Appaloosa Build, Thoughts on Value, Ride Report and More

[Kat]

Appaloosa Build Write Up

It’s real, it’s alive, it's not a Platypus, it’s an Appaloosa!

Some of you may have seen my previous thread where I tried to order a 55cm green Platypus but it turned out to be out of stock. At that time I was weighing up whether to go with a 60cm Platypus (possibly too big for me) or a 54cm Appaloosa.

Previous thread: https://groups.google.com/g/rbw-owners-bunch/c/2HdGv21LE3E/m/uZH06pptAQAJ

I decided on the 54cm Appaloosa which arrived to me in its final form yesterday. I’ve taken it out on an hour’s ride and just love it – it’s so dreamy.

I thought I’d write this up both as a build report and a resource for those in Australia thinking about buying Rivs. They are rare and expensive birds here so hopefully this is helpful to any fellow Aussies looking to join the club.

I have done a full parts list with prices and weights here for those interested in the granular detail. All amounts are AUD and weights are metric, sorry Yanks!

Detailed spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1zWzQxG8JKCLovrjOGCLJKXKjwmH8-HA4M0iX2ha9B54/edit?usp=sharing

Note that the prices/totals for Blue Lug are a little off. The prices on their site differ from what I actually paid because of currency conversion. The shipping and customs is also the total of a slightly larger order (I also ordered a bunch of other clothing and random stuff not specifically for this build).

Full gallery of photos: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1dOytiGxENr-zfkTnDqgVuSLYQdTXyNTZ?usp=sharing

In summary, total cost was $6,976.25 AUD, including $686.64 of shipping and customs. Total weight, with rack and fenders but without any other accessories, came in at 15.4kg. This is around $4500 USD and 34lb for the Americans. I already owned the pedals, bars, bag, rack, grips and front light so these are not included in the cost.

Parts List

Frame – Rivendell Appaloosa

Wheels – Crust Rim Brake Dynamo Wheelset

Tyres – Rene Herse 700 x 48 Hatcher Pass

Crankset – New Albion/Clipper Wide Low 42-26 double

Chain – Shimano CN-LG500 (only one chain needed with 126 links)

Cassette – Shimano 11-39T 10spd LinkGlide

Front der. - Shimano FD-4700 10-Speed Tiagra

Rear der. - Shimano Cues RD-U6020 10spd Shadow Long Cage

Shifters - Microshift SL-M11 2/3x11 Spd Shimano MTB Thumb Shifters

Brakes - Alivio BR-T4000

Brake Levers - MX-2 brake lever Blue Lug special

Bars – Bosco

Stem - Nitto FU-82DX Periscopa Stem

Saddle – Brooks Flyer

Grips – Brooks Slim Grips

Pedals – Blue Lug Panda Pedals

Front rack – Soma Porteur + Wald 139

Front Bag – Framework Designs Haul All

Mudguards - Velo Orange 700c x 63mm Fluted Fenders

Mudflaps – Brooks Mudflap (front not currently mounted)

Bottle Cages – PDW Otter Cage

Front light – Axa Luxx 70 Plus

To be Continued

[Kat]

Part 2

Build Process

The frame, cranks and stem were ordered from Heaps Good Garage which is the only Australian retailer. They arrived in just a few days (after I’d agreed on an Appaloosa instead of the Platypus).

I ordered the wheels, brake levers and most accessories from Blue Lug. I’ve ordered from them before and it was again very easy with the order arriving after a week. The shipping and customs was a killer though! I’ve been thinking about the wheels and while they are beautiful, light and work great, I am not sure this was a really worthwhile purchase. Once the price, shipping, and customs/duty tax is factored in, I could have gotten a set of handbuilt wheels here in Australia for a similar price if not lower. But they really sing and I like them a lot. In 1-2 years I am anticipating getting a second wheelset built up with 36 spokes and 29x2.2 knobbies so I can easily swap them out for dedicated off-road and dirt trips.

Note that Heaps Good Garage sells the wheelsets, but only in 100/130 spacing, and the Appaloosa is 100/135 spacing. They also sell the rims separately.

The bike was built up at a local shop here in Brisbane. They’d never done a Rivendell before (or even heard of one) but they do stock Surlys and have done similar steel/touring builds before so were happy to take it on. They supplied the brakes and most of the drivetrain and I supplied everything else.

