Custom Suggestions for the Jan 3 winner

[William]

One potential custom idea that I think would be cool would be a proper touring bike with really long chainstays.  I'm thinking an Atlantis front end with maybe 50-52cm chainstays.  Virtually everybody who's tried to fit a pannier knows that the downside to too-short chainstays on a touring bike is that your feet hit the panniers and you may have insufficient clearance for the tires you want to run.  What's the downside to too-long chainstays on a touring bike?  I cannot think of one.  Before riding the Appaloosa I would have speculated that maybe it would be too flexy or maybe the handling would be too weird.  Now that I have ridden the Appaloosa, I know first-hand that both of those fears are 100% misplaced.  

The longest chainstays I know of on traditional touring bikes are in the 47-48cm range, but I'm not an expert on the topic.  Another full inch or two of heel room might be perfect for everything touring-related EXCEPT packing the bike.  Eventual lucky-raffle-winner, consider it!

[Andy Smitty Schmidt]

Probably not a deal breaker for everyone, but perhaps worth considering... one downside of a longer than "normal" bike is that it won't fit on transit. My 65cm Homer barely fits on the bus/light rail racks here in Portland. Another cm in wheelbase length or fatter tires would make it incompatible with the front racks on the busses. I have 2-3 cm wiggle room on the light rail.  

I haven't had any issues with heel strike on my Homer. Size 12 shoes + large-ish Arkel/Ortlieb bags.  

A Surly Big Dummy is my daily driver. It has an effective chain stay length (BB-DO) of about 82cm. Long bikes are great. 

The Appaloosa makes me thing of the stretched-out beach cruisers that were popular in Southern CA around the turn of the most recent century (not sure if they still are-- I'm in Portland now) They were fun to ride. I imagine the Appaloosa to be a better/ more functional version of that. 

--Smitty

[Leslie]

Since I've got a curvy-stay Bombadil already, as much as I like the name Appaloosa and might see a 'need' for it as an alternate bike, I really think, what I'd 'spec' for myself would be, a 650b Legolas....

[Rick]

On Jan 2, 4:17 pm, Leslie <leslie.bri...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Since I've got a curvy-stay Bombadil already, as much as I like the name
> Appaloosa and might see a 'need' for it as an alternate bike, I really
> think, what I'd 'spec' for myself would be, a 650b Legolas....

Now that's also an attractive option.

[William]

Leslie

650B Legolas!  

You already know that's what I'll be ordering if I win.  Marc's racing cross custom with 650B wheels.  Lower BB, and the lightest skinniest tubing I can get away with.  1"threadless steerer.  

[Andy Smitty Schmidt]

Speaking of mid-tails... there was a Kinn Bike at the PDX Fiets of Parenthood this year. I got to ride it both as the driver and as the passenger. It was fun from both seats. The one I rode was set up as an around-town kid/grocery hauler but they mention on the site that it can be set up as an adventure tourer with fat tires. I don't know the story but it looks A LOT like the Ahearn in Eric's link.

I think "Allan in PDX" rode it too. 

--Smitty

On Wednesday, January 2, 2013 11:30:53 AM UTC-8, EGNolan wrote:

I like the idea of a "mid-tail" as well. I have my '84 Trek 850 set up in a similar fashion, but could definitely use some extra chainstay length... My thoughts are similar to yours, basically the Appaloosa & Atlantis combined, for something similar to this: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ahearnecycles/6918163949/

 

Best,

Eric (Indpls)

 

[Trevor saxton]

650b legolas/roadeo+horizontal dropouts=dream bike.

[charlie]

A beefier version of a Hilsen (to better handle my weight) with internal wiring braze ons for a generator light system.

On Wednesday, January 2, 2013 9:52:55 AM UTC-8, William wrote:

[Doug Magney]

A beefy Hilsen - love it!

[James Warren]

Would another name for that be Sidepull Bombadil?

Sent from my iPhone

On Jan 2, 2013, at 7:35 PM, Doug Magney <yenga...@gmail.com> wrote:

> A beefy Hilsen - love it!
>

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[Peter Morgano]

I thought it would the the "level TT Sam Hillborne"

[Mitchell Gass]

At 09:52 AM 1/2/2013, William wrote:
>What's the downside to too-long chainstays on a touring bike?

Reduced traction on loose surfaces. French constructeurs kept their
chainstays short to put more of the rider's weight over the rear
wheel, and low-trail geometry made it possible to put the bulk of the
load in front.

Mitchell Gass

[Eric Platt]

That was a problem with the early Marin County inspired mountain bikes.  Great at downhill and rolling terrain, but could lose traction on a steep climb.

Boring story alert! - Back ca. 1988 was racing mountain bikes.  While pushing the bike up the back of Grandad Bluff near LaCrosse, WI I was passed by Joe Sloup and the rest of the Ross team on their very short seatstay bikes.

 

All that said, I personally still like long rear chainstays for the extra cush.

 

Eric Platt

St. Paul, MN

Mitchell Gass  

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[jimD]

I was pretty much of this view when I got my Riv Custom.  It was modeled on my Romulus and I was pretty much thinking

it would be a fancier version of the Romulus.

Boy was I wrong.  I'm not sure why/how but the bike Grant designed is the nicest bike I have the good fortune to ride.

And, it rides way better than my Romulus did.  So, I'm stoked about Riv customs.

-JimD

Photos prove it really is good looking: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rasterdogs/sets/72157604146015375/

On Jan 2, 2013, at 4:55 PM, Christopher Miller Rosales <cmiller...@gmail.com> wrote:

I find the line-up at Rivendell is diverse enough that a custom would have to really be something that they aren't providing. The first thing that comes to mind is a bike ready for internal-geared-hub, maybe a Rohloff! The Appaloosa seems to be filling in that area, but I'd go for a quicker geometry. Clearance to fit big apples + fenders. V-brakes, long top tube with albatross bars. I'd honestly be happy with a custom-fitted copy of a SimpleOne! Maybe a Simpleone with 650b hetres... Dare I say put a custom chain guard?

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[Matt]

Whatever kind of bike the winner is after, a nice feature I might suggest building into the frame is internal cable routing for dyno lights.

[William]

"Why is everyone trying to "design" a new bike?"

Because it is fun for some people to idly speculate about the design of bicycles.  Especially when it's too cold to ride or when the speculator is too ill to ride. 

Or it's just another manifestation of the "N+1" theory.  My stable of bikes could always use one more, what should that one be?  Rivendell's line up could always use one more, what should that be?  Either way, it's just idle fantasy.  Fun-having. 

On Saturday, January 5, 2013 10:44:23 AM UTC-8, Richard K. wrote:

I like Riv's bike lineup as is.

Had I won, I would have used the custom option simply to have the geometry/dimensions made perfect for my long-legged, short torso'd, 5'6", 140 lb.body. Why is everyone trying to "design" a new bike?

On Wednesday, January 2, 2013 12:52:55 PM UTC-5, William wrote: