Help me choose my next Riv!

[Tim]

Ok, please help me out. I had to send my fork to Waterford to have the
stuck stem removed and the gravity of not having a second Riv has sunk
in. I'm stuck riding a waaaaay too small Cannondale or an old
Specialized Rockhopper which is, although a decent bike, also too
small (and not a Riv.) So, now it's time to choose. Right now I have a
63cm AHH with noodle bars and longboard fenders. At least 90% or more
of my riding is on the road. I did a supported Southern Tier tour last
summer and would like to do at least one, unsupported (though lightly
loaded) tour this year and more in the future. I like the occasional
fast club ride. In fact, I really, really like them, but I'm not as
fast as I used to be (51 with 2 artificial knees.) I bought the old
MTB for single track last year and found it to be a blast.

So my dilemma: Which should be my next Riv? Hunqa or Rodeo? I will
eventually have both but I'll order one of them probably very soon. By
the time I get Homer's fork back I'll have been without it for 3 weeks
and that, my friends, is unacceptable. I love the fast riding and I
actually was planning on the Rodeo when I got the AHH but changed my
mind after talking with Keven and Grant. Do you guys think the Rodeo
is too close to the Homer and too limited? I guess if I got it I would
probably go with racks and more of a touring setup for Homer. Or if I
got the Hunqa, maybe I could strip down Homer and use it for the
clubbish rides. But where does that leave the occasional single track
foray? What say ye all?

Thanks in advance.

[Joe Bernard]

I'd get a Roadeo for fast club rides, deck out the AHH for touring,
and use the Rockhopper for singletrack.

Joe Bernard
Vallejo, CA.

[cyclotourist]

My $.02:  Keep the AHH as is, get a properly sized Cannondale CAAD10 for the fast club rides (when in Rome...) and then get the Hunq which could be for most of your dirt rides and loaded touring. You can ride the AHH in everything in between included mixed-surface rides and supported touring, even some light self-contained. Depending on how fast you ride in the dirt, keep the RH or sell depending on what you find yourself riding (slow dirt = less need for suspension).

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Cheers,
David
Redlands, CA

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“I believe in an America where millions of Americans believe in an America that’s the America millions of Americans believe in. That’s the America I love.”

[Thomas Lynn Skean]

Presumably you're not interested in doing what I did: I love my 60cm Hillborne so much I got a second one (different color). Now I'll likely never be without my dream bike. But if you feel your AHH isn't perfect for any potential touring, well...

My vote: Get the Hunqapillar if the 62 fits. Get a 60 Hillborne if it doesn't. If you stay on road virtually all the time, either will sub for the AHH should it be on hiatus in future. And either will tour lightly (or not-so-lightly, for that matter) loaded. The Roadeo is limited as a sub for the AHH. Spend any savings on Nitto and Sackville finery. And/or really good lights.

After you have for redundancy needs taken care of (and also have probably expanded your capabilities a bit).... *then* get the Roadeo. Then a Brompton. Then a Betty. ... :)

Enjoy!

Yours,
Thomas Lynn Skean

[Mike]

I've had my 63cm Hilsen for almost 4yrs and feel it makes an excellent
all round road bike. I've used it for road riding, brevets, s24o's,
and even a 9 day tour. Having different tires can really impact the
way it feels. I felt it performed the most poorly as a touring bike.
With summer coming, and plans for possible touring, it sounds like the
Hunqa is the bike for you. As others pointed out, if you're gonna tour
on the road consider the SH. Or why not just see if RBW will make you
a 64cm Atlantis? I'd pass on the Roadeo for the time being.

--mike

[newenglandbike]

This may not be much help, but I think you'd be fine on a SH for touring even if it involved lots of offroad places.     700x40mm tires are fine for that in my experience, even fully loaded on single-track.     The hunqapillar with 700x50s would obviously work too.     You just have a tough decision my friend, and yet you can't go wrong.

*My question is:  how did you send just the fork to waterford if the stem is stuck?

[RJM]

I am kind of in the market for a Roadeo for club riding, at least I am saving my pennies for one right now.  What are the reasons that you think a CAAD10 would be the better bike for those club rides?

[cyclot...@gmail.com]

I don't think the Cannondale is better bike (this is the RBW list after all), just a good addition for OP's bike line up.

Convoluted thought process: OP said he had a too-small C'dale and wanted to do occasional fast club rides. I presumed he likes that brand but doesn't need a real expensive one as he doesn't do it too much. The CAAD10 seems like the best value in their line up if he wants to stay with a modern racey bike. A Roadeo is close to twice as much $$$ for something he implied (or I read into it) he doesn't do too much, plus it overlaps with the AHH while the CAAD10 doesn't at all. And the $$$ he saves can be put toward a Hunq, which is the heart of the recommendation!!! :-)

[RJM]

Good reasons.  I am struggling with this decision myself as I have a perfectly good Lemond Zurich frame sitting in the garage that could be a good speedy bike if I put the time into buying parts and building it up, I just don't know if I would appreciate a Roadeo more during the group rides though. Roadeo is probably more comfortable.. Hmmm.  Decisions like these are fun, yet sometimes trying.

