Benny
07-12-2008, 12:17 AM
Here are a few pictures of Ribby, my 1992 Bridgestone RB-1. She's a classic lugged steel road bike and has been with me on most of my best rides for over 15 years. There is nothing that compares to finding the perfect bike for you. This is mine.
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d195/GonzoDawg/bicycles/RB-1/Ribbyreststop2.jpg
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d195/GonzoDawg/bicycles/RB-1/CoopersVFD.jpg
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d195/GonzoDawg/bicycles/RB-1/BBWolfpenafter7mileclimb.jpg
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d195/GonzoDawg/bicycles/RB-1/DSCF2141.jpg
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d195/GonzoDawg/bicycles/RB-1/RibbyLarge.jpg
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d195/GonzoDawg/bicycles/07%20TdG/BBpacked.jpg
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d195/GonzoDawg/bicycles/07%20TdG/BBIthinkIcanIthinkIcan.jpg
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d195/GonzoDawg/bicycles/07%20TdG/BBslowsteadyprogress.jpg
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d195/GonzoDawg/bicycles/07%20TdG/BBatthetop.jpg
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d195/GonzoDawg/bicycles/06%20BRAG/Day7carloadedhome.jpg
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d195/GonzoDawg/bicycles/06%20BRAG/Fridaygroup2.jpg
a love story
Ribby is a very special bike. The Bridgestone RB-1 was the ultimate product of the Grant Petersen era at Bridgestone. This was as good a road bike as he could get the huge Japanese corporation to build for the American market. The quad-butted Ishiwata steel tubing was on par with the finest tubing from Columbus in Italy and the craftsmanship in the Japanese factories was world class. This was one of the nicest mass produced lugged steel frames ever built. The design was based on classic Italian roadracing geometry and perfect for long rides at speed. The RB-1 was among the winningest bikes among independent road racers in the 80's and early 90's. After Bridgestone closed down (due mostly to unfavorable dollar-yen value changes) Grant Petersen went on to start Rivendell Bicycle Works where he continues to build very prestigious lugged steel bicycles his way.
Along with her grand heritage, Ribby has had a great history with me. This was the first really high level bike I owned. The day in late winter of '92 that I heard Bike Tech in Macon was considering adding Bridgestone to their lineup, I told them to get me a 57.5cm red RB-1. I had bought my first adult road bike a year earlier, a decent level Cannondale - a super fast bike, but it beat me to death on bumpy roads and was tiring on long rides like BRAG. I had been reading a lot about bikes and the descriptions of the long distance geometry and relaxing steel ride of the RB-1 had made that the top of my dream bike list.
The bike turned out to be everything I had hoped. I started doing longer and longer rides. My first century was that year on BRAG and dozens more followed over the years. I rode that bike everywhere and all the time. Most of the bicycle industry was moving away from steel toward aluminum frames and carbon fiber forks, but I couldn't help but notice how much more of a beating those beer can metal bikes seemed to give their riders on long rides and on rough roads. I became a firm believer that steel was real.
After a few years of heavy use, some of the original components started to show signs of wear. The rear wheel was the first to crap out. I felt the bike deserved a good set of wheels, so I had a custom set built by Colorado Cyclists. They weren't the lightest wheels, but they were made to last. By '99 the drivetrain was showing it's age, the decals were peeling and the paint was fading. I started thinking about getting a new bike. After trying some of the new bikes that I could afford, I started thinking about restoring my RB-1. Nothing else fit me like that bike. The frame was still in great shape. I had always kept her inside when not riding and had taken care to treat the insides of the steel tubing to prevent rust.
In 2000, Ribby was renewed for the new millennium. The wheels, the frame and fork and the brake calipers were still good, but everything else was replaced. I went with Campagnolo Racing Triple cranks, front and rear derailleurs, Campagnolo Chorus headset, Shimano brake levers, Suntour bar end shifters (no longer made, but new old stock can be found if you scour the internet), Nitto stem and handlebars. Before putting all this new stuff on the bike, I completely stripped the frame down and took it to Airglow Painting in Washington, GA to let Ronny Lindsey do his magic and put a custom paint job on the frame and fork. We discussed several options and decided on a two-tone metallic blue (based on a Fender guitar color) and pearl white with panels. This was not a true restoration, but a custom design based on elements from different years of original Bridgestone paint schemes, some Rivendellian features and some new elements. We both agreed the results were beautiful and appropriate for the bike's heritage. Special touches included lug accents, my signature painted on and using original decals to create templates for painting on the labels rather than using decals which could peel off eventually.
This rebuild process taught me a lot about how bike parts go together to make bikes. I had been doing most of my own maintenance for years, but this was the first time I had completely built up a bike from a bare frame. This has enabled me to build or reconfigure several bikes for myself and for others. It has also greatly enhanced my ability to keep a bike working like it should and to recognize problems before they become serious. Ribby has been almost completely disassembled every winter to be inspected, cleaned, lubricated, adjusted and upgraded. As my riding preferences change, I have swapped parts. I recently decided I needed a lighter set of wheels, so I built my own with Mavic Open Pro rims, Ultegra hubs and DT double butted spokes. This was my first wheel build and it turns out I am a good wheel builder. They have run true for over a year. I also recently changed the drivetrain to a custom setup with a Sugino crank with 38-50 chainrings, Shimano Dura-Ace front and Ultegra rear derailleurs. I have kept the bike running like new with fresh parts and set up to suit my changing requirements.
