Re: [RBW] Digest for rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com - 23 updates in 9 topics

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James L Poulson

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Jun 29, 2025, 1:18:40 PM6/29/25
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Leah

I have found that setting your phone to airplane mode will greatly extend your battery life while still being able to navigate with gps

James Poulson
MO
Sent from my iPhone

On Jun 29, 2025, at 6:49 AM, rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com wrote:


Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! <jonasa...@gmail.com>: Jun 28 11:46AM -0700

Hi Friends,
 
I’m a week away from my mother-son bikecamping trip. I’ve been practicing
pitching my tent in the backyard and breaking it down, trying to perfect
and speed up the process. I’m pretty good!
 
I’ve been sitting down to really plan my route, and it’s been frustrating.
I have an iPad with a keyboard that I do everything with, and it seems like
maybe Ride with GPS was meant for laptops. It’s awkward. It doesn’t feel
intuitive. I feel like I’m always losing where I’m at and what I’m looking
for. But it seems to be the universal favorite app for route planning, so
I’m sure it’s me that’s the problem.
 
Meanwhile, everyone in my bike club has a bike computer. The club plans
routes on Ride with GPS. And at the ride start they say things like “Does
everyone have the route?” I paid for the Ride with GPS membership so I
could have the route on my phone, but it drains the phone. So I never use
it. Thus, I never “have the route.”
 
This mattered less in the club because SOMEONE always has the route, but
when I set off on my tour with my son, we will be in charge of navigation.
It might be nice to have turn-by-turn without running down our phone
batteries.
 
I don’t know. I really liked just having my iPhone on my bars, but maybe
with the amount of miles I ride, I should reconsider. Who has opinions
about bike computers and Ride with GPS?
 
Thanks!
Leah
Robert Blunt <rwbl...@gmail.com>: Jun 28 03:11PM -0400

Leah,
Would it be worth traveling with an additional power bank to deal with
power drain? I do this sometime if I am doing a long ride. I keep the power
bank (which is quite a powerful one so it charges the phone quickly) in my
front rando bag and I run a charging chord from the rando bag to my mounted
phone. Then you could charge the bank at night if you have access to power
at your campsite.
Best,
Rob Blunt
Pennington, NJ
(Lindsay’s cousin)
 
On Sat, Jun 28, 2025 at 2:46 PM Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! <
Richard Rose <rmro...@gmail.com>: Jun 28 03:13PM -0400

Hi Leah! I just hook my phone up to a fully charged “brick” that I have in my handlebar bag. But, you have a dynamo, right? You could get one of those chargers that runs on your dynamo. That way the “brick” stays charged. I think Sinewave offers a pretty nice one that is not too big or heavy? Not certain about any of this so maybe others can chip in with more info. But yeah, Ride with GPS works great with my phone so I've not invested in a bike computer. FYI, I also use Cyclemeter. I love the app & it's less expensive than Ride with GPS. I would get a fancy GPS unit if I planned to get lost in the back country or similar.
 
Sent from my iPhone
 
On Jun 28, 2025, at 2:46 PM, Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! <jonasa...@gmail.com> wrote:
 
Hi Friends,
 
I'm a week away from my mother-son bikecamping trip. I've been practicing pitching my tent in the backyard and breaking it down, trying to perfect and speed up the process. I'm pretty good!
 
I've been sitting down to really plan my route, and it's been frustrating. I have an iPad with a keyboard that I do everything with, and it seems like maybe Ride with GPS was meant for laptops. It's awkward. It doesn't feel intuitive. I feel like I'm always losing where I'm at and what I'm looking for. But it seems to be the universal favorite app for route planning, so I'm sure it's me that's the problem.
 
Meanwhile, everyone in my bike club has a bike computer. The club plans routes on Ride with GPS. And at the ride start they say things like “Does everyone have the route?” I paid for the Ride with GPS membership so I could have the route on my phone, but it drains the phone. So I never use it. Thus, I never “have the route.”
 
This mattered less in the club because SOMEONE always has the route, but when I set off on my tour with my son, we will be in charge of navigation. It might be nice to have turn-by-turn without running down our phone batteries.
 
I don't know. I really liked just having my iPhone on my bars, but maybe with the amount of miles I ride, I should reconsider. Who has opinions about bike computers and Ride with GPS?
 
Thanks!
 
Leah
 
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Lucia Matioli <lucia....@gmail.com>: Jun 28 12:45PM -0700

Hi There!
 
