[RBW] Re: Low trail, lightest tubing bikes really all that?
I miss my Trek 560. It was a racey bike that could be outfitted with fenders, bags, etc. Mine was a 57 and handled a bar bag just fine. On Thursday, April 17, 2014 2:15:03 PM UTC-4, Anton Tutter wrote: Well, my lightest tubed bike thus far is my Rawland Stag, at 8/5/8 standard diameter. It is by far my fastest bike in terms of my rolling average speed, but also fastest in terms of my ability to get up hills in a higher gear ratio than any of my other bikes, and the bike on which I feel the least fatigued after a long ride. I attribute this to the mystery behind the term 'planing'. As for low trail, I'm not experienced enough. My Rawland has 37mm trail with 42mm 650B tires. Yet I still feel 'flop' when I have more than a few pounds on my front rack. In contrast, my Trek 560 with racy geometry, 60mm trail and skinny 25mm tires seems to handle a couple of pounds in a handlebar bag just dandy. I simply haven't ridden enough bikes of vastly different geometric trail to come to any meaningful conclusion. My only comment is that I was disappointed that the Stag didn't flop less, being purported as a purpose-designed low-trail, front-loading bike. My next bike will be a full-custom, with even thinner tubing and less geometric trail. So it will be interested to see how that compares with the Stag in terms of speed and also front load handling. Anton On Thursday, April 17, 2014 2:08:22 AM UTC-4, Michael wrote: Anyone here own a low-trail/ lightest tubing bike? Like the Herses and Singers and the new MAP SP, Boulder bikes, etc.? Do you find them really that much better performing (faster, flexier, planier, efficient) than your oversized steel tubing bikes, as I have read about in reviews of them? -- 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 rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
Re: [RBW] Re: Low trail, lightest tubing bikes really all that?
Bill, don't you know you're supposed to be in one camp or the other? How can we argue with viewpoints like this? I had a low trail, skinny tubed (7/4/7 non-OS) Rawland Nordavinden at the same time as my Surly Crosscheck (9/6/9 OS). Yes, the Rawland did indeed have a livelier ride that I enjoyed, and it steered well with the low trail front end. But I ultimately sold the Rawland and kept the CC, because while they both rode well, I preferred the versatility of the CC (tire clearance, single speedability, strong brakes) over the more focused Nord. Eric Daume Dublin, OH 30 days of biking and blogging! bikingtoplay.blogspot.com On Thu, Apr 17, 2014 at 9:12 PM, Bill Lindsay tapebu...@gmail.com wrote: No not so much better for me. Different? yes. Fantastic? yes. Worth a slot in my stable? absolutely. So much better than my Hilsen or my Hillborne or my Bombadil that I want to get rid of those awesome bikes? No. -- 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 rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
Re: [RBW] Re: Low trail, lightest tubing bikes really all that?
Don't worry, Eric. Any zealot from either camp can chirp in and tell me that I don't like one of my bikes, or can tell me that the reason I don't like one of my bikes is that I don't know any better, and that usually draws me in to a argument. :-) On Friday, April 18, 2014 4:13:28 AM UTC-7, Eric Daume wrote: Bill, don't you know you're supposed to be in one camp or the other? How can we argue with viewpoints like this? -- 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 rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
Re: [RBW] Re: Low trail, lightest tubing bikes really all that?
Snoorr On Fri, Apr 18, 2014 at 9:16 AM, Bill Lindsay tapebu...@gmail.com wrote: Don't worry, Eric. Any zealot from either camp can chirp in and tell me that I don't like one of my bikes, or can tell me that the reason I don't like one of my bikes is that I don't know any better, and that usually draws me in to a argument. :-) On Friday, April 18, 2014 4:13:28 AM UTC-7, Eric Daume wrote: Bill, don't you know you're supposed to be in one camp or the other? How can we argue with viewpoints like this? -- 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 rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. -- I want the kind of six pack you can't drink. -- Micah -- 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 rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
Re: [RBW] Re: Low trail, lightest tubing bikes really all that?
