East Coast Rivendells / BOBs

[Joe K]

So many of the posts here cite Riv gatherings and sightings on the
West Coast. I wonder if they are just more common there. I live in
NYC but have strong connections to the Bay Area (and I favor Grant's
bike philosophy) so I own a Riv custom. I get strong reactions here.
People literally stop me on Manhattan streets and say, "Wow, that's a
beautiful bike!" or "I've heard about Rivendells but have never seen
one." I'm the odd man out in the local club, but I think the
Rivendell aesthetic has just not penetrated much here; nor has the
notion of bicycles as other than mere fitness machines. It's probably
my skewed perspective, but it seems that way at times.

This local club is a bunch of hammerheads and equipment geeks, mostly
very fast riders, yet they are bemoaning the fact that the club is not
growing, that there are no "C" level riders. For the first time in
years, I am considering volunteering as a ride leader. Not to serve
as a conduit to bring entry-level riders into the A or B classes, but
to validate the concept of casual riding as an end in itself. But I
wonder if I'll have to stipulate that I'm not doing this to replenish
the ranks of A and B riders. They would really have to alter their
perspective to accept that.

Well, I'm getting off-topic. Who's riding Rivendell-style bikes here
in the East? I do know of the BOB-ish off-roady ride up the Hudson,
but that sounds too off-roady for me. (I like pavement.)

[newenglandbike]

I live in the Boston area and am a rivenhead for sure.   I know there are lots more around here, and have even seen the occasional Rambouillet or AHH going by the other way!    I primarily ride to work and back and ride the trails and aquaducts around newton/weston ma.    In the summer I am engulfed by the occasional peloton, but miss those guys in the winter (even now when we have no snow).   

Anyway it seems that in Boston there are lots of steel bikes of all kinds, but ironically enough, mostly among younger riders.    I think the fixie thing, for all its controversy and hype, really introduced young riders to the virtues of steel and the fact that durability/repairability IS an important part of performance.    Fixed gear culture also helped dissolve the notion that special plastic clothing is required for riding a bicycle (after all, you only need tight jeans and a couple neck tattoos :).      But seriously, maybe its a stretch but I have hope for the future of BOBish principles around here because of the kids.   And Bikes Not Bombs.

-Matt

[Jim Thill - Hiawatha Cyclery]

I'm not near the east coast, but I just wanted to echo the point about the popularity of steel bikes. I live in a hipster bike-centric neighborhood in Minneapolis, and steel bikes are definitely the norm. Some are 1970s and 80s lugged "10-speeds", classic ATBs, single-speed conversions, 3-speeds, lots of more modern Surly models, and Rivendells and other fancy-ish brands are not at all uncommon to see locked up at the co-op or riding down the street. Sure, the occasional Lycra riders and groups pass through, but by and large, steel bikes are what people ride. I often think that this would not be the case but for Grant and a small handful of like-minded internet personalities (Sheldon B, for example) advocating steel when all the big bike companies were trying to seduce us with space-age materials. Now the big bike companies, even, are producing more steel bike models. Even 5 years ago, this state of things did not seem likely.

[newenglandbike]

Good point Jim, I totally agree with you about the influence that Grant and folks like Sheldon Brown have had, on both bicycle culture, and the prevalence of new steel bikes from more mainstream companies-   didn't mean to overlook that in my hypothesis about why so many people are riding steel frames now.    Rivendell has advocated the use of steel and lugs continuously since bridgestone, and has always had a dedicated following (though smaller at the beginning), whereas the fixie culture has helped get a somewhat tangential group of people on board, who will hopefully all end up as BOBs/ROBs too heh heh :D

Matt

[Montclair BobbyB]

Joe K:

Why not consider joining several of your East Coast Riv comrades on
the second annual Riv Rally East (do a search for the thread on this
forum for details). It IS technically an off-road ride, but on a nice
smooth surface conducive to covering long distances...and it winds its
way through some of the prettiest country in the East.

Otherwise maybe I'll see you at the 2012 NYC Five Boro Tour??

My primary ride is a Bombadil.
Other rides (all converted for 24x7 touring/commuting) include:

- 85 Stumpjumper
- 85 Rockhopper
- 85 Mongoose ATB tourer
- 86 Schwinn Cimarron
- 85 Schwinn Cimarron

As you can tell I seem to be stuck in the 80s...

