Please help me find a Rosco Bubbe MMM!

[Joe Mullins]

I know this is a long, long, long-shot, but I am searching for a Rosco like the ones in the photo below or as Bill L once called it, the Rosco Bubbe Medium Mountain Mixte. I spoke to Will about the frame and it ticks off ALL the boxes for what I am looking for. 

Supposedly there were two batches of 12 made. The first batch was a more pale blue than the second. I couldn’t tell you which shade of blue is my favorite color as they both are gorgeous. The lighter blue is my current favorite but the darker reminds me more of the cerulean crayons that were my favorite as a child. The size of the frame is perfect for my 85 PBH and I'm told it’s able to do all the things I’d want to do with it. If I could afford a custom, I get this bike made in either one of those shades of blue but most likely the lighter shade.

I suffered a shoulder injury lifting my lady’s lightweight road bike up onto a roof rack. It has been a few months but unfortunately it still hasn’t healed. Getting my Sam up and down the stairs at my house has become a frightening chore, especially when loaded. I’m hoping that the lifter bar will help prevent future injuries. My line of work requires me to hold a boom microphone over my head 5 days a week so I need my shoulders in tip top condition!

I’ve been dreaming of a 650B go-everywhere-with-all-my-things bike (GEWAMT?). After speaking with Vince about whether the medium 650B Gus would be a good fit for me, he strongly suggested the large which is designed for 700C wheels (not that it matters since I didn’t pre-order one). The 53cm Atlantis is currently the ideal candidate, and a bike I’d love to one day own since it’s designed around 650B, but I’d really like a step through or at least a swoop tube, especially since this bike will hopefully one day hold a child seat. (High top tube related trail injuries might stand in the way of that plan).

Again, I know its a long shot but I’m crossing my fingers that the kind members here might keep an eye out for me if one pops up for sale. I believe several of you folks own one and love them. If someone happens to have one that’s gathering dust in the corner, I’d be happy to give it a loving home!

Thanks everyone,

Joe Mullins

Los Angeles, CA

 

[lconley]

I got one of the second batch in 2017:

Mine is not for sale, but here is some info from Rivendell, when they decided to do the second batch. One of the reasons that I bought it was because of the horizontal dropouts - perfect for single speed or an Internal Gear Hub (IGH). Mine is an 8 speed IGH. Originally for my girlfriend, now wife, but she appropriated the Betty Foy - she loved the red hearts in the lugwork of the Betty. I am ashamed to admit this but I have not ridden it yet. Among other things, I was waiting to bend the front rack supports. I appropriated the front and rear racks from my Trek Belleville, they are a very similar blue, but the front needed a modification, and then I bought Frank Jones, Sr, and then ......

Stealing these racks (fenders are too narrow), front is a wide Porteur style with integral tubes for the light wiring:

Laing

[E. Ricky Creek]

I have a vague memory of Grant posting a series of pictures of homemade "lift tube" alternatives, including a bunch of duct(k) tape and maybe some leather and a twig? Does that sound familiar to anyone else? 

[Joe Bernard]

I hesitate to add this because I don't want your WTB to get hijacked into an accessory discussion but let's try it: these folks in Oregon make a leather lift handle. If an MMM never pops up you could put this on a Platypus or Clem L. I think you would fit the 55cm Platy in Davis, plus member Doug H. has a 52 Clem L that might work (the latest generation of that frame has a very long effective toptube). I don't know if either are shipping though, I mostly wanted to show the lifting device. I know your dilemma, I have back issues which have pretty much knocked me out of the carrying bikes upstairs game. 

https://walnutstudiolo.com/collections/bicycle-accessories/products/bicycle-frame-handle-the-little-lifter

Joe Bernard

[Joe Mullins]

Laing, thank you for the helpful info. It just further emphasizes how much this bike fits my search criteria at the moment. Please keep me in mind if you ever decide to sell!

Ricky and Joe, thanks for the lifter strap idea! You might be seeing a photo here soon of my DIY version of that for my Sam.

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[Kainalu V. -Brooklyn NY]

People will try to tell you different, but the truth is there's no better bike in the world than Rosco Bubbe step through...  Here's one of mine (of Will's design), probably too big for you- Rosco  

Good luck, never give up...

-Kai

On Sunday, January 30, 2022 at 1:49:30 PM UTC-5 jmlmu...@gmail.com wrote:

[Jared Wilson]

Kai,

Don't you have 2 of those Roscos? 

Thats my dream Rivendell so if you did want to at some point downsize I'd be happy to entertain the idea....

I'm sure there's a list of people who have said the same thing, but add my name to it if there's a sliver of possibility there.

Joe,

Good luck with your search, I always keep an eye out for a large Rosco Step Thru, so I know where you're coming from. 

You'll land one eventually, hopefully sooner than later!

Best

Jared in SLO, CA

[Ray Varella]

Keep in mind that there is a run of Roscoe Bubbe Platypuses on the way. 

They will easily fit the same size or larger tire than the earlier MMM

Three sizes, two colors. 

Ray

[Joe Mullins]

Kai, thank you for sharing those photos of your Rosco. I love the custom ergo-grips! I appreciate hearing how much you like yours and I’ll be sure to never give up the search for one my size!

