date:20110722

[RBW] Took a spin on the Soma San Marcos Floor Model today

2011-07-22 Thread James Warren

Great bike. I won't be getting one because it is really Rammy-like, and I already have a Rammy.

But did I mention that the San Marcos is Rammy-like. Makes it a real winner. I rode the 63 cm. A bit big for me at 6'3.5". Still excellent. It was fast and light.

-Jim W.

-Original Message- From: Leslie Sent: Jul 21, 2011 9:58 PM To: rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com Subject: [RBW] Re: Was gonna buy a Riv but didnt... Maybe an analogyWhen I first started fly fishing, I bought the 'intro' level Orvis rod. Good rod, but, wasn't long until I was eyeing other rods, like Winston, Sage... Orvis had a lot more expensive rods, I didn't want to go that far up the scale, so I thought I could find better than the low-end Orvis stuff elsewhere for less. Thing about Orvis, they have nice rods and reels, and anything you get from them is usually top-notch in function and aesthetics; however, I will say, some of their other items, like clothing, or associated gadgets, they find decent, good gear, and either relabel it, or just sell it too, but, usually at a noticable mark-up over what you could find it for elsewhere. Anyway, I ended up getting a G.Loomis Streamdance, which is still my favorite, my go-to rod for tailwater trout here. For smallmouth, ended up w/ another Loomis (an aside: Loomis is now owned by Shimano), and a Winston for my son. Thing is, I somehow got in my head that, Orvis was a good go-to company to get people into fly-fishing, but there were other companies that were focusing on just specifics [kind of like comparing LL Bean's encompassing catalog of about anything you could need, against Sage, with just rods, reels, and maybe just a few other things like a vest or a hat, etc.]. But as time went on, I started becoming more critical of other companies, and started appreciating small things about the higher-end Orvis rods, and ended up back buying my next couple of rods from Orvis... paid more for some of the rods than I ever would have believed I would have when I started out, but, I had learned to appreciate some of the nuances that come w/ the extra costs.I hope Grant doesn't find this insulting or a bad thing, but I think of Rivendell as the Orvis of steel bicycles. [Is it ironic that I first learned of Rivendell while in my local Orvis shop?] There are some models that have been over the years that have brought people to Rivendell (thinking of the Bleriot, and maybe the Soma San Marcos will; and maybe the Sam Hillborne); and, every single thing that Riv sells is a good item (even if, there are some of them that I can find elsewhere for less); they sell so much more than just a bicycle, aside from frames and components, you have MUSA, stoves, sleeping bags, knives, tools, books, wax, soap, toys... I'm amazed at some of the cool things they have. And, likewise with my post-Orvis-intro, having gotten into Rivendell, I've ended up learning about other bikes that I'd never heard of before (Hampsten, Handsome, Vassago, Ragley, Singular, Bruce Gordon) [before Rivendell, I knew Trek, Fuji, Specialized, Cannondale, Giant (and my Nishiki), Schwinn, etc., but that's *that* level, not the same level as the aforementioned). I considered certain ones of those others, Kona, Surly, etc., but, in the end, I worked myself up into justifying the cost of the Rivendell instead... so I've got a Rambouillet now, and, am also waiting on my next Riv frame to get in So, I suppose, I'd say, to work it off of your premise, I would state it as: "I was gonna buy a bike, and then talked myself into a Riv... then, was gonna get something else, and came back to Riv instead... "(and, I hope y'all don't think I'm a complete loon now!). :) -L
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[RBW] And the Sam

2011-07-22 Thread James Warren

As great as ever. I would like to recommend that anyone in the market for a Sam not be dissuaded by the undertube. For the bike's country-riding purposes it takes away nothing. The bike looks great in person, and rides as well as people have been saying for a couple of years now. The Taiwanese ones taking sidepulls is a very good thing. The clearance is massive, and the brakes are very convenient. It's the bike I'm going to recommend to my relative who wants one good bike in his life and wants to save a bit of dough on the purchase. He wants fun,versatility, clearanceand road bikesavvywith no racing influence.

-Jim W.

-Original Message- From: James Warren Sent: Jul 21, 2011 11:00 PM To: RBW list Subject: [RBW] Took a spin on the Soma San Marcos Floor Model today

Great bike. I won't be getting one because it is really Rammy-like, and I already have a Rammy.

But did I mention that the San Marcos is Rammy-like. Makes it a real winner. I rode the 63 cm. A bit big for me at 6'3.5". Still excellent. It was fast and light.

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