Snore!?!?!? This is the opportunity to run and get the popcorn out for the Great Trail Debate of 2014. On Friday, April 18, 2014 9:18:26 AM UTC-7, Christopher Chen wrote: Snoorr On Fri, Apr 18, 2014 at 9:16 AM, Bill Lindsay tape...@gmail.comjavascript: wrote: Don't worry, Eric. Any zealot from either camp can chirp in and tell me that I don't like one of my bikes, or can tell me that the reason I don't like one of my bikes is that I don't know any better, and that usually draws me in to a argument. :-) On Friday, April 18, 2014 4:13:28 AM UTC-7, Eric Daume wrote: Bill, don't you know you're supposed to be in one camp or the other? How can we argue with viewpoints like this? -- 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 rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com javascript:. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owne...@googlegroups.comjavascript: . Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. -- I want the kind of six pack you can't drink. -- Micah -- 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 rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
Re: [RBW] Re: Low trail, lightest tubing bikes really all that?
I don't know what my bike's trail is, but whatever it is, I like it. On Friday, April 18, 2014 11:16:22 AM UTC-5, Bill Lindsay wrote: Don't worry, Eric. Any zealot from either camp can chirp in and tell me that I don't like one of my bikes, or can tell me that the reason I don't like one of my bikes is that I don't know any better, and that usually draws me in to a argument. :-) On Friday, April 18, 2014 4:13:28 AM UTC-7, Eric Daume wrote: Bill, don't you know you're supposed to be in one camp or the other? How can we argue with viewpoints like this? -- 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 rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
Re: [RBW] Re: Low trail, lightest tubing bikes really all that?
http://yojimg.net/bike/web_tools/trailcalc.php trail is the opposite of what it sounds like. High offset fork means low-trail and give it a stable on-center feel. Racing bikes are more aggressive, steer quickly, and turn hard with any lean or steering input. On Friday, April 18, 2014 12:25:47 PM UTC-5, RJM wrote: I don't know what my bike's trail is, but whatever it is, I like it. On Friday, April 18, 2014 11:16:22 AM UTC-5, Bill Lindsay wrote: Don't worry, Eric. Any zealot from either camp can chirp in and tell me that I don't like one of my bikes, or can tell me that the reason I don't like one of my bikes is that I don't know any better, and that usually draws me in to a argument. :-) On Friday, April 18, 2014 4:13:28 AM UTC-7, Eric Daume wrote: Bill, don't you know you're supposed to be in one camp or the other? How can we argue with viewpoints like this? -- 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 rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[RBW] Re: Low trail, lightest tubing bikes really all that?
I've found that most of us adjust fairly quickly to either design and can be happy with either. I ended up with a preference for flexier bikes and the low trail design works better when carrying a load with a lighter, more flexy frame. The bike can use lighter tubing when weight distribution is considered. Also, to me the steering quickness of the low trail bikes is a trait I like, especially in fast sweeping turns. I also think that bikes climb faster when designed to match your body size and riding style. But to get this you almost have a custom frame made unless you are lucky enough to find a production frame that works. Like I would prefer a Hilsen for touring and rough riding, but I would want the tire clearance and canti brakes of an Atlantis without the beefier frame. Yea... and Bill is too PC to admit his real preferences! ~mike Carlsbad Ca. On Wednesday, April 16, 2014 11:08:22 PM UTC-7, Michael wrote: Anyone here own a low-trail/ lightest tubing bike? Like the Herses and Singers and the new MAP SP, Boulder bikes, etc.? Do you find them really that much better performing (faster, flexier, planier, efficient) than your oversized steel tubing bikes, as I have read about in reviews of them? -- 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 rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
Re: [RBW] Re: Low trail, lightest tubing bikes really all that?
My Ram also feels much quicker than my former Sam. I don't know if it's tubing or geometry, but the Sam, nice as it was, wasn't a fast road bike. I daresay that the Roadeo feels faster than the Ram. Regarding Riv versus low trail Rando: one thing that Riv has is a particular handling quality that I, for one, really like. I've not found this on other bikes, at least to the same degree (so much so that, even after 20 years, getting on one of the benchmark Rivs after riding other bikes for a while still surprises me with the difference in turn in and fit). I gather that this turn in quality is incompatible with optimum front load geometry. As to planing or at least bikes that feel faster, for me that is separate from handling, since I've ridden bikes whose handling I didn't particularly like that somehow encouraged me to go faster. I still think that fit and geometry in relation to build, gear choice and pedaling style play a part in this feeling. I at any rate haven't experienced planing in the sense of light tubing and speed -- don't know if the general feeling of a frame being faster counts as planing; the lightest frames I've ridden (at least, I assume that 531C standard gauge is lighter tubing than the Rivs I've owned) haven't felt particularly spritely. On Thu, Apr 17, 2014 at 10:27 AM, RJM crccpadu...@gmail.com wrote: Well, I don't know about the rando bikes since I haven't owned one, but I will say that my Roadeo (ligher tubing) is faster feeling and quicker riding than my Sam Hillborne. But, I can't load up the Roadeo for camping like I can the Hillborne, which is certainly the more versatile bike. I don't know if the Roadeo has oversized tubing but it is a quick feeling bike and livelier than my hillborne, probably because of geometry and tubing differences. Could a rando bike be the end all be all for me? No, I don't think so. I need two, one for camping and one for club riding. I don't ride Rando events and would feel quite limited with just a handlebar bag for when I do go camping/touring, and I feel it may not be quite the best pick for club riding. -- Resumes, LinkedIn profiles, and letters that get interviews. By-the-hour resume and LinkedIn coaching. Other professional writing services. http://www.resumespecialties.com/ Patrick Moore Albuquerque, Nouvelle Mexique, Etats Unis -- 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 rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
Re: [RBW] Re: Low trail, lightest tubing bikes really all that?
