Fenders/Tires for Rom

[Darin G.]

Anyone out there running the SKS P35 fenders on a Rom? Is there room
to get a Grand Bois 30 (32 actual) under there?

[Leslie]

I've got VO 45 aluminum fenders on my Ram;  I started out w/ 32 Paselas but was having rubbing, especially under the fork, switched down to RuffyTuffys (28s).

Through glass cuts in sidewalls, ended up putting a Pasela back on under the rear.     That's how I'm currently riding, 32 in rear, 28 in front.  It's close, but no rubbing.

I haven't tried SKS fenders, don't know how they'd do differently...

[Joe Bernard]

I ran SKS35s with 28 Ruffy Tuffys. There's know way you're gonna get 32s on the front with the stock Shimano brakes.

[Esteban]

28mm seems to be the practical limit with fenders on the Ram/Rom.

[Darin G.]

The flyer indicates it can take up to a 35 with a fender,...

http://cyclofiend.com/rbw/romulus/romflyer/03.html

Maybe I need to consider a larger fender?

[Esteban]

Not with the stock brakes. Just not gonna happen. I think the flyer
is overly optimistic. SKS allow for more wiggle room than metal,
maybe. But not much

For me, the limitations worked with the design of the bicycle. While
the Rom/Ram shines with 35s on mixed terrain rides, it was designed
around those middle-reach brakes. It think the bike really shines with
28s. This was when the Atlantis was the Atlantis, and the Saluki was
pulling country bike duty, and the Rom/Ram were versatile"road"
bikes. This was before all bikes did all things.

So, I'd say if you want fat tires and fenders, spring for an AHH.
Ride the Romulus as the classic road bike it is.

[cyclotourist]

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Redlands, CA

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[Joe Bernard]

I ran 32 Paselas without fenders for some most-excellent trail riding, and 35s would've worked, too. But not with fenders. You'll inevitably face various versions of tire rub, and particle-trapping under the fork.

 

I did do a bodge of cut SKS fenders over the 32s for a while: fenders in front and behind the fork and seatstay bridge, no fender material actually under either. It successfully kept some water off bike-and-body, but it wasn't pretty.

 

Joe Bernard

Vallejo, CA.

[Darin G.]

What about the Grand Bois "Cerf" 28s? This is my "go-fast" bike but
I'm thinking of doing my first 200k brevet this spring and think
fenders would be a good idea. Just curious as to what will be the
best fender/tire combo. Not looking to turn it into a fat tire
tractor as my Sam takes care of that (although I am coming to view it
as a place to store the parts that I ultimately will put on an AHH--
sigh).

[Esteban]

On a brevet I would choose the Challenge Parigi-Roubaix at 27mm.
Plenty of comfort, and a damn fast tire. Maybe more quality control
than the GB, although I haven't been paying attention to that
discussion much (or any internet bikeyness for that matter) lately.
Paselas work great, but the 28s can be a bit rigid. Especially with
TG. I have 28mm Continental Ultra Sports on my Riv Road and those are
surprisingly comfortable.

I'd go with the Challenges, though. Those with the 45mm Honjos would
give you plenty of clearance (I would guess), functionality, and
style.

Good luck on the randonee!

[Michael Hechmer]

I will second both of Etaban's posts.  The Ram/Rom was designed as a road bike.  They are great brevit bikes but the design point is definitely 28mm & fenders and that is where the bike will give you its best.  I'm sure I could run 30s under my Honjo fenders, but don't think 28 to 30 or to drive the choice.

michael

[Bruce Curry]

I have a Ram with 33mm Jack Browns and 45mm VO stainless fenders. A
bit of a pain on the install (a couple hours on install, some dremel
work and tweaking) but fits well. I did get the Silver brakes for
additional muscle (rather than room) and this probably makes a
difference.

My $.02 is you can get 32/33 tires under you w/Ram/Rom as long as you
go long reach brakes, are patient and have faith that it will all
work.

