A Susie, One Year In

[Andrew Stevens]

Last October i purchased an XL Susie Longbolts. I'm 5' 9 and 3/4'' but have short arms and a curiously high sitbone; a PBH of 88cm but short reach in the end. Some, most even, would say that an XL is too big, but after a decade plus of riding bikes that were supposedly the "right size," but felt incredibly aggressive no matter how tall of a stem I used, I began sizing up and up and up and up. 

Even working at a bike shop, the 2020 parts shortage meant building a bike was an exercise in patience, persistence, and Macgyver-ing, so I envisioned a mostly parts bin build. Ive since replaced the cranks (vintage Shimano 600 mtb) with White Industries, and the $2 parts bin stem with a Crust/Nitto faceplater. I found some old VP Beartraps, in green, and will be installing an old green nutted Chris King headset. The wheels were new (built by me) on Velo Orange Voyager rims, a Deore rear hub, and a Shutter Precision front. 

The handlebars came before the bike, and were the first item on the vision board: custom bent by Doom Bars in New Mexico, right between the Billie Bar and Velo Orange Granola bar in sweep, and wider than both. 60mm rise, 65 degree sweep, and 689mm wide. My idea was to have a long bike, short stem, and long swept back bars with XL ESI grips and old Dia Compe moto levers. I spend most of my time on the very end of the bars, using one finger to brake. The bars are patina-ing quite nicely in the Austin humidity. 

It's set up friction, with a Left side Paul Thumbie upside down on the right side. I love the Teravails and they've been set up tubeless with no issues the whole time. The yoke cable on the Paul cantis has very very little clearance and sometimes rubs on the rear tire, but a higher yoke reduced mechanical advantage too much. It's my most comfortable bike by far, in a stable of incredibly comfort oriented bikes. Its also my fastest on my normal commutes because its the easiest to ride. It feels incredibly stable off-road, though tight tree sections are impassable with the wide bars, but the long wheel base and wide bars make traction and body english very reliable. The only thing is that the flex in the middle of the frame is incredible noticeable, even when riding seated: thats a long bit of metal, and lots of leverage with those wide bars!

Sometimes I regret not getting the L/56, but the amount of seatpost showing is part of the aesthetic and body position I was going for. I *barely* clear the step-thru, but my personal fit motto is "it should be a French Fit on a sloping top tube" or in this case, a strangely bent one. 

Photos are from Sedona, Tucson, Austin, and Taos. The frosty pic is from outside Ft Davis, TX during the freak snowstorm last winter that left us on the freeway for 10 hours.

Cheers

Andrew in Austin

[Andrew Stevens]

[Andrew Stevens]

On Saturday, October 16, 2021 at 10:10:55 AM UTC-5 Andrew Stevens wrote:

[Andrew Stevens]

[Mike Packard]

Hi Andrew

Thanks for the post and pics. Always cool to hear about more RBW folks in Austin. Now that Ultrasummer is giving way to False Fall maybe we can do an RBW/#coffeeoutside meetup or something. I'd love to compare notes on Susie vs Clem L.

Mike

[Matthew P]

Awesome stuff Tex-Riv'ers!

Andrew, your's is the type of post I say I will do but never do. Thank you for sharing. You're doing it. Nice bike. Nice bars.

Funny, I was thinking of going the opposite route with a Gus or Susie: downsize for a long and low bike. I don't know if it would actually be low. But I'm thinking lowrider inspired.
I'm on a 58 cm Atlantis right now and fit is right. I guess a Large Gus/Susie would be my size and a Medium would be downsizing.
Someone posted a 650b Gus or Susie, a bit of a prototype or something with that wheel size. I am still thinking about it.

I'd love to get/ride out to Tx. I heard of a long trail in the Southern part of the state. 100 or 100s mile trail. I'll get there.

Keep on doin' it!
-Matthew
San Diego, CA. Kumeyaay land.

[Michael Williams]

Hey Andrew,  if it’s not too much trouble, could you repost the photos of your Susie?  I’d love to see it but I can’t view the original photos.   Thanks.   -Mike 

Sent from my iPhone

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