Trail debate? How about Root River Trail system vs. Elroy Sparta? One paved, one not. Unpaved has three good tunnels. Oh, not that type of trail. Never mind. Eric Platt St. Paul, MN On Fri, Apr 18, 2014 at 4:45 PM, Patrick Moore bertin...@gmail.com wrote: My Ram also feels much quicker than my former Sam. I don't know if it's tubing or geometry, but the Sam, nice as it was, wasn't a fast road bike. I daresay that the Roadeo feels faster than the Ram. Regarding Riv versus low trail Rando: one thing that Riv has is a particular handling quality that I, for one, really like. I've not found this on other bikes, at least to the same degree (so much so that, even after 20 years, getting on one of the benchmark Rivs after riding other bikes for a while still surprises me with the difference in turn in and fit). I gather that this turn in quality is incompatible with optimum front load geometry. As to planing or at least bikes that feel faster, for me that is separate from handling, since I've ridden bikes whose handling I didn't particularly like that somehow encouraged me to go faster. I still think that fit and geometry in relation to build, gear choice and pedaling style play a part in this feeling. I at any rate haven't experienced planing in the sense of light tubing and speed -- don't know if the general feeling of a frame being faster counts as planing; the lightest frames I've ridden (at least, I assume that 531C standard gauge is lighter tubing than the Rivs I've owned) haven't felt particularly spritely. On Thu, Apr 17, 2014 at 10:27 AM, RJM crccpadu...@gmail.com wrote: Well, I don't know about the rando bikes since I haven't owned one, but I will say that my Roadeo (ligher tubing) is faster feeling and quicker riding than my Sam Hillborne. But, I can't load up the Roadeo for camping like I can the Hillborne, which is certainly the more versatile bike. I don't know if the Roadeo has oversized tubing but it is a quick feeling bike and livelier than my hillborne, probably because of geometry and tubing differences. Could a rando bike be the end all be all for me? No, I don't think so. I need two, one for camping and one for club riding. I don't ride Rando events and would feel quite limited with just a handlebar bag for when I do go camping/touring, and I feel it may not be quite the best pick for club riding. -- Resumes, LinkedIn profiles, and letters that get interviews. By-the-hour resume and LinkedIn coaching. Other professional writing services. http://www.resumespecialties.com/ Patrick Moore Albuquerque, Nouvelle Mexique, Etats Unis -- 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 rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. -- 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 rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[RBW] Re: Low trail, lightest tubing bikes really all that?
I went all out for a Jan Heine bike – Boulder Bicycle Allroad with the skinny top tube option (lightest combo), mated to Grand Bois Extra Leger Hetre tires and even latex tubes. After riding it for more than 1000 miles (brevets, commutes weekend rides), I don't know if all that expense was worthwhile. This isn't to say that the Boulder isn't a nice riding bike and that the EL Hetres aren't wonderful. Indeed, they are. But I don't really feel a significant difference compared to any of my bikes that are set up similarly. They're not magically faster and no amount of planning (if present) helped when I was undertrained for a ride. The handling is a bit different but only subtly so compared to any of my other stiff bikes with mid to high trail. The difference is certainly not any more so than between my Atlantis and my Colnago (for example). And as Grant stated before, a ride or two will entirely accustom me to the difference. But then again, I've not put big loads up front. I've used handlebar bags filled with stuff for short brevets on my Atlantis, the Boulder and even my custom Rivendell. All handled fine and were totally manageable. Maybe if I start carry gold bars about... :) IMO, bikes at this end of the refinement curve are all good bikes. One's merely nitpicking at this point and any one will do since very few of us will explore those differences often and we all adapt to their idiosyncrasies. Nowadays, I may choose the bike-of-the-day based on tires for the terrain. For northern CA's crappy roads, that means bikes that can only take max 25mm tires get to stay home for months on end, even if they do only weigh 16lb. On Wednesday, April 16, 2014 11:08:22 PM UTC-7, Michael wrote: Anyone here own a low-trail/ lightest tubing bike? Like the Herses and Singers and the new MAP SP, Boulder bikes, etc.? Do you find them really that much better performing (faster, flexier, planier, efficient) than your oversized steel tubing bikes, as I have read about in reviews of them? -- 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 rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[RBW] Re: Low trail, lightest tubing bikes really all that?
