runningDoc

Size 53cm Bridgestone RB-1
-I researched and think its the 1993 year that was supposed to have 8sp brifters.
- has the braze ons for fenders
- New Old Stock condition

Sadly I couldn't/wouldn't try riding it for the first time today - sleet storms galore.




First things first: Sincere thanks to Frank at Bell's Bike Shop in Philadelphia, PA. He sold me the frame and even built it up in about 1hrs time. The guy is a PRO.

I decided to put my SRAM and all modern parts on it. Too much work to find the old school specific groupset and (now inferior) brifters - if its going to be different - might as well go full fledged modern.

RobbieTunes

Let me be the first to say: Outstanding, runningDoc.

Great work, and a top-tier bike.

Clean, elegant, and understated.
Great balance, and I'm sure it rides as precise as it looks.

c_bake

Wow....stunning, nicely done. Any idea what it weighs?

Alan Edwards

WOW and RED, the way to go. Vary cool.

runningDoc

^^^Thanks guys!

Well I know that the groupset + all other parts comes in at around 5100g (11.3-ish pounds)

The reported weight of the frame is 4.2lbs (for a 56cm mine might be a tad lighter) and the fork is reportedly 2lbs... plus the seatpost is heavier (thompson masterpiece 27.2) and the threaded-threadless stem adaptor is added weight too... it feels like 18ish pounds by my estimate.

long story short - I'll weight it officially tomorrow...

but there's always the chance that I'll swap to a weight weenie-ish seatpost.

but then again whats the point of going weight weenie on this build right? I might just put a brooks saddle on it and stop caring about weight.

damn I'm itching to ride this thing. I wonder if the sleet will be melted by tomorrow.

Puget Pounder

I wonder if you can make the threadless converter look a little better by adding headset spacers?

Otherwise, very awesome! I would love to modernize an RB1... but first I need an RB1.

mazdaspeed

Super awesome

RFC

Very, very nice.

Ecrevisse

It came with 7 sp down tube shifters or bar end shifters. Definitely not 8 sp.

tugrul

The red RB-1/7 did. This is the yellow RB-1/8.

runningDoc

credit: George Retseck at Harris Cyclery for images: https://www.sheldonbrown.com/bridgestone/1993/index.htm


you're correct about the Red version outfitted with the 7sp down tube shifters and bar end shifters. In fact Grant Peterson was a "retro-grouch" even way back in 1993:






yes you can see in the drawing the yellow came with the 8 speed "clickers"

you can also see even on the description page how they give the RB-1/8 yellow the "retro-grouch" treatment. They describe and justify the RB-1/7 parts with long winded write-ups.

this is partly why i decided to just go modern on this build. It would've been difficult to go full authentic retro. 1993 Ultegra down-tube shifters and bar end shifters will still work flawlessly compared to modern standards. I'm sure the 1993 Ultegra brifters worked fine but the modern stuff must be a vast improvement by comparison.

hell even Rivendell offers the modern equivalent of this frame/bike (The Rodeo) with SRAM Force now.



you can even see how Rivendell pays homage to RB-1's past and displays the Rodeo with Sram Force (instead of Red) is similar to the Bridgestone RB-1 being offered with Ultegra (instead of Dura Ace).

^I guess you can notice how similar my build is to the Rodeo.

jbchybridrider 

WOW!! Kick A$$ bike dude you've give me some great idea's for a build in the pipeline. If you dont mind of course.

runningDoc

^ i'm excited to see what you've got coming!

I just re-read the last line of the product catalogue page for the 1993 RB-1:

I noticed in your user handle you're located in OZ? Nice did OZ get bridgestone bikes in the 90's too?

Road Fan

Great bike, and a nice build! I might be getting a road frame (maybe a Roadeo), and Red is attractive. But you should check the weights on the Thompson Masterpiece. Last I looked it was about 180 grams, and many carbon posts were in excess of 200. In any case, I'm curious as to what seatpost is actually lighter than a Masterpiece. In my search I don't recall finding much.

I'm not a professional weight-weenie, but that is impressive: 11.3+4.2+2.0 = 17.5 lb, especially if it is ready for the road (pedals, tires, and all).

stevenc

Great build, you're making me doubt about going modern on my winter project...

runningDoc

I see vintage Euro steel + campy 11sp in your future .... the obvious choice is a Merckx.... but why not drive to italy and find a (80's steel) colnago... make a vacation out of it? add a side trip to croatia while you're at it...

gomango

SSSSSSSSSHHHH.

Don't tell everyone about Croatia.

Dirt cheap, and absolutely gorgeous.

Ecrevisse

I stand corrected.

Oh the horror of STI on a 93 Bridgestone RB-1.

jet sanchEz

Silver honjos

tinkerbike

That frame is in outstanding condition. And the build looks great!

I had that exact model, size, and color - I bought it brand new in 1994. If I still had it today I'd probably build it something like yours.

liquefied

Very nice! I used to have one just like it but in Shimano flavor.

Orrery

Damn that's a gorgeous bike.

RFC

Again, very nice bike. Please add these photos to our unofficial Bridgestone thread

tugrul

The Red cranks are so much more subtle than the modern Shimano cranks.

runningDoc

Its a Thomson Elite SP E 102 - 27.2 330mm which is listed at around/just under 200g

The Woodman EL Seatpost on my Van Dessel Rivet comes in at 132g its a 31.6/250mm.


The 27.2 version of the Woodman EL seatpost would probably be around 110g. It would be nice to have a weight weenie-ish spare in another diameter for future builds though

17.81lbs is a lot lighter than I expected. I can now try out a brooks saddle and larger tires (maybe 25c or even 28c) and know that the build may still be under the 20lbs range. If I find some good looking fenders and keep them on permanently (if chromoplastic) still be under 20lbs (but still be may be forced back into 25c or less tire diameter).

with a build that has 25c tires, fenders, and swapped out flat pedals (clips), would make a great bike to take on roadtrip vacations instead of my usual hybrid bike that I take.