Roadini - flat bar conversion

[Franco Rinaldi]

Hello and merry holidays!

After struggling with bike fit and getting fitted, it’s apparent to me I’m more ideally built for shorter reach situations. So I will be converting my roadini to a flat bar set up.

Anyone out there running their roadini without drops - what bars are you using and how much stem adjustment did they require?

Thanks in advance!

Franco Rinaldi
c: 646.403.0661

-Pardon any typos, Siri typed this message-

[Steve]

Franco, check out Blue Lug's photo collection of staff and customer Roadinis:

https://bluelug.com/bike-catalog/model/rivendell-bicycle-works-roadini/

Here's an example with an Albastache that caught my eye. I also saw a nice one with a Choco bar  (that happened to be in my size) --

[Jay]

Hey Franco,

What is your stem length with drops?  

I ask because when I bought my Roadini a couple years ago, and knowing I was going to use drop bars, I went with a 57.  I'm 6'0 and average proportions.  I like riding fairly upright.  I was thinking of going with a 54cm but at the time, was confused about the whole PBH measurement.  I won't make that mistake again.  For me, it's all about reach. I didn't realize at the time how long the top tupe is and effective reach.  So I'm currently running a 50mm stem (-17).  It's the right reach for me, but running a 50mm stem is not ideal (makes the front end slightly twitchy).  I now know a 54 would have been perfect, but thankfully I got the 57 to work.

I think it's fun switching things up though, and look forward to seeing how this plays out for you.

[Joe Bernard]

Hi Franco,

If you can fit a flat bar into the current stem I'd start there since the reach is too long with the drops. In the olden times most drop bars used a 26.0 clamp and flats 25.4, if you have a 26.0-clamp stem you'll need a shim for the new bar. 

Joe Bernard 

Clearlake CA 

[franco rinaldi]

Good call on the Blue Lug log for Inspo!

@ Jay - my stem length with drops probably should be 70 on the 54, assuming short reach bars. But I’m built weirdly. I have a PBH of 88, and I’m 5’9. I built my Sam around my PBH and works fine for an upright drop bar build. I want to be more sporty with the Roadini so went down to 54. Except the 54 has same reach as the 57 Sam, so getting the bars lower was never comfortable nor possible without scorching my lower back. I should have went 51 on roadini but even then would prob have needed a 70mm stem.

So, after being fitted by a well known fitter, it became clear ot me that for a sporty all road fit - I need a 370 reach with 80 stem, or 380 reach max with 70mm stem. 

And now, I have this beautiful silver lugged Roadini in 54, that overlaps with my sam as an upright drop bar build. So thinking a zippy flat bar road bike could be really cool this summer and maybe that’s what needs to happen. Or just sell it.

franco rinaldi

fmri...@gmail.com

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[franco rinaldi]

Thanks Joe - which flat bars should I try? Riv is sold out of albatross. They have albastache and billie. Albastach seem to have a drop to them. Wonder if I can flip them so they rise instead?

franco rinaldi

fmri...@gmail.com

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[Joe Bernard]

Billie is a reachback bar, not flat like you asked about..you may need a longer stem but again couldn't hurt to start with the stem you have and see how it feels. 

Albastache miimics the reach of drops and in my experience actually feels further away, I don't think it would solve your issue. Grab that Billie, it's a great bar. 

[Jay]

That makes sense, Franco.  I like your idea of a zippy flat bar Roadini to complement your already-dialed-in Sam.

I would ship you my Albatross bars for a good deal if it wasn't for CAD/US shipping complications.  I bought the chromo ones and they didn't work for me.  Any chance you're up in the Toronto area over the holidays?  If you ever are, let me know!

Check clcycle.ca as they carry some of what you're looking for, though, not sure shipping.  

[Franco Rinaldi]

I’m not in Toronto. I’m in nyc. I’m open to cover shipping cost. Not sure what other complications might occur as I haven’t shipped to and from Canada recently.

