Clem for my husband

[LeahFoy]

So, my husband rides - get ready for this - a Target Schwinn, purchased over 5 years ago that feels as though it is going to fall apart at any moment. Wobbly. Poor shifting. Bent bars. Awful. He never spends money on himself, but my excitement over my bike has rubbed off on him, and he's willing to look at the Clem. Now, I see there's not but a few left, so I better get serious fast. I measured his PBH and he is about 86.3 cm. Does that put him on a 59 Clem? He's 6ft tall, about 180, if that matters at all.

Hopeful in Nevada,
Leah

[Lungimsam]

Call RBW and they will instantaneously tell you what size is his. You can even buy it over the phone so as not to lose out in case there are only a couple left.

[David Banzer]

That'd put him on a 59cm for sure.
David
Chicago

[Will]

Go for an Appaloosa that delivers in March. Fully lugged. I've seen the Hillbornes. The Apploosa is a long chain-stay, canti-built Hillborne. It's the best offer Riv has going. For sure.

On Sunday, November 22, 2015 at 1:37:42 PM UTC-6, LeahFoy wrote:

[Bill Lindsay]

I respectfully disagree.  The Clem brochure recommends the 59 Clem Smith Jr for people with Saddle Height of 79-86.  A rider with a PBH of 86.3 will have a Saddle Height of about 75.3.  That puts him right in the middle of the range for a 52 Clem (SH 68-78).  If he wanted to go way upright, a 59 Clementine (SH 72-86) could be run with very little seatpost showing.  

Bill Lindsay
El Cerrito CA

[David Banzer]

Gotcha. Mixed up SH & PBH.
David
Chicago

[LeahFoy]

Ah, well, there's the rub. He doesn't want the Clementine. He wants the Clem, and it sounds like he'll need the size that Riv is sold out of, naturally. I wonder if there's any way the 59 could work. Sigh...

[Deacon Patrick]

After test riding my daughters' Clementines I was stunned how light and good they felt while still being hearty. A size small for me, they still rode great. I'd be delighted with a black or orange Clementine.

With abandon,

Patrick

[Justin August]

Leah-

Call Rivelo in PDX. They have stock of Clems in all sizes I think.

-J

[KC]

He's my husband's size. 52, not 59. I believe a few bikes went to shops. I would call Vince and ask if he knows of any 52s. If you ride togetherit is so important you both have great bikes. It makes such a difference. My husband rides twice as far now as he did before. Much nicer for both of us. I see lots of good used bikes come up FS here in their size.

[KC]

[Surlyprof]

I am almost the exact same size (86 PBH/74-ish saddle height) and I fit very well on the 52.  It felt great!  That said, I'm with Will.  The Appaloosa would be fantastic.  It seems to have a lot of what I love about my 56 canti-Hillborne with the tire clearance of a Clem.  Can't go wrong with that combination.  The one thing that I did really like for my size on the Clem were the 650b wheels.  That feels like a great size which is why I've always coveted the Bombadil.

John

[dougP]

Someone's getting a super duper Christmas present.  I can hear him now:  "I would never have believed a bike could be so much fun and feel this good to ride." 

dougP

[Kathy Carroll]

So worth a trip to RBW to test ride.

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[LeahFoy]

It wasn't the extra wobble in his ride, or the inexplicably crooked handlebars, neither the SNAP that came from merely shifting gears, nor the new creaking noises with every pedal stroke. Rather, it was his friend getting a new Specialized mountain bike that whet my husband's appetite for an upgraded bike. We all rode to church together on Sunday and his buddy said, "Here, try mine! I'll ride yours." Said friend looked like a circus bear wobbling around, gears popping on that half-decade-oldTarget bike. No longer able to deny its state of disrepair, my husband gave in, and after church the three of us started talking bikes.

Immediately I thought of the Clem. Immediately he thought of Specialized. The friend looked on with interest.

I measured his PBH, which he couldn't decide was a violation of some kind or great fun. I waxed about all things steel. I droned on about long chain stays. I decried fat frame tubes and lack of braze-ons. I flattered. I came very close to nagging. How can you spend $600 on a bike when $900 more would get you a magical, Elven-made steel treasure from Rivendell? I put him on my bike and made him circle the block. "Boy, you're right; that does ride nice. Can we get a bike that looks like the Specialized and rides like the Rivendell?" *Eyeroll.*

There was but one green 52 Clem at Rivendell. "But I don't like green. I just don't like green. It's a deal breaker. Did you see the color of the Specialized? I like that color." Flat gray and lime green, you guys. *Another eyeroll.* I had to tell Will we'd pass, which made me sad, but I decided to give John a call at Rivelo. He had 2 blue Clems in my husband's size left!

