OAC Rambler Ride Report

[Tony DeFilippo]

Not 100% a 650B option, at least not for the taller folks such as myself but very interesting nonetheless. I finally got around to writing up my visit and ride the Ocean Air Cycle's Rambler.  

I'd be really intrigued to hear if anyone has ridden a Rambler, a Boulder All-Road 650B and/or a Rawland Stag/rSOGN and had some comparative notes!

http://dr2dc.blogspot.com/2013/12/ocean-air-cycles-rambler-review.html

Tony

[Ryan Watson]

Tony,

Very nice review, but you've made me feel like a total slacker for not writing up a review of my Rambler yet. I've got some free time coming up and will work on it. 

I love where you mentioned that Rob "had you at hello" ;-) A big reason I got the Rambler was that Rob definitely seems like a "man after my own heart".

I agree with your assessment of the stability regardless of load. 

Mine's a 650B and I also have a Boulder All-Road and Rawland rSogn so hopefully I can provide the comparative notes you requested!  

Cheers,

Ryan

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[Tony DeFilippo]

Ryan,

Thanks very much.  You are exactly the guy I should talk to!  I'll be looking forward to your thoughts on the Rambler and any comparison's you can draw with your other fine bikes.

Tony

[Ken Freeman]

Notwithstanding that this is the 650b list, I can think of a few interested 650 guys and even (dare I say it?) BOBs who would want to hear Ryan's thoughts, me included since this year might be new bike for wife time.

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Ken Freeman
Ann Arbor, MI USA

[rob perks]

Ken,

Shameless self plug here, but the "Little Miss Sunshine" Rambler for my wife is about 90% of what has helped me keep the wheels on this venture rolling so far.  Every time things start to get tough she reminds me that if she can love her bike that much, more then any other she had before, that with time more and more riders will realize that bikes like the Rambler just work better for what most people want a bike to be.  Hands down the best "wife" bike ever, but I am biased.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rperks1/8739143522/

Every household should have at least two.  If we could swing it there would be four, a Rando and Porteur build for both of us.  

Thanks Tony for the great write up, I look forward to riding with you again.  Next time we will head up the hills behind town and you can push the limits of the bike a bit more as well as roll on the C Lines

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Rob Perks

oceanaircycles.com

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Ventura, CA

 

[Evan Baird]

Hey Rob, what is the max tire clearance sans fenders? Working on somthing new for IRD, and I wonder it they'll fit.

[Mike Schiller]

I know Tarik  has BG Rock n' roads on his 700C Rambler which measure 43-44 mm.  .... So Evan... hopefully you've got some 42-45 mm 650B knobby's in work?

~mike

Carlsbad CA

[Joe Bunik]

It is too bad that BG seems unwilling to make 650B RnRs. They are,
after all modeled on the old Hakkas (which were an early 650B
influence on the primordial Marin MTB scene)...

Evan - if SOMA could make such a knobby (w/o the puncture guard, a la
C-Line) happen, I'm sure you'd have more than a few people.
=- Joe Bunik
Walnut Creek, CA

[Evan Baird]

It's happening dude!

[rob perks]

Evan,

The limiting factor is the space between brake bosses at 54mm to the inside shoulders of the Racer Brake.  On the plus side this "narrow" constraint is not really at the wide point of the tire or is just a bit above the wide point of the fender.  On the 650b Ramblers a 50mm Honjo fits with 5mm or so to spare on both sides.  At the chain stays there is loads of space.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rperks1/9343905534/in/pool-oceanaircycles/

For 650b a 45-48mm knobby tire should fit just fine, a 42 being good if you get mud. 

On the 700c version the BG Rock n Roads or Clement MSO are about as far as I would push it.  Tarik has enjoyed the BG tires on his Rambler

Keep in touch with your "project" tires.  I have a Rambler rider or two who may be doing the Oregon Outback and were on the fence if the Rambler with Hetre was appropriate.  I am sure there is more than one rider on our roster who would love to run a 650b knobby through the paces

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Rob Perks

oceanaircycles.com

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[Evan Baird]

Sounds like it'll work then. I emailed you the specs from Panasonic.

[Mike Schiller]

FYI...Travis at Cooper Cycles rode the Outback Oregon route this fall on Hetes,  He felt they were a little light for the rocks and gravel  roads on the route.

I'm signed up for the ride next May and planning on using my 650B custom all-rounder. http://www.flickr.com/photos/37347002@N05/11230106923/

 Finding the right tire is my 1st goal.  I just ordered some Schwalbe Thunder Burts to see how they hold up,  So Evan, I'd love to be a tester for  the new IRD tire if that option becomes available.

~mike

Carlsbad Ca.

[tarik saleh]

Yeah, I have been happily running 700c Rock and roads on my Rambler from the get go. I have some C lines in the wings, but I am pretty damn happy with the way the bike rides with the fat tires on and off road.  I wish I had bought some blackwall RnR's as the sidewalls will undoubtedly die well before the tread on this tire. Here is a mini ride report from earlier this year with a pretty good photo:
http://tsaleh.blogspot.com/2013/06/lizards-ravens-and-me.html

later

Tarik

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Tarik Saleh
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in los alamos, po box 208, 87544
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all sorts of bikes blog: http://tsaleh.blogspot.com

[Tony DeFilippo]

Rob that sounds like a plan!  And thank you for sharing so much about the Rambler and your idea's with me!

Tony

[Steven Frederick]

Yeah, I was considering Thunderburts for a gravel grinder but I think I'll wait and see what these Soma's look like before dropping that much $$$...

Steve