3 Rivendells

[Joel]

I know Joe B has opinions on this as he has owned at least 2 of them.  

My Bleriot is a tad big, not terrible but a tad too high for me.  It also has very lively handling, especially with Albatross bars.  To counter this a bit I hold them near the curves which puts more weight on the front end and is very comfortable for me.  My Atlantis is being built up right know and will be ready tomorrow.  I have considered replacing the Bleriot with a Sam or Homer.  Group member Rich has given me some good information, the Sam will be a tad smaller (1cm) in 51cm and will be a definite fit, the Homer will probably be fine.  I want the bike should I do this that will be the most comfort and stable.  The chain stay difference is a couple of CM I think.  Any thoughts? 

Thanks

Joel

[Kainalu V. -Brooklyn NY]

The medium step through Rosco Bubbe would be just the thing! Or the Sam or Homer. I've only ridden an older and much larger Sam and it was the bees knees. But if the option comes around, the Rosco would be wonderful for you, and they're Riv blue! 

Good thing for all good choices...

-Kai

[Joel]

If I came home with a Mixtec my wife would steal it from me.... Kainalu,  I never heard of this model before, thanks for bringing it to my attention. 

BTW, I lived in Brooklyn in 1978 and grew up in Far Rockaway.  

[Joe Bernard]

I'm afraid I can't help with this one, I've never ridden a Sam or MIT Homer. Maybe Roberta can chime in here, she has an Appaloosa and Homer. 

[Collin A]

I occasionally ride my Partner's MIT homer (47.5, too small for me) on my commute, so I cannot comment on it thoroughly, but it is a lively bike as it compares to my (now sold) Clem and would be an excellent companion  to the Atlantis. The liveliness you describe for your bleriot with alba bars matches with what I have noticed with the billie bars that are on there. I think that is mostly a function of where your hands are relative to the steering axis.

The main functional difference appears to be a smaller seatpost diam for the Sam and v-studs/canti-posts. The geometries based on bikeinsights seem almost identical.

The paint on the Homer is a wonderful color, btw. Its a beautiful blue with just a hint of sparkle that you only see during sunny days.

Also, looks like Riv is sold out of the 51 homers, if that impacts your decision at all.

Cheers,

Collin in "GOOD AQI" Sacramento

[Roberta]

Joel has heard from me, but for those reading this thread...

I rode a Sam and an Appaloosa 3 1/2 years ago and choose the Appaloosa.   I liked the Sam, but LOVED the ride of the Appaloosa.   Last year I bought an AHH because I needed a bike for my office location and the more I ride it, the more I love it.  

It's been 3 1/2 years since my impression of the Sam, but I feel that the AHH is livelier.  That impression could be because of my lack of "bike knowledge" at the time I rode the Sam, time between rides, or the fact that I'm riding the AHH a lot recently.  Perhaps if I ride a Sam tomorrow, I'd feel different.

Or, it could be the sizing. 51 Sam felt too small and the 55 was too big.  The 51 Appaloosa is just a bit bigger than the 51 Sam, and the AHH 54.5 is "just right."  Well, perhaps I'd like a sightly lower top tube, but I like the overall bigness of the bike.

I ride nearly 100% on road and MUPs, but sometimes those MUPS become packed dirt or boardwalk planks.  I don't ride any real gravel or mountain or single track.

83 cm PBH.

Roberta

[Joel]

Collin, I did see they are sold out. From what Rich said in another thread he weight them as having a 2 pound difference, not an issue for me, I am not worried about the weight, I do a pretty minimal build, no fenders, maybe a rear rack. They are very close but not the same as to the tubing and chain stays, my initial thoughts were that the Sam might be a bit more stable but maybe not even measurable. 

[Joel]

Roberta, as I noted above the Bleriot is livelier than I really want. I will get to ride my new Atlantis in about an hour or so, it is being brought here by the bike shop as it is a mobile repair and build shop. He took the Atlantis to his place so he could spend evenings doing it. 

I am sure that the Atlantis will be the tamest of the bikes I have owned from Rivendell and there have been quite a few. Now that I do not use drops anymore it becomes more important to have a less lively ride due my back and other body parts. I guess after I ride the Atlantis I will have a b\tter idea but I wonder how different a Sam or Homer will be vs. the Bleriot. The Sam being a tad less than the Atlantis is not a bad things although if the Homer is the same as the 50cm Atlantis that is good too.

Thanks again

Joel