Slowly reappearing

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EricP

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May 27, 2020, 6:27:00 AM5/27/20
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Just wanted to poke my head up and say "hi" to all the folks on the list again. It's been a long time since the last post. A lot of things meant it was no longer viable to monitor and contribute to the list. The changes over the past few years have been both good and bad. And will just keep it at that. 

What made me come back? It was Clem. Jumped in on the latest pre-sale for a 59. And to make it official, sold my non-Riv steel bike (Surly Ogre). Don't worry, still have the 60cm Sam Hillborne for riding. And it's been getting miles in this year. Have put more mileage on the past two months than the prior two years combined. Why Clem? Been sorely tempted on one ever since the first introduction. Life had a way of telling me it wasn't time. Now, it's time. 

So for now, it's good to be back and hope to have some pleasant conversations with folks on bikes and stuff.

Eric Platt
St. Paul, MN


Doug Hansford

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May 27, 2020, 8:18:47 AM5/27/20
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Welcome back Eric. I look forward to reading about your bicycle journeys and such. What are you looking for in the Clem L that the Ogre didn't have? 
Doug

Eric Platt

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May 27, 2020, 9:20:12 AM5/27/20
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The short answer is the swoopy top tube. Easier to mount and dismount.

Longer explanation is a bike that handles closer to the classic west coast mountain bike. And something that would let me toddle along without worrying about being too slow. My health has really slowed me down. And I prefer the looks of the Clem.

Oh, and the Ogre was feeling like a slog every time I rode it. I was tired of it. 

Eric Platt 
St. Paul, MN
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Patrick Moore

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May 27, 2020, 9:24:44 AM5/27/20
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Eric: Welcome back. Sorry to hear about your health problems, but glad to hear that the Clem seems to be a riding solution. 

The Clem seems to be one of the top 3 most popular Rivendell bikes, with the Sam and the Atlantis. I used to think I'd put a Roadeo first, but I really should try a Clem (and I do have a very nice steel road frame waiting to be built up).

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

Doug Hansford

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May 27, 2020, 9:31:05 AM5/27/20
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I'm sorry to hear you've had health problems too. And, I've heard from others that the Ogre is a bit of a sloth, heavy feeling. I'm also looking for a lower top tube bike for ease of getting on and off. I'm past the "girls bike" thing and think the Clem L looks tough and capable for a do-anything bike.
Doug Hansford

Bicycle Belle Ding Ding!

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May 27, 2020, 10:04:32 AM5/27/20
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Hi Eric,

I think you will love your new Clem. You neglected to say which color you got...if you got RBW blue then you and my Dad will be twinning with matching Clems from this batch. Dad’s Clem will live on the North Dakota side and yours will live on the Minnesota side. Pretty cool!

I have the same bike in 52 (RBW blue) and I can tell you it’s really fun to ride. It doesn’t feel fast but it doesn’t feel slow, either. I got mine in October and have maybe 1400 miles on it now and I never get tired of riding it. It’s in the shop getting new fancy, light tubeless wheels with dyno, so I’m riding my husband’s 52 Clem H and man, getting used to a top tube is an unnecessary evil, if you ask me. You’ll LOVE a step-through and you’ll never want a diamond frame again. I don’t know if Dad knows about the “girls’ bike stereotype” but I’ve watched him nearly fall over 3 times trying to swing his long legs (he’s 6’3”) over his diamond frame. He WANTS the step-through, whatever people call it matters nothing to him.

So, you’re going to LOVE that bike. And I hope I run into you on it on the bike trails in the Cities this summer! I’ll be the one with the blue Clem and the colorful wheels.
Leah

George Schick

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May 27, 2020, 12:09:34 PM5/27/20
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Which is more difficult, throwing one's leg over the top tube of a bike or over the saddle on a horse :-)

Eric Platt

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May 27, 2020, 12:20:24 PM5/27/20
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In my case had to go with the green. One time had a SimpleOne in a slightly similar color. Plus, my Hillborne is blue and I certainly can't have 2 bikes of the same color. <grin>.

As to the Ogre, when I first got it, it was great. But after 6 or 7 years it just was no longer fun to ride. I put it on me, as the new owner loves it and considers it better than the one he had, which had been stolen. 

Eric Platt 
St. Paul, MN
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