It was fairly straightforward except that the kickstand I ordered from Blue Lug rubs on the chain in about half the cassette, so we’ve taken that off while thinking about a solution, and the front rack stays had to be lengthened with a bracket to not hit the fenders. I’m really happy with the work they did, the mechanic said it got a lot of attention while it was in the shop so hopefully it’s inspired a few more people to order one!

I have a long list already of little tweaks, possible upgrades and accessories (of course I need a green water bottle!) but it's beautiful to ride just as is. The kickstand situation needs to be fixed ASAP though.

Ride Report

Ah, it just sings. I took it out for a quick hour-long loop yesterday to christen it. Despite not having cycled in a looooooong time (combination of stripping my previous bike, long-term travel, and a job with a 90 minute commute by car), I just wanted to go further and faster!

It shifts incredibly, even under load. I was keen to try the Linkglide cassette with friction shifting after reading this article, and I can confirm it’s very sick. Just nudge the shifter and the cassette grabs the chain for you. The granny gear is helpful around this hilly city (my legs on the other hand need to be whipped into shape).

I’m pretty much sitting bolt upright with the setup at the moment. I like it (just have to ignore any comments about Margaret Hamilton). I think the riser stem with the Bosco bars looks a bit awkward and gangly, but in kind of a charming way. I’m heading to Japan later this year and of course a visit to Blue Lug is on the cards, so I’ll check out some other bars while I’m there and maybe pick up a Chocomoose.

Thoughts on Value

No discussion of Rivs, I feel, can be complete without talking about cost and value (which I feel are two separate things). This is especially so in Australia because the weaker dollar and necessary shipping of parts makes Rivs expensive, and it’s pretty much impossible to test ride one so you are flying blind.

On one hand, the final cost of my build was almost $7000. This is a lot of money to spend on a bike here in Australia. For comparison, that same amount could buy you two Surly Bridge Clubs, three or more Surly Preambles, a fairly serious carbon fibre racing bike, or at least three-quarters of a Tumbleweed Prospector with Rohloff hub.

My last bike cost $600, call it $1000 with additional parts I spent on it. So the Appaloosa has cost me at least seven times more. Will I enjoy the Appaloosa seven times more than my last bike? Realistically probably not. I’d be happy if I enjoy it two or three times as much. Timewise, I used my last bike for seven years, that’s $140 per year. I’d need to ride the Appaloosa for 50 years to get the same figure – a long commitment.

On the other hand, the cost is roughly equal to six or seven week’s wages for the average worker (of which I am one). Even if I only rode the bike for a conservative 10 years, that’s less than two months work in exchange for a decade of reliable companionship. Sounds like good value when you put it that way.

And yes, it’s not just a tool. It’s a toy too, and a beautiful thing to look at. It’s my favourite colour. I think choosing a bicycle based on colour is not shallow at all, you have to look at it every day after all. We could all be like Steve Jobs and wear the same outfit every day, or never decorate our houses, but 99% of us don’t do that, because seeing lovely things and wearing different clothes enriches our lives and expresses our identity. The bicycle is the same.

Could I get by on six shirts, six pants, six underwear, one pair of shoes for the rest of my life? Yes, but I don’t want to – I spend money on different clothes that I think look nice and that I enjoy wearing.

Could I ride to work on a cheap second hand bike? Yes, but I bought one that costs more, because I think it looks nice and I enjoy it.

I could (and many young people do) go out and get into debt up to my eyeballs for a blingy 4WD, jetski or dirt bike. When you compare a bicycle to those things, it starts feeling very cheap indeed!

The cost is the cost. The value is different for each person. I knew I wanted a Rivendell. If I’d gotten a new Surly, or Velo Orange, in a year or two I knew I’d still be thinking “but one day, I’ll get a Rivendell”. That wouldn’t have been good value, because I would have bought a different bike, used it only for a few years, then sold it and paid for a Rivendell. Better to buy the bike you really want in the first place.

Maybe this is all a long essay to justify spending a lot of money on a bicycle. For most of my friends and family, a bike is a bike is a bike, there is no difference between a $200 second hand one and a new, more expensive one from a bike shop. If it gets you where you’re going, it shouldn’t matter, right?

In the end, I wanted it, I could afford it, so I bought it, and the only person it matters to is me.

Thanks for reading, hopefully I’ll have some more ride reports to share soon. If you’re in Australia, I’ll see you out on the road or the trails. I’ve never seen a fellow Riv in the wild but I’d love to!

If you got through this whole thing, well done, and please let me know your thoughts too!