Peace,
Bobby "steel-snob" Birmingham
Princeton, NJ

[jimD]

Yup, the shift from 'all racing all the time' is a good trend.

Since I ride to and from work pretty regularly I encounter folks who are curious about and intrigued by
doing something similar. But then they have to overcome the 'racing/training/gotta be an athlete' meme that the bike
companies and cycling culture have emphasized so insistently.

From just a marketing standpoint all racing all the time seems like a one trick pony.

-JimD

On Feb 15, 2012, at 5:35 AM, Jim Thill - Hiawatha Cyclery wrote:

> I'm not near the east coast, but I just wanted to echo the point about the popularity of steel bikes. I live in a hipster bike-centric neighborhood in Minneapolis, and steel bikes are definitely the norm. Some are 1970s and 80s lugged "10-speeds", classic ATBs, single-speed conversions, 3-speeds, lots of more modern Surly models, and Rivendells and other fancy-ish brands are not at all uncommon to see locked up at the co-op or riding down the street. Sure, the occasional Lycra riders and groups pass through, but by and large, steel bikes are what people ride. I often think that this would not be the case but for Grant and a small handful of like-minded internet personalities (Sheldon B, for example) advocating steel when all the big bike companies were trying to seduce us with space-age materials. Now the big bike companies, even, are producing more steel bike models. Even 5 years ago, this state of things did not seem likely.
>

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[Peter Pesce]

Joe-
I know there's at least one other NYC Riv guy on here, and a few in CT, MA, DC and you can't miss BobbyB from NJ.
I live in CT and work in Manhattan. I ride my QB or LHT to the station every day and take the train in.

I'm not sure what you mean by the Riv "aesthetic." There's plenty of people making works of art in steel on the east coast - Sachs, Weigle, Bilenky, ANT, Serotta, etc etc. Though I agree it's pretty hard to find a group of folks to ride with regularly who all have canvas bags and wear seersucker. Bike clubs seem to be all the same to me no matter where you are. I recently stumbled across the Southern California Three Speed Touring Club and really wish there were something like that locally!

-Pete in CT

[Lyle Bogart]

Hey Joe,

 

Come on up to mid-coast Maine! There's at least two Riv riders up here (me and my wife!) but I see lots of folks out on steel rides. . . pretty country here.

 

Cheers!

 

lyle

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[Steve Palincsar]

On Wed, 2012-02-15 at 06:28 -0800, Peter Pesce wrote:
> Joe-
> I know there's at least one other NYC Riv guy on here, and a few in
> CT, MA, DC and you can't miss BobbyB from NJ.
> I live in CT and work in Manhattan. I ride my QB or LHT to the station
> every day and take the train in.

For several years, there's been a NYC area off-road ride in the vicinity
of one of the Westchester Cty reservoirs. Can't remember for sure if
it's been announced here, or on the iBOB list, but I'm about 70%
confident it was here.

[Jeremy Till]

I wonder if part of it has to do with rust.  You have to remember, there's no or very little snow on much of the west coast, they don't salt the roads out here, and, at least the Bay Area/ Central Valley where I live, it basically doesn't rain from march through october.  So I think people out here feel a lot better about their ability to buy a steel frame (new or old) and not have it rust too much.  Not saying that stuff automatically rusts on the east coast, but that may be more of a perceived drawback to choosing the Riv/BOBish approach to things.  People might have a hard time viewing steel as a durable good.

I grew up in Massachusetts (Carlisle, if anyone knows where that is), but I'm a west coast transplant since age 18...came out to the Bay Area for college and just stayed. 

[mikel...@juno.com]

im going to out myself and friend

me: Atlantis, Ram, Heron Road, heron Touring

friend: Saluki, Heron Randonnuer

mike goldman

warwick, rhode island

____________________________________________________________
Groupon&#8482 Official Site
1 ridiculously huge coupon a day. Get 50-90% off your city's best!
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[robert zeidler]

Litchfield, CT

at least 1 of everything except a Roadeo.

