That bike is extremely cool...love the bars, design - everything.

You need to quote what ever from these sources. I did look at them and found nothing counter. You, yourself can understand this and in so doing will need no outside source. Your not changing the brakes or the cantilever distance or the force or pull in the main vertical cable. It is true that the tension in the straddle cable increases as the cable sides become horizontal and lessens as it set more vertical. However the vertical uplift component of that tensile force does not change.

It is very inexpensive to make a longer straddle cable and see if there is any increase in pull. Empirical method always trumps.

I know I was having some, howbeit minor issues with the amount of force it took to get my Canti's to stop when applied hard, so after failing at trying to tweak them myself since I never had canti's before so I took it down to the bike shop. They replaced the cables with modern slicker internals, adjusted and lubed the brakes (which I did do), and replaced the straddle cable and explained why just as those sites I listed with the next size smaller, and now they work great and I still have room for larger tires and fenders.

BUT, after reading your info again the OP can try a longer cable and see what happens, they're cheap and if it works then great and if not so what? he's out $5? no big deal.

Here's a shot taken in the wild:

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5514/1...5c6eba0762.jpg

Just finished building my Cross Check PMR. I even have a nice set of VO aluminum fenders to add. I will install them if we ever get any rain out here in California.

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w...ps74623143.jpg

I really like that, Brennan. And if I lived in Oakland, I wouldn't install fenders. Rain isn't that common there, is it?

Thanks noglider! Rain is definitely a seasonal thing here. Late spring all the way to late autumn is generally pretty dry. The bulk of our rainfall comes in winter/early spring, and we can get a lot of it during that period. So, I would view fenders as a seasonal item to install/remove twice a year (like snow tires). However, this year's "rainy season" has been the driest in recent memory. The governor officially announced a drought yesterday, so they will start making adjustments to their water management and they are asking residents to reduce use by 20%. The weather has been great for riding (clear and 70-75F this week) but I'm really, really hoping we get a late rally of rainfall long enough to get me to install those fenders!

It's been unusually dry here in Portland as well... dry and cold.

Well- cold for Portland anyway, which of course is still balmy by Rocky Mountain standards. :D

Here's a snapshot of my 'PMR' at the builders (TiCycles), my (now refurbished) 650b Panasonic:

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=360462

I'm deeply honored that Dave Levy chose to do the brazing himself rather than delegate it to one of his apprentices.

Next: paint. Then I get to build a wheelset for it; if I can find a pair in nice shape, I'm thinking maybe Shimano 6400 hubs.

My Surly LHT Build.

Velo Orange pedals, fenders.
Brooks saddle, bar wrap, toe straps.
Carradice saddle bag.

All done myself.

Get the bike and then build as you can afford. This was all done over 2 years, little by little. Most of the fun is in wanting and dreaming. I could'nt imagine having the same emotional ties to my bike if I rolled out of a shop with it complete like it is.

My preferences in bicycles has changed considerably in the last few months. I started out preferring agile bikes but with more experience I've come to prefer bikes with more stability. The first step in that direction was a 1995 Trek 820 MTB that I picked up at a pawn shop. Now, the 80's Takara Highlander that I found on Craigslist, along with several test rides on Surly's Karate Monkey and Troll, have convinced me that stable MTB handling is what I actually prefer in a bike.

My Takara is at the LBS right now getting overhauled and a new chain. I've spent some time riding it as a single-speed (no derailleur cables) and it's an absolute blast to ride. It makes me feel like a kid again. I had moved somewhat away from my awe of RBW's bikes but knowing that stability and a smooth rides are the most consistent comments I hear about them, my interest is growing once more.

I've also discovered that I really like 26" wheels with 55mm smooth tires. This would steer me back to RBW's Atlantis model. I would like to find out more about the Specialized model that vaultbrad posted higher up on the page. That bike looks remarkably similar in geometry to the Atlantis it's something I might be able to pick up relatively inexpensively.

Here's the bike that is leading me on a path back toward a Riv'ish bike:

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=370364http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=370365

That's a classy setup, Berlun. Can I ask what kind of saddle-bag holder you have supporting your Carradice? It seems like it is doing a good job of keeping the bag off your wheel, something I've had some issues with on my own ride (I have a Carradice nelson bag).