Thanks,

Kathryn

[Dan]

Hi Kat,

Thank you for sharing your story and great to hear there is another Appaloosa rider in Australia!

I have a purple Appaloosa (photo below) but I am based in Adelaide. I know of at least one other Appaloosa rider here, but that's it.

Now that Heaps Good Garage are bringing in lots of frames, thought, that might change!

Firstly: your bike is beautiful. I like the everyday-bike setup you have with high bars and fenders. It's a classic look but extremely versatile. Front baskets are amazing.

Secondly: Kickstand. I have a Plestcher single-leg kickstand I bought from an Australian distributor. It's light (ish), sturdy, and *juuuuuuuust* clears my 2.2" knobbly tyres. No issues with the cranks. Would recommend.

Finally: Value. Well, you put together an Appaloosa in Australia for cheaper than I did! My frame was more expensive as at the time I bought mine the only stock in the world was in Canada. Also I had the wheels built up from scratch. But for a very high quality bike I think the price is fair, even though it might be 'old' (proven) technology. In terms of bikes, it's well within the range of a high-end road bike, of which there are plenty here in Adelaide. The other thing I like to remind myself of is that it's far, far cheaper than a car! The stats I hear on the yearly cost of owning and running a single car in Australia are in the $10k-$12k/range. So your Appaloosa is maybe 2/3 of that, max, for a single year.

Regardless of all that, you have a lovely, quality bike that you can ride essentially forever. It'll be able to change as you change. And you could afford it. So it's worth it.

Welcome to the Riv in Australia family!

(My Appaloosa on a ride last weekend:)

[Josh C]

Kat, 

Have you ridden it much with stuff in that front bag? I'm curious to hear how it rides with that bag loaded up. I find that even the beefier Rivs don't handle a heavy front basket load very well. I run a pretty sizable basket/rack on a Clem H, and it does well, but my Hunq was supper noodly with even a small Wald basket and minimal stuff in it. I used to have a Joe but did not run much weight up front. I've got a double TT Joe that I'm considering setting up similar to yours. Perhaps I'll find out, but I figured I'd ask about handling with weight. 

[Andrew Letton]

Hello Kat,

Congratulations on the beautiful new Appaloosa! 

No need to justify the cost; what matters is that it's right for YOU. I sometimes feel a bit embarassed at how much money I've spent on my Rivendells over the years (even with buying two of them used) -- certainly much more than the value of our old car -- but both the riding and tinkering with them bring me so much joy, and that's what matters. 

Worth. Every. Cent.

Nice to see another Rivendell in Oz! I'm on the NSW Central Coast, about an hour north of Sydney. You, Dan, and I are spread far apart in this big country, but if either of you are ever in the area and would like to get together for a ride of any scale, look me up!

cheers,

Andrew in Ettalong Beach, ex-Northern California

(I'm excited to be getting my Bombadil ready for four days of bikepacking on the Attack of The Buns route in April... and probably a #SwiftCampout in June.)

Attack of The Buns Attack of the Buns is a 3-day bikepacking route exploring Australia’s Southern Tablelands & Highlands by linking...

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[Roberta]

It’s beautiful! The flyer is a perfect compliment for the Appaloosa. Congratulations. 

My first Riv was an Appaloosa and it Cost me more money than all my bikes in my entire life had it together cost me in total.  However, it brought me more joy by manyfold than it cost me. I’m not exaggerating when I say my Rivendell purchase changed my life – – I ride more because it’s comfortable, I’m in better shape , I’m happier, I’ve made many many friends, both on the board and in person.  I bet you’ll find the same.

You will probably find you’re riding so many more miles and smiling so much more because of your new wonderful Bike. Enjoy. I’m excited for you.

Roberta

Philadelphia

[Nick Payne]

I'm in Canberra with a orange Appaloosa...I've had mine since late 2020.

Nick Payne

[Collin A]

"This is around $4500 USD and 34lb for the Americans" - hey, most of us can do math...

Your comments on value are spot on, in the grand scheme of things the price you paid for a combination tool/toy/hobby isn't high. And your comment about just getting what you want to get initially is a good one - I went the route of slowly building up the courage to buy a nice Riv and probably spent twice as much as I needed to in bikes before I got my appaloosa!

I hope the bike brings you many miles, and many iterations of what a good bike can be.

Collin, rich in appaloosas, in Oakland

[Kat]

Thanks everyone for weighing in!

Dan, Andrew and Nick - great to hear from fellow Australian Riv owners, hopefully we'll cross paths one day.