[Peter Pesce]

I've owned nothing but steel bikes and lived nowhere but the northeast. Except for a winter beater/commuter bike it's a non-issue.

I've also been thinking about Joe K's original question and I bet the ratio of Riv/Bob riders to total riders is as high here as it is out west, it's just that California probably has as many cyclists as the rest of the country combined, due to the general lifestyle and the weather. Just an un-testable hypothesis...

-Pete in (chilly but snow-free) CT

[robert zeidler]

So we can plan a New England Riv rally?

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[jeffrey kane]

Hey Joe,

I live on the UWS and frequent River Road to Piermont to Nyack to
Rockland, etc ... this past year, 95% of which on a Saluki. You're
right about the curb appeal of the Riv's in NYC, mine regularly gets
more compliments than a pretty dame in a short skirt. It's been a
great winter for riding and I expect to be out regularly in March.
Drop me an e-mail if you're looking to spin north.

[Peter F]

As another NYC resident and an Riv owner, I will say that I think
there is a quiet minority of Rivendellians here in the city. I ride
my Atlantis with mustache bars around town a fair amount, and have had
the bike recognized as well as seen a smattering of others. One fellow
even spotted and commented on the Jack Brown tires on my bike while I
was stopped at a red light!

I've always felt that Grant and Rivendell should have a great
beachhead here in NYC. There is such significant niche of people here
who are obsessed with being retro-chic that you'd think it would hold
some appeal for them. Unfortunately none of the stores here are
regular Riv dealers or seem to hold a lot of interest in that area,
though many are fine general purpose bike shops.

From what I've seen, the Riv aesthetic may fall just a little bit in
the cracks. As Joe notes, there are plenty of the carbon-head
triathlete types pounding around Central and Prospect Parks. And the
last five years has seen a huge explosion of people riding rather
elegant city bikes, and they're the ones most likely to appreciate a
Riv, but for most people $2000+ is a bit steep for a city bike, when
there are lots of decent options in the sub$1000 range. Thus Rivs are
a pricey for a city bike (in a city that is notoriously hard on bikes)
and a little too quirky for most of the higher end crowd, leaving us
contrarians in a distinct minority.

And while I appreciate the inclination to try to shift the culture of
the local clubs, I don't know how much success any of us would have
influencing the hammerheads. They've got their niche and they like it.
The best we can do is lead by quiet example.

These days with two young kids I don't get to do much in the way of
long rides, but I do ferry my child around town to piano, and dance,
and swimming lessons on a trail-a-bike attached to my Atlantis and I
do lock it on the street regularly and occasionally get to enlighten
interested passersby.

I've been very tempted by the East Coast Riv Rallies that Montclair
Bobby organized last year and this, but they've always been on bad
weekends for me and just a little too far away to be practical. I've
done the Croton Aquaduct BOB ride a number of times (and seen lots of
Rivs being ridden there) and while it is on groomed trails and not
terribly off road, it still is a bit bumpy and the tempo they take is
just a notch higher than I'm comfortable doing these days.

Thus fitting my choice to be a Rivendell contrarian, I mostly ride on
my own and enjoy the scenery and setting my own pace. Look for the guy
with the moustache bar Atlantis on the West Side and I'm always happy
to share the road for a bit with whoever is going my way.

Peter
NYC

(PS - Joe, I think you and I have traded emails before on this subject
and on new music. I know quite a number of composers and contemporary
musicians who ride (in a similar manner to us) and have always thought
about organizing a New Music ride some time. Maybe this is the year
for it when things warm up a bit. I'll keep you and everyone posted if
I do it.)

[Peter Morgano]

I am a proud Brooklyn Rivster, you can see me on the Bay Ridge bike path on my Hilsen on nights and weekends since I have a full time job and a kid at home.  I am occasionally at prospect park but too many "Lance types" there just annoy the hell out of me.  I must admit I am jealous of the year round riding of many members on the west coast though but riding in NYC is a beast all its own. In my neighborhood all I usually get are old guys on old bikes, delivery guys on electric bikes and homeless people on girls x-mart bikes. I do get stares on my Hilsen which is probably more due to the bags and fenders which you just dont see around here that often. If any fellow NYC rivsters want to do a Prospect Park or Central Park ride one day when it gets nice hit me up, I have a buddy who I ride with alot who has a Peugot XO who always gets more compliments than me, such is brooklyn, haha.