Well, I don't know about the rando bikes since I haven't owned one, but I will say that my Roadeo (ligher tubing) is faster feeling and quicker riding than my Sam Hillborne. But, I can't load up the Roadeo for camping like I can the Hillborne, which is certainly the more versatile bike. I don't know if the Roadeo has oversized tubing but it is a quick feeling bike and livelier than my hillborne, probably because of geometry and tubing differences. Could a rando bike be the end all be all for me? No, I don't think so. I need two, one for camping and one for club riding. I don't ride Rando events and would feel quite limited with just a handlebar bag for when I do go camping/touring, and I feel it may not be quite the best pick for club riding. On Thursday, April 17, 2014 1:08:22 AM UTC-5, Michael wrote: Anyone here own a low-trail/ lightest tubing bike? Like the Herses and Singers and the new MAP SP, Boulder bikes, etc.? Do you find them really that much better performing (faster, flexier, planier, efficient) than your oversized steel tubing bikes, as I have read about in reviews of them? -- 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 rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[RBW] Re: Low trail, lightest tubing bikes really all that?
Well, my lightest tubed bike thus far is my Rawland Stag, at 8/5/8 standard diameter. It is by far my fastest bike in terms of my rolling average speed, but also fastest in terms of my ability to get up hills in a higher gear ratio than any of my other bikes, and the bike on which I feel the least fatigued after a long ride. I attribute this to the mystery behind the term 'planing'. As for low trail, I'm not experienced enough. My Rawland has 37mm trail with 42mm 650B tires. Yet I still feel 'flop' when I have more than a few pounds on my front rack. In contrast, my Trek 560 with racy geometry, 60mm trail and skinny 25mm tires seems to handle a couple of pounds in a handlebar bag just dandy. I simply haven't ridden enough bikes of vastly different geometric trail to come to any meaningful conclusion. My only comment is that I was disappointed that the Stag didn't flop less, being purported as a purpose-designed low-trail, front-loading bike. My next bike will be a full-custom, with even thinner tubing and less geometric trail. So it will be interested to see how that compares with the Stag in terms of speed and also front load handling. Anton On Thursday, April 17, 2014 2:08:22 AM UTC-4, Michael wrote: Anyone here own a low-trail/ lightest tubing bike? Like the Herses and Singers and the new MAP SP, Boulder bikes, etc.? Do you find them really that much better performing (faster, flexier, planier, efficient) than your oversized steel tubing bikes, as I have read about in reviews of them? -- 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 rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[RBW] Re: Low trail, lightest tubing bikes really all that?
Oh my . . . . it has been so long since I rode a lightweight tubes bike, my now dust 531C Gitane . What a sweet riding bike it was, even for a racing bike. My 531ST custom I have is pretty sweet too, but yeah, I'ma gonna get me one of those lightweight ones again. I also have a Bombadil, but I like the Reynolds bike better and want to ride it most often. It's not even close a low trail just a standard sport touring design popular in the 80's. Low trail may or may not be funner :) All is relative to I the beholder. -- 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 rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[RBW] Re: Low trail, lightest tubing bikes really all that?