I feel you on this and recently got a Wahoo Elemnt Bolt 3, because my phone
drains so quickly, and it causes me some anxiety on unknown routes. It
boasts 20hours of battery time as well as probably more depending on screen
light settings. The screen is on the small side and not a touch screen. But
it seems pretty intuitive and easy.
I have yet to use it, but bought it from REI in case I need to return. It
loads all of my maps from 3rd party apps (Ride with GPS and Strava,
Trailfoks, Kamoot, etc).
I also like that it has a route to home or starting point, so if I need to
bail on any ride, it will get me there on the fastest route. Pretty cool
option. It also comes preloaded with maps of the us, asia, so american,
europe etc, so it will be able to find your gps route. Since I don;t have
experience with it yet, I can't tell you yet how I feel about it, but it
seems like it will do the trick.
It have a cue sheet page as well as overall map, which alerts you on turns,
but the one thing I am curious about is not being able to see the street
names on the map-it's highlighted with arrows and again cues you on turns,
so I don't think that will be a big deal.
I would rather carry a brick to charge this vs my phone, but would probs
carry all three things. :)
*I am not a representative from Wahoo (re-reading my note makes me seem
like it! hahahaha)
 
Best,
Lucia
 
 
--
Lucia Matioli
Sr Creative Consultant
goodthinkingco.com
linkedin.com/in/luciamatioli/ <https://www.linkedin.com/in/luciamatioli/>
Leah Peterson <jonasa...@gmail.com>: Jun 28 10:10PM -0400

Thank you, friends. I DO have a power bank! I could use that for this tour and save the money. We'll see. Still reading about these contraptions.
 
Lucia, I think you'll love that little computer. The girls in my bike club have Wahoos and they just love them. I really like that they tell your true speed because they stop counting time when you are stopped. My Apple Watch does not, so I always look slower on the report than I actually am. Every time we are at an intersection and have to wait, it's counting against me!
 
Of course there's this really spendy Garmin that is just the bee's knees and can solar charge. I should not!
 
Leah
 
On Jun 28, 2025, at 3:45 PM, Lucia Matioli <lucia....@gmail.com> wrote:
 

 
Hi There!
 
I feel you on this and recently got a Wahoo Elemnt Bolt 3, because my phone drains so quickly, and it causes me some anxiety on unknown routes. It boasts 20hours of battery time as well as probably more depending on screen light settings. The screen is on the small side and not a touch screen. But it seems pretty intuitive and easy.
 
I have yet to use it, but bought it from REI in case I need to return. It loads all of my maps from 3rd party apps (Ride with GPS and Strava, Trailfoks, Kamoot, etc).
 
I also like that it has a route to home or starting point, so if I need to bail on any ride, it will get me there on the fastest route. Pretty cool option. It also comes preloaded with maps of the us, asia, so american, europe etc, so it will be able to find your gps route. Since I don;t have experience with it yet, I can't tell you yet how I feel about it, but it seems like it will do the trick.
 
It have a cue sheet page as well as overall map, which alerts you on turns, but the one thing I am curious about is not being able to see the street names on the map-it's highlighted with arrows and again cues you on turns, so I don't think that will be a big deal.
 
I would rather carry a brick to charge this vs my phone, but would probs carry all three things. :)
 
*I am not a representative from Wahoo (re-reading my note makes me seem like it! hahahaha)
 
Best,
 
Lucia
 
On Sat, Jun 28, 2025 at 12:14 PM Richard Rose <rmro...@gmail.com> wrote:
 
Hi Leah! I just hook my phone up to a fully charged “brick” that I have in my handlebar bag. But, you have a dynamo, right? You could get one of those chargers that runs on your dynamo. That way the “brick” stays charged. I think Sinewave offers a pretty nice one that is not too big or heavy? Not certain about any of this so maybe others can chip in with more info. But yeah, Ride with GPS works great with my phone so I've not invested in a bike computer. FYI, I also use Cyclemeter. I love the app & it's less expensive than Ride with GPS. I would get a fancy GPS unit if I planned to get lost in the back country or similar.
 
Sent from my iPhone
 
On Jun 28, 2025, at 2:46 PM, Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! <jonasa...@gmail.com> wrote:
 
Hi Friends,
 
I'm a week away from my mother-son bikecamping trip. I've been practicing pitching my tent in the backyard and breaking it down, trying to perfect and speed up the process. I'm pretty good!
 
