By Request: Leah’s Mystery Bike

[Bicycle Belle Ding Ding!]

I was happy. 

I had my trio of Platypuses, each different from the next, so that anything I wanted to do was possible. I had been casting glances toward road bikes, but there were no 50cm Roadinis to be had, so I continued on my group rides astride my Racing Platypus. And then I forgot about road bikes.

Hype began to come out of Rivendell HQ about a new model, releasing soon. I love to read the copy on Riv’s website, and I always do, even if I’m not buying the bike. When I read that product description, I thought, “Wait. It’s like they went and made a bike exactly for me.” 

It was a road bike. It had a sloped top tube, came in lighter tubing in my size, and was painted in a color I loved. I ride a few thousand miles a year, and most of them are road miles on club rides. I could really do something with this bike.

With 2 hours to the presale I decided I’d put one in my cart and see if I could make it mine. The New Yorker article had come out and the Platypuses were decimated as soon as Rivendell released them, so I wasn’t hopeful. I was shocked when my order went through.

I got…a golden Charlie. 

To be continued in the next post so I can embed some photos.

Leah

[Leah Peterson]

My taste for bikes trends to the colorful side. My purple Platypus was the first bike I chose every single part for, and I’m proud of how that little Platypus came out. I did it up in oil slick and rainbow, and after that, I decided that henceforth, all Leah Bikes will be modeled after natural wonders. I have the rainbow, and up next would be the northern lights. 

I spent a decent amount of time trying to catch the northern lights this summer, which is how the idea came to me. I decided to involve two anodizers, the Mountain West’s celebrated woman anodizer, Ashley Anodized It, and Velocity USA’s anodizer, David, whom I’d met and ridden with on the Wednesday Evening Rides. Involving 2 anodizers and hoping their pieces agree is a huge risk, but I couldn’t see a way around it. Here is the inspiration photo I sent them:

If it was aluminum, I sent it to Ashley. I learned that aluminum has differing qualities that make some types better for taking color than others. I think my Silver 3 cranks came out the best. The Silver shifters were a nightmare. They had a plastic-y coating that came apart in the liquid and they took color poorly. Ashley had not done a pattern like Northern Lights before, so we had to invent it. She tried several things, but she felt she was losing the NL theme and would strip the color and start again. 

In the end, she got it exactly right. She made me the moodiest, swirliest night sky parts imaginable. Here are some of them:

Meanwhile, David was at his post at Velocity, experimenting with pattern and color. When you mix colors, you fight them being “muddy.” He had to lift color with acid and apply different color, and he got a similar effect on my Quill rims:

I’ve chosen my own colorful pieces to add to the build:

Everything is done now. My rims arrived and Ashley is about the send her things. I do need a Faceplater stem but would otherwise be ready to build this bike. Probably in the next 2 weeks!

Thanks for reading, if you got this far.

Leah

On Feb 6, 2025, at 1:39 PM, Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! <jonasa...@gmail.com> wrote:

I was happy. 

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[Eric Daume]

Wow! You're not going to be losing your new bike in a crowd :)

I'm glad to see some CHG news on this list, it seems like that frame wasn't as popular as others.

Eric

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[Leah Peterson]

Eric, several RivSisters have gotten Charlies, but none have them built yet. In my group of women there are at least 3 of us who did. And others would have joined us if they didn’t already have Homers. The women I know who have Homers LOVE their Homers.

Regarding color…people will either have hearts coming out of their eyes when they see it, or they will recoil. I don’t think there is middle ground. The rainbow Platypus makes everyone swoon. I think my husband is the only one who dislikes what I did to it. His word for it: garish. But at all the Wednesday Evening Rides, the bro types have to come and look at that bike in earnest. They love it. I think it is the purple; there is something about men and purple on a bike…

On Feb 6, 2025, at 2:04 PM, Eric Daume <eric...@gmail.com> wrote:



Wow! You're not going to be losing your new bike in a crowd :)

I'm glad to see some CHG news on this list, it seems like that frame wasn't as popular as others.

Eric

On Thu, Feb 6, 2025 at 2:01 PM Leah Peterson <jonasa...@gmail.com> wrote:

My taste for bikes trends to the colorful side. My purple Platypus was the first bike I chose every single part for, and I’m proud of how that little Platypus came out. I did it up in oil slick and rainbow, and after that, I decided that henceforth, all Leah Bikes will be modeled after natural wonders. I have the rainbow, and up next would be the northern lights. 