Well, my husband's name is on a "French blue" 52 Clem out of Oregon's Rivelo! I never thought this day would come. It almost didn't come - only hours ago, he called and said, "I think me having this bike would just put you over the moon. So I don't care if it's not exactly my style, you call and get it." Listen, people, I don't need to be told twice. Within minutes John and I were friends and exchanging info. I added a Pletscher rack, which will delight my husband when he sees it will hold a basketball. It's his new bike, but I feel like I received the gift somehow. He's a CEO who wears suits, drives a luxury car, is a lover of all things new and modern, and never has a spare moment; I'm a stay at home mom who wears skinny jeans and boots, yearns for simpler times, and prefers to "bike there." He bikes to be with the boys and me. And I'm wearing him down, you see. Just the other day he submitted to a flannel shirt!

And today he has a Rivendell.

Life is good.

Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas,
Leah

[Bill Lindsay]

That's the best thing I've read this week.  It's not even close.  Fan-Tas-Tic.  Thank you for posting that

Bill Lindsay

El Cerrito CA

[KC]

I am so happy for you.  He will now share your affliction and it will be wonderful.  May as well order the wald basket right now if you really want him to be able to carry the basketball. 

I would like to warn you not to let your husband ever meet or engage with Bill Lindsay as he then might get totally out of control. 

(My husband had absolutely no need for a new bike while I unflinchingly moved forward with my Cheviot I knew I had to have.  So I had him ride my daughter-in-laws Romulus and he immediately understood why he too needed a bike change)

On Wednesday, November 25, 2015 at 4:37:34 PM UTC-8, LeahFoy wrote:

[John A. Bennett]

Thank you, Leah. Much appreciated! 

John and Darby at Rivelo in Sunny (really) Portland, Oregon

On Wednesday, November 25, 2015 at 4:37:34 PM UTC-8, LeahFoy wrote:

[David Person]

Great story Leah. Thanks for sharing with the group. It is beginning to feel like flannel shirt weather here in So. Cal.

David P.

[John Hawrylak]

Great story, glad Rivelo had one for you.

I understand the color, I don't like GREEN either, but I bought a 1988 Emerald Green Panasonic Schwinn Voyaguer off e-bay, and despite the color, I am happy with it's functionality.

John Hawrylak

Woodstown NJ 

[dougP]

That's a great story, Leah.  Congratulations to both of you.  Maybe he needs a railroad shirt from Rivendell to help expand his sartorial choices? 

dougP

On Wednesday, November 25, 2015 at 4:37:34 PM UTC-8, LeahFoy wrote:

[JohnS]

Thank you Leah for sharing!

 

Happy Thanksgiving,

JohnS

On Sunday, November 22, 2015 at 2:37:42 PM UTC-5, LeahFoy wrote:

[BenG]

I enjoyed your story, Leah. You're a good writer!

The new CEO I serve rides a carbon "triathlon" bike. When I met him we were standing 20' from my mystery bike, and he was willing to take a look. Cast lugs with gold-lined cutouts, lots of steel tubes (some curvy), leather saddle, nickel-plated racks and a freeking basket. Struggling to come up with a positive response, he leaned over the drive side, saw the derailer and congratulated me on the great X7 model (it was an LX viewed upside-down). Be patient!

[Jon Dukeman in the foothills of Colorado]

WOW! Great story Leah!

Your man is a lucky guy..not only because he has a new Rivendell... because he is married to a woman  who  loves bikes, knows bikes, loves to ride and appreciates and understands that a quality bike makes for a more pleasurable experience..

PICS PLEASE:)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Jon

[Patrick Moore]

The drama of this histoire is epic! I can't wait to see photos of the new Clem. I'll wager 3:1 that your husband fully agrees with your decision within a week of receipt.

Re the Target mtb: it really lasted 5 years of actual riding????

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[LeahFoy]

Thanks, you all. You are too kind. BenG, I laughed at the CEO story out loud. Sigh, let him ride it a mile and I bet he makes you an offer.

One of my husband's quirks is that he likes to "match." Like, on weekends, he watches me get dressed and then rummages through his closet for some correlating ensemble. Maddening and flattering! He's excited about his bike if we can have matching grips and a matching saddle. He wants to use his rack. He thinks it's cool he can bring his stuff. I don't think he has thought two seconds about the ride! I'll update his thoughts and pics when the time comes. Don't get your hopes up, the nicest aspects of his Rivendell are likely to completely escape his notice.

