Hi Manny. So far, my setup has been working out for me. But there are two caveats. One, I have them in a "non-traditional" position, in that they are slung low relative to the saddle (about an inch drop). Two, the longest ride I've done with them was 55 miles. I'm planning on extending my range with the Quickbeam and just have to go about doing it.
Overall, I've done a number of 40-50 mile rides with them. In comparison to drops, there are less hand positions that affect the angle of my back and the angle of my palms and wrists. Those are the biggest limitations I've found with my setup. As you know, when you ride long distances, variation provides welcome relief. With drops, I get these: in the hooks, in the drops, on the ramps, on the bends, and on the top. That's pretty remarkable. With the low-slung 'staches, I go about things thisaway: My normal cruising position is to have my hands just outboard of the "hooks", palms facing each other and thumbs hooked under the bars. This is my analog to the hoods positions and it works great. With the inverse levers, I can access the brakes with my pinkie and ring fingers pretty immediately. To vary things up with my hands, I sometimes move my thumbs over the bars, instead of under. When my back starts honking, I sit up and hang onto the bars right at their ends. The extensions that the inverse levers provide make this work out pretty nice, but I can't maintain this position for very long. So, I opt for frequency over duration in these cases. And, every once in a while I'll just sit up straight and ride no-handed. When I need speed or when facing a good seated climb, I put my paws over the hooks, palms facing the ground, elbows bent 90 degrees, and back flattened. Then I tug and churn. I call this my Pineapple Bob tribute: http://tinyurl.com/2ck8gmp. And, for climbing while standing, the bars are the best setup I've ever used. So, there's your very long and detailed answer. I can thank morning coffee and NyQuil for it (shaking off a cold). Best, Lee On Oct 13, 11:39 am, manueljohnacosta <manueljohnaco...@hotmail.com> wrote: > Thanks for the ride report Lee. I really like your set up been > thinking of making a bike with the same handlebar/brake combo set up. > Hows it ride for you? Any advantage or disadvantages over having drop > bars? > -Manny > > On Oct 13, 11:08 am, Lee <leec...@gmail.com> wrote: > > > Hi Anne. I'm no great bike handler, but here is what I ride. The > > Quickbeam is a 650B conversion. So far, I've used the 32mm Nifty > > Swiftys with the lightly-treaded checkerboard pattern. I had trouble > > with them in terms of traction on some steep upward pitches. I had > > them at about 50-55 last time I rode these trails. > > > I've used Col de la Vies on a few different bikes in the Headlands and > > these worked very well. They measure out to about 35.5555555etc. mm > > and have good, deep oval-shaped treads. Normally, I run them at 60-65 > > psi on my commute. On the trails, I set them to about 55-60. Less > > would probably help both with traction and to provide "float" on the > > deeper, sandy stuff. > > > Speaking of deep, sandy stuff, that is the main issue I have with > > trail riding. On climbs, I can spin out when I hit such a patch, > > particularly on the one speed. So, I try to pick a decent line and > > hunker my butt down on the back edge of the saddle when cranking > > through it, as recommended to me on my last mixed terrain ride report. > > > On descents, I get a little leary of the slip-and-slide action as I > > pass through the wash. So again, I try to pick a decent line, dampen > > my speed some before hitting the patch. Then, let loose the brakes and > > try to keep my line as straight as possible as I forge my way through > > the deep stuff. Overall, though, I'm a pretty slow descender on > > trails. > > > Again, I'm a newb to this type of riding and I'm sure there are a lot > > of smart techniques out there that folks have developed, if anyone > > wants to chime in here. > > > My Col de la Vies have given out, so I'm thinking about the new Soma > > 650B tires, which are ~38mm equivalents of your Paselas (at least > > superficially). I'm interested in seeing how they do on those trails. > > Plus, they are a little bit lighter than the Col de la Vies. I know, I > > know, it's all about the engine. But this engine welcomes any help it > > can get! > > > Best, > > Lee > > > On Oct 13, 9:55 am, Anne Paulson <anne.paul...@gmail.com> wrote: > > > > Sounds fantastic. What tires do you find necessary for adventures like > > > that? What tires would you recommend for someone who's not a great > > > bike handler? What pressure did you run your tires at? > > > > I like riding my Atlantis (32 mm Panaracer Paselas) on dirt fire > > > roads, but lately, at the end of the summer, I've been chickening out > > > and walking more, as the fire roads in the South Bay (and presumably > > > in Marin as well) are covered with gravel and dust. > > > > On Wed, Oct 13, 2010 at 9:50 AM, Lee <leec...@gmail.com> wrote: > > > > Morning, all. I was able to wheel out the Quickbeam for a weekend ride > > > > for the first time in more than a month. It took me out into the Marin > > > > Headlands to explore the wonderful set of trails inscribed there along > > > > the southern three ridges. Despite being underpowered and therefore, a > > > > bit undergeared, it was a wonderful afternoon. Trails, hills, beaches, > > > > and an ocean, with only minimal interruptions by three other cyclists, > > > > two runners, and a handful of hikers--all just 10 miles or so from my > > > > urban-crushed doorstep. > > > > -- > > > -- Anne Paulson > > > > My hovercraft is full of eels -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bu...@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
