Re: [RBW] Re: Has anyone ever made a Rivendell custom step-through?

I agree, Doug, that 'leaf on pedal' shot is way cool  On Wednesday, January 27, 2021 at 7:11:10 AM UTC-8 Doug H. wrote: > That photo of the pedals with the leaf is pure artwork... > > Doug > > On Tuesday, January 26, 2021 at 3:37:05 PM UTC-5 Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! > wrote: > >> This? >>

Re: [RBW] Re: Has anyone ever made a Rivendell custom step-through?

And also to be fair, my wife loves the ride and can tell the difference between types of tires. But it weighs 4 pounds more than my Soma Saga tourer and almost 5 pounds more than my 54 Sam. I blame the bell. I do like the woven carbon fiber fenders designed “to save weight”, though. On

Re: [RBW] Re: Has anyone ever made a Rivendell custom step-through?

To be fair to that lovely aluminum KTM with the rare Deore LX black-and-gold group, that suspension fork probably weighs more than the frame. That bike would have started as a reasonably light ride before they added that thing to it. On Wednesday, January 27, 2021 at 7:41:56 AM UTC-8

Re: [RBW] Re: Has anyone ever made a Rivendell custom step-through?

That photo of the pedals with the leaf is pure artwork... Doug On Tuesday, January 26, 2021 at 3:37:05 PM UTC-5 Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! wrote: > This? > > > Sent from my iPad > > On Jan 26, 2021, at 12:32 PM, Paul Clifton wrote: > >  > > On Monday, January 25, 2021 at 2:07:32 PM UTC-6

Re: [RBW] Re: Has anyone ever made a Rivendell custom step-through?

I would agree with those that have suggested tires and wheels as the most significant improvement one can make to improve the ride of a bike and, potentially, reduce weight. I would disagree however with the idea that you have already taken that to the max with a quality, clincher, tubeless

Re: [RBW] Re: Has anyone ever made a Rivendell custom step-through?

Oh, wouldn’t we, Annie! I’ve only gotten a little ways in, but I had to come back here and tell you thanks for the delight. ♥️ Sent from my iPad > On Jan 26, 2021, at 5:50 PM, anniebikes wrote: > >  > Leah, have you ever seen the options in Europe for step through bikes? I wish > we could

Re: [RBW] Re: Has anyone ever made a Rivendell custom step-through?

The question pertains to having a lighter step-through with the toptube as low as the Clem L. The answer is yes, it can be done if you're a very light person and order a custom frame with the low max weight you can get away with. I think it would be a neat bike. On Tuesday, January 26, 2021

Re: [RBW] Re: Has anyone ever made a Rivendell custom step-through?

Elliptical tubing has been around for some time. It is not going to change the fact that a step through has limited triangulation. The Susie is a much different design than the Clem L. It does not hint that a lightweight Clem L should be coming soon. (In fact, the tubing specs on first Clems

Re: [RBW] Re: Has anyone ever made a Rivendell custom step-through?

Mark said, “Second, I recall reading that the impetus to make a lighter bicycle came from some of the employees, and they made their case to Grant. Why offer it if weight doesn't matter? That is a good question, and in this case, the Gus has been sold out since very quickly, whereas there are

Re: [RBW] Re: Has anyone ever made a Rivendell custom step-through?

BBDD wrote:...*what of the Susie? That’s not a diamond frame. It’s got that swoopy top tube that must make it less strong than the diamond frame and Rivendell says to get it if you are of a certain weight. If weight doesn’t matter, then why offer the Susie? * The top tube of the Susie meets

Re: [RBW] Re: Has anyone ever made a Rivendell custom step-through?

Hmm, my bad, I should have hopped on my bike before posting. Not 2:00, the right pedal is straight down at 6:00 and I kinda coast with my foot there as the left foot pushes off the ground. Or something, this word picture probably makes no sense to anyone but me. On Tuesday, January 26, 2021

Re: [RBW] Re: Has anyone ever made a Rivendell custom step-through?

