Grant Petersen designed #BridgestoneRB-1 (1989 in this case) has been a grail bike frame of mine for years.
This beauty showed up at a swap meet this weekend, and was complete and in great working order. Took it home for $250.
I have a full set of 11s 105 that’s going to make its way onto the bike, and I’ll keep the Suntour GTX components safe for the originalists out there.
I am an original owner of RB-1 of the same year. I got it running again about 5 years ago and it has been my primary bike ever since. My take on original parts: I am too old for the original gearing, so it is now an 10 speed with new Velo Orange crankset. The original break levers are terrible on long rides so I have modern levers. Finally, dual pivot breaks are way easier to setup. I was able to find 10 speed down tube shifters, so there is that.
I appreciate you sharing your perspective. I’m largely committed to upgrading to 11s now, but can I ask did 10s require spreading or cold-setting the rear dropout spacing?
Congrats on the classic steel! Not only classic steel, but one of THE classic steel bikes. In that condition… total unicorn.
What’s special about it?
One of Grant Peterson’s early designs. He headed up the American division of Bridgestone in the 80s, and he was an iconoclast. The RB series were his take on Italian racing bikes, with the RB-1 being top of the line. But Peterson eschewed some things that industry considered de rigueur. Moreover, these were built in Bridgestone’s Japanese shop and were very high quality.
Peterson later went on to found Rivendell Bikes. Regardless of how one might feel about Rivendell’s design philosophy, they are seriously great steel bikes that feel amazing, all without resorting to the voodoo that other modern bikes need.
So, finding an RB-1 at a decent price is a bit of a big deal. Finding one in great condition is a coup.
TIL! Thanks
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Nice! I’m surprised that it has the correct wheel spacing for 11 speed.
Those were steel, right? I can’t remember.
Indeed it has 126mm spacing (and yes, is steel,) but my 11s hub slides in without too much squeezing.
Sounds good. My brother is an originalist, but I’m more of a modern guy. I have an old Cannondale 2.8 frame that he built up for me in the late 90s, and it has 8 speed 105. I’ve threatened a few times to upgrade it, possibly using the SRAM setup with wireless shifting and rim brakes. I think it would disappoint him. Of course, it would require new wheels as well.
But as a practical matter, those 8 speed parts aren’t going to last forever, either. I think the rear derailleur spring that holds the chain in tension is a bit tired already, for example. And it’s not like I can buy a new 105 8 speed derailleur; I can get a used one but that’s just as old. (I use the bike on a smart trainer on Zwift. What I really should do is upgrade to one of the trainers that doesn’t require physically shifting.)
