tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4962332031207942496.post7663463958990498750..comments2024-03-18T10:39:13.524-04:00Comments on Bikes and Playgrounds: A Brief History of Rawland BikesEric Daumehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08910609725656013290noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4962332031207942496.post-21213852696024439682018-05-05T10:59:42.234-04:002018-05-05T10:59:42.234-04:00Hi, I believe that Fjord frameset is the one i end...Hi, I believe that Fjord frameset is the one i ended up with!Jayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03921773298229661215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4962332031207942496.post-19680210549880533232017-09-20T20:02:48.028-04:002017-09-20T20:02:48.028-04:00I think $1100 is very steep for a Drakkar. When th...I think $1100 is very steep for a Drakkar. When they (infrequently) show up, frames seem to go for about $400, give or take. So adding $700 for a bunch of used parts doesn't seem like a good deal. And, with the profusion of disc gravel bikes out now, there are a lot more (and probably better) choices out there. I found the Drakkar not particularly fun to ride, and track ends with gears and discs is always a pain in the butt.Eric Daumehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08910609725656013290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4962332031207942496.post-44198443036956232822017-09-20T16:54:04.070-04:002017-09-20T16:54:04.070-04:00Hey Eric,
Great write-up. Appreciate it.
I'm...Hey Eric, <br />Great write-up. Appreciate it. <br />I'm about to purchase (or not purchase) a Drakkar. Im looking for a Commuter/Gravel/MTN bike. Its a very niche market, I know. It being 2017, you are seeing those bikes that can interchange wheels a lot more now. I would be taking it on Gravel and dirt trails. IT has Salsa Woodchipper drops on it which I'm excited about. I could get it for around 1100. Do you think this is a deal? Should I look for something more updated? They said it's 5-6 years old. Bike technology has changed a lot since then. What are your thoughts? IVhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03484421733521787740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4962332031207942496.post-71612475309814382382016-01-12T17:31:22.101-05:002016-01-12T17:31:22.101-05:00Sorry no. I'll try to update my picture as wel...Sorry no. I'll try to update my picture as well.Eric Daumehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08910609725656013290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4962332031207942496.post-8483731779379651552016-01-12T14:23:44.605-05:002016-01-12T14:23:44.605-05:00Eric - do you know anything more about the Fjord?Eric - do you know anything more about the Fjord?MMcGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802335947993128088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4962332031207942496.post-76096233046477428392014-05-06T12:30:09.594-04:002014-05-06T12:30:09.594-04:00That's a good point--it's too bad Rawland ...That's a good point--it's too bad Rawland has basically abandoned that market, now with only two rando type bikes in their range. As a small company, I expect it's really difficult to keep too many projects going at once.Eric Daumehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08910609725656013290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4962332031207942496.post-60376978220600867852014-05-06T02:31:58.245-04:002014-05-06T02:31:58.245-04:00The dSogn was ahead of it's time, wish I had k...The dSogn was ahead of it's time, wish I had kept mine. It cleared 700x45s and fenders! 29x2.0 with no fenders. Look at the monstercross/gravel grinder/adventure touring bikes just starting to gain traction. <br /><br />I can appreciate Rawlands 650b Roots, but man, the market for disc brakes + big tires exploded. Bikes that came out AFTER the dSogn: Surly LHT disc, Salsa Fargo, Salsa Vaya, Surly Straggler. Those are just the big-name steel players. Hell people had been asking for a disc CrossCheck for YEARS and Rawland basically delivered one, then killed it too soon. <br /><br />And of course it still worked fine with 650b. <br /><br />couple a pics:<br />https://www.flickr.com/photos/jimmythefly/5429458124/<br /><br />https://www.flickr.com/photos/jimmythefly/5665879253/<br /><br />https://www.flickr.com/photos/jimmythefly/4978933324/jimmytheflyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10060952522546330342noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4962332031207942496.post-19102558232768614392014-03-12T11:52:36.583-04:002014-03-12T11:52:36.583-04:00Stag it is. I was hoping you'd say that. I d...Stag it is. I was hoping you'd say that. I don't like the color as much, but I do want to give the 650b a full try. I also love your observation about the CC. This notion that there's a perfect bike out there seems to be an obsession in the larger bike community...and one I fall prey to every couple of years. Now, time to build it out and just ride.<br /><br />Again, thanks. Chris. Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06415772375263644450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4962332031207942496.post-17917482736228209262014-03-11T12:34:53.698-04:002014-03-11T12:34:53.698-04:00Chris,