I spent a decent amount of time trying to catch the northern lights this summer, which is how the idea came to me. I decided to involve two anodizers, the Mountain West’s celebrated woman anodizer, Ashley Anodized It, and Velocity USA’s anodizer, David, whom I’d met and ridden with on the Wednesday Evening Rides. Involving 2 anodizers and hoping their pieces agree is a huge risk, but I couldn’t see a way around it. Here is the inspiration photo I sent them:

<image0.jpeg>

If it was aluminum, I sent it to Ashley. I learned that aluminum has differing qualities that make some types better for taking color than others. I think my Silver 3 cranks came out the best. The Silver shifters were a nightmare. They had a plastic-y coating that came apart in the liquid and they took color poorly. Ashley had not done a pattern like Northern Lights before, so we had to invent it. She tried several things, but she felt she was losing the NL theme and would strip the color and start again. 

In the end, she got it exactly right. She made me the moodiest, swirliest night sky parts imaginable. Here are some of them:

<image1.jpeg>

<image2.jpeg>

<image3.jpeg>

<image4.jpeg>

<image5.jpeg>

Meanwhile, David was at his post at Velocity, experimenting with pattern and color. When you mix colors, you fight them being “muddy.” He had to lift color with acid and apply different color, and he got a similar effect on my Quill rims:

<image6.jpeg>

<image7.jpeg>

I’ve chosen my own colorful pieces to add to the build:

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/CAHFNW5CDZOwdfe6-_pTZsw_m2hs2koKDwfQjpSUJQ9VhGjm9Sw%40mail.gmail.com.

[Doug H.]

I've used and really liked OneUp pedals. I did have to re-grease them after about 800 miles but they have large platforms and are nice. Mine were a boring green...boring compared to NL!! Awesome color scheme, Leah.

Doug

[JAS]

SPECTACULAR!  Yes, I used all caps...I'm shouting to the roof tops!  Way to go, Leah; I love the northern lights theme and the magnificent colors.  I'm looking forward to seeing the final build. 

My Charlie is being built now...all the parts and frame are at the LBS (though I'm still looking for the right pedals).  

--Joyce

[tio ryan]

Wow Leah, the anodized parts are stunning! ✨ 

I'm really excited to see the bike built up—also eager to hear how it compares to the Platypus! 

-tio 

[Joe Bernard]

I don't often say "rad" cuz I'm old and don't work at Analog but this bike is going to be SO RAD 🙌 

Also I love your Rainbow Sparkle Pony Platy. It's perfect. 

Joe "more is MORE" Bernard 

Clearlake CA 

[Ryan]

Somebody hurry up and find a stem! Leah, are you going to have the stem anodized too, or leave as is?

Love the northern lights vibe!

[J G]

I dig the theme Leah.  

It was a good summer for Northern Lights.

Caught these just west of the Porkies up in UP MI.

-Justus

Mpls, MN

[Bill Lindsay]

The handlebars break my heart just a little bit because of the real-estate that could get covered up.  Maybe transparent BMX grips are appropriate:

https://shop.odysseybmx.com/products/odyssey-travis-grip-clear

Bill Lindsay

El Cerrito, CA

[meti...@gmail.com]

I hung on every word of this. This Northern Lights idea is soooo impressive and to have made it all happen using two different artists is just tremendous. What a terrific project. I CAN’T WAIT TO SEE IT ALL PULLED TOGETHER. And to hear how you like riding your new NL Charlie. 

[Sally Bidleman]

Leah! Excellent move! And your beautiful pictures distracted me from a gray, rainy day here...Joining with the group that can't wait for a ride report and...more photos, of course:)

ENJOY!

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[Bicycle Belle Ding Ding!]

Thanks for being such great sports, friends. This will be a divisive Charlie, I know, but you seem to be in favor of this oddball. I hope this bike and I get along because I’ve put too much effort and money into it to not like it. The RivSisters went and test rode the bike and assured me it’s unbelievable. Joyce bought one on the spot!

Ryan, I think the stems are steel so no ano for those. I’ll have a stem bag probably that will cover up the silver stem. 

Bill is right - it’s a shame to put stuff on the bars. I’m going to try and hold off but good grief I really love a phone mount and a cyclometer…

Justus - see what I mean? Isn’t northern lights a great theme for a bike? 