I've been sitting down to really plan my route, and it's been frustrating. I have an iPad with a keyboard that I do everything with, and it seems like maybe Ride with GPS was meant for laptops. It's awkward. It doesn't feel intuitive. I feel like I'm always losing where I'm at and what I'm looking for. But it seems to be the universal favorite app for route planning, so I'm sure it's me that's the problem.
 
Meanwhile, everyone in my bike club has a bike computer. The club plans routes on Ride with GPS. And at the ride start they say things like “Does everyone have the route?” I paid for the Ride with GPS membership so I could have the route on my phone, but it drains the phone. So I never use it. Thus, I never “have the route.”
 
This mattered less in the club because SOMEONE always has the route, but when I set off on my tour with my son, we will be in charge of navigation. It might be nice to have turn-by-turn without running down our phone batteries.
 
I don't know. I really liked just having my iPhone on my bars, but maybe with the amount of miles I ride, I should reconsider. Who has opinions about bike computers and Ride with GPS?
 
Thanks!
 
Leah
 
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Sr Creative Consultant
 
goodthinkingco.com
 
linkedin.com/in/luciamatioli/
 
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Igor <belopol...@gmail.com>: Jun 29 04:40AM -0700

Coros Dura has incredibly long battery life.
https://bikepacking.com/gear/coros-dura-review/
On Saturday, June 28, 2025 at 10:11:07 PM UTC-4 Bicycle Belle Ding Ding!
wrote:
 
Garth <gart...@gmail.com>: Jun 29 04:41AM -0700

Yes you should Leah ! I mean if you're going to delve into bike computers
you may as well go all in the first time and get the Garmin Solar as you
won't be so dependent on conventional charging.
On Saturday, June 28, 2025 at 10:11:07 PM UTC-4 Bicycle Belle Ding Ding!
wrote:
 
Igor <belopol...@gmail.com>: Jun 29 04:37AM -0700

This is now sold!
 
On Friday, June 27, 2025 at 2:13:39 PM UTC-4 Igor wrote:
 
Jeffrey Zelevansky <jeff.ze...@gmail.com>: Jun 28 05:00PM -0700

I’m not much of a poster here, but thought I’d share a trip report as a way
of participating. Two friends and I had a great time riding the Erie Canal
trail from Buffalo to Albany during the second week in June. This was my
first overnight bike trip since about 1987, and I’m really glad to have
done it. I rode my 2023 Hillborne, and the bike was very comfortable and
trouble-free. My fellow travelers made the trip on a Trek 520 and a Kona
Super Jake CF gravel bike. We opted to ‘credit card camp,’ staying in an
Air BnB and hotels along the way. We made the trip in six days, which felt
like a good amount of time to not feel rushed but also challenging enough
to make the trip feel like an accomplishment.
 
The Erie Canalway Trail follows various versions of the Erie Canal across
New York State, roughly at the latitude of I-90. It is mostly flat and
surfaced with smooth crushed stone. I had Gravelking SK tires in 700X43
and, other than my rear tire coming apart in Rochester, these were a good
choice. I didn’t register how old my tires were I guess…about 2000 miles
since I’ve owned the bike, and perhaps many more miles by the previous
owner. Miraculously, there is an REI store directly on the trail in
Pittsford.
 
There were some detours and on-road sections, but the majority of the
360-ish miles were off-road. Due to the locations of some of our hotels and
some random wheeling around, I rode about 400 miles over the six days.
 
06/12/2025 - Buffalo to Albion - 68 miles
 
06/13/2025 - Albion to Palmyra - 67 miles
 
06/14/2025 - Palmyra to Syracuse - 72 miles
 
06/15/2025 - Syracuse to Utica - 70 miles
 
06/16/2025 - Utica to Amsterdam - 70 miles
 
06/17/2025 - Amsterdam to Albany - 47 miles
 
 
The Erie Canalway is celebrating its bicentennial in 2025 and the National
Parks <https://eriecanalway.org/explore/challenge> people are trying to
make the most of it. We registered our trio as a team and earned some cool
swag for being End-to-Enders. A great book about the Erie Canal is The
Wedding Of The Waters <https://wwnorton.com/books/9780393327953> and having
a little knowledge about the project made the trip even more fun (for me at
least).
 
