[RBW] Re: Surly Cross Check sizing question
Hi Gino, I own and ride a 55cm Romulus, and a 55cm Bleriot and they fit and ride beautifully for my five foot six inch body with an 80cm PBH. I also own and ride a 52cm Surly cross check, and it too fits and rides very well. The various strengths and weaknesses of the products from both companies have been well discussed in this group over the years, so I'll not fan those flames. The data point I'm offering you supports your premise that Surly's are best sized by top tube length. ( and Rivendell's remain best sized by PBH ) Hope this helps, Jon Cameron. On Jun 30, 2:11 pm, Gino Zahnd ginoza...@gmail.com wrote: For those of you who ride a Rivendell, and also ride a Surly Cross Check or Travelers Check, what are the sizing differences? It looks like top tube is going to be the best bet on sizing a Surly, but if you know of any amazing secrets, please let me in! I'm currently trying to decide whether or not to couple one of my Rivs for all the travel I do, or to just build up a Surly Travelers Check. Thanks, Gino --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ 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-bunch@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 -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[RBW] Re: Toe in or not toe in
Hi Andrew, I have a number of different makes and models of cantilever brakes on different bikes. Some expensive and fancy and beautiful. Other's really low cost and industrial looking. My experience is that the cheaper they are, the easier it is to set them up and simply use them without squeeling, squeeking or fussing. If I'm remembering correctly, the Tektro Oryx gets mentioned often on this list as being prone to squeeling. ( as such, it's one that I have no first hand experience with ) For my taste, the really in-expensive Tektro canti's on the peg wall at most LBS's work great with their included, also cheap pads, never squeel, or need any fussing over short of removing small bits of detritus that imbed themselves in the pads of any brake. And even then, they don't squeel, just threaten to grind through the rims due to the foreign matter. At around twenty bucks a pair, they are not beautiful, but they simply work. If you can accept the appearance on your QuickBeam, give 'em a try. Jon Cameron. On Apr 23, 8:31 am, Andrew Janjigian ajanjig...@gmail.com wrote: RBWers - I've had an issue with my Quickbeam for ages now where the front brakes squeal at high rpms (Tektro Oryx/Kool Stop pads). I have replaced the pads a few times, and toed them in, and no matter what, the squeal returns after a brief respite. The KoolStops recommend installing the pads square to the rim, so I did that this last time, but even so the dreaded squeal came back. Even when I do toe them in, it only goes away for a short while. Any one have any tips? I can only guess at two possibilities: that the post adjustment slips over time, or that the pads wear. The odd thing is for the first year or so with these brakes, I had no trouble with them at all. Thanks in advance, Andrew --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ 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-bunch@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 -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[RBW] Grand Bois Tires on My Romulus
Hi Everyone, I purchased my Romulus new in May of 2003. For those who don't recall (or never needed to know) the bike came new with wire bead Ruffy Tuffy tires on it. I had been using a set of Kevlar bead Rolly Poly's on another bike and liked them, so the Ruffy's seemed like a perfect choice and have been on my Romulus from day one. Until this morning. I have always really liked riding my Romulus, but always harbored a lingering feeling that the ride seemed to feel a bit dead. Those Ruffy Tuffy tires wear like the name implies, and to this day the tread is still pretty good ( a bit squared off on the rear, but O.K.) but I figured that six years later, the rubber in them must be getting pretty hard and dry, so I took the plunge and purchased a pair of Grand Bois Cypres tires for the bike (700Cx30mm)Well, I have to tell you, these tires have transformed the ride . That slight wooden feeling is all gone. The bike feels lively and energetic. I have read from many other members of this list that Grand Bois tires can be prone to flats, and I have no reason to doubt these experiences. I live and ride in southern Wisconsin where we are lucky enough to have pretty good and clean roads. No goat head thorns to be found. I have the luxury of other bikes to ride for commuting purposes, so the Romulus is mostly used for fun, go-fast ( or as fast as I can, which is pretty darn slow, but you get the idea) rides. For those of you who share the luxury of clean roads who are looking for a good, light, fast, and cushy, comfy tire, try the Brand Bois Cypres. I like them. PS: I have no affiliation to Grand Bois, or VBP in any way. I'm just another Riv-Nut who wants to share my experiences. YMMV. Jon in Wisconsin. --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ 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-bunch@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 -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[RBW] Re: Grand Bois Tires on My Romulus
Hi Bruce, Glad to hear that they can be flat free under the right circumstances. I sure like the way they ride. Thanx too for the tip on Pasela's. I use them too on other bikes for the same cost issues you mentioned. A great value. Jon. On Apr 11, 3:33 pm, Bruce fullylug...@yahoo.com wrote: Jon: I passed 1,000 flat free miles on my set of Cypres this morning. Love 'em. Too pricey to be on all my bikes, but great none the less. I have Paselas elsewhere, and you should consider them as an alternate. The Rom is a great bike. Tailwinds! --- On Sat, 4/11/09, Jon Cameron j.cameron4...@sbcglobal.net wrote: From: Jon Cameron j.cameron4...@sbcglobal.net Subject: [RBW] Grand Bois Tires on My Romulus To: RBW Owners Bunch rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com Date: Saturday, April 11, 2009, 3:17 PM Hi Everyone, I purchased my Romulus new in May of 2003. I have always really liked riding my Romulus, but always harbored a lingering feeling that the ride seemed to feel a bit dead. . so I took the plunge and purchased a pair of Grand Bois Cypres tires for the bike (700Cx30mm)Well, I have to tell you, these tires have transformed the ride --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ 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-bunch@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 -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[RBW] Re: Suntor?