If you aren’t messing up your wheels, my understanding is that “cowgirl” style is fine. If you lean the bike WAY over with all your weight on one pedal, maybe you’ll need to true your wheels more often? Good wheels (in the context of this list) probably can handle it with overhead to spare. Cheap

Re: [RBW] Re: Has anyone ever made a Rivendell custom step-through?

Cool! Thanks for the video! I wonder what the ovalization at the seat tube is for. My guess is also twisting. I think it's a really cool feature, and I suspect it expands the possibilities for step through frames. Paul -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google

Re: [RBW] Re: Has anyone ever made a Rivendell custom step-through?

I don't think I could do that 'ride the left pedal and swing over' thing without crashing every time. I lean the bike way over towards me and put my right foot on the right pedal in about the 2:00 position, then push off to vertical as my left foot rises to that pedal. It works the same on all

Re: [RBW] Re: Has anyone ever made a Rivendell custom step-through?

" As far as getting on/off bikes I have always used the "cowgirl" method: left foot on left pedal, push off with right foot and swing my leg over while in motion. " Linda, That is the way I get on and I never knew I was doing it "wrong" either. Nowadays, though, I get a bit more nervous

Re: [RBW] Re: Has anyone ever made a Rivendell custom step-through?

No ovalization at the headtube based on Platy pics I can find, there's a lug there. Which is one of the cool things about TIG and fillet joints, the builder can mess about with the tube all they want without having to find or shape a lug for it. On Tuesday, January 26, 2021 at 2:22:38 PM

Re: [RBW] Re: Has anyone ever made a Rivendell custom step-through?

Yep, that shows it. A vertical oval near the head tube, transitioning to a sideways oval as it gets towards that bottom bracket. Does the Platypus do that? Paul On Tuesday, January 26, 2021 at 3:31:53 PM UTC-6 lconley wrote: > This? > [image: Rosco_Baby-52_1600x (2).jpg] > Laing > > > On

Re: [RBW] Re: Has anyone ever made a Rivendell custom step-through?

I can't tell from the picture, but I was talking about the tube that connects the top tube to the bottom bracket. I think one of the early drawing of the platypus showed it though. On the baby bike, the tube is an oval near the head tube and near the bottom bracket, but it is circular in the

Re: [RBW] Re: Has anyone ever made a Rivendell custom step-through?

As of now, I own 6 Rivendells with "lower top tubes", (1) Betty Foy (60cm - 700C), (2) Clementine (52cm - 650B), (3) Rosco Bubbe Medium Mountain Mixte 650B, (4) Rosco Baby (650B), (5) "Keven's Bike" - Cargo Bike (650B), and (6) Gus Boots Willsen (Large - 700c). I have been trying to create the

Re: [RBW] Re: Has anyone ever made a Rivendell custom step-through?

On Monday, January 25, 2021 at 2:07:32 PM UTC-6 Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! wrote: > > It’s hard for me to believe a lighter step-through would be too flex ... > I think the flex Mark mentioned may be similar to the flex they had to engineer out of the baby bike - a rotation around the axis from

Re: [RBW] Re: Has anyone ever made a Rivendell custom step-through?

Yes, we might be missing that part. I don’t know about step-throughs in history - I’ve only had the Clementine, so I didn’t know they tend to be beefy. But then, what of the Susie? That’s not a diamond frame. It’s got that swoopy top tube that must make it less strong than the diamond frame

Re: [RBW] Re: Has anyone ever made a Rivendell custom step-through?

You are missing the other half of the argument. There is a reason virtually every step through out there runs the gamut from beefy to tank like: the design of a step through frame does not lend itself to being created from a lightweight tube set. I don't think many frame builders would be

Re: [RBW] Re: Has anyone ever made a Rivendell custom step-through?

Of course while I was laboriously typing my latest manifesto Linda and Leah covered it all more succinctly and with more flair. Oy! Anyway I stand by my redundant comments. Repeatedly! On Tuesday, January 26, 2021 at 11:36:08 AM UTC-8 Joe Bernard wrote: > *Disclaimer: I promised myself I

Re: [RBW] Re: Has anyone ever made a Rivendell custom step-through?

