WTB quickbeam or simple one

[Andrew Huston]

Likely a long shot. Probably a 54 or 56. 5’10 and 84 PBH.

[j.schwartz]

I think you'd actually be a 58 on that bike...for more roadish use...  56 would work too

I'm 5'10" with an 84.5pbh and have a 58 SO ...and used to have a 58 QB....both with tires maxed out.  it wasn't too big.

[Hudson Doerge]

I’m 5’10” with a ~83cm pbh and am very happy on a 56cm SO. Just another data point, but I think the 54 would be too small given your dimensions. Not selling right now, but I’ll let you know if I change my mind!

Hudson in ATX

[Andrew Huston]

Both inputs appreciated. Let me know if yours comes online!

[allenmichael]

5'9" and pbh of 85. I had a 58 Simple One, and it fit better than any bike I've ever had.

[ted]

Andrew,

Where are you located?

I'm in the SF bay area (abt 20mi south of RBW) and have a seriously underutilized 56 Simple One that I commuted on before I retired.

If you are anywhere near here maybe I should consider moving on.

regards

Ted Kelly

On Friday, May 29, 2020 at 6:46:46 AM UTC-7, Andrew Huston wrote:

[ted]

I think "best" size is kinda dependent, though I'm not sure on what.

I'm about 5' 9" with a 84 or 85 pbh.

Before RBW did the SimpleOne, Kevin refused to sell me a sub 56 Quickbeam (they only had smaller frames left) saying that would be too small and that he might rather put me on a 58.

When pre-orders for the SO opened I immediately went to RBW and ordered mine. Kevin asked what size I wanted, and I said I was unsure but I expected either a 56 or a 58. He looked me up and down briefly then said, with conviction, 56.

Some years down the road, though I'm confident I could have done fine with a 58 I'm sure he was right to recommend the 56.

I now also have a 57 FJSr. I bought that when they had one 57 and one 55 left.  I think that bike is about as big as I'd want. Though on the whole I'm also glad I didn't end up with the 55.

I've used 33 and 35mm tires on those bikes.

YMMV, but I think the OP is right in the grey area where without somebody as knowledgeable as Kevin looking at him it's hard to know if 56 or 58 would suit him better.

[Ray Shine]

I'm in San Francisco and own a Gen 1 QB, 56.   Willing to discuss a sale.  Prefer to talk off-forum.

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[greenteadrinkers]

I have a 56 SO. Maybe consider the height of the tires you plan to use, currently I have 43 Compass Hurricane Ridge, fairly tall. I'm like 5'11" give or take, 84 pbh, I think a 58 would be too large for me, the 56 fits well, I guess a 58 could work, bit, it's nice having stand over space between my crotch and the top tube.

Scott

On Friday, May 29, 2020 at 9:46:46 AM UTC-4, Andrew Huston wrote:

[Dan McNamara]

When I was considering an SO (before I blew up my knee) Keven was recommending a 58. After I came back from the test ride on the 58 and Keven was making a coffee, Mark walked over to me and said “you should be on a 56.” They did not have a 56 for demo that day and then the single speed became impractical for me. 

My PBH is 84 and I am 5’ 9.5”. 

The bar and stem choice will probably make the difference. Although a little crotch clearance is nice in any case. 

Dan

San Rafael CA

On May 29, 2020, at 11:31 AM, greenteadrinkers <greentea...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[Matt Beecher]

My peg is 87 and I really like my 58 QB. I hope to ride it this weekend.

I bet I would be slightly less happy on a 60, but disappointed on a 56.

Matt B
Oswego, IL

[Andrew Huston]

Ray, sent you a PM.

[allenmichael]

I should also say that I had it set up with upright Dove bars.

[Andrew Huston]

I should clarify that I would need shipping to Michigan. If there’s someone in the bay area willing to facilitate shipping however, I will try to make it worth their while.

[j.schwartz]

Are you looking for F/F/HS or complete ?

[Andrew Huston]

Either one.

