It was always a dream bike of mine when I was barely a teen seeing a Bridgestone RB-1 in the local bike shop and in magazines back in the early 90's
The origin of the frame's story is here: http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/778487-Bridgestone-RB-1-1993
Current set up is this:

build list:

Current real weight (with bottle cages hanging off handlebars) 17.22lbs

before this I had a Van Dessel Rivet and before the Van Dessel I had a great time building up my first weight weenie project a Trek 5200 USPS bike. http://weightweenies.starbike.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=80605
I loved the USPS Trek because of its pedigree and its build up, and I liked the Van dessel because it was super stiff and pretty light 14.84lbs: http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5103/5662490681_53ab1d41a1_z.jpg
But I've really fallen in love with this classic steel frame. I realize that it wasn't a top tier frame, rather it was marketed as a great value frame for racers back in the 90's. Steel is Real!!! Its forgiving and simultaneously fast. You can feel those little bumps absorbed, but it still feel the road like you're running on thin racing flats. I guess the only obviously (to weight weenies) disadvantage is the weight penalty.
I'm ashamed to admit that this is my first steel bike. I started off with a aluminum schwinn circuit similar to those fat diameter-ed cannodale in the 90's and couldn't afford the Bridgestone RB-1 I wanted.
Its also interesting because of the Rivendell/Grant Peterson embryology behind the early 90's bridgestone offerings. This particular frame (along with the 94' frame had the ritchey double crown fork, and fender braze ons. You can see how similar these frames are to the Rivendell Rodeo offerings you can buy today. Also this particular yellow frame was offered with 8spd STI shifters and 130mm rear spacing - which made putting modern groupsets easy.
I was planning on splurging on an uber weight weenie build (Parlee + SRAM Red 2012), but I've been riding on this bike for the past almost year and don't really see the need.
Its a great bad weather bike too because of the fender bosses. I've also installed Sheldon Fender Nuts - which make installing fenders very easy and quick (with a bike stand it takes 5min). Here's the set up: http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/778487-Bridgestone-RB-1-1993?p=13665644&viewfull=1#post13665644

I still couldn't escape the weight weenie that lurks inside all of us though.... I eventually converted the original threaded fork with a true threadless set up to save an almost pound of weight.


with the original threaded set up I had to use a threaded to threadless adaptor (165g) and the old Tange Falcon headset was made of steel and over 200g.

I was lucky enough to find a huge 62cm 1993 RB-1 frame for a great price. It had enough steerer for a threadless set up. I sold the frame alone and ended up only paying about $15 for the difference. I even found a webstore that sells the old decals for the fork and frame: http://www.velocals.com/servlet/the-61/ ... age/Detail" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
So I still had to succumb to the need to cut weight where possible. It was fortunate that I still was able to do it with period correct parts! I realize that I could've saved even more weight with a carbon fork, but the ritchey double crown fork was unique to this particular frame. Its nice to keep it authentic and also have an extra fork - just in case.
Before the threadless conversion... I had to use a threadless converter.


After the conversion... everything was a lot cleaner... and LIGHTER! :

The new headset is a Cane Creek Classic 100 1". It was more than 100g lighter than the old headset, and also easily converted to a threaded top assembly (just purchase the threaded version of the top assembly from Cane Creek for under $50).
Eventually I'll probably get back into a carbon weight weenie build... but for the near future I don't really need a reason to.
