Rock Lobster Big Tire Road Bike

[Heracyclist]

Dear all,

New forum member here - Richard in LA area (Topanga to be specific if you know the region) - and i thought I'd post my Rock Lobster Big Tire Road Bike by means of an introduction.

I commissioned this bike from Paul in 2014, and it has served me well ever since. I use it for mixed surface rides, largely in the nearby Topanga State park, and also time permitting occasionally commute from Topanga via the dirt roads to work at UCLA.

Bike fits a 38mm tire (knobby RH Steilacooms and slick Panaracer GravelKings shown in the photos, +33mm UltraFragilicos <didn't last long), with minimal clearance under the VO Gran Cru calipers. Normally fine in dusty So-Cal, but can come unstuck, or rather stuck-up, in muddier conditions farther afield (CGolvin will recall some unfortunate X-rated bike portaging in Santa Cruz for the Rapha prestige). Thinking of having Paul add some studs for cantilevers or v-brakes to add a bit more clearance.

Color is a British Racing Green (apologies for low-res photos). Saddle height at 85.7cm in photos, top tube is 59, head tube 22 (bit long due to bike-fit error, but actually works well for the rutted fire roads and steep single track connectors in the park). Tubing is, iirc, mix of Columbus Life and True Temper OX Platinum.

It's a great bike and has been a happy companion over the years. My five year old has got first dibs on it (once his legs are a little longer).

[truth]

That's a very cool bike! It looks very versatile.

How do the Rene Herse knobbies compare to the GK Slicks for you?

[hummus_aquinas]

Now that’s a freakin road bike! Looks timeless in every way. I bet it’s perfect and just enough tire volume to connect Summit to Summit.

[Big Dan]

Very nice. Go anywhere while looking good......

[cvbm]

Really like the British racing green with the yellow decals. Also that fork is a winner in my book, I'm a sucker for a flat crown fork any day of the week.

For having been commissioned in 2014, I feel like this was ahead of the curve on the (in my eyes) recent trend of mid-reach brake road bikes lately

[2000m2]

Very nice!

[Heracyclist]

Originally Posted by truth

That's a very cool bike! It looks very versatile.

How do the Rene Herse knobbies compare to the GK Slicks for you?

Rene Herse's are much better in my opinion. Just as fast on the flat (albeit with a quiet hum), and much better traction when transitioning across rutted fire roads. I guess their mud-clearing ability is better, but as mentioned above, once it gets muddy I'm in trouble (unless I size down a few tire sizes to a standard cyclocross width)

[Heracyclist]

Originally Posted by cvbm

Really like the British racing green with the yellow decals. Also that fork is a winner in my book, I'm a sucker for a flat crown fork any day of the week.

For having been commissioned in 2014, I feel like this was ahead of the curve on the (in my eyes) recent trend of mid-reach brake road bikes lately

Thanks. I guess this style never went away, but was definitely under the radar for a while. When I ordered the bike, Paul didn't (and still doesn't) have an option on his website for the big tire road bike, but when I told him what riding I wanted to do (on fire roads he knew quite well), he steered me away from his tig sl cross bike towards this. I never asked the specifics, but I'm assuming more road bike geometry changes make it more (all) road than cross in terms of bb drop and ht angle.

[Heracyclist]

Originally Posted by hummus_aquinas

Now that’s a freakin road bike! Looks timeless in every way. I bet it’s perfect and just enough tire volume to connect Summit to Summit.

Absolutely. I even take this down Backbone to Will Rogers, albeit not at MTB downhill speeds.

[dcama5]

That's a really nice rock lobster. Paul is a great guy to work with. I had an aluminum lobster (pictured) but sold it because I didn't think I needed 4 road bikes. Now, I am in the queue for a Nate Zukas aluminum frame, so here we go again. Paul is presently building me a steel fork for my Alliance (Erik Rolf) steel road bike, which at present has a carbon fork.

I also like the British Racing Green. I have a Zank in that color (pictured below).

[Peter P.]

A pump peg!

A steel fork!

What's not to love?!

I'm a Rock Lobster owner too and I approve.

P.S. If you find the bike a tad too long you could always try a shorter stem and the bike would still look proportional. Life's too short to fit poorly on a bike.

[xnetter]

Sweet Lobsta. Dang near perfect to my eyes. My size too
Enjoy!

KJ

[adampaiva]

Great classic Lobster!

[aaronffs]

love the build, color and riding ethos