Joe - I love that darn pony bike. I will turn my red bike into a sunset next. Sunsets can be natural wonders, right?

[Laing Conley]

I like it. Now I don’t feel so guilty about putting purple GravelKing tires on my RoadUno. 

Laing

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/7990b890-bf25-4c62-9a87-f310e4070e48n%40googlegroups.com.

[Brian Turner]

I would find a way to work in that "nightmare AI five-legged demogorgon creature" from your original inspirational image you used. My eyes kept going to that thing!

Brian

Lex KY

[ascpgh]

"Divisive" is an audience problem, even with bikes. 

I don't think any reaction to creating anything that you want produces criticism, that's just reaching stirring the emotions of the margins of the room, which is the objective of art and that's what any of our bikes are. 

Andy Cheatham

Pittsburgh

[River Bailey]

Leah, What size Charlie did you get? My 54 Roadini is a bit too large for me, and  think all the parts will transfer over to a Charlie Gallop seamlessly. I believe the 53 CG would be perfect. Guess I just need to find a buyer for me Sergio Green Roadini frame.

[Bicycle Belle Ding Ding!]

River, are there any 53 Charlies left? I’ll go see. I got the 53. Was really happy to have lighter tubing - I could have fit the 57, allegedly, but I wanted the 53.

Leah

[River Bailey]

No 53's on the Riv site but Blue Lug has all sizes in Gold. I actually got my Roadini from Blue Lug and had a good experience. Riv was sold out of those when I purchased.

[Kathryn Good]

This is so, so amazing, seriously!

[Roberta]

What a great story from inception to near completion. The colors are awesome and really look like northern lights. I cannot wait to see the full bike reveal. Roberta 

[Bicycle Belle Ding Ding!]

I had uses for all my Platypuses but with the Charlie taking over road bike duty, my raspberry bike will be the get-around bike. I already put the Nitto Big Back Rack on it and will put locking skewers on it next. The purple bike is still gravel and travel. The mermaid bike is now superfluous. I would like to keep it, but it is truly redundant, though it would make a nice guest bike. My husband made the comment last night that we have too many bikes in the garage and I will be hard pressed to justify the space the mermaid bike takes up when the Charlie gets built. The parts on the mermaid Platypus are so expensive that I am not sure anyone would want to buy it at a price I can live with. I hope this Charlie really is as good as I think it will be…

Sorry, just thinking out loud here! I’d love to hear other Charlie owners’ impressions!

Leah

[Laing Conley]

The only solution to selling excess Rivendells is a larger garage. The only Rivendells that I have managed to sell were bare Rivendell frames which is why I not only have too many bikes, I have way, way too many extra components and wheels and tires. 

Laing 

Delray Beach FL

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[Tom Goodmann]

As for selling a Rivendell, search "regret" in these conversations! As each Riv design rides distinctively, and all ride well, it is easy to empathize, acknowledging all the same your particular puzzle over plural Platypuses.

Tom

Atlanta

[Jason Fuller]

Leah, you already know I'm fully on board with this, and I'm really excited to see it come together.  Your husband's use of the word 'garish' for these builds doesn't strike me as factually incorrect, but being over the top is what makes them so much fun. But if garish implies that there's something haphazard or tasteless about it, then it's not the right word actually. It's exaggerated, excessive, but it WORKS and is very well calculated. 

I am also excited to hear your first experiences riding it .. hopefully Michigan weather cooperates so you don't have to wait too long. While the Roadini would have been a more traditional pick for a club ride bike, it would feel so small versus your Platys - the Charlie should feel familiar in stance while being much quicker in stride. 

[Bicycle Belle Ding Ding!]

Thanks, Jason! Garish - I take it as a high compliment. My Pizzazopus always gets friendly remarks and I love to look down at it when I’m riding. I really thought I went all the way on that bike but then I got the Charlie and Ashley said, “Wanna anodize the handlebars?” And I was committed. Have you seen anyone do that? And once I knew it COULD be done, it had to be done. Regardless of garishness. I won’t get to admire the cranks and rims, but I’ll get to see those bars, won’t I? I’ll just be going in a flash of whirring aurora borealis on the club rides. So much for fitting in. I really hope I like Choco bars - never tried them but now I’m committed.

I remember the days when I joined the List and only silver parts were allowed. Never black. Color was not even a thought. Look at us now!

[Ray Varella]

Leah,

Your husband’s comment about having too many bikes illustrates that he doesn’t understand. 