Lastly the VO fenders are a great look w/Riv but their stays (at least
w/the single eyelet bolts) rattle like hell out of the box. I ended
up wrapping the eyelet bolts with the same hemp twine Riv sells for
the handlebar wrap. This also keeps the fender stable by keeping it
from shifting/twisting as you go over bumps. Much better results
after this last touch.

Bruce

[Seth Vidal]

On Tue, Jan 3, 2012 at 10:32 AM, Darin G. <dbg...@mac.com> wrote:
> Anyone out there running the SKS P35 fenders on a Rom?  Is there room
> to get a Grand Bois 30 (32 actual) under there?

I'm running the SKS longboards on a rom with grand bois 30's w/o a problem.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/skvidal/5826669250/in/set-72157624558173869
and
http://www.flickr.com/photos/skvidal/5826118685/in/set-72157624558173869

-sv

[Seth Vidal]

On Tue, Jan 3, 2012 at 3:41 PM, Esteban <kem...@gmail.com> wrote:
> 28mm seems to be the practical limit with fenders on the Ram/Rom.
>
>

I promise I'm not making it up. :)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/skvidal/6318127027/

The grand bois cypres.
SKS longboards.

The front rim is a synergy the rear is a salsa delgado cross.

-sv

[Seth Vidal]

They don't have the extra material on the lip of the fender. so the
place where most of the rubbing occurs for me w/metal fenders doesn't
exist on the plastic fenders.

-sv

[Seth Vidal]

On Tue, Jan 3, 2012 at 2:50 PM, Joe Bernard <joer...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I ran SKS35s with 28 Ruffy Tuffys. There's know way you're gonna get 32s on the front with the stock Shimano brakes.
>

Are the longboards wider, then? B/c I don't have any problem with the shimanos.

-sv

[kolbyt]

Trying this again because my earlier post didn't seem to go through,
or something...

I too am running GB Cypres on my Rom with VO fenders and it's working
great; highly recommended.

But I'm not sure why Esteban says that the Rom should be ridden as the
classic road bike that it is. His points about other models from the
time doing country bike, big clearance duty makes sense, and frankly I
would love to throw down for an AHH and not fiddle with fitting bigger
tires on the Rom. But if you look at the geometries of those two
bikes, not to mention the certain similarities in the original
literature about them being versatile road-ish bikes (or maybe it's
not a Riv if it can't be described thus), the two don't seem so
different, clearance aside. Am I wrong there? Not to diminish the
centrality of clearance in everyone's thinking here, but if the
difference is between a 35 on the AHH and a 32 on the Rom, does that
warrant a new bike? Or, to reverse the question, what about the AHH
makes it less of a brevet bike than the Rom aside from the fact that
it *can* run bigger tires?

Kolby


On Jan 3, 2:51 pm, Seth Vidal <skvi...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Joe Bernard]

I've owned two Rivendells: a Romulus, and my current AHH. They're both good road bikes you can ride all week on any paved road, and most dirt ones. The only differences I can detect are more clearance and more braze-ons for the AHH. I can't vouch for the Romulus hitting a limit on tours I don't do, but for most daily riding conditions, I can't see the AHH guy hitting the road while Mr. Romulus sits home sulking because his bike let him down.

 

As far as handling differences..I doubt it. I went from the Romulus to Recumbent World for a few years, so I can't say I have a direct memory of the Romulus' ride, but the AHH felt dang familiar when I hopped on it. I think it's safe to say they both ride like a Rivendell road bike. In other words..GREAT.

 

 

 

[Steven Frederick]

I ran my Rambouillet with P-35's and 27mm Rolly Pollies for a long
time--worked fine with Shimano brakes. I'm now running Tektro Big
Mouth brakes, 45mm Cascadia fenders and 32mm Somafab-branded Paselas
and that combo works fine, too!

Tying into the Riv-sale thread, I just ordered a set of silver
Longboard fenders to replace the Cascadias for a bit more wrap.
Hopefully, they'll fit over the 32mm Somaselas just fine.

