1974 Panasonic Touring..

Taking an MTB that far is no slouch either … with a beer on the offer, I’ll look for ya for sure! :-)

Stopokingme: Good on ya man!Singlespeeds and fixies are hardcore.If I find ya, I’ll beer you.

Rans Screamer tandem recumbent (or a redundent)

See you on the ride!

A custom-built road touring frame, Borthwick (Gordon Borthwick, builder from Marshalltown, IA, now living in Grinnell) with very nice gearing (6 speed freewheel, 13-32~I know it’s old style, Mavic triple front 48-44-24); bar-end shifters; and otherwise set up for comfy riding over long distances. It’s been in the northern Cascades, across the Continental Divide in Montana, across Idaho, across Iowa (many times), to the start town of RAG many times, across Kansas, in Missouri, in Kentucky~~~Mich, in Nebraska, and week long loop rides in Virginia and Ohio, up the Mississippi River in Illinios after RAG, etc. It’s beginning to be an old-timer (20 years) but still is strong, comfy and perfect for these old bones. Cheers. 8)

knees36:
A custom-built road touring frame, Borthwick (Gordon Borthwick, builder from Marshalltown, IA, now living in Grinnell) with very nice gearing (6 speed freewheel, 13-32~I know it’s old style, Mavic triple front 48-44-24); bar-end shifters; and otherwise set up for comfy riding over long distances.It’s been in the northern Cascades, across the Continental Divide in Montana, across Idaho, across Iowa (many times), to the start town of RAG many times, across Kansas, in Missouri, in Kentucky~~~Mich, in Nebraska, and week long loop rides in Virginia and Ohio, up the Mississippi River in Illinios after RAG, etc.It’s beginning to be an old-timer (20 years) but still is strong, comfy and perfect for these old bones. Cheers.

NICE RIDE!!!!! My first serious bike had a “Half Step With Granny’ rig. Lots of lots of usable gears, and a super easy shift pattern once you learned it. Is it a lugged frame?

Steve

Last year I rode a 1978 Miyata set up for commuting. This year a Salsa Casseroll triple with 30/42/52 up front and 12-22 in the rear.

mentor58: NICE RIDE!!!!! My first serious bike had a “Half Step With Granny’ rig.Lots of lots of usable gears, and a super easy shift pattern once you learned it.Is it a lugged frame?

Steve

Steve, Nope,it’s not a lugged frame, but “butted” and then carefully filed and sanded down so there’s no noticeable welded joints…very handsome. This is the 3rd paint job that it’s had, this last time by Cycl-Art from California, and it’s now a “titanium grey” with silver lettering with black outline of the lettering and with a Hawkeye logo and my name on the top tube and the Borthwick name on the down tube. It has several small little paint “dings” on it (you have to look closely to see’em) and I’ll probably touch those up before RAG this year. I love the granny half-step gearing, loaded or unloaded, just works so nice and smooth. Can’t figure out why the granny half-step has been largely abandoned by the industry. Luckily, I bought a couple of extra freewheels and I rebuilt the original freewheel as well, and I bought a couple of extra front derailleurs for the granny half-step shifting. This setup and extra parts should last much longer than me…especially at my age…75. Hopefully one of my grandkids will treasure this bike someday. Cheers. 8)

I’m thinking the granny half step was abandoned for the majority of customers that want racing clusters and 8-9-10 clusters are now all the rage.
The key to half step is that the fractional difference between the chainrings should be half that of the freewheel cogs..with the chainrings close..4-5 teeth.
It also had something to do with deflection but cannot remember what it was..
I will use a 42-32-22 on the front and 14-28 on the back..sacks 7 speed.
I have the granny but not the half step..my first option is to get off and walk ..
Put it all together with BAR ENDS and you will be riding a knees SLED!!

in addition, those more fit and traveling light will want a double set of higher gears and one granny AND those who are hauling gear will want a double set of grannys and one high set for downhill runs..

Cant decide… My Trek 640 or my Raleigh RT 500.

sho531:
Last year I rode a 1978 Miyata set up for commuting.This year a Salsa Casseroll triple with 30/42/52 up front and 12-21 in the rear.

1 of 13.

Kons Sutra……48/36/24…..11-34………4 panniers……Brooks B17 comfy as sitting on the couch.

This is my first Ragbrai, and I’ll definitely be riding my Catrike Expedition. Right now I’m running a 700c Continental Gator Hardshell on the back with Kojak tires on the front, probably keep that setup unless I wear them out before the ride! I also threw on a rear fender and a rack with a Topeak bag that has the fold out panniers. Can’t wait to come out and do this ride!! I’ll be coming from California where the temps will be lucky to be in the 70’s in July! (The ocean really keeps my town from warming up too much.)

@Jboz: Take the Expedition! If you don’t you’ll miss the comfort I bet!

2009 Giant OCR 3