[William]

I'd vote for making your Homer practical yet sporty, and have the Hunqa be your butched up bike.  For example, if your homer came with 700c Synergy rims and shimano hubs, then use that wheelset on your Hunqa and have Rich build you a White Industries/A23 wheelset.  If your Homer came with a triple Sugino, use that on your Hunqa and put a sweet compact double on your Homer.  That'll probably also free up both derailers and maybe even the shifters from Homer to Hunq.  A ~23lb Homer with Fenders that can still trail it up and S24O it would be all the clubbishness that most of us need.  Then your Hunqa can have some nice 45-55mm tires and  you'll be balloonified and the repurposed build kit will immediately give you license to shred from day 1.  It's perfecto

[cyclot...@gmail.com]

Yes, that's exactly the consideration. If you're only using the bike for X activity, it can be kind of dedicated/cheaper and not the perfect bike.

Those Wisconsin built Lemonds are nice bikes BTW! Kind of the last of the big company US built steel bikes. 853 tubes. Good stuff.

[Stonehog]

Funny - that's basically what I am doing, although my Homer is more of a rando build (SON/White/Synergy, Herse crank) and the Hunqa is getting the more mountainy goods (XT/Synergy, XC Pro crank).  The Homer in 59 and larger doesn't give much up for weight to the Roadeo. Both use similar steel - just more hourglasses on the AHH, I believe. 

Brian Hanson

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[Bill M.]

By cutting off the stem...

OK, my two cents for Tim:

If you really,  really like the occasional fast club ride, get a bike just for that.  Life's short, and racing bikes are fun.  There are plenty of them out there.  If that's what you want don't let Grant or anyone else persuade you otherwise.  Have some fun, go test ride whatever in available in your area.  See what fits, what feels fast, what looks good to you.  If something speaks to you, there's your new go-fast.  If that happens to be a Roadeo, cool.  If not, that's cool too.  If cost is a factor, figure out what fits and start trolling ebay and Craigslist.  Sooner or later something will turn up.  In my case it could have been something titanium or steel, but a Calfee Tetra turned up in my size for 1/3 the cost of a new one.  I keep it only for club/training rides and love riding it.  I have other bikes ('95 Riv Road, Rawland Sogn) with a more upright position for riding solo, doing centuries or just cruising along.  Sell the Cannondale, if it doesn't fit it's just taking up space.  

So then what to do about touring and off-roading?  Well, the Homer may not be a dedicated tourer, but a lot of folks have toured on lesser bikes.  I knew someone who went coast to coast and Canada to Mexico on a Vitus 989 with panniers and Homer should be way better than that.  With the right loading I'd bet the Homer could handle your 'lightly loaded' touring just fine with the right wheels and gears.  I'd probably use panniers on a low-rider, a Carradice Camper and some form of handlebar or rando bag as a first shot and see if that was enough capacity.  Your needs may vary.  At least try it, load up the Homer with the weight you'd expect to have on tour and take it for a ride.  If you're happy with it, you're set.  If not, than you really needed two bikes all along, one for speed and one for a load.  

A Hunq (or Bomba) might keep you happy for touring and singletrack, or you might decide your over-fifty body needs more cushion off road.  I'm 53 myself, I understand that.  If Homer stays as a tourer, sell off the Hopper and find something that fits you for singletrack.  

Whatever you do, keep that stem greased this time!

Bill

[charlie]

Tim, You don't mention your weight but if you are riding a 63 cm
Hilsen I imagine you to be close to 200 pounds if lean. If you want a
touring bike/off road machine get a 'Hunk' for sure it'll take your
weight (and) loaded baggage. I think your Hilsen is plenty fast for
road rides if your wheels/tires are right for you. I don't see a
dedicated 'race bike' being a big improvement in speed.....maybe in
climbing but you mention artificial knees. If that be the case you
should have wide gearing to save the wear on them. No mashing allowed.
Just my opinion of course....... As an aside, the Roadeo is a better
'fast bike' than some of the big brands because it is more versatile
due to its ability to take wider tires with fenders and something
you'll actually be able to ride on more than clean dry pavement. I
believe there is kind of a upper weight/size limit to the Roadeo
also......which is why the Hilsen and Sam exist.....so we come full
circle.....

On May 9, 7:06 pm, Tim <tki...@comcast.net> wrote:

[Tim]

Thanks everyone! Yes I cut off the stem, and I will be using lots of
grease in the future. It seized up in a matter of about 4 or 5 months
of non-rainy riding. I was shocked. At any rate, I think I'm leaning
towards the Hunqa now (or maybe the Bomba, oh my, another decision).
And I do weigh around 200, and I fluctuate 15 lbs. either way (I
haven't been able to go Primal, but that's a whoooole different
thread.) In all honesty, if I can keep my weight around 190, where it
should be, Homer is plenty fast. And really, I've been riding the
C'dale while Homer is down and I rode it for 4 years before I
discovered Riv and sensible sizing, so, while not optimum, it won't
kill me for the occasional club ride till I get the right CL deal on a
bigger one. Looks like it's order the Hunqa/Bomba and sell RH after
it's built.

[Joe Bernard]

Get the Bombadil. A true mountain bike; great name; great green paint. It's a little more expensive, but a few months from now you won't miss the money. Hey, it's only money!

Joe Bernard
Vallejo, CA.

[dougP]

Tim:

Re your seized stem: Perma-Tex makes this really slippery, snotty
snuff called "Anti-Sieze" that is more difficult to wash away than
Phil's Tenacious grease. I use it on anything that has-to-come-apart-
someday, such as stems, seatposts, BB, pedals, h'bar clamp bolts,
chainring bolts, etc. It even works on spin-on freewheels! I don't
own any Perma-Tex stock, just like this stuff (except for cleaning up
after it; yech!)

dougP