Thank you cyclo. Believe it or not, I merely went to the home depot hardware section and purchased a 3 foot length of small round rod and bent it into the shape I needed. Actually I bent to the exact shape as the ones for sale. I picked up two wire clamps and clamped it to the seat frame wire. Less than 7 bucks total. It's lasted over 2, 000 miles so far. I don't mind spending money, but some things in this industry are just over priced for what they are.

If it is not too much to ask, would you be willing to show a few close ups of your bag rack?

I'm intrigued....

You built a poor man's Rene Herse - one of the rarest and most sought after porteur bikes in the world. A Rene Herse can go for a small fortune on eBay. Its the classic all-rounder commuter bike and has been regarded as such in France. ;)

Maybe not such a "poor man's Rivendell" after totting up the cost of the powdercoating and wheels etc, but here's my 1983 Raleigh "Touring18" with lots of new braze-ons and the cantilever mounts moved to accommodate 650B wheels:

http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/j...ps029ca8c3.jpg

http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/j...ps791885b2.jpg

OOo- I loves me some first-gen Deore!
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/j...ps327b1cc6.jpg

Yours is a porteur bike. You don't have to lust after that Rene Herse. Your bike is a homage to the classic French commuter bike. Well done! :)

Mordor ..

Does this count as a poverty Rivendell?

http://i1324.photobucket.com/albums/...ps3d787814.jpg

When I think Rivendell I think comfort in long distance
My first 2 nite camp-out ride along the pacific coast was done on a chrome Voyageur 11.8 Schwinn. The bike was marketed as "sport touring". This is a vague description in today's terms, but back then they nailed (1980).

After restoring my original 11.8, I picked up this red 11.8 in a nice transaction. It had been converted (easy conversion with down-tube shifters) to high comfort bars, big foam grips, homely large black brake levers - - and the thickest silicone saddle I have ever seen. I took it for a spin at sellers house and felt a bit sheepish for liking such a dorky looking conversion. No more looking down on comfort bikes for me. So I let it simmer at home for a few weeks and went with a mustache bar since it was going unused and a nice knock-off of a BG saddle. In mind was an option of over-nighter or tool around on the trails nearby. Nice features in vintage "sport touring" were the braze-ons, steel and strong, geometry, ______________ fill in the blank. The sport side offered a bit closer geometry to a crit geometry so popular in boomer frames. With the slightly more responsiveness of a sport bike I was able to take off my packs and whip around the local camp site neighborhood for a mini-speed tour. Got to love it for its multiple personalities. I wanted to experiment with handle bar comfort. First I mounted them the normal way with the sway going down. Decided for a more upright - inspired by the sellers conversion so re-mounted the mustache bars in what most would call "upside down". I then pulled some brake levers left from a Kabuki fixed conversion - suicide levers removed. Yea I left the center piece sticking out on the lever out but was able to have that post part facing down and covered w/the hoods. I laid some closed cell foam tube strips around 1/3 of the bar circumference and wrapped it from the dorky foam grips to the stem. Things look pretty thick but I was going for that as an experiment. So now I have my own dorky conversion ready for light touring. It may need some tweaking but http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=389498http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=389499http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=389500http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=389501http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=389502http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=389503http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=389504feel so "at home" on a Voyageur 11.8. By the way can someone tell me how to safely remove those posts if you know what I'm talking about? May show it with pack - but first have to figure out what to do about the rear wheel hop.

Nice looking Schwinn, I like the look of the 1/2 chrome forks and stays, those were real gems and still are today. I think they're undervalued in my opinion when I see other bikes going for more money that are just mid level bikes. Anyway, nice bike and it's good to see that you took good care of it.

thanks I agree undervalued but if I'm buying I'm not complaining. When it comes time to sell my two Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 bikes which is hopefully many many years away I'll be expecting appreciation and $ to back it up...well maybe not the $ part.

As for the condition - I cant claim responsibility since I only purchased it last month.

Now this one below I can take full responsibility for its condition since I've owned her since new (1980) - Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 with full chrome frame option.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=389510

My first thought was a Surly LHT, and it looks like many have said the same well before me.

My 1985 Raleigh Kodiak, done on the cheap. I imagine it might ride like an Atlantis.http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=390237

@ItsTimeToBike, nice bike. I just tuned up someone's 11.8. I had a pleasant time. It's really built. Schwinn and Panasonic had an admirable partnership.