Jared, if anyone reaches out to me with a large (too big for me) I’ll be sure to let you know. And thanks for your words of encouragement!

Ray, the new Rosco-Platy’s look great but they are lacking the features that make the Rosco MMM the ideal bike for me. There really is nothing about the MMM that I’d change if I were to order a custom….right down to the color. As much as I am tempted to jump on a Rosco-Platy, I think they’d best end up in the hands of someone who really loves every aspect of it.

Thanks everyone for your thoughts on this endeavor! I love the community surrounding these beautiful bikes :-)

Joe

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[Ray Varella]

I wish I still had mine to sell you Joe. 

I was at the lower end of ideal fit and moved it along. 

Good luck in your search. 

You might try posting on the San Francisco Craigslist. 

I’ve seen a couple of them in the wild over the last few years. 

Ray

[Bicycle Belle Ding Ding!]

I'm so bummed out by this thread. Only 24 of these bikes exist? Laing, are you sure you can't part with yours? You know, since the Mrs. is so happy with her red-hearted Betty? 🙏 Maybe it wouldn't even be missed since it's never been ridden? 😬

I wish I could help. I know what it is to want the most perfect bike ever...and then to get it. (All the heart eyes for my raspberry Platypus.)

Hoping for a happy ending,

Leah

[lconley]

I did ride a Medium Mountain Mixte around the parking lot at Rivendell headquarters years ago, in between the two orders. I am unwilling to part with it yet. I have purchased 5 Rivendells with step-through frames in search of the ideal step-through (for when I get older - I turn 66 this year) - Clementine, Betty Foy, Rosco Bubbe Medium Mountain Mixte, Rosco Baby, and Keven's Bike. I am still assembling two of them (mostly cables and brakes to be rideable). All of them are 650B except the Betty - lots of opportunity for wheel swapping - I have 7 speed freewheel, 9 speed cassettes, Shimano Nexus 7 speed IGH, Sturmey Archer 3 speed (NOS 70s vintage) IGH. Once I get them all assembled and riding I will decide which ones to keep. If I was still single, I would have bought a Platypus, also (if only for the headbadge).  I have high hopes for the Rosco Baby, though - given my need for long frames, due to my long torso. That is the thing that separates the Rivendell step through frames from all others the effective top tube length. The Rosco Baby may even allow me to use Bosco's, they have never felt right on any bike that I have tried so far.

Laing

[Joe Mullins]

Leah, thanks for your support in hoping for a happy ending to the bike search! I love how much the members here share in each other’s joy when it comes to riding these special bikes. 

Laing, I hope your quest results in finding the right bike for you! And if it’s not the MMM, please keep me in mind!

Thanks everyone,

Joe

On Jan 31, 2022, at 7:19 AM, lconley <lco...@brph.com> wrote:

I did ride a Medium Mountain Mixte around the parking lot at Rivendell headquarters years ago, in between the two orders. I am unwilling to part with it yet. I have purchased 5 Rivendells with step-through frames in search of the ideal step-through (for when I get older - I turn 66 this year) - Clementine, Betty Foy, Rosco Bubbe Medium Mountain Mixte, Rosco Baby, and Keven's Bike. I am still assembling two of them (mostly cables and brakes to be rideable). All of them are 650B except the Betty - lots of opportunity for wheel swapping - I have 7 speed freewheel, 9 speed cassettes, Shimano Nexus 7 speed IGH, Sturmey Archer 3 speed (NOS 70s vintage) IGH. Once I get them all assembled and riding I will decide which ones to keep. If I was still single, I would have bought a Platypus, also (if only for the headbadge).  I have high hopes for the Rosco Baby, though - given my need for long frames, due to my long torso. That is the thing that separates the Rivendell step through frames from all others the effective top tube length. The Rosco Baby may even allow me to use Bosco's, they have never felt right on any bike that I have tried so far.

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[Kainalu V. -Brooklyn NY]

Jared,

I do have two. After getting run down by a distracted driver I had a thought that that event could've hurt my Rosco! (flesh heals, Roscos dont). So when the opportunity presented itself, I jumped, paying over retail for a little comfort.

I'm about to put some 2.35 Ice Spiker Pros on one, so it's so very necessary, but with all these cool new bikes on the horizon, I could maybe see one getting bumped, eventually... 

As Grant knew, there's a serious void in the super step through market, hopefully many more will follow to capitalize on the want/need.

-Kai

[Jared Wilson]

Kai

I can't blame you, the love you have for your Rosco is what we should all strive for.

My goal is to have one bike and the Susie is the closest fit for the job, so I have an XL incoming (eventually...) and hopefully that will fill the void.

 I don't count the also incoming Hubbuhubbuh since that one is shared...

Jared, who will have a 60cm Cheviot available whenever the Susies land, in SLO, CA.

[Dave]

Proud owner. Puts a smile on my face every day. Check out the Platypus, that's a hot dadbike right there. 

[Joe Mullins]

Great photo Dave! Looks like you two are having a blast!

On Jan 31, 2022, at 3:43 PM, Dave <dav...@gmail.com> wrote:

Proud owner. Puts a smile on my face every day. Check out the Platypus, that's a hot dadbike right there. 

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