*Disclaimer: I promised myself I wouldn't come back to this thread and get into a debate about lightness but I'm Joe Bernard, world reknown for not knowing when to shut up! So here goes.. In this very specific case of a very light and strong rider who's already got that motor in tip-top shape,

Re: [RBW] Re: Has anyone ever made a Rivendell custom step-through?

Linda, YES, THIS. There is a major physical difference between men and women. I’m so glad to hear your perspective. You are so right; Rivendell has to design safe bikes for people of all sizes and both sexes. But heavier/stouter may not serve women or lighter people as well. I’ve mentioned

Re: [RBW] Re: Has anyone ever made a Rivendell custom step-through?

Leah, Wasn't your Betty Foy a little lighter than the Platypus? How did that feel for speed? I was considering a Platypus until I saw that the chainstays were going to be longer than the Cheviot. The top tube is already longer than I need since I'm happy with handlebars than only curve

Re: [RBW] Re: Has anyone ever made a Rivendell custom step-through?

Good response, and lots to think about here. I do want to clarify that I am *not* thinking of getting a custom step-through. I only wondered if someone had, and if it was lighter than the Clems, and therefore felt faster. I can think only of Keven’s custom, and that one is NOT light, with its

Re: [RBW] Re: Has anyone ever made a Rivendell custom step-through?

For what it's worth, as a tangentially-related comment: I traded my Clem H for a Susie and, despite me being over the stated weight limit and having a lower and effectively longer top tube and despite having theoretically lighter tubing, the Susie feels torsionally stiffer than the Clem H.

Re: [RBW] Re: Has anyone ever made a Rivendell custom step-through?

Agree and agree. A number of folks, including me, have mentioned tires as a much bigger factor than weight in these threads. I went so far as to put RH Switchback Hill (the Extra Lite version!) on my Clem L. I assume the frame and fork may be heavier than my Susie, and the overall bike

Re: [RBW] Re: Has anyone ever made a Rivendell custom step-through?

On Tuesday, January 26, 2021 at 7:50:25 AM UTC-8 Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! wrote: > … > So, what about bike weight? I spent 2020 trying to log 3,000 miles, and > nearly all of those miles were on my big, blue Clementine. I bought new > wheels and a tubeless tire set up and it noticeably

[RBW] Re: Has anyone ever made a Rivendell custom step-through?

I also have a Berceau mixte. Awaiting a complete redo this spring, including paint. Using Philip's rating system, definitely this one would be Hot. On Tuesday, January 26, 2021 at 11:00:30 AM UTC-5 Mark Roland wrote: > You're on the wrong list advocating for French spelling, since RBW does >

[RBW] Re: Has anyone ever made a Rivendell custom step-through?

You're on the wrong list advocating for French spelling, since RBW does not even spell derailleur correctly (that's mostly in tribute to SB). I'm not going to argue what is a mixte vs. what is a step through. If you want to call your mixte a step through (do people who claim this even have a

[RBW] Re: Has anyone ever made a Rivendell custom step-through?

Well that's quite the fascinating list. So the Platypus (and Cheviot and Betty Foy) are Mixte Sports! But now we need a name for my custom which is sorta like the Rosco "Mountain Mixte", and I would include the Gus/Susie in there, too. They have dropped toptubes compared to a traditional

[RBW] Re: Has anyone ever made a Rivendell custom step-through?

I have only ever heard mixtes referred to as a kind of step-through bicycle, not as separate concepts. “All mixtes are step-through frames, but not all frames are mixtes .” To my eye, the Clem L design starts out as an

[RBW] Re: Has anyone ever made a Rivendell custom step-through?

Here is Sumehra’s pink custom with S couplers. https://twitter.com/sumehra/status/879020629663592449?s=21 Philip Santa Rosa, CA On Sunday, January 24, 2021 at 8:06:41 PM UTC-8 Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! wrote: > You know I’m a Clem-lover, and mine took me through the worst days of my > life

Re: [RBW] Re: Has anyone ever made a Rivendell custom step-through?

