it feel like a light and zippy road bike? Or does it >> handle kind of more like a light tourer? (I remember someone saying this >> about the roadini, for instance...) I know that these categories are >> contentious, but I'm just wondering if the Charlie would scratch the light >> road bike itch, or whether something like a Crust lightning bolt might do >> that better. >> >> Thanks in advance for any other reflections that you or others might >> have, and I'm glad that the bike has worked out! >> >> Tom in Sydney >> >> On Tue, 6 Jan 2026, 3:12 pm Josh C, <[email protected]> wrote: >> >>> I'm glad you're liking it. I hope you have many miles of joy on that >>> thing. >>> >>> On Monday, January 5, 2026 at 9:14:37 PM UTC-5 Roberta wrote: >>> >>>> Congratulations on the bike and mileage. It looks beautiful. I have >>>> albatross bars on my bikes and also like them tilted down a little bit. I >>>> think it goes with the ergonomic placement of the hands and wrists. >>>> >>>> Is this your first Riv? When I got my first one I couldn’t believe how >>>> comfortable a bike ride could be. Goodbye pain! >>>> >>>> I’m looking forward to hearing about your adventures. >>>> >>>> Roberta >>>> Philadelphia >>>> >>>> On Monday, January 5, 2026 at 5:05:10 PM UTC-5 [email protected] >>>> wrote: >>>> >>>>> Some thoughts after 1,500 miles and 6 months: >>>>> >>>>> - I love it. Begs to be ridden. Especially enjoyable on longer >>>>> (30+ mile) rides. Easily the most comfortable bike I’ve ever ridden. >>>>> Also >>>>> great to look at. Have spent many a morning riding to the cafe, >>>>> enjoying a >>>>> coffee and just appreciating how cool (and weird) this thing is. >>>>> - Again, the comfort! This bike has solved my numb hands and lower >>>>> back pain after a lifetime of cycling. I've tried a lot of things, but >>>>> this >>>>> is the only time I've ever been able to ride for long distances and >>>>> frequent rides, pain-free. >>>>> - Most of my riding is paved trails and roads. Gave a rail trail a >>>>> try over the holiday break. Started out paved, then into hard packed >>>>> dirt >>>>> that turns into small gravel and larger chonky sections. The bike was >>>>> surprisingly fun on hard pack with 42 urban contact tires. Had to pick >>>>> my >>>>> way through the chonk but it did well. Makes me want to find more of >>>>> the >>>>> hard dirt. >>>>> - Most other riders dismiss the Gallop or don’t know what to >>>>> think. Is it a vintage bike? A vintage….cruiser? Why does the paint >>>>> look so >>>>> good? That’s not to say it doesn’t get compliments. Those who know are >>>>> quick to yell “NICE Riv!” Or “Nice lugs!”. Everyone who has ridden it, >>>>> raves and raves about the ride. >>>>> - The length (especially in this size) is truly huge. I spent a >>>>> lot of time looking at Blue Lug albums of their Gallop builds before >>>>> ordering. I didn’t think about the frame size affecting proportions >>>>> (most >>>>> of those are much smaller). The proportions of the 61cm really get >>>>> exaggerated at this size. Just look at the attached pic with the >>>>> banana for >>>>> scale! Needless to say, I was pretty surprised at just how big it was >>>>> on >>>>> arrival. BUT!—it fits me great with a 90.5 PBH at 6ft tall. I did >>>>> change >>>>> the stem. It came with a 110 which felt a little long, swapped for a >>>>> 85 and >>>>> it’s spot on. >>>>> - Was lucky enough to get one of the initial OM-1’s. Happy to >>>>> report that reversing the shift action feels very natural. I had no >>>>> problem >>>>> adapting and feels like it should have always worked this way. I also >>>>> never >>>>> quite got along with the Altus the bike came with. It would ghost >>>>> shift at >>>>> the worst moments, nearly throwing me from the bike when I stood up to >>>>> pedal at one point. Even with multiple adjustments, I could never get >>>>> it >>>>> sorted. Whatever the issue was, the OM-1 has none of those problems, >>>>> looks >>>>> great and does what a rear derailleur should. >>>>> - Thinking about where I can go on multi day rides this year. The >>>>> lower weight capacity has me looking for credit card and hub/spoke >>>>> options. >>>>> Would be fun to try the Katy Trail on this... >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Here's to double the miles next year! >>>>> -Stephen in Dallas >>>>> >>>>> [image: Photo IMG 0644.jpeg] >>>>> [image: Photo IMG 0712.jpeg] >>>>> >>>> -- >>> 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/3ab511e9-0fba-4561-b66d-826d2b5c1a23n%40googlegroups.com >>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/3ab511e9-0fba-4561-b66d-826d2b5c1a23n%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/IY0Xa-YCyTY/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/CA%2BgtOtQEnLC4J7oKs4ReRNcuMrwwiaTuKEv_mThoS6h7d7wjPA%40mail.gmail.com >> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/CA%2BgtOtQEnLC4J7oKs4ReRNcuMrwwiaTuKEv_mThoS6h7d7wjPA%40mail.gmail.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/CALncfAxxewCjJ4hS_jBS4hKxga1dp3%2BvJbvG6r6U5GM-oULTbA%40mail.gmail.com > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/CALncfAxxewCjJ4hS_jBS4hKxga1dp3%2BvJbvG6r6U5GM-oULTbA%40mail.gmail.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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