I think you would find either the Nord or ...Chris,<br /><br />I think you would find either the Nord or the Stag to be a bit zippier than the CC, due to the lighter gauge tubing. Not because it's lighter, per se, but because it's flexier (see: http://janheine.wordpress.com/2011/02/27/a-journey-of-discovery-part-5-frame-stiffness/)<br /><br />I would lean towards the Stag, because I'm pretty anti-caliper brake these days. I want fat tires and lots of clearance!<br /><br />All that being said, I had a Nord come and go from my collection, but kept my CC, so take all this with a grain of salt.Eric Daumehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08910609725656013290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4962332031207942496.post-42124300189911266342014-03-11T11:48:04.056-04:002014-03-11T11:48:04.056-04:00"...even if they'll never admit it."..."...even if they'll never admit it." You said it.<br /><br />You're right, but my last Surly CC was just heavy by the time it was built. Great, durable, nice for longish rides, but not "quick" or whatever euphemism for zippier. I have been trying to figure out what a Stag build with big tires would feel like. Weight is an imperfect proxy, but all I really could look at. The qualitative feedback has been great (Stag v. CC). The next question is Stag or Nordavinden. I'm leaning Stag just to give the 650b thing a real go.<br /><br />Thanks for the feedback and great bit of history. Chris.Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06415772375263644450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4962332031207942496.post-18335506908832191782014-03-10T19:35:30.903-04:002014-03-10T19:35:30.903-04:00I think makers are worried about everyone cheating...I think makers are worried about everyone cheating more than they do when they report weight: if they weigh without a seat collar, the next guy will weigh it without the sliding dropouts, then no paint, then sample 20 and pick the lightest, then use that wonky scale that "reads low," etc.<br /><br />I also wonder if if's because most bike makers have been around long enough to know that a pound or two of frame weight makes no difference--even if they'll never admit it.Eric Daumehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08910609725656013290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4962332031207942496.post-43926139234862427412014-03-10T16:32:42.522-04:002014-03-10T16:32:42.522-04:00Thank you! A friend jumped with the Drakkar but h...Thank you! A friend jumped with the Drakkar but he fell out of love with it. I caught the Rawland bug though and am getting close to buying a Stag for a rando/graveler/commuter. My question is about weights: how come frame specs never include frame weights?<br /><br />Thanks again for the info. Chris.Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06415772375263644450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4962332031207942496.post-84662253096092160212014-02-02T18:33:25.646-05:002014-02-02T18:33:25.646-05:00Taken care of--I put in a link to your blog next t...Taken care of--I put in a link to your blog next to the picture.Eric Daumehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08910609725656013290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4962332031207942496.post-40805813626747079052014-02-02T16:44:33.135-05:002014-02-02T16:44:33.135-05:00While your at it -- credit my photo plz.
http://c...While your at it -- credit my photo plz.<br /><br />http://cyclingspokane.blogspot.com/2008/08/rawland-sogn-intial-impressions.html<br /><br />Thanks.<br />JohnJohn Spearehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07187638368645707099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4962332031207942496.post-32368589718597271162014-01-16T20:23:50.927-05:002014-01-16T20:23:50.927-05:00Great information. I had never heard of Rawland un...Great information. I had never heard of Rawland until last night when someone mentioned he was selling a Drakkar frame set here in Australia. Unfortunately, it's probably going to be just too big for me and he lives in a different city or I might have considered it based on all the reviews I've read online. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4962332031207942496.post-1466084197920678332013-09-24T21:12:21.223-04:002013-09-24T21:12:21.223-04:00No problem Andy! I was searching through images to...No problem Andy! I was searching through images to find a good picture of a Stag, and it's cool to find out who it belongs to.Eric Daumehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08910609725656013290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4962332031207942496.post-61132761295477474562013-09-24T16:37:19.920-04:002013-09-24T16:37:19.920-04:00Hi Eric,
Great job on this!
