- Location
- Inside my skull
My winter bikes are my summer bikes. If it never rained in the summer or ?I did not ride at night in the summer they might be different,
So today I've spent some time bedding in the Shimano BR-RS685/805 hydraulic brakes, on its first test flight. Very impressed so far. Brakes are superb, as expected. Very happy with how it rides and handles. 9.7kg with SKS Longboard mudguards, computer, bottle cages, PDW Fenderbot mudguard light etc all fitted - not especially light, but an acceptable weight for a winter road bike with discs that doesn't cost the earth.
The front mudguard also needed some major filing off the top of the fork crown bracket, as well as the bottom of the bracket's slot, to be able to get it high enough for some tyre clearance for the mudguard. Clearance front and rear is not enormous - 28mm tyres are fine with mudguards, but nothing bigger will fit. The RC3 is not an 'adventure' bike suitable for off-roading.
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In other respects, much of the frame and build seems good quality and quite well thought out, so overall my initial contentment is good.
In summary, a good choice I reckon (subject to further testing and use), especially if like me you have resolved to get as far through your cycling life without press-fit bottom brackets as possible (and so far I've avoided them completely in my fleet).
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Not one of the triangular reflectors, but I have seen that done, it's just a 'marker' from a top cornerPlus, a (spare, trailer) reflector on the mudflap itself, but that does mean it 'pendulums' onto the tyre when out of the saddle on a steep hill
Those LongBoards make my SKS (whatever model they are) look shrunken, even with the fairly long flaps
That said, the RAW flaps on mine are reflective, mudguard reflector added
With the stiff SKS rubber mudflap in place about 20mm off the ground (due to only having the fork crown mounting point on the rear of the crown), it was a recipe for disaster (or at least excessive annoyance).
and a flap that flexes when contacting anything on the road, or a low kerb for example.
Funnily enough, I've STUFF DELETED
The reason for this is that the Rapide's designers made an absolutely dumb decision to put the front mudguard eyelets halfway up the fork legs........and on the bloody inside! This ridiculous design choice reduces the bracing angle of the mudguards significantly, to the extent that bottom of the Longboard wobbled like buggery while riding. though.......