Hi George, I still use quite a bit of old Suntour stuff. While the name has been resurrected of late, the stuff that you are asking about is sometimes referred to today by using the parent company's name ie: Maeda Corp. All pretty nice gear, but they did not survive the equipment change to integrated shifting and braking, and the re-alignment of the Yen did not help either. For more detail you might try www.yellowjersey.org. This sight is certainly unique to navigate, but it also contains a mountain of information ( including much about Suntour/Maeda ). Jon in Madison, WI. On Mar 26, 6:54 am, George Strickler chobur...@gmail.com wrote: I was searching in old bike stuff last night to find a small thing and came across a Suntor Cyclone GT derailleur. Whatever happened to Suntor? It seems to have disappeared in one of those periods when I wasn't paying attention. G --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ 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-bunch@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 -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[RBW] Re: Nigel Smythe Tweed Handlebar Bag
Hi Michael, Are you looking for a bar tube or a hobo ? Green tweed or blue ?? Not to seem picky, but all of the above have been made over the years, and may effect the responses that you get. Jon Cameron. On Mar 3, 2:35 pm, michaeltburn michaeltb...@gmail.com wrote: Hello World! I confessed in a letter to John Bennett at Rivendell that my acquisition of taste did not coincide with the availability of Nigel Smythe Tweed Handlebar bags. As this group knows, aesthetics are as important to bicycles as to food or a selecting a spouse. With all that mentioned, does anyone have a lead on obtaining a Tweed handlebar bag? Desparation brings with it top dollar. Any leads are appreciated. Please reply to my post or directly michaelb...@comcast.net. Many thanks and maybe you too may share my lament on the money spent to rectify youthful indiscretion and poor judgement. My highest regards, Michael --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ 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-bunch@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 -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[RBW] Re: Quickbeam ?
Hi All, I own both a Surly Cross Check (currently set up with derailer, but that might change) and a Soma Delancey. Both of these particular models come with long slots at the rear to allow for many gearing options. The Cross Check is quite versatile and inexpensive, so the value seems very good. It's a nice frame and I like it. I purchased my Delancey about eighteen months ago when Quick Beams were asleep in Rivendell parlance. The Delancey is really very nice, and while it has those looongg fork ends to allow for gearing options, it is really a road bike in terms of clearance for big tires and fenders. I run mine with 28mm Grand Bois tires and no room for fenders. Now that there are silver Quick Beams either in stock or arriving soon, I'd be buying one of those but for these financial hard times. ( I simply can't afford it right now ) All of these frames have strengths and weaknesses to them, but I feel that Jim is spot on when he talks about how his Quick Beam rides. ( or really any Rivendell bicycle [ I have a Bleriot and a Romulus too]) As to the original question, I'd strongly say go ahead a buy yourself a Quickbeam, you'll like it on so many levels. Jon Cameron. On Feb 27, 10:33 pm, David Estes cyclotour...@gmail.com wrote: On Fri, Feb 27, 2009 at 7:42 PM, CycloFiend cyclofi...@earthlink.netwrote: on 2/27/09 1:54 PM, Patrick in VT at psh...@drm.com commented: On Feb 27, 2:18 pm, Esteban proto...@gmail.com wrote: I think the QB is the prototypical touring singlespeed. maybe, but there are other options, which are actually more versatile. the cross-check, casserole and old lugged steel road bikes come to mind - these can all be very comfortable, fit fat tires and fenders, accept racks and be converted back to geared rides if one had the notion. no doubt the QB is wonderful - it's a smart, sweet looking bike. I just don't think it's the be-all-end-all of singlespeeding with so many good options out there. I have to say I've ridden a couple of Surlys over the years, and although I think they are a good value, it's hard to make a case that they have the same ride. You absolutely can make a comfortable bike out of those, and thank goodness for the braze-on's on both models. If you think you might want to rig it with geary/shifty bits down the road, there are not a lot of options available which have horizontal dropouts and will let you run it both modes. But, as I've said before I think Grant is onto something with the combination of rider position and frame angles that just feels comfortable and right for me. I had other singlespeeds mountain and road bikes and fixed gear rigs of various ilk before. The Quickbeam really replaced them all. So, for me, it kinda is the be-all-end-all in that realm. - Jim -~--~~~~--~~--~--~--- And Jim, I think in addition to that, the lng track ends give you an exceptional degree of gearing choices that a converted road bike doesn't. You just don't have the range that the QB gives you. Don't know about the Surly or Soma bikes mentioned above, YMMV -- Cheers, David Redlands, CA- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ 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-bunch@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 -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[RBW] Re: shortening rack struts