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d195/GonzoDawg/bicycles/RB-1/Ribbyreststop2.jpg
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d195/GonzoDawg/bicycles/RB-1/CoopersVFD.jpg
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d195/GonzoDawg/bicycles/RB-1/BBWolfpenafter7mileclimb.jpg
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d195/GonzoDawg/bicycles/RB-1/DSCF2141.jpg
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d195/GonzoDawg/bicycles/RB-1/RibbyLarge.jpg
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d195/GonzoDawg/bicycles/07%20TdG/BBpacked.jpg
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d195/GonzoDawg/bicycles/07%20TdG/BBIthinkIcanIthinkIcan.jpg
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d195/GonzoDawg/bicycles/07%20TdG/BBslowsteadyprogress.jpg
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d195/GonzoDawg/bicycles/07%20TdG/BBatthetop.jpg
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d195/GonzoDawg/bicycles/06%20BRAG/Day7carloadedhome.jpg
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d195/GonzoDawg/bicycles/06%20BRAG/Fridaygroup2.jpg
a love story
Ribby is a very special bike. The Bridgestone RB-1 was the ultimate product of the Grant Petersen era at Bridgestone. This was as good a road bike as he could get the huge Japanese corporation to build for the American market. The quad-butted Ishiwata steel tubing was on par with the finest tubing from Columbus in Italy and the craftsmanship in the Japanese factories was world class. This was one of the nicest mass produced lugged steel frames ever built. The design was based on classic Italian roadracing geometry and perfect for long rides at speed. The RB-1 was among the winningest bikes among independent road racers in the 80's and early 90's. After Bridgestone closed down (due mostly to unfavorable dollar-yen value changes) Grant Petersen went on to start Rivendell Bicycle Works where he continues to build very prestigious lugged steel bicycles his way.
Along with her grand heritage, Ribby has had a great history with me. This was the first really high level bike I owned. The day in late winter of '92 that I heard Bike Tech in Macon was considering adding Bridgestone to their lineup, I told them to get me a 57.5cm red RB-1. I had bought my first adult road bike a year earlier, a decent level Cannondale - a super fast bike, but it beat me to death on bumpy roads and was tiring on long rides like BRAG. I had been reading a lot about bikes and the descriptions of the long distance geometry and relaxing steel ride of the RB-1 had made that the top of my dream bike list.
The bike turned out to be everything I had hoped. I started doing longer and longer rides. My first century was that year on BRAG and dozens more followed over the years. I rode that bike everywhere and all the time. Most of the bicycle industry was moving away from steel toward aluminum frames and carbon fiber forks, but I couldn't help but notice how much more of a beating those beer can metal bikes seemed to give their riders on long rides and on rough roads. I became a firm believer that steel was real.
After a few years of heavy use, some of the original components started to show signs of wear. The rear wheel was the first to crap out. I felt the bike deserved a good set of wheels, so I had a custom set built by Colorado Cyclists. They weren't the lightest wheels, but they were made to last. By '99 the drivetrain was showing it's age, the decals were peeling and the paint was fading. I started thinking about getting a new bike. After trying some of the new bikes that I could afford, I started thinking about restoring my RB-1. Nothing else fit me like that bike. The frame was still in great shape. I had always kept her inside when not riding and had taken care to treat the insides of the steel tubing to prevent rust.
In 2000, Ribby was renewed for the new millennium. The wheels, the frame and fork and the brake calipers were still good, but everything else was replaced. I went with Campagnolo Racing Triple cranks, front and rear derailleurs, Campagnolo Chorus headset, Shimano brake levers, Suntour bar end shifters (no longer made, but new old stock can be found if you scour the internet), Nitto stem and handlebars. Before putting all this new stuff on the bike, I completely stripped the frame down and took it to Airglow Painting in Washington, GA to let Ronny Lindsey do his magic and put a custom paint job on the frame and fork. We discussed several options and decided on a two-tone metallic blue (based on a Fender guitar color) and pearl white with panels. This was not a true restoration, but a custom design based on elements from different years of original Bridgestone paint schemes, some Rivendellian features and some new elements. We both agreed the results were beautiful and appropriate for the bike's heritage. Special touches included lug accents, my signature painted on and using original decals to create templates for painting on the labels rather than using decals which could peel off eventually.
This rebuild process taught me a lot about how bike parts go together to make bikes. I had been doing most of my own maintenance for years, but this was the first time I had completely built up a bike from a bare frame. This has enabled me to build or reconfigure several bikes for myself and for others. It has also greatly enhanced my ability to keep a bike working like it should and to recognize problems before they become serious. Ribby has been almost completely disassembled every winter to be inspected, cleaned, lubricated, adjusted and upgraded. As my riding preferences change, I have swapped parts. I recently decided I needed a lighter set of wheels, so I built my own with Mavic Open Pro rims, Ultegra hubs and DT double butted spokes. This was my first wheel build and it turns out I am a good wheel builder. They have run true for over a year. I also recently changed the drivetrain to a custom setup with a Sugino crank with 38-50 chainrings, Shimano Dura-Ace front and Ultegra rear derailleurs. I have kept the bike running like new with fresh parts and set up to suit my changing requirements.