Best Riv Rando Bike

[Dick Combs]

Looking for thoughts/opinions on best Riv model for randonneuring. Thanks

[Eric Norris]

I’ve never owned one, but I’ve always thought the Rambouillet would do well as a Rando bike. 

–Eric N

On Jul 25, 2023, at 5:55 PM, Dick Combs <rlc...@gmail.com> wrote:

Looking for thoughts/opinions on best Riv model for randonneuring. Thanks

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[LBleriot]

I guess the answer depends on your vision/intended use of the rando bike.   I’ve set up my Bleriot as a traditional fendered dyno lit 650B rando rig, but the AHH has front rack eyelets that make use of a front bag easier to set up. I also use my MIT Atlantis into a sort of heavy brevet monster.  

[Eric Marth]

Same as Eric Norris, I say I've never owned a Ram. There are a few young randonneurs in San Francisco who both ride Rams and are heading to PBP with them this year. 

[ascpgh]

Another vote for the Rambouillet here.

Grant described the intent of the Rambouillet to me as a French audax-inspired bike when I spoke to him about a bike for a cross country ride (and afterwards) that would be a light load, credit card trip versus self-supported full touring one. I was calling initially about the custom queue and wait at the time and he said the production sibling of the Atlantis was in a container, on the ocean now and sounded like it fit my bill, so I got one and have loved it since then. 

He described the under-square main triangle (TT<ST), 2cm extended top head lug, 2° upsloped TT as all aiding producing a higher, closer drop bar position with a reasonably normal stem. There was a bit of conversation about frame tubes I don't recall but all producing a fit and ride that suited long days on the bike, similar to the non-competitive, limited time riding events that began in Europe. Well suited for a saddlebag and my size has three sets of bottle cage bosses, single eyelets (for fenders) on the dropouts front and rear, room for 700 x 35~38 without fenders but optimized for 32s with them and a pump peg on the back of the head tube. 

The Rambouillet isn't terribly happy with a handlebar/rando bag due to the trail/wheel flop numbers which can make it a handful when climbing in the lowest gear. Even without a front load it can want to zig and zag rather than staying on a straight line. You can ride with no hands very easily at regular speeds. I rode mine almost fifty miles one handed after a shoulder injury. 

The 2023 P-B-P will start at the Chateau de Rambouillet supporting my belief that the model namesake was just about the multi-useful sheep. 

Andy Cheatham

Pittsburgh

[Piaw Na]

Grant described the intent of the Rambouillet to me as a French audax-inspired bike when I spoke to him about a bike for a cross country ride (and afterwards) that would be a light load, credit card trip versus self-supported full touring one.

I have to chime in and talk about types of touring:

I think what Andy meant was "Expedition-style touring": that's where you're carrying camping gear, possibly cookware, food, and water.

Self-supported means you're carrying everything you need with no follow-vehicle or luggage delivery. You can stay in hotels or camp, but what matters is that you're making decisions as to where you go and where to stay each night.

I wrote an essay about this years ago that notes that one form of touring isn't better than another: https://blog.piaw.net/2008/02/cycle-touring-and-spriit-of-adventure.html

In fact, the lighter your load, the more you can do, and if you know you're not going to be pitching a tent and cooking your own food you can actually get more aggressive and ride higher mountains or dirt trails you might otherwise avoid if you're carrying a heavy expedition style load.

 

[Dick Combs]

Folks are confirming what I suspected. My quandary is finding one  and what size. Looking at past geometry charts It looks like I need a 56 or 58 My PBH is 84, short legs long torso. Any recommendations on size as well a leads on Ram’s for sale

[Piaw Na(藍俊彪)]

I found a Ram 56cm for $1000 on Facebook yesterday: https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/198144339898384/

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[Ed Felker]

This is an interesting question. I rode PBP in 2007 on my coupled Riv Bleriot and was comfortable the whole way on Grand Bois 32mm tires. it was a fair bit more forgiving than the stiffer Ritchey Logic 700c I rode in 1999 with 23mm tires. I'm on tandem for PBP this year but if I were to ride PBP solo again, I'd take the Bleriot with 38mm tires. 

The Riv road-oriented bikes are suitable for randonneur rides with room for wider tires, fenders, and baggage. I see them on brevets in the Mid-Atlantic region. Of the current models, it would for me come down to those with more sloping top tube, the Roadini or the Hilsen.

I rode the old Boston-Montreal-Boston 1200K on a Rambouillet with 26mm tires -- far too narrow for the roads. It was fine but I preferred the light and lively feel of the

Bleriot.