[Andrew Huston]

I’ll add to this a 56 surly steamroller as another option.

[Carla Waugh]

I'll add Handsome Fredward and I understand it's not a Riv. I have a ton of fun on mine. You can choose your color as well. I have never seen a QB or SO because I live in Ok.

[Eric Daume]

I would say the Cross Check is more comparable to the QB. The Steamroller has quite a bit steeper geo. 

Eric

On Saturday, May 30, 2020, Andrew Huston <firsttolast...@gmail.com> wrote:

I’ll add to this a 56 surly steamroller as another option.

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[Andrew Huston]

I’ve considered both the Fredward and cross check. I’m concerned the rides will be uninspiring. Maybe I’m wrong. Carla, what’s your experience? Any cross check lovers want to chime in?

[ted]

Diverging further you might look into a soma wolverine

[Eric Daume]

I've owned:

- Cross Check (62 cm)

- Quickbeam (64 cm)

- BMC Monstercross (62 cm)

- Soma Wolverine (62 cm)

- Mercier Kilo WT (62 cm) (like a long reached Steamroller)

- and too many others to list

Honestly, among those six bikes, they all rode within a good day/bad day of each other. That is, no bike really stood out more than me having a good or bad day. Nothing amongst them was dead and wooden, like some bikes I've had, but none of them have the liveliness of the standard gauge bikes I've had (the Rawland rSogn particularly stands out, but some vintage Treks have been good, as was my old Raleigh Technium). So base it on fit, features, color, price, etc.

I wrote up my thoughts about the CC vc. QB vs. MC here:

https://bikingtoplay.blogspot.com/2019/05/rivendell-quickbeam-vs-surly-cross.html 

Spoiler: I would probably pick the CC of those three.

Eric 

On Sat, May 30, 2020 at 7:54 PM Andrew Huston <firsttolast...@gmail.com> wrote:

I’ve considered both the Fredward and cross check. I’m concerned the rides will be uninspiring. Maybe I’m wrong. Carla, what’s your experience? Any cross check lovers want to chime in?

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[Patrick Moore]

Andrew may well have found his QB, but besides the Surlys and Somas he might want to consider an old road race bike from the 1970s (or earlier, or later if with long horizontals, long stays, reasonable hta and sta) -- if you can still find them; I hear there's a run on any good bike nowadays. My first several (2 or 3; starting with the Tempo in 1996 or 1997) fixed gear bikes were repurposed old road frames and I liked them enough to order a custom RIv fixie in 1999; that is to say that the experience of these repurposed road frames was so delightful I paid for a fixed Riv Road custom.

One advantage of such old frames can be that many are made from surprisingly light tubing and thus give a very nice ride. I recall my 1973 Motobecane Grand Record, a ~1966 Bottechia with World Champion sticker but no model nomenclature, and -- other side of the range -- a very early '90s or very late '80s Tange Prestige mountain bike that with sufficiently fat 60 mm Big Apples made a wonderful fixed gear all-rounder.

The Bottechia and the Motobecane had longer stays than the mountain bike, and of course had smaller diameter, if possibly thicker gauge tubing; both very flexy and very comfortable and nice -- not like my Riv fixies or, I daresay, like a QB or SO, but worthy substitutes.

Oh, another that I remember fondly: An early Raleigh Technium sports tourer with long stays and reasonable angles, standard gauge tubes IIRC but made from (presumably thickwall) aluminum bonded into straight-shouldered steel "lugs" or sockets. A tank, heavy, but flexy and with the -- at the time, circa 2003 -- fat, white 23 mm Vittoria clinchers, a Cadillac. I used it to commute ~ 30 miles rt, and carried some heavy loads, also using it to pull my then-2-year-old daughter's doublewide trailer (67" gear) against headwinds on our scheduled Saturday morning outings; great fun.

--

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Patrick Moore

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

[Patrick Moore]

Probably needless to say, but that should be "32 mm ...".