Patrick - yes, if tooling around with his family and in our neighborhood counts as riding. It's very, very light riding. Anything more and he probably would have had a catastrophic event - that thing is unsafe! When he got on my Betty Foy, he looked back at me and called, "Hey, there's something wrong with your bike! The handlebars line up with the front wheel!" Sigh again. I tried to relegate his bike to the trash, but he rescued it and insists it's now "the guest bike." Triple sigh.

[LeahFoy]

KC - I'm intrigued by your story! I urge you to tell it! How can you leave us hanging? Did he get a bike? What happened to his old one? Is it now "the guest bike"? How is your Cheviot? Does he insist you match? How does he feel about the color green? Was he horrified or delighted with the PBH trick? Haha!

[Lungimsam]

Congrats on the accomplishment, Leah!
One of the most entertaining posts I've ever read here!
Been trying to get my wife on a Rivendell for a long time now. I thought she was just about ready. Thought it was gonna be a lock...her Raleigh is gettin old and the shifting is not great. Her brake lever is bent..I threw the idea out there for a Rivendell again...I mean, who wouldn't accept a 3,000$ gift from their spouse, right?
Then she said she now wants an electric bike.

[LeahFoy]

Not the dreaded e-bike! That may be worse than my husband's Target special! Ok, maybe not, but I just know Grant would disapprove. :)

[George Millwood]

Thanks for the story Leah, it gives all of us with recalcitrant spouses hope for the future!

 

[islaysteve]

Leah, let me add my thanks and "like" to you for the great write-up, and the accomplishment! I'm sure your husband will enjoy his bike more with every mile. I look forward to your updates!

(Michael): Perhaps a $3,000 Rivendell is not for everyone, but you're a great husband to want to give such a gift to your wife. Just some thoughts-- Old Raleighs can make for great restoration projects. See a recent post on Lovely Bicycle! for an example. She might like riding it more if you made it beautiful and functional for her. And, given the hilly terrain in your area, perhaps the dreaded e-bike wouldn't be the end of the world. At least it might get her out and riding with you. Cheers, Steve

[Shoji Takahashi]

Great story, Leah. Looking forward to reading the epilogue.

I've dropped hints to my wife about a Betty Foy and then the Cheviot. She was interested but not that interested. Fortunately, we're close enough in PBH to make it work for me! One of these days... 

shoji

[Montclair BobbyB]

Boy it's apparent your hubby is one lucky guy for many reasons (+1)... 

[LeahFoy]

You are too kind. Guess what's arriving today? I asked him if he wanted to be here for The Unboxing or if I should just proceed with having the bike built. He doesn't understand about the magic of The Unboxing. He just wants it ready to ride this weekend. *Grin*

My only regret: his cork grips will not be here in time. You can't have it all, I guess.

[cyclot...@gmail.com]

Happy New Bike Day!

[Jon Dukeman in the foothills of Colorado]

Pics please!!!

[dougP]

For the best effect, he HAS to be there for the unboxing! 

dougP

On Friday, December 4, 2015 at 9:01:52 AM UTC-8, LeahFoy wrote:

[Deacon Patrick]

+1. We can't know what we're missing until we haven't. Sardonic grin.

With abandon,

Patrick

[LeahFoy]

J.P.'s Clem finally arrived at 7pm last night. We took it immediately to REI to have it assembled. Sadly, the box was damaged somewhere between Oregon and Nevada (thanks, FedEx), and when the mechanics assembled the bike, they noticed the chain guard was mangled. It was scratched up, bent inwards and hit the gears. Rivelo was gracious (as you know) and a replacement part is on the way. But geez, how hard did FedEx hit that box to do that kind of damage? The rest of the bike was largely intact. Maybe a paint ding or two, but Grant's philosophy came to mind - something about allowing a scratch, especially if the bike is really expensive - and we decided no big deal. The mechanics believed the wrong hardware was sent for the rack, which makes me nervous because I can't imagine the wrong parts were sent, and maybe the mechanics just don't understand. I wonder if they put the rack on correctly. I'm going to pretend they did for peace of mind. Also, anyone know the weight limit for the Clem Pletscher rack?

We came home and we did a short ride without kids. It was so fun. I kept looking and looking at the bike and admiring the color. I don't think anyone's photos have showcased the true color of this bike. The blue is actually a creamy blue/teal that just looks suave and wild and rugged and gorgeous. My Betty looked washed out in comparison. How can this be?!? We don't have the cork grips or the Brooks yet, but we will, because my husband has a weird tendency to want to "match" with me. And I'm inclined to let him. Ha!