You can take the alcoholic justification route and point out a recent thread about how many bikes other list members have. 

You could also give in just a little, not much and explain that you had noticed a slight overlap on a couple bikes but recouping the full amount would never happen. 

That would allow you to consider selling the mermaid frame but keeping all the carefully chosen components. 

It’s prudent to save the wheels because those could serve as backup for the Raspberry bike, either to run different tires or just have spare wheels because every serious cyclist has spare wheels. 

The rest of the parts will fit in a crate or box that’s easy to stash. 

Now he’s either walked away or he sees the reasoning. 

Now you have an entire build kit ready for the next frame. 

That should be easy to justify because you have everything but the frame. It’s practically free and it would almost be criminal to just let all those parts languish. 

You’ll be able to butter him up for the frame after Charlie, just give him some time so he feels like he had a win. 

Ray

[Joe Bernard]

I have one solution for marital bliss. Sell the husband's ebike. 

[Eric Daume]

Or add more garage hooks.

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/9622a140-f90f-4d77-87c8-835f408830e5n%40googlegroups.com.

[Leah Peterson]

Ray! You are a FOE! A brilliant one. This is so dang funny, I almost spit my coffee at my keyboard! 

My actual current plan is to placate him by saying I’m selling my mermaid bike, but keeping it to be sure I like the Charlie first, then he will forget and I’ll just keep all four!

On Feb 8, 2025, at 11:24 PM, Ray Varella <rayvar...@gmail.com> wrote:

Leah,

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/386c82da-6ebd-4413-a11d-2dea4ec7450cn%40googlegroups.com.

[Ryan]

I feel like you do enough road riding that the raspberry still deserves that slot in the stable...4 bikes is not excessive to me :)

So...more garage hooks like Eric says

[Marty Gierke, Stewartstown PA]

Catch and release Leah...catch and release

Seriously though:

 Every bank you break, every ride you take, we'll be watching you.

Marty (who is taking delivery of his own bank-breaker tomorrow...)

[Johnny Alien]

For road focused sweptback bars the losco and choco bars are absolute top of the heap. Don't stress about going all in on them you won't dislike them

[Drew Fitchette]

Very stoked about seeing the Charlie, Leah!

You can always list the mermaid Plat at double its value and just say “I don’t know why it’s not selling?” When your husband asks. 

- Drew(who would never dream of doing something that nefarious to his wife 😬)

On Sunday, February 9, 2025 at 8:54:57 AM UTC-5 Joe Bernard wrote:

Unless she doesn't like Chocos. Bars are a very personal choice, there's no way to know until they're on a bike and being ridden.*

* I love the look and angle of Billies but learned I couldn't get them high enough for my arthritic wrists. I went back to Boscos on my custom and Clem. 

Joe Bernard 

[Leah Peterson]

Johnny, I’m proactively deciding to like the bars! Because I spent money anodizing them, lol. So I knew next to nothing about Choco bars when I ordered them, but I met a man who had them on his new purple RoadUno and I thought they were beautiful. I guess I can’t imagine most sweepy bars being unusable. I do love the Billie and proabably like the Albatross a smidge better, but I wanted to do something different because I tend to choose one thing I like and repeat it to death. 

On Feb 9, 2025, at 11:53 AM, Johnny Alien <johnny....@gmail.com> wrote:

Joe can feel free to be Mr. Negative. I personally think you will love the bars and hope thats the case.

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/642ef0b1-d3a1-4f71-b553-90defd785eean%40googlegroups.com.

[Johnny Alien]

I felt bad calling Joe "Mr. Negative" and meant no ill will with the title so deleted the post only to have you grab it before I did. lol

Apologies Joe

[Joe Bernard]

You're fine, Johnny. I'm having a weird day and shouldn't have posted at all. Apologies to you, apologies to Leah for screwing up her thread. 

[Patrick Moore]

This is a wonderful aesthetic project. I’ll be very interested to see all of those colorful components assembled into a bike. I’l be even more interested to hear how the Gallop performs as a gofast bike. (Late to the party, but I think that these are meant for the Gallop?)

I once owned a pair of shocking purple anodized 26” Sun M14A rims that would have fit right in to this color scheme.

And of course, your riding apparel much be tie-dyed.