thanks for showing the Merc photos - beautiful bike. On Thursday, April 17, 2014 4:24:52 PM UTC-5, gunnara wrote: Michael, i'm 6'4 and heavy enough for my size, i had at least 6 bikes with normal tubing, most of them didn't fit me very well. Then i got a Roberts with all the important numbers similar to a 65 hh, also the oversized tubing, for the first time. It fits fine, I liked how stiff it felt when going up The hill, how well it carried my groceries and so on. But my neck started to ache, I looked for bigger tires, lowered the pressure - same as the Rivendell people seem to do. A stiff frame with soft tires feels funny, and my neck still hurt, so I ordered a new Custom, this time a Mercian, normal sized tubing, Reynolds 631 which is softer and more comfortable. I went for a low trail geo 73.5° 59mm which is about 40mm of trail. Low 80mm bb, 72° seat angle. TT is now 61.5 , stem is 132mm horizontal. I love my bike. I enjoy cycling on rough city paths, towpaths by the river, rough gravel roads in the forest. The bike feels stable and fast, down the mountain, in the storm, on icey roads with my Conti premium winter tires in 700 37 c. With a big load of groceries the bike feels a bit soft, it's not made for going off road with a heavy load but with the stuff I need for one day outside it's fine. The bb feels stiffer as with my old 531 frames, the cs are bigger, at least at the end of the bb and the custom bb lug stiffens everything up. I don't care about tire pressure any more, I pump them hard, drive for a month or two and when it gets too soft I pump it up again. Lowtrail geo is fine, at first I had to take care when turning around, but I fast got used to the more responsive geo and I don't want to miss it. Have a look at my bikes https://www.flickr.com/photos/40626759@N06/ the Mercian now has a Speedhub but could also be used with other components, I really like it to be flexible and not being stuck to one system like you are with vertical dropouts. My neck is much better now, I come home because I'm exhausted and not because something aches, and the next day I go back on the road. The tubing of my Mercian is light, the ss is thinner, forkblades are thinner and you can feel the tt moving when touching it and pulling the bike around, it feels alive. Given my size and 225 pound some people would say it's impossible, a local frame builder completely refused to build for me but when I think back, my 80s Bridgestone was taller and longer, had a softer bb and in that time it was totally normal. So why shouldn't it work these days with better tubing, custom lugs etc. So have a nice time looking for a custom builder. I'm fine with Mercian and would always go back there. Best regards, Gunnar. -- 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 rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[RBW] Re: Low trail, lightest tubing bikes really all that?
On Thursday, April 17, 2014 1:08:22 AM UTC-5, Michael wrote: Anyone here own a low-trail/ lightest tubing bike? ... Do you find them really that much better performing (faster, flexier, planier, efficient) than your oversized steel tubing bikes, as I have read about in reviews of them? I have a Terraferma with standard diameter tubes, .7/.4/.7, 33mm of trail, 650b with 42mm tires. It's still a bit dicey riding no-hands with weight in the handlebar bag below 10mph, but overall the handling is great. It is noticeably flexy even under my skinny 130 pounds. I don't have any analytic evidence that it's faster than my other bikes, which include a prototype Bleriot, the prototype Heron road, and a custom Rivendell road. My favorite feeling bike of all of them is the Heron road, which has OS .8/.5/.8 tubes and heavy seat and chain stays. I had John Sotherland rake the Heron fork out to 55mm and it's even better, especially when I put a handlebar bag on it. I get some occasional shimmy when I load the front on any of them, but I find the shimmy is much, much worse when I have weight both in the front and in a saddle bag. I know that, in theory, steel is steel, but in my subjective experience, Reynolds 531 is magic. Ted Durant Milwaukee, WI, USA -- 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 rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[RBW] Re: Low trail, lightest tubing bikes really all that?
On Wednesday, April 16, 2014 11:08:22 PM UTC-7, Michael wrote: Anyone here own a low-trail/ lightest tubing bike? I do. Like the Herses and Singers and the new MAP SP, Boulder bikes, etc.? Rawland Stag Do you find them really that much better performing (faster, flexier, planier, efficient) than your oversized steel tubing bikes, as I have read about in reviews of them? No not so much better for me. Different? yes. Fantastic? yes. Worth a slot in my stable? absolutely. So much better than my Hilsen or my Hillborne or my Bombadil that I want to get rid of those awesome bikes? No. -- 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 rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[RBW] Re: Low trail, lightest tubing bikes really all that?
I have a Samuel Hillborne and a Boulder All Road. I am exactly lined up with Bill Lindsay. ~Tom On Wednesday, April 16, 2014 11:08:22 PM UTC-7, Michael wrote: Anyone here own a low-trail/ lightest tubing bike? Like the Herses and Singers and the new MAP SP, Boulder bikes, etc.? Do you find them really that much better performing (faster, flexier, planier, efficient) than your oversized steel tubing bikes, as I have read about in reviews of them? -- 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 rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