May I request that you...Hi Eric,<br />Great job on this!<br />May I request that you give credit (and link to my flickr) to my Stag photo you used in your blog post? I'd really appreciate it.<br />Thanks,<br />Andrew Squirrel <br />http://www.flickr.com/photos/andy_squirrelAndy Squirrelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11109235775289931572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4962332031207942496.post-11230867449115652762013-09-21T18:04:01.520-04:002013-09-21T18:04:01.520-04:00Hi Bob,
I'm pretty sure that's correct, b...Hi Bob,<br /><br />I'm pretty sure that's correct, but I haven't been able to find the specs page for the Sogn yet (similar to what's there for the Nordavinden)<br /><br />EricEric Daumehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08910609725656013290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4962332031207942496.post-52617933296767911222013-09-21T17:58:24.173-04:002013-09-21T17:58:24.173-04:00Excellent summary. Please correct me if I'm wr...Excellent summary. Please correct me if I'm wrong (I know this went back and forth for a while), but regarding tube thicknesses for the rSogn, I read somewhere that the MD and ML frame sizes had 8/5/8, while the LG and XL sizes had 9/6/9.Bob Ehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13843028840535062612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4962332031207942496.post-58957518430977396132013-09-21T06:42:05.773-04:002013-09-21T06:42:05.773-04:00Hudson, thanks, I'll add that info.Hudson, thanks, I'll add that info.Eric Daumehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08910609725656013290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4962332031207942496.post-77750455575414216852013-09-21T06:41:28.465-04:002013-09-21T06:41:28.465-04:00Thanks for your feedback. I agree, the Olaf's ...Thanks for your feedback. I agree, the Olaf's dropout is very cool looking, but I really hate dealing with track ends (although they're not so bad with a rim brake single speed)<br /><br />To me, the Olaf's and Drakkar's dropouts look the same?Eric Daumehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08910609725656013290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4962332031207942496.post-14010357376890335562013-09-20T23:21:23.406-04:002013-09-20T23:21:23.406-04:00the raven was a prototype at the same time as the ...the raven was a prototype at the same time as the drakkar. level top tube, 26in/650b tires. never made it to production.Hudson T. Doergehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01973305886046329510noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4962332031207942496.post-16267407809926795422013-09-20T22:09:18.034-04:002013-09-20T22:09:18.034-04:00Hi Seatboy - great write up! I love everything ab...Hi Seatboy - great write up! I love everything about Rawlands - the bike designs, the Viking vibe, Sean's personal story. One of these days I'll have to buy one. (Hmm, I don't have your gift for prolific bike turnover.) I *almost* pulled the trigger on a cSogn when he was discounting them for, well, a song (like $300 or something). Should'a done it.<br /><br />For the record, the Olaf has the all time coolest track ends ever, or any rear dropout for that matter. The ones on the Drakkar were okay, but the Olaf ones were much better. I hope Sean has plans to do a new single speed with those dragonhead track ends some time. John https://www.blogger.com/profile/05101805415755063308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4962332031207942496.post-78834024956986885772013-09-20T19:40:30.329-04:002013-09-20T19:40:30.329-04:00Thanks--you are correct, I've fixed the error....Thanks--you are correct, I've fixed the error.Eric Daumehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08910609725656013290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4962332031207942496.post-27830017900169151902013-09-20T18:55:45.219-04:002013-09-20T18:55:45.219-04:00"Sean began re-raking customers' forks to..."Sean began re-raking customers' forks to increase the trail" should be "decrease"?Garretthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16052829324146282574noreply@blogger.com