We had perfect weather other than on the final day into Albany when it
rained buckets on the ride from Amsterdam. With a non-negotiable pick-up
rendezvous of 1230pm, we pushed through the weather and it was a really fun
experience, especially knowing that it was the final day of the trip. My
B17 may never be the same, but everything else performed perfectly in the
storm. I ran Ortlieb low-riders on a Tubus Tara rack in the front and a
BagsXBird Tail Grab classic on the bars. The Ortlieb Back Rollers were
really too big for this trip, and though they were only half-full, I still
brought too much stuff!
 
Anyway, if you’ve ever considered making this trip, this would be a great
year to do it! I’d be happy to share any info that might be helpful.
 
[image: IMG_3947.JPG]
 
[image: IMG_3971.JPG]
Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! <jonasa...@gmail.com>: Jun 28 07:07PM -0700

I planned to do Buffalo to NYC but couldn’t get my son to agree because he
wanted to camp, ugh! We’re riding along Lake Erie from Cleveland to Buffalo
instead.
 
But I do want to do the Empire State Trail next year. This is a great
report. I’m so glad you shared this!
Leah
 
Marc Irwin <irwi...@gmail.com>: Jun 29 02:18AM -0700

That's a great ride. I did it a few years ago. I was camping and the free
campsites available all along the way were a real convenience. Don't worry
about your saddle, all the Brooks saddles I've had over the past 50 years
have been soaking wet at one time or another. They all survived.
 
Marc
 
Michael Ullmer <mjul...@gmail.com>: Jun 28 10:37PM -0700

Price drop and offering frame/fork/hs for sale only as well.
 
$800 for everything
 
$600 for frame/fork/hs
 
On Friday, June 27, 2025 at 6:13:23 AM UTC-7 Michael Ullmer wrote:
 
J G <cjus...@gmail.com>: Jun 28 10:02AM -0700

In terms of an amazing combination of power and modulation, there is
nothing better for me than the Paul Racer series brakes.
 
The only thing better than Racers, are post mount Racers.
 
The only thing better than post mount Racers, are post mount Racers with
(now old stock) Paragon oversized posts.
 
My first custom a decade ago was built around the latter. My most recent
add built around the former. My favorite bike having the center mount in M.
 
Racers for the win...
 
-Justus
Mpls, MN
 
 
 
On Saturday, June 28, 2025 at 4:32:08 AM UTC-5 ascpgh wrote:
 
Peter Adler <divis...@gmail.com>: Jun 28 03:16PM -0700

Getting clearance for 40mm inflated tires with Paul Racers (or with any
centerpull brakes, or with any cantilevers) should be easily accomplished
by:
 
1) Pushing the opposing brake shoes against the sidewall, either with your
fingers or a third-hand tool (*not* the brake lever)
 
2) Popping the non-screwed side of the straddle cable out of the cradle of
the caliper arm
 
3) Release the brake shoes
 
To reinstall, pop the loose straddle end back in, obviously.
 
The springs pop the shoes away from the rim+tire, and will usually provide
clearance for anything narrower that super-knobby or fatbike tires. 40mm
certainly don't fit into the fatbike category.
 
Paul brakes are the most ferociously powerful rim brakes made. As long as
your aesthetics don't demand something sleeker, they are unparalleled for
forward-motion-arresting excellence.
 
Peter Adler
who would use only centerpulls, if given the choice in the abstract
Berkeley, California
 
On Wednesday, June 25, 2025 at 9:31:54 AM UTC-7 gds...@gmail.com wrote:
 
I've got them on my Romulus and they are first class. Very smooth and
progressive. I cannot, however, fit the 40c tires I'm using between the
pads (with the cable released) without deflating them. Otherwise they are
top notch
Gordon Stam <gds...@gmail.com>: Jun 28 05:50PM -0600

Hmm...I'll fiddle with that. Thanks.
 
Diana H <diana....@gmail.com>: Jun 28 03:30PM -0700

Hi All,
 
I'm the original owner selling my 2022 Platypus. This bike has done some
pretty incredible things, but I recently purchased an Appaloosa and a Homer
and need to make some space. Only interested in selling complete bike. I
live in San Francisco, but willing to ship (buyer pays for shipping).
 
I realize the presale is tomorrow and completes are being sold at $3,000
exactly what I'm selling mine for, which probably has ~1,000 miles on it.
However, my bike will come with a front rack ($188), basket ($36), and
custom made top tube bag ($130) and I won't charge any tax.
 