On Sat, May 30, 2020 at 7:07 PM Patrick Moore <bert...@gmail.com> wrote:

.....  -- at the time, circa 2003 -- fat, white 23 mm Vittoria clinchers ...

 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Patrick Moore

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

[Andrew Huston]

As anyone who is looking at bikes recently will find, there are not many available. Of those mentioned, only a cross check is available locally. Craigslist is becoming less of a resource, likely where the more vintage bikes could be found. I’m considering the cross check strongly but have a strong desire for the ultra clean lines of a track bike. Don’t ask me why.
A QB and a SO we’re possibilities but as I mention I need shipping. The owners preferred not to bother with it and I don’t blame them. So, still on the hunt.

[Patrick Moore]

One of the nicest riding -- on road -- bikes I ever rode was an early or mid-1960s Paramount track bike owned by my brother; from the days when there was surprising clearance between ~23 mm tires and crown and bridge; more than the 1980s Schwinn Tempo that was my first fixed gear (and a nice riding bike, too). This handled so much like my custom Riv Roads that I almost bought it from my brother; I'm rather sorry I didn't. (The crown was drilled for a brake.) I recall riding it through West LA with some 40-spoke tandem (?) Campy Record wheels; perhaps it was just the weight of the wheels -- my brother said it was the bearings -- but that was on of the the smoothest riding bikes I've been on, and the handling was quick but very surprisingly neutral in transition between straight and turn, like Rivendell road bikes.

As for shipping: I've shipped a number of frames and whole bikes by charging the buyer not only shipping but packing by a reputable bike shop; the folder I sent, and I think it was shipped unfolded; it included rack and stand; cost about $150 including packing and Bike Flights or somesuch. It's not too much bother to drive a bike down to the nearest LBS, at least if you live in a decent sized city (ABQ, NM).

On Sat, May 30, 2020 at 7:33 PM Andrew Huston <firsttolast...@gmail.com> wrote:

.... I’m considering the cross check strongly but have a strong desire for the ultra clean lines of a track bike. Don’t ask me why.

A QB and a SO we’re possibilities but as I mention I need shipping. The owners preferred not to bother with it and I don’t blame them.

[Patch T]

I'd recommend you choose a QB over a CC, given you had access to both and you knew you didn't want the option to add gears. But CC is not a terrible choice if that is what is available to you, but I wouldn't compare the two (I owned both as my primary 2 bikes for 5 or so years; still have the QB). I loved how versatile a blank canvas it was for different kinds of builds.

+1 for hunting down a 70s/early80s frame with good tubing. My 1981 Trek 710 (like this) has seen a 650b rando/long-ride conversion with gears, but is currently back to single speed 700c x 38 slicks (just barely clears the rear brake bridge) and albratross bars for city riding. It feels a lot like the QB.

Patch

BK/NY

[Andrew Huston]

I’m definitely planning on holding out for a QB. I just need to be patient.

[ted]

Hang in there. They seem to go in spurts, so nothing now definitely doesn't mean never.

I speculate that being hard to replace hinders folks inclination to decide to sell theirs. But when they see one offered, they think maybe I should sell mine too.

[J L]

I’m in the bay area and would love to take ownership of a 56 quickbeam, or a 54. 

Did they all have eyelets on the front of the fork under the bake posts?

Jason

On May 31, 2020, at 9:57 AM, ted <ted....@comcast.net> wrote:



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[Joe Bernard]

Eyelets on fork below brakes:

Not on the original greens, not sure if any orange Quickbeams showed up with them. The final silver had them.

[J L]

Eyelet update.

Green no.
Orange yes.
Grey yes.

Was there only one run of each?

> On May 31, 2020, at 12:01 PM, Joe Bernard <joer...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Eyelets on fork below brakes:

>
> Not on the original greens, not sure if any orange Quickbeams showed up with them. The final silver had them.
>

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[Max S]

One data point to the contrary: Green SO with 3 sets of eyelets front and 3 rear. But it’s monochromatic - no cream HT, so maybe a repaint?..

- Max “if only the farmers market could open” in A2