Video: Appaloosa build updates

[Eric Marth]

Hey everyone — I just finished a new video about my Appaloosa. Handlebar swap, new shifters, new front and rear derailers (including a Nexave rapid rise mech). Also installed a Nitto front rack, Son dynamo hub and Schmidt Edeluxe II. 

https://youtu.be/muQgJiZtzwY

Special appearance by orthopedic specialist Dr. Ronnie Romance. 

Enjoy!

[Bicycle Belle Ding Ding!]

I loved it. A really fun look into the magic (as one who doesn’t work on her bikes, it’s magic to ME) of assembly. What great new upgrades - especially the dyno. 

How did you get a consult with Ronnie Romance?! I love my Billie Bars and wouldn’t trade them, but Ronnie’s point of view was interesting. Are you noticing a marked improvement?

Thanks for sharing this video. It was really engrossing.

Leah

[Joe Bernard]

He used a sliding bevel to mock up the rack struts. I didn't even know that was a thing! 

Dr. Romance was hilarious, I enjoyed that so much. The Ortho Bar is interesting but I think I'll stick with my Billies, too. I don't think bringing my bars further back and wider would work for me, but I DO wish I could solve the hand numbness I'm getting now. This is a new and unfun malady for me! 😫

Joe Bernard 

[Eric Marth]

Thanks so much, Leah! I have a couple of other Riv build videos you might like if you haven't seen them, check out my channel. I had to go really, really far outside of my insurance network just to get a referral for Dr. Ron. Healthcare, I tell ya. 

I love the Billie bars, they're great. Running them with bar-end shifters wasn't working great for me as I sometimes did have thigh interference. That was the only issue. Love the grip position ahead of the bars, the shape, the look. If I'm to be honest I really resisted switching up the bars but a lot of my bike friends swap and try things out with abandon so I figured I should just loosen up, already. 

The Ortho Bars are fun, they are crazy wide and they have a ton of flex. At first I wasn't so into them because I thought I'd lost the grip position "ahead" of the levers and shifters which I use a lot for climbing or getting out of the wind. Or sprinting. But after I re-routed the cables from the shifters it was all gravy. I've definitely resolved the bar-end jabs issue. Compared to the Billies I can't say they're necessarily better, they're different, they're good. They were made at the Renthal factory, if anyone's curious. The new-to-me Suntour Power Thumb shifters are really great, I love them. They're my first reverse-mounted thumb shifters. 

Joe, thanks for the note. I didn't know that mocking up the struts with a bevel was a thing either but it just sort of dawned on me. I'm glad you enjoyed the consultation. I definitely love the Billie bars as well. I'm sorry to hear about your numbness! and I hope that resolves some how some way. 

[Leah Peterson]

Eric, oh, the bar end shifters. Yes, I had them on my Betty Foy with Bosco Bars and I wore the mark of them on my thighs many times. I had one particularly tight corner near the school that would earn me a decent jab at least weekly. The Betty was my first Rivbike and I didn’t realize I could just switch such things out, so I rode it that way for years. Thumbies are a revelation, I agree. Glad you love the new setup. 

I’ve seen one of your other videos and loved it just as much. Great work, and keep it coming!

On Sep 4, 2022, at 8:29 PM, Eric Marth <eric...@gmail.com> wrote:

Thanks so much, Leah! I have a couple of other Riv build videos you might like if you haven't seen them, check out my channel. I had to go really, really far outside of my insurance network just to get a referral for Dr. Ron. Healthcare, I tell ya. 

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[Joe Bernard]

Eric, I just got back from a short ride and now I'm thinking The Good Doctor may have a point about stem length. My Billies are high on a long TT frame with a short DirtDrop stem, I wonder if the hand numbness is from grips being a little too close. Hmmm.... 🤔

[Eric Marth]

I love that bike, Joe! Let me know if you do go for a stem swap and how it works out. Is that the Periscopa I sold you a while back? 

[Stephen]

Hey Eric,

Enjoyed the video, as well as your others! I appreciated the top down comparison of the billies to the ortho's, didn't realize the ortho's came back so far. In fact, seeing them from that angle they look so similar to the Tosco bar shape. Also the suntour power thumb shifters look great, I love how minimal their clamp on the bar is. Might have to look for some of those myself..

How are you liking the switch from cotton bar wrap to the oury's? are you going to wrap the front of the ortho bars?

Bike looks great, keep up the good work.

-stephen

On Sunday, September 4, 2022 at 4:54:25 PM UTC-4 eric...@gmail.com wrote:

[Eric Marth]

Hey, thanks Stephen, I appreciate the kind feedback!

Definitely check out the Suntour shifters.  

I actually don't like the Oury grips that much and I'm planning to go back to the felted wool grips wrapped with Newbaum's. And I'm going to wrap the area ahead of the levers, too. Pretty much the same grip and wrapping as I had on the Billie bars. 

[Bob Ehrenbeck]

Nice work, Eric -- that's a nice build. Loved the video!

Totally envious of your workspace, too!

Bob E

Cranford, NJ

[Joe Bernard]

"I love that bike, Joe! Let me know if you do go for a stem swap and how it works out. Is that the Periscopa I sold you a while back?"

Thanks Eric! No that's an MT10 DirtDrop I got from Riv, it's a bit taller than the Periscopa. Which I may have to stick with a while, I discovered last night that the supply situation with tall/long quill stems is still super not good! 😣

[shopmonkey 39]

Loved it and stoked to see a mention on the Radavist.  Congrats!

[Johnny Burrell]

Fun videos, I like the casual pace, which seems to match your vibe perfectly. A trick I learned for applying grease to the stem and seat-post... and this is free advice so you get a 100% refund if it doesn't work for you. Apply the grease to the head tube and seat tube, not the seatpost or stem. That way, when you slide the seatpost/stem into place it pushes the grease down, rather than pushing it up. Boom, no cleanup.

We need more videos like this please :)

[Eric Marth]

Thanks for the time, Johnny, and I appreciate the kind words. 

I do have a few more videos in the queue, Rivs and non-Rivs.