Blahg No. 21 & Instagram post Sam brake cable thing?

[Pancake]

Instagram photos of staff bikes lead to a commenter to ask about a brake cable that seems to lead to nowhere. @rivbike replied that there’s a small hint about it in the Blahg. I think it’s about Roman’s 700c to 650b conversion. But I still don’t know what the cable is for ... any guesses?

Attached photos from Instagram and what I think is the relevant Blahg photo:

Abe

[Drw]

This also confused me. At first I thought it was rear dyno lighting wire, but you can see the rear brake routing from the bars. It’s obviously a sidepull sam with a canti fork. Very curious about the rear end.

I don’t think it’s a rear disc... because you can’t see a disc, cabling to it or a mount for the brake...but that could be a trick of the photography.

[William!]

My guess: it’s an empty cable yoke just hanging out in case the 650b conversion doesn’t stick. 🤷‍♂️

[Jonathan K.]

It appears to be just the cable and hanger "hanging" there after removing the rear brake. Maybe some cantilever posts will be added later to match the new fork?

Jonathan

[Joe Bernard]

I'm definitely wrong, but I say he's going to finagle a disc drag brake in there cuz there must be one around the shop from a HubbuhHubbuh. Do it, Roman!

[William Henderson]

If you were gonna do a single disc brake retro fit it’d be much better to replace the fork and put it up front... the so-called “mullet” treatment.

William

Sent from my iPhone

On Fri, Jun 14 2019 at 9:14 PM, Joseph Bernard <joer...@gmail.com> wrote:

I'm definitely wrong, but I say he's going to finagle a disc drag brake in there cuz there must be one around the shop from a HubbuhHubbuh. Do it, Roman!

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this topic, visit https://groups.google.com/d/topic/rbw-owners-bunch/Qa15TV6ch1g/unsubscribe. To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/e28be95e-dc10-4a20-818d-1bec374016be%40googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.

[MCT]

It is the throttle for his e-bike motor:)

[Joe Bernard]

In other Blahg news (about the Gus bikes), this was cryptic, eh?

"I feel like these bikes and this brochure are kind of swan songs. I really want them out there, I want us to have designed and produced them, in whatever quantities make sense. I don't want collectors to buy them, I want riders to ride them, and I want them in 40 years to be regarded as good bikes of their time. All 100 or 200 of them, or whatever we do."

[Mark in Beacon]

Unfortunately, perhaps, it doesn't sound that cryptic to me. I am still debating between getting another Clementine or going in for a Hillibike. I do hope the Longbolts/Slugstone/Willsens get made. I do hope Rivendell finds a way to keep going, even after I get what will almost certainly be my last new bike.

With talk of ABS-assisted steering for so-called e-bikes, Grant's nightmare of bikes becoming not-bikes continues apace. It is already getting difficult to sell bicycles without disc brakes anywhere other than big box stores. Nobody sells them without indexing. Many recreational riders with disposable income have gone to electronic shifting. As electric motors get lighter and smaller, more and more bikes will be equipped with them, for when you want to extend your commute, or keep up with friends, or get home fast when you're tired.

I saw a video for Shimano electric assist Mt. biking that was truly creepy--these guys were flying on trails going as fast as if they were on motocross machines. The irony that hillybikes.com is a site for electric bikes has probably added to the end is nigh mood. At some point, though not voluntarily, all the technotopia will stall and wither. It might not be all that long from now, but likely too long for Rivendell.

swan song

noun

a person's final public performance or professional activity before retirement.

[Johnny Alien]

Yeah I have been on the lookout for a Clem L too but am wondering about maybe just getting the hilly bike when the preorder comes up (which sounds soon).  Are they going to be similarly priced to the clems?  It's partially tig welded like the Clems. If so that will be the direction I go if I don't find a used 52 Clem L.

[Johnny Alien]

Actually it sounds like they are USA made so they will be way more expensive.  Seems an odd choice for a bike they are pushing to be a bike for everyone with a brochure to explain that. 

[Joe Bernard]

GBW and variants are made by a fellow in Taiwan. There was initially talk of two versions, TIGed and fillet brazed, but now I believe they will all be fillet bikes.

[Johnny Alien]

Thanks! If that is the case then it will be more expensive then the Clem stuff but should be on par with the lugged Taiwan stuff.  Personally I think they should aim to have more in the Clem/Roadini price range but this hopefully won't be too far out there.

[Mark in Beacon]

The frame and fork for the Hillibikes will be $1600 last I heard. It costs on average $8,500 per year to own and operate a car. If you have two cars, get rid of one, buy a Hillibike and spruce it up nice and start a little savings account. If you have one car, cut out as many trips as you can. A new set of tires costs between $400 and $1000. A Rivendell will last the rest of your life with minimal operating costs.

On Saturday, June 15, 2019 at 2:58:27 PM UTC-4, Johnny Alien wrote:

Thanks! If is the case then it will be more expensive then the Clem stuff but should be on par with the lugged Taiwan stuff.  Personally I think they should aim to have more in the Clem/Roadini price range but this hopefully won't be too far out there.

[Mark in Beacon]

I agree that the Clems are  the best Riv deal ever, no compromises either. I was providing justification for the more expensive bike because you wrote:

"Actually it sounds like they are USA made so they will be way more expensive.  Seems an odd choice for a bike they are pushing to be a bike for everyone with a brochure to explain that."

I wanted to put that in context. Personally, I think Clems should be government issue. Remember Clunkers for Cash, the program to help automotive companies survive the last economic crash? How about a little help for bicycle companies next time? Clunkers for Clems.

On Saturday, June 15, 2019 at 4:27:31 PM UTC-4, Johnny Alien wrote:

Noted! In my situation I don't have an option to replace a car with a bike. I live the farm life respectably far from the city.  I am lucky in that I can work from home half of the time so we basically have one car between me and my wife and then one for my son that he helps pay for.  No real way to trim that down further and I have zero interest in moving closer to the city.  So basically....a bike is a luxury item for me.  I would prefer to save money and throw it in my 401k to retire early (a goal of mine) or put it into an account to help my son with college costs.  I buy into the idea that Rivendells are worth it BUT a Clem is a hillybike too and it's made just as well and will last me just as long as the model that's twice as much.  I just can't justify building up a $3500 bike when I can get a Clem for $1650 or even cheaper used.  Surly's are well made too and also an option to get a great bike for less.  When I am retired and my son is out of school I will likely have more money for fun stuff.  For now I will probably stick with a Clem L.

[Erik Wright]

Funny that this came up in the most recent Blahg because I'm in the process of doing the same thing to my Sam. I had canti posts brazed on by a local builder at 650b height, and am currently running my 700c wheelset but using Paul Motolites (set up for 700c) as I get ready to purchase a 650b set. I was really hoping 2.1" Thunderburts would fit in there, but from the looks of the Blahg, it ain't gonna happen. Maybe some Googling and sleuthing here on how to dimple chainstays will come into play soon. I'll be sure to post photos once the transformation is complete! It's a big ol' makeover.

Erik, Phillly