Thanks to everyone who helped me make the decision, and thanks to John at Rivelo for making this happen! We'll ride more tomorrow!


https://www.flickr.com/photos/daytondogg/albums/72157661891945032/with/22922164683/

[Deacon Patrick]

Delivery trucks are the slowest when they have to carry bikes! Always good to get the first dings out of the way. Grin. May you have many years matching and riding together!

With abandon,

Patrick

[Kathy Carroll]

Happy for you both.  I know that feeling.

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[dougP]

FedEx & UPS have amazing powers.  At least the damage is minor & easily repaired.  A friend rec'd his bike from one of them and the cardboard box had 2 perfectly punched holes where someone had used a forklift to move the box.  Amazingly, the forks missed everything inside.  Another time I was assembling my Atlantis at the start of a tour when I discovered the front wheel wouldn't drop in, and the fork legs bent out of alignment.  A bit of judicious tweaking got things straightened out. But the bike had been shipped in one of those 30# heavy duty plastic bike boxes! 

dougP

[Leah Peterson]

Ps Did you guys see the link at the end of the email? There's a big space and I didn't mention it. Just in case.

Sent from my iPhone

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[Deacon Patrick]

Yes, great pictures. Love the kissing photo! Our kids have our family of bikes as their own family, with my wife's as the mama, mine as the Papa (and my Quickbeam as the uncle) and theirs as the kids. REI may be right on the rack. The eyelets are upsized on the frame and we needed a hardware run to get the right bolts, which is why my lassies still don't have their racks on. Fortunately we have lots of snow, so they are having snowball fights rather than begging to do grocery runs with me. Sardonic grin.

With abandon,

Patrick

[cyclotourist]

Great couple of bikes. Bummer about the chainguard. Seems like it
should be able to bend back into place to at least let you ride until
the new one comes in.

Kid you not: I watched FedEx driver "roll" a bike box end-over-end
into a truck. They don't care at all about the boxes or contents
thereof.

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Cheers,
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Member, Supreme Council of Cyberspace

"it isn't a contest. Just enjoy the ride." - Seth Vidal

[WETH]

Awesome story and photographs! Wishing you many happy years of family cycling!
Erl

[Jon Dukeman in the foothills of Colorado]

Congrats on getting the Clem!

What fun memories you will make on those two bikes.

Coffee out??? Picnics ?

Enjoyed the pics.Thanks for sharing!

Have fun!

Jon

[LeahFoy]

Deacon, I have been waiting to see your fleet of new bikes. I do so hope you'll get the racks affixed soon and grace us with photos of the lineup. Didn't you order 5? I'd love to see how you made each one individual for each lass.

Jon, who knows what we'll get into? We almost have to load the bikes and take them to ride elsewhere as we are waaayyyy out in suburbia and on top of a mountain. Trips to parks, some out-of-town stuff, to church, that kind of thing. We've never bike-camped; could this be the year?!

[Deacon Patrick]

Ha! Things changed. We originally ordered five, but cut back to two and a Bike Friday Haul-a-Day for my wife. Here's a few pics:

New Clementines:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/32311885@N07/22712606132/in/dateposted-public/

Bike Friday Haul-a-Day:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/32311885@N07/21239277000/in/dateposted-public/

With abandon,

Patrick 

[Jon Dukeman in the foothills of Colorado]

Leah,

I'm in the same boat.I live in the foothills and usually drive 20-30 miles to ride with friends or to ride good trails.

You two have fun with your bikes.I've enjoyed your posts. Fun,Fun,Fun.

Jon

[LeahFoy]

Hi, All, I just wanted to post a quick update on my husband's new Clem. You will remember that he was enamored with Specialized and its garish modern style and garish modern colors. You will be amused to know that he has been studying MY bike and wondering how to make his more like it. You know, so we can "match." Anyway, this is a man who never spends money on himself. Therefore, you might imagine my shock when he wanted new cork grips ("like yours, Leah"), wanted those grips shellacked ("to match our saddles, Leah") and a new Brooks saddle ("They make them with SPRINGS?!?"). I took some extra liberties, however, and not only did he get his new cork grips (which I then shellacked, along with mine to "match") and his Brooks (in honey to "match", mind you), but I got him a silver bell (complements but doesn't "match" my brass bell), a bottle cage, a cygolight which has yet to arrive, and I wrapped an Irish strap around his bars. I don't know why I did that last thing. Now our bars do not "match." He has neither inquired nor complained about the cost of Riv-ing up his Clem, which is quite possibly a first.

