Thinking about Roadini

[R. Scott Lake]

Intrigued by the Roadini release tomorrow.

• Current stable is 61cm Cheviot for commutes, groceries- my favorite ride.
• I have.a relatively new 58 Surly Straggler that I am using as my road bike.
• Has always felt a bit aggressive. Get a little sore and numb after a while.
• 90% of my riding is on flat, SC Lowcountry roads- 10-20 miles at a clip.
• 55 years old. PBH=89, 6' 175#

Question is whether I will notice a large comfort difference in Roadini compared to current Straggler.

Wish I could do a test ride.

Thanks for any thoughts.

[R Olson]

Hey Scott,

Roadini's seem to be a hot topic these days.  I own a 61cm Roadini, 91 PBH.  The Roadini will most certainly be more comfortable.  You can get the bars super high and the chainstay is longer at 46 cm, and you can fit large, comfy tires up to 43's.  You're right in between the two larger Roadini sizes, the 57 and the 61.  The standover on the 61 is about 88cm, so pretty close.  Go to bike insights and compare the Roadini to the Straggler and you'll see how much higher you can get the bars with the Roadini:  

https://bikeinsights.com/compare 

Best of luck,

Ryan

[Davey Two Shoes]

Have you considered anything from Crust? I too am interested in a Roadini (Although I dont plan to get one since I just built a Sam and have a Waterford) but I wonder if the Riv philosophy and tubing really is the best choice for a light feeling road bike. Mostly I'm refrrring to the tubing.

My Sam is probably my favorite bike I've owned.

[Tim Bantham]

I'm going to share my opinion on this but it is just that....my opinion. With that caveat in mind here is how I arrived at the conclusion not to buy a Roadini. My first Rivendell, a Sam Hillborne, is now my only Riv in the current stable. This is my absolute favorite bike in the world. I have done so much on this bike that it is now part of my life story. It was my first entry into the "Just Ride" mentality. It broke me out of the mold and allowed me to experience the joy of being an Unracer. I've configured it multiple ways. I've camped with it, I've climbed some of the toughest mountain in Vermont with it, I've explored some of the best gravel roads the Northeast has to offer. It has done everything well and has never let me down. However, in my experience the one thing the Sam does not do well is to hang with the fast guys on my weekend group ride. The bike is simply not optimized for that. All of that said, I have never loved a bike. more then I love my Sam Hillborne. I will never part with it.

When I first saw the photos of the Sergio's green Roadini Riv's marketing strategy worked exactly as it was designed to do. Convince me that I needed to have one. I have other bikes that do not fit the Rivendell ethos. I have a carbon fiber road bike with carbon wheels, hydraulic disc brakes and electronic shifting. The antithesis of what Riv promotes. Yet this bike still has its purpose that suits my riding needs/desires.  If I want to go ride with my fellow middle age men in Lycra on a weekend go fast ride I'm going to take the carbon bike. I want this bike in my stable but there is no soulful connection to this carbon machine.  Nothing like my love for the Sam. 

The Roadini was going to scratch an itch that I had to build up a classic steel frame with rim brakes and mechanical brifters. I wanted Campagnolo parts because I've never owned a bike with Campy. The vision I had for the Roadini was to take it on my weekend group ride with my fellow MAMIL friends. Sure I could have done this on a Roadini but I question if I would have been happy with it.  I had doubts that the geometry would be too upright and the chainstays too long. I simply had a hunch that a Roadini would not meet my expectation of having the snappy road feel that I look for in a bike like this. I was afraid it would feel dull and sluggish.

Everyone's needs will be different. I've had a Appaloosa and a Clem H. Regret selling the Appaloosa all the time but don't regret letting going of the Clem H.

A Roadini would be a great bike for someone under the right circumstances. Compared to anything that Surly makes I'd say it would be a marked improvement.

As for me I ultimately bought a used steel Serotta frame in mint condition that I will build up with Campy parts. I will scratch the itch that I had for a classic rim brake road bike with mechanical shifting but this time it won't be another Riv.

[Chris Fly]

This, for me, is a great wrap-up.. had a couple Rivs, have my Dad's AHH now that I will never part with.. as much as I love the marketing and look of a Roadini, just not sure it's the right bike for what it appears to be.. they do look great though! 

Chris