Ed Felker

Washington, DC

[Eric Norris]

I’m a bit of on outlier, but I completed PBP in 2007 on my Quickbeam, which was set up at the time as a fixed gear (since converted to a three-speed IGH). The Quickbeam is pretty comfortable for long rides, and easily accommodates fenders and wide-ish tires.

--Eric Norris
campyo...@me.com
Insta: @CampyOnlyGuy
YouTube: YouTube.com/CampyOnlyGuy 

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[Toshi Takeuchi]

The Roadini is worth some consideration.  Many people finish PBP on carbon fiber racing bikes, so you could definitely do it with a Roadini and have a much more comfortable and pleasant ride.  The Roadini is probably better (for me) than the Roadeo because it accommodates wider tires. If I were considering a current production bike, then that might be my choice as it balances speed and comfort.

I can't remember if the Roadini has braze-ons for a front rack, but I had no problem with a Mark's rack and p-clamps on my Ram and didn't have any handling issues (I shared weight with a saddlebag, so it wasn't "front loaded").  Many people ride with a handlebar bag (without rack) for food and use a saddlebag for everything else.  It is nice to stuff layers into the front rack "rando" bag without having to stop, but (obviously) it is not necessary.

Good luck,

Toshi

[Piaw Na(藍俊彪)]

The roadini doesn't have front rack braze-ons. But saddlebags or bikepacking style bags would definitely work.

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[Jason Fuller]

Eric - PBP on a fixed QB, wow, nice work!  I had done some 100 mile rides on a fixed gear around the same time but nothing like that. 

I would say that which Rivendell works best (and whether a Rivendell at all is the right call) depends on your randonneuring aspirations and priorities. I have only done a half dozen 200k's so far, so I'm just a dabbler, but my Hillborne is perfectly suited for me despite being heavier and slower than a Ram, presumably. My only complaint is that they should have put third water bottle bosses under the DT; I added my own. But I am not trying to get a competitive time - I am happy being 9:30 - 11:00h finishing time on a 200.  I appreciate the 42mm tires with fenders and the forgiveness they provide.  If I was more competitive I'd probably dip into the back catalog for a Ram, Saluki, earlier Homer, or Bleriot.

[Eric Norris]

Here I am crossing the finish line that year. I felt even worse than I looked.

--Eric Norris
campyo...@me.com
Insta: @CampyOnlyGuy
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[Jason Fuller]

Very cool, nice to see the action shot too. 

I'd like to update my answer - while I have not ridden one, I can't help but think the Roadini would be a wonderful randonneuring bike. It lacks the front rack mounts to do the classic French style but a roomy saddlebag and maybe a small handlebar bag for easy-reach snacking would work perfectly well.  I imagine it goes with less effort than any other current Rivendell, but still plenty of all-day (and all-night) comfort. 

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[Nick Payne]

On Thursday, 27 July 2023 at 1:31:57 am UTC+10 Ed Felker wrote:

This is an interesting question. I rode PBP in 2007 on my coupled Riv Bleriot and was comfortable the whole way on Grand Bois 32mm tires. it was a fair bit more forgiving than the stiffer Ritchey Logic 700c I rode in 1999 with 23mm tires. I'm on tandem for PBP this year but if I were to ride PBP solo again, I'd take the Bleriot with 38mm tires.

Same here on the Bleriot. I've ridden multiple brevets on mine, mostly shod with the Hutchinson  "Confrérie des 650B" tyres.

Nick Payne

[Bill Gibson]

Riding PBP fixed was tremendous! You can see that at least two guys in the background appreciate the significance of a fixed gear. I, too, have converted my green Quickbeam to IGH, but a SRAM I-9 cannonball I was given, that is incredibly heavy and not really in the spirit of a green Quickbeam, but it is mostly flat here, and wind is the only foe. I will someday mess with it and go back to it's single speed root. But, for Randonneuring, I would want lighter weight, and more ratios to climb the mountain ranges out this valley. Hard to argue with a derailleur for weight, but the frame is nice for long rides. The frame is maybe too sturdy for light weight long rides, but I use it for anything.

Bill Gibson
Tempe, Arizona, USA

My Photographs : https://billbgibson.myportfolio.com/ and on Behance: https://www.behance.net/BillGibson

On Wed, Jul 26, 2023 at 2:04 PM 'Eric Norris' via RBW Owners Bunch <rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com> wrote:

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[RichS]

Adding to Jason's success with the Hillborne, an acquaintance here is preparing for I believe his third PBP, and this year will be riding a Hillborne. I have used mine for rando rides and have never been disappointed.