Josh - no serious loads yet, although I had the same rack/basket/bag setup on my last bike and I really prefer a front load to a back one. The last bike had a steering stabiliser which I don't think made too much difference while riding but certainly was helpful for wheel flop when locking up. Waiting on a new tent to get here before I head out on an overnighter.

I love seeing everyone's Appaloosas! I have to say I initially agreed with Grant that the Platypus was the most beautiful Riv but the more I look at Appaloosas the more I prefer them. Something about a well-proportioned diamond frame, that fork crown, that cream headtube...

Dan - cool frame bag, is it a Hungry?

Thanks to everyone for your thoughts on the cost. It's comforting that the cost of even a Rivendell pales in comparison to a car! Collin - "buy once, cry once" is one philosophy to go by when it comes to bikes.

Thanks,

Kathryn

[Andrew Joseph]

Kat!

Just my personal experience.  It’s been challenging to stay within the “budget,” I set for any bike project.  Whether I select old or new components… 

You have a killer Joe, and you are happy with it!  It’s beautiful, and hope you enjoy it for many years.

I really like the kickstand on my 54 Joe.  Zero issues.

Pletscher Zoom ESGE Adjustable

[ascpgh]

Kat- Congratulations! You made what you want and the dividends will come for a long time.

I am not a frequent new bike guy. When I bought my Rambouillet I wasn't prepared for how differently good it was and I have only slightly modified it from how it was on its first day. In review that makes it a significantly good use of its purchase and maintenance costs over the years.

My next bike was a custom that reached from my Rambouillet for greater fulfillment of my particular riding after almost twenty years' consideration. Having tangible objectives when building a bike in a blank paper exercise is really rewarding and you've set yourself up for enjoying this one immensely. 

I hope you enjoy and increasingly value what you chose to put into this bike!

Andy Cheatham

Pittsburgh

[Patrick Moore]

That is a nice one.

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[David Hays]

My Appaloosa with Nitto Dirt Drop.

David Hays

On Feb 28, 2025, at 3:46 AM, Patrick Moore <bert...@gmail.com> wrote:

That is a nice one.

On Thu, Feb 27, 2025 at 9:05 PM Nick Payne <njh...@gmail.com> wrote:

I'm in Canberra with a orange Appaloosa...I've had mine since late 2020.

<PXL_20250214_095137329.jpg>

Nick Payne

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[Eric Marth]

Nick Payne with da hardwood flex

[Eric Marth]

Beautiful rig and setup, Kat, love the browns with the green frame! I also have a 54cm Appaloosa, mine's in Mermaid 

Is your 90 minute commute... a metric figure? Is it really as bad as it sounds as a native to the Imperial system?

On Thursday, February 27, 2025 at 5:25:08 AM UTC-5 Kat wrote:

[Kat]

Thanks Eric, I saw your build on the Radavist a while ago and it was a major inspiration to mine, thanks for the kind words!

I should have specified that 90 minutes is short for 90 "Kangaroo Minutes", a colloquial Australian measurement of time which is defined by how long it takes to see a certain number of kangaroos. 90 Kangaroo minutes = time taken to see 90 Kangaroos. Kangaroo density varies by location so in outback areas you'd get to 90 Kangaroo minutes in about 30 metric minutes, whereas if you're travelling through urban areas 90 Kangaroo minutes could be as long as 180 metric minutes.

(My commute was through a mix of urban and regional areas and generally took 80-90 metric minutes... Yes it was long, I tried to only do it 3-4 times a week. I did always see kangaroos, not sure I ever got to 90 in one trip though!)

[Kat]

A Further Ride Report

I headed out again today on the longest ride so far on my new Appaloosa (I have decided to name her Jo, a little sportier and feminine than Joe, but still true to her roots). I was headed to a work meeting which I normally would drive to, but I was keen to check out a potential commute route if I move offices. There's also a cyclone headed our way this week, so I wanted to get a ride in today because I probably won't be going anywhere if it makes landfall as is predicted.

Plus, it was forecast to rain, so I could test out my new Cleverhood rain poncho (in matching green, of course)!

Fortunately, the start and end points of this route are along the main Brisbane cycleway, the Veloway or V1 which follows the main highway south. It's truly an exceptional and forward thinking piece of cycle infrastructure. Unfortunately for most of Brisbane's population, there are only 3 or 4 such pieces of infrastructure in Brisbane, so unless you happen to live and work along one of them, you probably won't have such a pleasant cycling experience. It's getting better... slowly... hopefully things improve in time for the Olympics 2032.

