Platypus ride report

[Tom Palmer]

Hi all,

After many shortish 8-10mile rides, I finally did a real ride on the Platypus. over 20 miles, 37 degrees and rain for about half of it. It was actually a pleasant ride because almost no wind. If it was 5 degrees cooler or blowing, it would have been miserable and I would have cut it short.  

The bike is brilliant. Did some decent hills (for west Michigan) that included nice flowy descents. I put a small front rack and basket and moved tool/tube and neck warmer/hat to the rack. Handling not quite as quick as with the handlebar bag with same contents. I think the handling was affected by the weight being out front more, even though it was lower. Will be going to wider bars soon as the Albas just a tiny bit narrow for my standing  and rocking the bars climbing technique.

Back to the brilliance of this Platypus. The bike is a big floaty couch that is still quick to accelerate and climb. It handles amazingly well. It is my most enigmatic bike by a long way.

Tom (riding as much as possible before real winter strikes) Palmer

Twin Lake, MI

[DavidP]

Thanks for sharing, Tom. I'm glad to hear you've gotten some nice miles on the new Platypus. It really is "a big floaty couch" with a cruisy zoomy feel.

I was interested to read your impressions on the handling change going from a bar bag to a rack bag, even with what sounds like a light load. I'm planning on using a front basket/bag on my Platypus and wonder how noticeable I'll find the change from the small and light bar bag I'm currently using.

Will also be interested to see where you land on bars. I've been very happy with the width and riding positions of the 65cm Toscos on my Platy but they do require a 31.8 stem.

We got a coating of snow last night here in MA but the forecast looks warm enough that "real winter" is still a bit off and I will be trying to get more miles on the Platy before the end of the year.

-Dave

[Tom Palmer]

Hi Dave,

I was quite surprised at the handling difference as well. I went from a heavy canvas military surplus bag attached to the handlebars to a light mini rack that attaches to the brake posts and a very light low basket from a 1950's office paper in box, or was it an out box? 

The weight is very similar so the slower handling  was unexpected. The mass with the rack is probably 6" farther forward, and I thought lower, but the bag actually is pretty long and would hit the rack top, now that I think of it. Maybe just the  weight being farther from the steering axis is all I am experiencing. For bars, the options are VO Granola and Soma Port Mann and both are 31.8 so a new stem may be an issue.

Tom

[Patrick Moore]

Tom: congratulations on the Platypus. I'd love to test ride one, set up per all the Rivendellian specifications, too.

Cold and wind: I'm no arctic rider, but I'm fine down to high teens with light wind and no rain; secret? 3 things: (1) wool and layers of wool; (2) add and remove clothing per conditions (I just added the winter Barley/Junior to my 1999 Joe Starck stripped down gofast exactly to carry outer layers as temps warm up), and (3) start out a bit cold; don't worry, you'll warm up in 5 minutes.

My main problem areas in cold weather are ears and fingers. Solutions, imperfect but they help: balaclavas or wool neck gaiters that you can use to keep your neck warm and pull up over your head and ears and wear under a winter cycling cap or helmet; gloves 2 sizes too large; and gloves in layers instead of big fat down-filled arctic-type gloves. Silk liners under wool liners under lightly-lined windstop gloves -- I use ex-German Polezei leather gloves with light fluffy lining and snap wrist straps in XL over L woolies and M (my real size) silk liners.

Loads and handling: Rivendell brought Carradice saddlebags back to the US market and later developed with the Sackville line what I believe are truly the best saddlebags on the market. Why do so many people want front loading on their Rivendells?

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/3f707664-16ad-40ee-80d8-27d05d8b3399n%40googlegroups.com.

--

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Patrick Moore

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

[Tom Palmer]

Hi Patrick,

I really like a front basket. It is more convenient than a handlebar bag or a saddlebag. There is not fixed amount to put in, like a bag. With a small cargo net- like motorcylists have to lash a helmet on their bike, allow me to make an unplanned stop at the store and get what I need withijn reason. I even have a large front basket on my hunting bike and load it crazy large.  As far as on Rivendells, I understand they were heavily into saddle bags and work very well for that, but the front basket just works. I am experimenting with a wider bar to get the handling where I want it. That is the fun of dialing in a bike. I put the Soma Port Mann bars on but have not ridden yet- winter has arrived and it may be a bit before the roads clear. 

Tom Palmer

[Patrick Moore]

I used a couple of front baskets (including Walt Newsboy) on grocery beaters and I agree, they are the most convenient way of carrying bicycle loads. Unfortunately, the bikes I attached them to weren't designed for them, and I used the stock struts and attachment gear which was not really stout enough and put the weight too far forward, so I couldn't carry my usual loads (often over 30 lb, up to 40+ lb) in them safely. I'd bet that properly attached they'd work well on a low trail bike like the one someone lent me for a week long ago. In fact, if I built a bike to be used exclusively for errand loads, I'd probably choose low trail and a big front basket. But my grocery rides are also entertainment rides, so my grocery bike is a light road bike.

(Aside: After finally getting Keaton Haire of Doom Bars to braze bottom-attachment tabs to Chauncey Matthews's front lowriders, I now can distribute my heavy and bulky grocery loads between rear and front Ortliebs (Backroller in back for 30 lb, up to 20 lb if balanced in Sports Rollers in front. Bike handles much better without it all in back! This is the 2020 Matthews copy in lighter tubing of that 2003 26" wheel road custom built for a fixed and IGH drivetrain.)