Bridgestone RB-1 1993
#1
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Bridgestone RB-1 1993
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.







-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.








#2
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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.
Great work, and a top-tier bike.
Clean, elegant, and understated.
Great balance, and I'm sure it rides as precise as it looks.
#4
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WOW and RED, the way to go. Vary cool.
#5
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^^^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.
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.
#6
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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.
Otherwise, very awesome! I would love to modernize an RB1... but first I need an RB1.
#11
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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:
"This year we make a RB-1/7, a red 14 speed model with seven rear cogs, and an RB-1/8 - a yellow 16 speeder with eight.
and our product manager definitely favors the less expensive RB-1/7 (Most contemporary cyclists however, are sure to prefer the full clicker RB-1/8)"
and our product manager definitely favors the less expensive RB-1/7 (Most contemporary cyclists however, are sure to prefer the full clicker RB-1/8)"

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.

Last edited by runningDoc; 10-30-11 at 05:56 AM.
#13
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Thread Starter
I just re-read the last line of the product catalogue page for the 1993 RB-1:
Production Quantity: 1,000 each
#14
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^^^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.
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.
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).
Last edited by Road Fan; 10-30-11 at 06:19 AM.
#15
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Great build, you're making me doubt about going modern on my winter project...
#16
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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...
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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.
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.
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Very nice! I used to have one just like it but in Shimano flavor.

#25
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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).
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).


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.
Last edited by runningDoc; 10-30-11 at 08:47 PM.