Steve

[Bill Carter]

On Jan 5, 12:12 am, cyclotourist <cyclotour...@gmail.com> wrote:

> On 1/4/12, Esteban <kemm...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > Ride the Romulus as the classic road bike it is.

This may be just a question of semantics, but I have always thought of
the Ramboulliet/Romulus as a type of sports tourer bike. Keep in mind
I have never owned or ridden a Ram, but I do own a Heron Road I have
ridden for years and more recently acquired a Waterford 1250, both of
which are generally similar bikes to the Ram/Rom in my mind, and the
type of bike I prefer for my on-road recreational use. (I'm not going
anywhere too fast anyhow, so I might as well be more comfortable.) I
run 28s without fenders on both bikes, but I may give 32s a try next
time tires are needed. I am not trying to be argumentative, just
would like some clarification on the terminology from some of you more
knowledgeable folks. Is a "classic road bike" close to the same
thing, or is "sports tourer" or "light touring bike" just some
marketing mumbo jumbo?

PS - I would love it if Grant/Riv would paint some Rodeo frames in the
original Ram orange and badge and decal them as
"Ramboulliet 2s." I'd probably sell every bike I've got to buy one of
those.

[Steven Frederick]

I own a Heron Road and a Rambouillet (and coincidently owned a
Waterford 1250). The Heron Road and 1250 were pretty similar--the
Heron is a bit stiffer-tubed and sportier but they have about the same
fender clearance. (i.e., not much). The Rambouillet is a touch
longer and slightly less sporty and uses longer reach brakes so has
room for fatter tires and fenders.

Steve

[Bill Carter]

I should probably add that I think the Roadeo (which I misspelled in
my previous post) is a great looking bike also, I just think the name
is a little too punning and cutesy. (A minor complaint at best.)

[Joe Bernard]

In my opinion, a classic road bike has shorter chainstays and lower bars (circa the '80s) than a Ram/Rom/AHH. The latter to me is more of a sport tourer, which would be a classic road bike stretched a bit, with a higher headtube. In my mind, the full-on touring line is drawn at beefier frame tubes and cantilever brakes.

[Darin G.]

I don't think I'd want to change the brake just to get .2mm of
additional tire under a fender. This bike already rides nicely. What
I would want to do is squeeze every bit of comfort possible out of it
for long rides without affecting its performance and generally sporty
nature as I bought this precisely because I found my Sam sluggish for
unladen or lightly-laden duty. I have no desire to turn the Rom into
a Sam and even if I were to hang the Sam's parts on an A.H.H. I would
build it up with an eye towards comfort and carrying saddle bags,
etc. If I'm limited to a very smooth supple 28 tire on the Rom for
sportier riding that's going to be just fine.

[Seth Vidal]

On Fri, Jan 6, 2012 at 2:36 PM, Darin G. <dbg...@mac.com> wrote:
> I don't think I'd want to change the brake just to get .2mm of
> additional tire under a fender.  This bike already rides nicely. What
> I would want to do is squeeze every bit of comfort possible out of it
> for long rides without affecting its performance and generally sporty
> nature as I bought this precisely because I found my Sam sluggish for
> unladen or lightly-laden duty.  I have no desire to turn the Rom into
> a Sam and even if I were to hang the Sam's parts on an A.H.H. I would
> build it up with an eye towards comfort and carrying saddle bags,
> etc.  If I'm limited to a very smooth supple 28 tire on the Rom for
> sportier riding that's going to be just fine.
>

Darin,
1. You can get the cypres under there, no problem. no change in brakes:
2. As Manny would say:
Pictures prove it: http://www.flickr.com/photos/skvidal/tags/romulus/

-sv

[Darin G.]

Hard to argue with, I agree.

I'm going to ride over to my LBS this afternoon--they've got a Rom
with fenders and some GB Cypress tires mounted on wheels and we'll
take a look at it.

D.G.