My main takeaway was despair at how much cycling fitness I have lost while off the bike! I've been training all summer for long distance swimming, which has left my legs with the muscular strength of wet noodles. You might be thinking, but surely all that swimming training has left your upper body and lungs like iron? Sadly long distance swimming is 95% focused on technique and moving with as little effort as possible to conserve energy, so I have in effect been doing the same amount of exercise as very slow walking, leaving my arms similarly noodly. Oh well, a month or two of grinding it out and I will be whipped into shape.

The good thing was getting to listen to Jo and get to know all the new bike noises. Leah made a good thread about this a while ago. Leah, you're not alone - I was used to all the old clattering, whirring and grinding of my old bike, and now there is a whole new set of noises to get used to. Some benign (the new chain, new derailleurs with a slightly different hum), some that need fixing (yep, that fender stay was loose... oops, didn't tighten the quick release enough...). After a good 2 hours on the bike I feel a little more in tune with the song of this particular bike.

Look how she shines in the light! (The boba machine was devastatingly out of order).

More exciting things are in the mail (kickstands, saddle cover, matching green water bottle) but unlikely much else will happen this week with the aforementioned cyclone incoming.

Happy riding all!

[Bicycle Belle Ding Ding!]

What a gem of a thread this has been to read, Kathryn! And who knew there were so many Appaloosas in Australia! As soon as I read you were from Australia, I heard every word of your post in a lovely Aussie accent.

Your Appaloosa is sublime and I love how you have made it YOURS from the get-go. You might as well, or you’ll do it anyway and you’ll have paid twice. Kickstand - I can imagine how irritating it is to try and live without one, esp on a bike you are loading up. I couldn’t even get by without a kickstand on my new road bike (Charlie H. Gallop), much less a bike with a basket. Please update us when you get that rectified! 

I hope you suss out all the new sounds the bike is making. That thread you referenced of mine - I eventually did get to the bottom of that noise - no one at the shop could figure it out. It was the headset rubbing on something every time the wheel turned. And that headset has a sharp spot on it now. I really should just replace it. 

90 kangaroo minutes! How interesting! I’m off to work and it is 15 normal minutes of 3 deer minutes. Or something.

Love this thread! And your Appaloosa!

Leah

[Roberta]

I was just commenting to Leah how your write up sounds so much like how I felt about the Appaloosa when I got mine.  you however, are much more eloquent. You wrote “ maybe pick up a Chocomoose” while you’re in Japan.  My Appaloosa had a Choco moose bar and I absolutely loved it on that bike.

On Monday, March 3, 2025 at 3:29:41 AM UTC-5 Kat wrote:

[Roberta]

Posted too soon…

Also, I’m in agreement with Leah a kickstand as a must.  I’m on my bike. I have a single leg Greenfield kickstand and I’ve never had a problem. I love the color of your Appa also.  My PBH is 82 or 81 I forget or maybe it’s 83cm and I had a 51 CM Appaloosa. When I bought my platypus, I had to get rid of one bike and I chose my Appaloosa (over my Homer) to rehome. ultimately, I think, even though I couldn’t put it into words, the Homer just fit me better so I’m wondering what your PBH is because, not that I’m really looking for another bike, if an 84 Appaloosa or an 83 Atlantis would be a better fit for me. In the meantime, I’ll live vicariously through your post and pictures. I’m loving every single post and picture.

Roberta

[Nathan Mattia]

Here's the latest build for #BofurBike, taken yesterday at Forrest Park here in St. Louis.  

Just added the SKS fenders and they're OK, BUT I can feel the wind-resistance and the change in handling. Still getting used to this.  

  Thinking about a new wheel set that has knobbies for some off-road riding tours and trails.

It is actually the original Chinese-Mustard-Yellow-Green color, but looks a bit Orange in this picture.  

I LOVE THIS BIKE.

The double-kickstand is the first I've had, and it is FANTASTIC.   

[Eric Marth]

This is, without a doubt, the best response I've ever received on this forum. Bookmarked and saved for the ages. 

Namaste,

Eric 

[Kat]

Hi everyone,

It's been a week of no riding because of the cyclone but it was finally back on the bike today to check out the aftermath. We were fortunate that the actual cyclone went around us, and we didn't get much wind, but we have had about 500mm of rain in the last three days which has caused a bit of flooding. Not as bad as the last floods three years ago, thankfully.

