Clem for All Surfaces

[Doug H.]

I rode my Clem for a mile or so on single-track this weekend and I have no complaints. Even with my narrow tires (Grand Bois Hetre 42 mm) I had good results. If I were to intend on a longer ride I would install wider tires and lower the pressure but I was doing mostly a road ride and the single-track was an unplanned excursion. It is nice to be on a bike that can handle most surfaces. The same ride included asphalt, gravel and dirt! Anyone else do off-road riding on a Clem?

Doug

[J Imler]

I agree 100%. I've run little Big Bens and my fav Smart Sams and it's all good. Truly the "Super bike" Riv claims. 

[Patrick Moore]

It's by no means a Clem, nor is it even a Rivendell, tho' a Rivendell custom was its model, but this does very well on firm crusher fine acequia Conservancy District roads and on impromptu unmaintained dirt shortcuts between paved sections. 

Rene Herse Extralight Naches Pass 559X42 cm at ~35/30 or 35/40 depending on load.

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Patrick Moore

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

[DavidP]

I find mixed surface rides to be so satisfying that almost all of my bikes end up being setup for them to one degree or another. The majority of Riv models are capable of them too. I built my Platypus with these types of rides in mind - with 55mm front and 50mm rear tires and wide Tosco bars. Looking forward to seeing more photos of Clems on dirt in this thread.

-Dave

[Richard Rose]

I could not agree more. I have been enjoying mixed surface rides more often than not since getting the Clem 14 months ago. It’s always been fun off road but the 55mm Simworks Homage tires have taken it up a notch. 

Sent from my iPhone

On Feb 28, 2023, at 4:45 PM, DavidP <dphi...@gmail.com> wrote:

I find mixed surface rides to be so satisfying that almost all of my bikes end up being setup for them to one degree or another. The majority of Riv models are capable of them too. I built my Platypus with these types of rides in mind - with 55mm front and 50mm rear tires and wide Tosco bars. Looking forward to seeing more photos of Clems on dirt in this thread.

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/a52915b6-33f2-4878-b210-13cc42674d44n%40googlegroups.com.

[Nick Shoemaker]

My Clem has easily obsoleted the full suspension as my go-to trail bike. Far more capable & fun on singletrack than I could have ever imagined. As in: this is a real, no joke mountain bike in 2023 on real 2023 mountain bike trails. Would I enjoy it on the really burly trails in Pisgah? Probably not as much, but for any sort of East Tennessee XC riding it has excelled. That alone would be impressive, but of course the beauty of the Clem is that I can use it for anything else short of a long/fast road ride. Oh, and the whole build was barely more than $2k...

64cm; 92ish PBH

Mezcals 2.6F, 2.25R (the 2.6 also barely fits in the rear - a 2.4 would be perfect)

Soma Osprey Bars

1x7 with the 42t Jim Cassette & a clutch derailer (necessary if things get chunky with that looooong chain...)

kickstand & rack stay on :)

[Doug H.]

I thought on buying my Clem that long road rides wouldn't suit it but I was wrong. Long AND fast? Well, I'm not a fast rider so don't know if both can be achieved on a Clem but long road rides have become a staple in my routine on my Clem. Last weekend I set out from the end of my driveway to ride without a distance or direction in mind and ended up riding 45 miles (photo from that ride below). At the end of that ride I was tired but had no shoulder or back pain which I always did with dedicated "road bikes".  My Clem truly is my one bike for everything.

Doug

[Richard Rose]

Yup! Just finished a very “chill” 40 mile road route. Average speed was just over 12mph according to my phone app. It was a fair effort but nothing really hard. It was not that long ago that I would do similar rides on my road bike. In those days I might have averaged 17-18mph, but then I would have been really trying. So not only do I agree the Clem is a suitable road bike - I don’t think it is that much slower. If it is, it just does not matter. I am too comfortable & having too much fun to care.:)

Sent from my iPhone

On Mar 1, 2023, at 11:17 AM, Doug H. <dhansf...@gmail.com> wrote:

I thought on buying my Clem that long road rides wouldn't suit it but I was wrong. Long AND fast? Well, I'm not a fast rider so don't know if both can be achieved on a Clem but long road rides have become a staple in my routine on my Clem. Last weekend I set out from the end of my driveway to ride without a distance or direction in mind and ended up riding 45 miles (photo from that ride below). At the end of that ride I was tired but had no shoulder or back pain which I always did with dedicated "road bikes".  My Clem truly is my one bike for everything.

Doug

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/87c80852-7de2-4882-92a8-ab13bf6e7cf4n%40googlegroups.com.

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[DamonLee]

I want a clem for this purpose, a true all rounder. I have a fendered bike with 40mm tires, boscos, basket, and a rigid MTB with 29x2.6 inche tires. A clem would be a sweet spot with 2.2's and fenders and basket. Enough cushion for the type of bush bashing I do. But fine on any surface. 

[Mackenzy Albright]

My Clem(entine) is my favorite bike I've ever ridden. It makes riding anywhere anytime a joy. Fitting 2.1 tires and (now with) fenders makes it a fantastic "ATB" / "ALL ROAD" type bike - even *cautious* single track. Clem Jr goes even harder on single track with the more slack headtube and elongated wheelbase.