Franco Rinaldi 

c:  646.403.0661 

-Pardon any typos, Siri typed this message-

On Dec 21, 2025, at 11:49 AM, Jay <jason....@gmail.com> wrote:

That makes sense, Franco.  I like your idea of a zippy flat bar Roadini to complement your already-dialed-in Sam.

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/65f6ffa5-4dec-4cb0-9b0a-52c0471287ean%40googlegroups.com.

[Victor Meng]

Hi Franco,

Re your question on riding Albatache flipped:  I did so when I first put them on my Ram, as my instinct is to have bars rise and not knowing they were designed with a slight drop.  They felt and looked great.  I've since flipped them to have a slight drop, to ride them as Grant had designed.  Give them a try (both ways), it's my current favorite bar for the Ram.  

Victor

[George Schick]

Given the dialog on this thread I'd ask have you ever considered using "dirt drop" bars instead of either flat, full drop, or swept-back bars?  You might find them to be the ideal compromise you're looking for in both reach and height.

[Andrew Joseph]

Franco,

I ultimately attempted to resolve what you’re proposing in your post, by replacing the Roadini with the Charlie but…

I first tried the 57 Roadini, then a 54.  I ran drops with the size 57 and the SimWorks Getaround bar with a long stem (120 Tallux) on the size 54.  Hindsight is always 20/20.  This was a sweet set up and really fun!

R, 

Drew

On Sunday, December 21, 2025 at 12:03:13 PM UTC-6 victo...@gmail.com wrote:

[Jim in Mpls]

Take a look at the Choco bar. I'm really liking it on my Roaduno and have been thinking of switching my Roadini over as well.

Jim

[Franco Rinaldi]

like those a lot but sold out :(

Franco Rinaldi 

c:  646.403.0661 

-Pardon any typos, Siri typed this message-

On Dec 22, 2025, at 10:17 AM, Jim in Mpls <indepthin...@gmail.com> wrote:

Take a look at the Choco bar. I'm really liking it on my Roaduno and have been thinking of switching my Roadini over as well.

Jim

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[George Schick]

You know, I responded to this post once in favor of trying dirt drop bars, but all subsequent discussions went elsewhere.  Fine.  I can only offer one more piece of advice:  Check out this Henry Wildeberry YouTube video of he and Ms. Cools riding to the bicycle expose known as "MADE" in Portland.  Play it and carefully watch the sections that show Ms. Cools pedaling along the roads and trails. She has perfect knee and leg position at the bottom of her down strokes and she is riding on dirt drop handlebars that allow her to shift back and forth between riding on the drops or hands over the brake levers (accompanied by the excellent "Blue Begonias" music by the Grateful Dead). Plus, her position - that sought after "pyramid" shape between the angle of her back and her forearms.  Convince me, please, how any of what your have been bantering back and forth on this thread could get any better than that.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-4WcVbQOfA

[George Schick]

Correction on that Grateful Dead song, it's "Red Begonias," not blue.

[Patrick Moore]

George: I happen to agree with you about drop bars, and narrow ones at that, but I think that urging drop bars for all is on this list somewhat like spitting into the wind. 

I myself couldn't get comfortable for more than 5 miles on any of the dozens of non-drop bars I’ve used, nor on many of the “alt” drop bars either, but so many riders on this list like Grant’s myriad non-drop bars, and me, I think Grant has been around the block enough times, that both facts have to count for something in proof of the efficacy of those designs.

Again, not at all for me, but many other people seem to like them a great deal, and why not, after all?

Patrick “not non-drop, not wide, neither” Moore, whose dirt road bike has 42 cm (at hoods) Maes Parallels because that’s just natural, and who has bee cutting 4” off each end of all non-drop bars since 1989.

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/73a20cf0-38ff-494e-b050-ce3e3152586dn%40googlegroups.com.

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Patrick Moore

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

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[Patrick Moore]

Speaking of perfect form, I think I posted this before, but this is perfect form:

Patrick Moore, who at 70 can still — thank God — ride for miles in the hooks, against headwinds in ABQ, NM.