Leah, many noises have been tracked down an eliminated, mainly a rubbing fender stay and a loose headset. It's running smoothly now, except when I crosschain by accident, whoops. The post was cancelled for a week because of that aforementioned cyclone but I'm hopeful my kickstand is not too far away.

Roberta - I'm 86cm PBH and the 54cm Appaloosa is a great fit, I think if I went any bigger I would have been really slamming the seatpost and stem.

Nathan - that's a beautiful bike, I do love the mustard colour. Probably my second favourite after green. That's my plan as well, to get a second set of wheels with knobbies and more robust rims built up eventually. If that's the Massload kickstand then I've ordered the same one.

Thank you Eric, I hope everyone's enjoyed being educated about Australian slang.

Thanks,

Kathryn

[Leah Peterson]

Yay, Kathryn! I’m working out my new sounds on my Charlie. Today I got the screeching - yes, SCREECHING - left pedal sorted. Never heard anything like it.

I’m off tomorrow and might Charlie into town to give him another good shakedown ride. 

Glad your weather is looking up and I really love hearing about your bike life in Australia. Keep it coming those posts coming!

Leah

On Mar 10, 2025, at 11:06 PM, Kat <kathry...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[Ryan]

Regreasing/relubing? had that happen to me with MKS pedals more than once

[Kat]

Jo and I were off on a night ride tonight. It's autumn here, which means it's 25 degrees in the evening instead of 30 degrees (that's Celcius). Cool enough that I almost put a flannel on.

The long awaited kickstand has finally arrived - joy & bliss. It's a Massload one and both legs neatly sweep to the non-drivetrain side when not in use. Nifty. I did have to swap out the included bolt for a shorter one since it's going directly onto the mounting plate.

Alas, there is trouble in paradise.

My beloved Flyer and I have been apart for a year. Absence has not made the heart grow fonder and the Flyer is sending strong signals of dissatisfaction at being mounted on a new bike. It's not you, it's me? Well, it's partially me - I'm sure my body has changed in a year. I've experimented with tightening, loosening, nose up (intolerably painful), nose down (bearable for about an hour), forwards, backwards, but I think it's time to admit that it's not quite the right seat for this bike. A B67 is on the way. The B68 would have been my first preference but they are almost impossible to get in Australia. And I do think springs are charming.

I've read somewhere that the leather of the B67/68 is quicker to break in than the B17/Flyer. I will report back soon.

[Kat]

I forgot to add that I have solved the mysterious case of the dynamo light not working - the cause was (and this is almost too embarrassing to admit) I had left the housing too long so the terminals were hitting casing instead of bare wire. However I do admit that the dim Axa Luxx leaves something to be desired in the lumens departments so I would welcome anyone's recommendation of a really nice bright dynamo light!

[Diana H]

I've had such a fun time reading this thread! Thank you for sharing all the details with your build and continuing to share updates.

I'm also the proud new owner of an Appaloosa, bought just this weekend from a member in this forum

. I cant wait for the weekend to get here so I can ride her!

Diana

San Francisco 

[Leah Peterson]

I agree with Diana! 

Kat, break up with your Flyer! There’s nothing like a B68/B67 - it’s saddle nirvana. You’ll slap it on and never think of your saddle again, which is how you know what you got is perfect.

Lights. There is no substitute for the Edelux light from Schmidt. Buy once, cry once. 

Kickstand - I can’t life without one. Never ever. I was planning to try on my Charlie since it’s a road bike and all, but I couldn’t even attempt it. I’m glad you got that sorted. These little accessories truly make the bike.

Please keep writing! I love your posts and your photos!

Leah

On Mar 18, 2025, at 12:08 AM, Diana H <diana....@gmail.com> wrote:

I've had such a fun time reading this thread! Thank you for sharing all the details with your build and continuing to share updates.

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/24d43d19-17a4-4fa0-b5db-1c9761374075n%40googlegroups.com.

[Roberta]

I had a Flyer on my Appa for years and liked it just fine.  For first 20 miles per trip only only….  

I put a B67 on another bike and , like what Bicycle be ding ding said, saddle Nirvana. I then put B68s on all my other bicycles.  Very happy.  I have wider sits bones then what is optimal for a B-17. 

The edelux ii lamp is fantastic and they came in a number of fabulous colors and mounts. You can even mount it to the front of your basket or upside down.  just be sure to buy the right lamp for your mounting choice.

https://nabendynamo.de/en/products/headlights/edelux-2/

Roberta