Pictures of my Platypus can be found here:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/RS3nHsfBZt9DjcB37
<https://photos.app.goo.gl/RS3nHsfBZt9DjcB37>
 
- Please note the scrapes on the crank
- The small chip in paint, I painted over it with nail polish.
 
Saddle, peddle, lights, and CatEye computer do not come with the bike.
Parts that do come with the bike:
 
- RapidRise rear derailleur
- Skeleton Key front detailer
- 11-36 cassette
- Velocity Atlas 650b/27.5 in wheels built by Rivendell
- Shimano Deore Hubs (silver)
- Front Tire: Bruce Gordon Rock N' Rock Tire 650b x43mm
- Back Tire: Panaracer GravelKing Sk knobby
- Nitto Tallux Stem (11cm)
- Silver2 Shifters with mounts
- Tosco bar (60 cm)
- Front RBW51 rack, basket
- Silver Crank with guard (38x24)
- Canti brakes (CX50)
- ESI grips
- SKS Fenders
- kickstand
 
Check out my old trip reports on what this bike has done in the past:
 
1. Death Valley 165 miles
<https://groups.google.com/g/rbw-owners-bunch/c/abOYxHywP-Q/m/bTLFHNNvAwAJ>
2. Oregon/Idaho - 434 miles
<https://groups.google.com/g/rbw-owners-bunch/c/hxsdsHuUT9Y/m/E8VhTooqAgAJ>
3. Lost Sierra - 100 miles
<https://groups.google.com/g/rbw-owners-bunch/c/rJ5VWO8Blqg/m/l4HcvmnyBAAJ>
4. Smoke and Fire 400 - Trip report still being written... lol.
Joel S <jrst...@protonmail.com>: Jun 28 08:07AM -0700

Great news, listen to your body, it will tell you if you are not ready. 2
weeks ago I took a fall and landed on my shoulder, I hit a curb with my
side wall when coming to a stop to change water bottles. I was lucky it was
on the property of an elementary school and it was all grass as I went
down. My left leg got hit above the ankle by my platform pedal but I landed
directly on my right shoulder and haver an AC sprain. I was told 4-6 weeks,
and given exercises that seem to aggravate my shoulder so I am doing only
some. I hope you can do more rides, slow and easy is just fine, that is how
I ride now that I am getting older. At 73 I can still ride but I am not in
a hurry and distance is unimportant as long as I feel ok.
Patrick Moore <bert...@gmail.com>: Jun 28 12:34PM -0600

Best wishes to all of you who have been off your bikes because of injuries
or sickness for complete and rapid recoveries and near-term bike riding.
Ryan Frahm <fra...@gmail.com>: Jun 28 08:00AM -0700

Hi Kim,
 
Thank you for the tip! I have never had a Facebook account. I haven’t
listed the bike anywhere else yet. I have a buyer for less than I want to
take but haven’t been in a rush to sell. An offer of $2000 seems a little
cheap to let it go but who knows what it’s really worth.
 
Thanks again,
Ryan
 
Kim H. <krhe...@gmail.com>: Jun 28 08:48AM -0700

Hi Ryan,
 
Yes, $2000.00 is NOT a good price to sell your Clem!
 
I strongly urge you to hold your ground at $2500.00, plus shipping.
 
I look at my Clem and see it's value at around $3000.00.
 
My best regards,
Kim.
 
Ryan Frahm <fra...@gmail.com>: Jun 28 09:13AM -0700

Hi Kim,
 
Thank you! I plan to stay at the price because I think it is a reasonable
deal. I’m not in a rush but I could use space in the garage. I need to make
room for the paddle boards once they are inflated!
 
Best,
Ryan
 
Kim H. <krhe...@gmail.com>: Jun 28 09:40AM -0700

Hello Ryan,
 
You are more than welcome anytime.
 
It's good to hear that you are standing your ground on the price of
$2500.00 with the considerations of Rivendell bicycles hold their resale
value extremely well and most recently Rivendell bicycles are more
expensive now with those new tariffs. A new Platypus is now $3000.00, plus
shipping.
 
Be patient in a non hurried way. The right buyer will come along at the
right time.
 
I am sure you will enjoy the extra space wonce your Clem has been sold as
you mentioned.
 
Enjoy your weekend,
Kim.
 
 
 
 
 
Steve <steve...@gmail.com>: Jun 28 06:36AM -0700

Love it!
Subvert the Paradigm on a Platypus!
 
On Friday, June 27, 2025 at 9:51:17 PM UTC-4 Dan wrote:
 
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