Best,

Rich in ATL

[Eric Marth]

Lyle's raw steel Ram with Mafac RAIDs, Mafac levers, TA cranks. 

[Bikie#4646]

Jeepers Eric! Lyle's Ram looks to be from outer space! (That is to say: otherworldly.)    

My 76-year old body would not likely appreciate randonneuring but if I were inclined to go those distances, I can't imagine doing it more comfortably than on my Homer: 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/bikecrazy-paul/52784257986/in/album-72177720307152181/                        

While I use a Hillborne for touring, and find it very capable, the Homer is decidedly more lively and plenty comfortable shod with 38's. Both are fendered and carry front loads.

Paul Germain

Midlothian, Va.

[Bill Lindsay]

I've done lots of 200k brevets and a couple 300k brevets on a 650B A Homer Hilsen (essentially a Saluki)

I've done a couple 200s and one 300 on a Hillborne

I've done one 200 on a Legolas

I've done one 200 on a Roadeo

I've done one 200 on a Leo Roadini

In all cases, the bike did great.  

Bill Lindsay

El Cerrito, CA

[dylan green]

wow all this discussion is making me want a ram more and more. 

[John S]

Here is a thread from a few years ago with additional thoughts on "Randonneuring on Rivendells":

https://groups.google.com/g/rbw-owners-bunch/c/EcVMZgXBmqY/m/Jj05ZEW4AwAJ

[Ian]

Eric don’t be modest you look completely composed

Ian

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[Ian]

Toshi,

 No braze ons for the current run of Roadini’s but the wider tires would certainly sweeten the ride. Some great ideas on setting up the bags. I will have to try food up front and everything else in the back.

Ian

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[Bryan Dalik]

Here is my Toyo Atlantis that I've got set up for my rando events/longer road rides. It's wonderful. Clears 42s with fenders and I could probably go a little bigger if I wanted but it's plenty. Super comfy for a long day in the saddle, while remaining relatively light, though I don't care much about weight. Just switched out the wheelset for tubeless/dynamo so now I'm really good to go.

[Josh C]

And mine: 

[dylan green]

What a great setup, Bryan!

On Jul 29, 2023, at 6:10 AM, Josh C <getjosh...@gmail.com> wrote:

And mine: 

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[John Dewey]

Well, I’m prompted to chime in here because we have both PBP bikes—Rambouillet / Saluki. 

But not be attempting PBP anytime soon because we just don’t ride well on no sleep. We end up seeing scary things that go bump in the night and don’t like napping in the cold wet ditch. Too bad, because we got the equipment and the 'want to'…just the wrong genes.Unfortunately, no way to really fix that. In school, when my pals were banging around in dorms waiting for the sun to come up, I was always long gone.

Jock 

[John Dewey]

BTW, we don't ride nearly as much as lots of you do, but we are at about 9,000K for the year...so there is that. BTW, what set-up is finer than a proper rando?

Jock

[John Dewey]

Y'all...forgot these two. The green one is mine (circa '77), the blue one (circa '59) started the whole thing for me.

Jock

[Gary Jacobson]

Toyo 56 Atlantis. 650 b fenders over 1.75 tires. Ritchey Logic triple. Sachs Qartzrd and fd. Early Son front, White Industry rear hub. 

[dylan green]

Wow - Gary it’s perfect!

On Aug 1, 2023, at 3:47 PM, Gary Jacobson <gary.ja...@gmail.com> wrote:



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<IMG_20150618_162601_950.jpeg>

[Brady Smith]

It'd be hard to go wrong with any Riv except maybe the Hillibikes. One of my fellow Salt Lake Randonneurs has a Rambouillet that he seems to really like. I haven't done any randonneuring on my Roadini, but having just finished RAGBRAI on my Roadini, I wouldn't hesitate to ride it for any randonneuring distance. Given that the seatpost on my usual brevet bike (a BMC monster cross) is irredeemably fused in place, it may well become my brevet bike if I ever have to box one for travel. 

[Gary Jacobson]

Given that the seatpost on my usual brevet bike (a BMC monster cross) is irredeemably fused in place, it may well become my brevet bike if I ever have to box one for travel. 

=Industrial ammonia and time is your friend. That, or give me a saw and I'll get the seat post out:)

gary

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