Classic & Vintage - Bridgestone RB-1: Some advice, please!

I'm looking for a nice frame to replace my 1972 Schwinn LeTour. I've heard many great things about the Bridgestone RB-1 and have great admiration for Grant Peterson in both his design and philosophy.

I'm probably going to strip the frame down, get a nice powder coating from a local bike painter, and slap some Campagnolo gear on there.

I'm looking for a bike for riding around Portland area, on some highways, and a few unpaved roads here and there. I ride about twenty miles a day, sometimes more when I have to ride to work, and I just may consider a half-century or more sometime in the future. One thing to note is that I will be locking my bike up to poles and in corrals around town from time to time, and I'm not sure how I'll feel about that with this frame.

So, I'm wondering, what should I know about this frame before I invest so much money and time into it? Are certain years better than others? Is there a reason I should get the RB-T, XO-1, or RB-2 instead? Does it have all standard sizing (unlike my old Schwinn). What else should I know about this frame?

Thanks for any and all feedback! :thumb:

XO = cross bike w/ cantilevers
RB1 has slightly more aggresive geometry then the RB2. Slightly less trail w/ slightly higher BB. RB1 uses a different Ishiwats tubing and it has an upgraded fork crown.

The Petersen Bridgestones tend to be overpriced. You could get a new bike for the price of a XO-1 or RB1 in good shape.

What I have found in my search for a Bridgestone is that they usually sell for a ton of money. IMO for the money they seem to go for there are a ton of better options. I still want one alot but I am not ready to jump on the cult train just yet. Grant has said they are good but not up to par with the current Rivendell stuff (also expensive).

That aside if you are planning on going on unpaved roads at all I would just make sure you can get something that can use a slightly fatter tire.

If your plan is to powdercoat it and replace the components, it makes absolutely no sense to buy a bike with the cult following of an RB-1. Your modifications will destroy its collectors value. Get something that doesn't have the cache of a Grant Peterson bike. There are tons of good quality frames from the late 80s that can be acquired for about $100.

Honestly by your description I would saw a cross frame of some sort would be best. And since you are thinking of maybe stripping and repainting why not try for something new as a replacement. (Probably blasphemy to say that in this forum). I would go with something like this as they get good reviews and is butted CrMo.

http://www.somafab.com/doublecross_one.html

Or this lugged one which can't handle quite as fat of a tire but can got to 32mm.

http://www.somafab.com/speedster.html

If your plan is to powdercoat it and replace the components, it makes absolutely no sense to buy a bike with the cult following of an RB-1. Your modifications will destroy its collectors value. Get something that doesn't have the cache of a Grant Peterson bike. There are tons of good quality frames from the late 80s that can be acquired for about $100.

+1

With fair regularity there are late-eighties Tenax Schiwnns going for very reasonable prices, IMO. I've never ridden one, but the consensus seems to be a solid and responsive rider, so I'm always tempted.

+2 A Paramount would make more sense if you're going to repaint.

don't repaint an rb-1 (or 2) I took the red white and blue finish off of my 91 Rb2 and have regretted it ever since. I was of the understanding that the geo was the same on 1s and 2s but maybe not. An RB2 will clear 32s and is a pretty good rider, though kind of floppy and will likely not be a bargain. If you're dead set on vintage you could get an equivalent centurion or japanese raleigh for less dough than the peterson cachet RB series