On Monday, January 25, 2021 at 2:51:55 PM UTC-8 Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! wrote: > Really! Can you tell us more about this? I just have no knowledge of mixte > vs step-thru engineering. I’m fascinated. Please do share with us if you > have any more knowledge on the matter. > I'm not an expert

[RBW] Re: Has anyone ever made a Rivendell custom step-through?

I learned almost the hard way that a mixte is a trip-thru, not a step-thru; I nearly went down on my first She Devil test ride. You lean yours away from you? I lean mine towards me. Perhaps I'll try that alternate method. On Monday, January 25, 2021 at 11:07:56 AM UTC-5 Mark Roland wrote:

Re: [RBW] Re: Has anyone ever made a Rivendell custom step-through?

Really! Can you tell us more about this? I just have no knowledge of mixte vs step-thru engineering. I’m fascinated. Please do share with us if you have any more knowledge on the matter. Leah Sent from my iPad > On Jan 25, 2021, at 1:55 PM, Jim M. wrote: > >  >> On Monday, January 25, 2021

Re: [RBW] Re: Has anyone ever made a Rivendell custom step-through?

On Monday, January 25, 2021 at 12:07:32 PM UTC-8 Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! wrote: > hasn’t Europe ridden such bikes for a million years? Are they all > overbuilt tanks with nothing lightweight in the mix at all? > There are some lightweight mixtes built by constructeurs, but the step throughs

Re: [RBW] Re: Has anyone ever made a Rivendell custom step-through?

Yes there's always the factor of Grant recommending being fine with the production frames - he's famous for talking people out of the more expensive option if he feels it's not really necessary - but there no substitute for imposing your own max weight figure on a custom. A Susie-ed version of

Re: [RBW] Re: Has anyone ever made a Rivendell custom step-through?

I’m fairly certain this is what Grant would say if I asked him to make such a bike - the Clem L isn’t that much heavier, stick with that. I would guess you could shave off a couple of pounds of frame weight, which I believe I would notice. I don’t know how light you could make the bike, but I

[RBW] Re: Has anyone ever made a Rivendell custom step-through?

Well I think getting into a debate about mixte/step-through is off the topic anyway so I'll bail on that. I do think a custom step-through can be successfully manufactured for a very light person. The Platypus and Clem L are production models and are massively overbuilt for the rider in

[RBW] Re: Has anyone ever made a Rivendell custom step-through?

This is not correct. A mixte is not a step through. Because, at least without serious contortions for a normal person, you can't step through it. They are two separate designs. A mixte can more easily accomodate certain clothing choices, and with more clearance allow for sliding off the saddle

Re: [RBW] Re: Has anyone ever made a Rivendell custom step-through?

I’m thinking of Clem L. Man, that low tube is heaven. I wish I could lend you mine. Well, let’s face it, my MIXTE would be a step-through to you! Sent from my iPhone > On Jan 24, 2021, at 8:24 PM, Kainalu V. -Brooklyn NY > wrote: > > Where does step through start? I consider my Rosco

[RBW] Re: Has anyone ever made a Rivendell custom step-through?

Where does step through start? I consider my Rosco mountain a step through, but I do need to lift my leg a bit. I think Clem L is lower, but I've never swung a leg through one. -Kai On Sunday, January 24, 2021 at 11:21:14 PM UTC-5 Kainalu V. -Brooklyn NY wrote: > There's a famous one in

Re: [RBW] Re: Has anyone ever made a Rivendell custom step-through?

Yes, Ana’s famous PurpleRiv. A mixte to die for. But not a step-through... Sent from my iPhone > On Jan 24, 2021, at 8:21 PM, Kainalu V. -Brooklyn NY > wrote: > > There's a famous one in Seattle, it's purple. Maybe not step through enough? > Pretty step through though.. > -Kai > >> On

[RBW] Re: Has anyone ever made a Rivendell custom step-through?

There's a famous one in Seattle, it's purple. Maybe not step through enough? Pretty step through though.. -Kai On Sunday, January 24, 2021 at 11:06:41 PM UTC-5 Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! wrote: > You know I’m a Clem-lover, and mine took me through the worst days of my > life this last year.