I cringe to say it, but the magic of this bike is, for now, unnoticed by my husband. He has no notion of how special it is, and the attributes of his Clem that he's assigned value to are not typical, or even sensical. When I ask him about his favorite attributes of his bike, he offers this as the pinnacle of the bike's good points: it matches mine. I have to stifle laughter because he's ridiculous. Incorrigible and ridiculous and darling! His favorite, and I do mean all-time, incomparable, cherished, revered, favorite thing, is that it looks like our bikes are a matched pair. How silly it would be for me to be on my Riv and he on a Specialized! What a relief not to have made THAT mistake. Because, priorities! Also, if we can be seen riding our bikes in tandem, all the better, so that the neighborhood knows WE MATCH. Is it foolish to suppose that over time he will realize the true splendor of lugged steel magic bikes created by the elves at Rivendell? For this we hope!

His ride impressions are that the bike feels sturdy and sounds quiet. He is weirded out by friction shifting. You know how sometimes you'll think you're in gear and then when you apply more pressure to the pedals sometimes the gears will grind or slip? He HATES that. "It was NOT out of gear! I was going along perfectly fine, didn't touch a thing and then IT DID THIS!" Completely confounded by friction shifting, can't see why this would ever be superior to his old Pile 'O Junk and its twisty numbered grip shifting mechanism. Somehow his chain popped off the rear cog and gouged the paint on his frame. That was a low point for sure. He definitely needs his saddle raised a few inches but staunchly opposes that idea ("I like it like this."). Not easily deterred, I raised it at least a couple of inches when I installed his Brooks. We'll see if he notices. He calls his bike his "gentleman's bike." He says it looks like a British gentleman just waiting to go for a ride. The only British thing on the bike is the saddle, and the rest of it is a conglomeration of parts from all over the world, but it's British if you ask HIM. His next idea is to figure out the bag situation. He doesn't want a Saddlesack because he doesn't want to lose his Pletscher rack. So he thinks about rear Back-a-Bike bags, but he isn't sure yet.

Now, I have a couple of questions, and they are silly because I don't know anything about bikes, so bear with me. Look at the angle of his Brooks. He hasn't complained (because he's been away on business and hasn't ridden it yet), but it looks like I may want to nose it down a bit, and I better know how to do it before he asks. Mine adjusts effortlessly. Why can't I seem to do it with his? Also, when I ride his bike, I feel scrunched. He's 6 feet and I'm only 5' 6" but I feel like I want to stretch out more. When I sit on my bike it might as well be a favorite chair, it's so comfortable. Could this be because the Clem bars rise and reach back? Mine are Albatross, how different can they be? Can bars really made THAT much difference?

Anyway, there's a link here, and if you would be so kind to examine the bike and give your opinion, I'd be grateful!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/daytondogg/albums/72157661891945032

[Kathy]

Just want to say - he is one lucky man.

[Zed Martinez]

Leah, if it's the stock seat post from the Clem (the Kalloy), adjusting the saddle tilt just requires loosening the bolt a bit more than you'd expect to. It'll loosen for sliding on the rails before it'll loosen enough to let the angle adjustments click over each other. The trick is not losing the fore/aft adjustment as you do so. Some tape to mark the rails and stop them at the clamp helps.

The handlebars, yeah, I think it can matter a lot. A difference of 1/4" in any direction is something I can feel, and once you start talking even just a whole inch the entire feeling can be different. It looks like the Clem's bars are way up there, in the pictures, which will shorten the reach fast on that bike. I ride an albastache on mine that doesn't sweep back even half as much and I still need mine several inches lower than that not to feel cramped. Lowering the bars until the feeling opens up would be the first thing I'd try. You'd be surprised how much it'll affect the fit.

[islaysteve]

Leah, First of all, I'll agree with KC that you husband is one lucky man! The saddle tilt doesn't look bad to me, that's about the same as I have on my bike. Lots of guys like them tilted quite a bit. Of course it's all personal, so just help him get it adjusted to his liking. As far as shifting goes, I'll be counter-Rivish and suggest that if he prefers indexed shifting, there's no reason why he shouldn't have it (other than money, if course). You'll need a set of indexing shifters to match the number of gears you have front and rear, and appropriate mounting for them. If he decides to go that route, work with a good bike shop or come here for advice. Cheers,
Steve

[Deacon Patrick]

Well, Leah, you knew this was not going to be a typical saga, right? Grin. Always a delight to read how your adventure into Rivendellianifying your hubbie, or at the least his steed, is progressing. Grin.