Hi Mike, The rack struts on a Mark's rack are made from solid aluminium. The cutting tool shown in your link is intended for tubular stock, and mostly copper at that. A hack saw will work much more effectively to cut the length. From there, if you're anywhere near as anal as I am, you can file the end of the cut to a nicely rounded cap and gently sand and then polish for a very professional looking strut. In fact, it will look like a factory finish with just a few minutes work and is well worth the effort on my opinion. The hack saw and file will remain useful tools for you after this job is finished. Jon. On Jan 3, 9:47 am, Mike mjawn...@gmail.com wrote: I'll soon be putting my Mark's rack on my AHH and will need to shorten the rack struts for a better fit. I know a hacksaw will work but I'm wondering what folks think of this tool. Would it work well? Seems like it could be more precise given that I don't have a vice. Hell, I don't have a hacksaw. http://www.universalcycles.com/shopping/product_details.php?id=27772 Thanks, mike --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ 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-bunch@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 -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[RBW] Re: Richard Sachs Cross Bike
Hello to all, Patrickwell spoken. To add to that sentimentit is my understanding from reading about Richard Sachs that when he builds his cyclo cross racing bikes for team members, that some thought goes in to how to make it take a bit less time to build these machines for their intended purpose of CX racing. While it might seem a pretty simple thing to add on a few assorted bosses for bottle cages and fenders and racks, it does all add up in time spent. To give all due credit, the man had dedicated his life to frame building and before he closed his waiting list for frames, he would and has built many frames with just these kinds of extra's for broader focused bikes. The frames mentioned in the article are built specifically for the cyclo cross racing team that he sponsers, so leaving off these features makes complete sense to me, and after building up two frames for each team member, probably saves Richard a considerable amount of time. The man is an artist in steel and a legend in frame building and I smile each and every time I see one of his frames on the road. As for my own bike riding..I'm perfectly well served by our good friends at Rivendell. I own two of their bikes now, and am making plans for another. Bottles, fenders, bags and all. Enjoy the ride, Jon. On Dec 10, 3:16 pm, Patrick in VT [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: How could making something more useful for general riding (with little or no impact on its performance in competition) imply that it is a wall-hanger or casual rider? But the notion a practical bike is lessor for its practicality is one that is lost on me. hmm . .. I didn't read it that way. maybe it could have been stated more eloquently, but the point was that Mr. Sachs builds his signature 'cross bike with one intent - to race cx. water bottles and fenders have no place in cx, and to have these features would imply that the bike can be, or might be used for other purposes. The omission of these features speaks to Mr. Sachs passion and dedication to cx. serious cx racing is not about being practical or versatile - it's about riding as hard as you possibly can for 45-60mins without throwing up or having to think about what a pain it's going to be to remount my honjos. adding fenders and bottle cages *would* make it a more casual rider kind of bike - so what? this doesn't make other practically designed bikes lessor. Did someone actually say that? Kind of like comparing apples and oranges, isn't it? in any event, let's not get too defensive about our practically designed bicycles. there's nothing wrong with having a bike that does only one thing and does it really well and saying that it's better for it's given purpose than other bikes designed with versatility in mind. --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ 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-bunch@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