On Thursday, February 6, 2025 at 2:01:33 PM UTC-5 Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! wrote:

My taste for bikes trends to the colorful side. My purple Platypus was the first bike I chose every single part for, and I’m proud of how that little Platypus came out. I did it up in oil slick and rainbow, and after that, I decided that henceforth, all Leah Bikes will be modeled after natural wonders. I have the rainbow, and up next would be the northern lights. 

I spent a decent amount of time trying to catch the northern lights this summer, which is how the idea came to me. I decided to involve two anodizers, the Mountain West’s celebrated woman anodizer, Ashley Anodized It, and Velocity USA’s anodizer, David, whom I’d met and ridden with on the Wednesday Evening Rides. Involving 2 anodizers and hoping their pieces agree is a huge risk, but I couldn’t see a way around it. Here is the inspiration photo I sent them:

If it was aluminum, I sent it to Ashley. I learned that aluminum has differing qualities that make some types better for taking color than others. I think my Silver 3 cranks came out the best. The Silver shifters were a nightmare. They had a plastic-y coating that came apart in the liquid and they took color poorly. Ashley had not done a pattern like Northern Lights before, so we had to invent it. She tried several things, but she felt she was losing the NL theme and would strip the color and start again. 

In the end, she got it exactly right. She made me the moodiest, swirliest night sky parts imaginable. Here are some of them:

Meanwhile, David was at his post at Velocity, experimenting with pattern and color. When you mix colors, you fight them being “muddy.” He had to lift color with acid and apply different color, and he got a similar effect on my Quill rims:

I’ve chosen my own colorful pieces to add to the build:

Everything is done now. My rims arrived and Ashley is about the send her things. I do need a Faceplater stem but would otherwise be ready to build this bike. Probably in the next 2 weeks!

Thanks for reading, if you got this far.

Leah

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/bf70639b-15d4-4cf4-b06b-7218c07ea5e7n%40googlegroups.com.

--

Patrick Moore

Alburquerque, Nuevo Mexico, Etats Unis d'Amerique, Orbis Terrarum

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When thou didst not, savage, know thine own meaning,

But wouldst gabble like a thing most brutish,

I endowed thy purposes with words that made them known.

[R. Alexis]

Leah,

That is some impressive anodized parts collection! I can't wait to see it all built into a bike.

I am with Bill that some clear grips are in order to get the most of that handlebar. I have a set of NOS OURY clear grips I could offer up. If you pull up the link Bill has you will find other clear grips in there also. Lizard Skins, the new owner of Oury grips has clear, or glow in the dark grips. 

https://www.lizardskins.com/product-details?h=single-compound-oury-glow-in-the-dark&c=slip-on_handlebar_grips&t=oury_grip&v=0 

With the Odyssey grips you can trim them down if they are too long. There seems to be a host of other BMX companies that offer clear grips. 

https://shop.odysseybmx.com/collections/odyssey-grips/products/odyssey-broc-grip-clear

I should get info for your anodize connection. Been hoping for Cane Creek to make their eeSilk+ or Thudbuster 3G seatpost in silver to no avail. Maybe if I can find a used or new post I can get it silver, or gold anodized to match the gold anodized Softride suspension stem on my Rivendell Mountain. 

Reginald Alexis 

On Thursday, February 6, 2025 at 5:36:43 PM UTC-6 Bill Lindsay wrote:

The handlebars break my heart just a little bit because of the real-estate that could get covered up.  Maybe transparent BMX grips are appropriate:

https://shop.odysseybmx.com/products/odyssey-travis-grip-clear

Bill Lindsay

El Cerrito, CA

[R. Alexis]

I also have a couple sets of NOS OURY purple grips that may look good on the bars. I still think going clear or opaque is the ticket. 

Thanks,

Reginald Alexis

[tio ryan]

It feels as though SpeedBlend tires were crafted specifically for this bike.

[Leah Peterson]

Tio - yes! I bet that speed blend effect will show up on the rims…

[Leah Peterson]

It’s a true tragedy that there will be grips on the bar. If Ergon made a clear grip, I’d be all over them. But I really want that paddle shape so I’m afraid dove gray will have to work instead.

On Feb 13, 2025, at 5:37 AM, R. Alexis <noj...@webtv.net> wrote:

Leah,

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/5eedd71b-40fc-45be-b3ad-e5c793667f51n%40googlegroups.com.

[Johnny Alien]

I moved to old school Hunt Wilde grips because I dig the style but I agree nothing beats the paddle shape

[Joe Bernard]

Leah, agreed about the Ergons. Gotta have that paddle shape. 