It looks like you have a wee bit of rail to slide the saddle back if need be. Saddle tilt is the same bolt, (the one under the seat on the seat post). Just loosen and tilt, hold in place, tighten, but it's one bolt for tilt and slide, so watch that one doesn't unintentionally shift when adjusting the other.

The whimsical Irish strap is brilliant!

With abandon,

Patrick

[dougP]

Leah:

First of all I've enjoyed following this story.  It sounds like you're having a lot of fun with the project and he's certainly being treated right. 

While the "magic goes unnoticed" for now, my guess is it'll grow on him.  He's probably never had anyone comment on his POJ (the acronym suggested by Pile O'Junk) but NOW there will be the occasional comment, esp. if you are on your "matching bikes".  Even non-bikey people often detect quality and beautiful design.  Full disclosure:  my wife & I both have Atlantis' so we really hear a lot of "matching bikes" comments. 

As to the angle, from the photo it looks like the seatpost has a single large bolt on the underside of the clamp.  If you took this loose to install the Brooks, then loosening it up a bit should allow you to adjust the angle.  BTW, it would be a surprise if you raised the seat 2" and he didn't notice.  Once an optimal height is worked out (takes time), adjustments in the 1/8" to 1/4" range are usually noticeable.  Of course, if he was horribly low before this may improve things quite a bit. 

Shifting:  I'm going to go against conventional wisdom in this group & offer that if he likes gripshifters you might consider them.  While they are looked down upon by many, they are intuitive and once someone has used them and likes them, why mess with success?  All the shifter is doing is pulling a cable so there's no "right way". 

Luggage:  You say he doesn't want to lose his Pletscher rack.  Doesn't the rack make a good saddlebag support?  So wouldn't it stay?  Or maybe he still wants to be able to strap something to the rack, in addition to having a saddlebag?  Then a smaller bag?  Saddlesacks come in various sizes and there are other vendors with equally good looking & performing bags (Acorn, Carradice, etc.).  If just needs minor luggage capacity & wants the rack free for big things (basketball?), lots of nice front bags are available.  Riv's bar tube is super handy for keys, phone, wallet, small stuff.  Moving up, Acorn has a nice bag with a couple of rear pockets for organizing, and it's big enough to carry food, windshell, camera, etc.

Handlebars are HUGELY different.  So yes, your experience jumping between the two bikes is valid.  If you look around Riv's site, there may be an overlay of their various handlebars that shows how the width & shape compare.  And they only have a small selection.  Personal taste in height, reach, hand angle, etc., determines what's comfortable. 

Lastly, there are NO "silly questions".  No one is born knowing this stuff.  Much of the knowledge on this list is the result of decades of experience.  And we have vast collections of saddles, handlebars, stems, bags, tires, etc., etc., to prove it.

dougP

[Jon Dukeman in the foothills of Colorado]

Leah,

No rules against matchy- match. Fun is the key goal!

HIs saddle looks like it maybe a bit too much nose up.You can use the panels ( garage door???) in the back ground of the picture as a level bench mark and adjust the saddle slightly nose up to start and let him try it.Then I would ask your husband a few questions.

Does he feel like he is sliding forward or putting too much weigh on his hands??

Does he think about the saddle more than anything while riding? An indication that possibly he hasn't logged enough miles or ridden  enough rides to get his rear accustomed to any saddle. Or is it  irritating his pubic bone and adjustment needs to be made. You can use a sharpie to mark the seat rails and seat post and make small adjustments at a time to the nose of the saddle nose up or down. Alcohol will remove the marks when done. Finding the perfect saddle position my take some time. And you have you enter into the equation that it's a new saddle. Some seat posts don't adjust smoothly and can be difficult to make minute adjustments..be patient.

You probably know this...Concerning correct saddle height when his leg is at the bottom of the pedal stroke while riding ( pedal at the 6 o'clock position) there should be a slight bend in his knee. Not locked straight. When you find the correct saddle height measure from the top center of the saddle down to the top of the pedal axel and write it down.Then if you swap out a different saddle or pedals it's easy to adjust them to the correct height.

Try to have a weight balance between hands, seat and feet.  Being comfortable is key to enjoying his bike.

Another thing you could do to go to your local bike shop and have them look at his position on the bike.

Have fun with your bikes,

Jon