[Bill Lindsay]

Leah: I prefer to be lovely...

Also Leah: ...but I MUST be comfy and cozy

This checks out

BL in EC

[Leah Peterson]

Bill, I feel so…understood.

L

On Feb 14, 2025, at 2:21 PM, Bill Lindsay <tape...@gmail.com> wrote:

Leah: I prefer to be lovely...

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/49b84cef-9b34-4b88-bb5e-34d3d9c4977cn%40googlegroups.com.

[R. Alexis]

The closest thing to a paddle type grip in clear is the Bontrager Satellite IsoZone Grip Set with a clear zone on the upper. Don't know if it is enough to get or pass on compared to the Ergon grips. 

Reginald Alexis

[Roberta]

+1 on the Ergon grips.  I have the same grips in red on my Betty Foy and at first I was concerned that the paddles weren’t as big as some of their other paddle grips but the paddles are plenty big and I love these grips. 

[Marty Gierke, Stewartstown PA]

Who cares what the color of the grips are as long as you wear these?

Psychedelic Gloves

[Kim H.]

Far out, man !

Kim Hetzel.

[Roberta]

Those are too great!

[Leah Peterson]

Ohhhhhhh YESSSSSSSSS. You get me!!!!!

On Feb 15, 2025, at 10:58 AM, Marty Gierke, Stewartstown PA <martin...@gmail.com> wrote:

Who cares what the color of the grips are as long as you wear these?

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/0cf5c74c-0764-4f2e-8a02-6bb7240d999cn%40googlegroups.com.

[Paul M]

When installing the Choco handlebar remember it can be used upside down also. The Choco evolved from the Chocomoose handlebar and that bar has a fixed angle of the bars sweeping down ever so slightly. I really enjoy the slight drop of this design on the Chocomoose and from looking at the Choco version it would replicate that, especially if this bike is going to be more of a road bike.  It's not going to be a very big difference but worth checking it out.

[Drew Fitchette]

I saw these at my LBS yesterday, and they were a closer match than this photo. Might depend on the batch.

Probably not as comfortable as Ergon's... but a little more fun!

[Leah Peterson]

You guys have come a long way in the color approval realm! I remember when it was crazy to introduce anything but silver and look at you now, sending me these fancy links! By some secret miracle, I secured the exact stem I wanted, and it arrived Friday.  My Paul levers were assembled at HQ and should arrive today. I will take the bike in to the shop Wed or Thursday and we’ll finally see the Northern Lights Charlie in its full form.

Thanks for your enthusiasm about this wild project!

Leah

On Feb 17, 2025, at 10:22 AM, Drew Fitchette <drewfi...@gmail.com> wrote:

I saw these at my LBS yesterday, and they were a closer match than this photo. Might depend on the batch.

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/b3c5b597-ac1f-4bb4-ae89-b9da0983e487n%40googlegroups.com.

[Doug H.]

Leah,

I'm sure your Northern Lights Charlie is just what Grant envisioned when he designed that bike. LOL Maybe! Or maybe he was thinking....I wonder what Leah will do with THIS one??? Your bikes are so much fun and following along with your process brings enjoyment to me.

Doug

[Ryan]

Hey Leah...even though my personal pref is for silver parts, I do enjoy seeing what you do to personalize your bikes...and , needless to say, I can hardly wait to see the new Charlie all dressed up

[Joe Bernard]

Doug, 

I think this is actually what happens now. Grant gets his frame idea together and imagines the aesthetic that would work with it, the kind of builds RBW will do for Web Specials. Then he says to the crew, "It's done, we're ready. Now let's see how spectacularly Leah blows it up." 🤣

Joe "more is more" Bernard 

[Leah Peterson]

Oh, I think Grant winces at my projects…

On Feb 18, 2025, at 9:16 AM, Joe Bernard <joer...@gmail.com> wrote:

Doug, 

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/3da9e76f-abf1-4985-9da4-13b8a7868046n%40googlegroups.com.

[John S]

Grant who puts nail polish on his chainrings and pedals and wraps his bars is multiple colors of cloth tape? I can hardly imagine his cringing at your project, Leah.

[Johnny Alien]

I dont know. For all of his oddness with stuff like that he was a silver only components guy for decades. I think it was only within the past few years that he started liking panda/black and white component matching