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[sjauch]

Another NYC (Queens) Riv owner. It's a Roadeo.

Perhaps we need a NYC meetup/ride.

> >http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

[Rick]

I'm East, but down. We live in Atlanta and see a few folks tooling
around on Rivs in the neighborhood. I also managed to convert a small
covey of folks that have since purchased Rivs (two Betty's and one
Sam, which is on a truck somewhere in the heartland about now), but I
get questions regularly on the daily commute about the Atlantis. And
yes, the young lads in the local bike shops speak our language --
everyone in the fixie community seems to know about RBW. Steel is
more than common here, and predominates amongst the youngsters, but we
are still likely outnumbered by the lycra-clad wednesday peloton and
the weekenders astride the carbon.

But the wind is with us: a triathalon-themed bike shop opened up the
street in Decatur, and they are already parking 'muter-ish multivalent
bikes out front to broaden their audience.

Rick.

[kevin lindsey]

Greetings.
I ride regularly in northern Virginia and Washington, D.C., and it
seems pretty clear that this is CF territory: almost nothing but high
end Specialized, Trek, and Cannondale bikes, with the occasional
Cervelo or Lightspeed thrown in for variety's sake. I sometimes run
into another Rivendeller, but the Riv/BOBs are few and far between.
Kevin

[Steve Palincsar]

On Wed, 2012-02-15 at 06:41 -0800, Peter F wrote:
> I've done the Croton Aquaduct BOB ride a number of times (and seen
> lots of Rivs being ridden there)

That's the one I was thinking of earlier today.

[Lisa]

I'm in Boston and I ride an Atlantis.

Last year I rode the MassBikePike (www.massbikepike.org), a 4-day supported tour in western MA.  It's always a fun and friendly ride.  Out of 125 bikes for 2011, there were 5 Rivendells: two 47 cm Atlantises (mine and one other) and a 650B Bleriot, ridden by women, and two Sams (one green and one orange, both 700c), ridden by men.  Photos of all but the green Sam here:  Rivs on MassBikePike2011

[David Spranger]

In Charlotte, NC, besides my Rambouillet and SimpleOne and my wife's Betty Foy, we know of another lady with a Betty, have seen an A. Homer Hilson riding around and have heard there is an Atlantis around here as well.

[yavo]

Philly area.
1997 Rivendell Road.
http://flic.kr/p/7Bp6ij
--
Fred Yavorsky
Jenkintown, PA
http://www.twistcomm.com/Bikes

On Wed, Feb 15, 2012 at 7:19 PM, David Spranger <daspr...@gmail.com> wrote:

In Charlotte, NC, besides my Rambouillet and SimpleOne and my wife's Betty Foy, we know of another lady with a Betty, have seen an A. Homer Hilson riding around and have heard there is an Atlantis around here as well.

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[Norman]

I live in Montclair, NJ. I've ridden in the TA Century (or part of
it) a couple of times and hope to do it again this year. If anyone
has info on when the Croton Aqueduct BOB ride is, please post.
Norman (Sam H)

[Montclair BobbyB]

I rode the NYC Five Boro Tour on my Riv last year (great ride if you
haven't done it) and stood next to a guy in his mid/late 20s on the
Staten Island Ferry with an Atlantis; otherwise I'm sorry to say I
didn't notice another Riv the entire day. Although I'm all registered
and paid this year, and plan to ride the Manhattan leg, my friends and
I have decided to drop off the tour (as it leaves Manhattan), and do
some exploring on our own, taking the Harlem River Greenway up around
the northern tip of Manhattan, visiting the Cloisters and riding back
through Central Park and down the Hudson Greenway to the battery,
taking in our choice of sites, stopping for a nice lunch and a beer
along the way, and just enjoying Manhattan the way I like to see it...
on a bike, via the greenways, backstreets and shortcuts..

Peace,
BB

[Nathan W]

Long overdue greetings from another Manhattan-based RBW owner!

While the city does seem overly represented by racing types, there are
plenty of steel beauties around, often lugged, and sometimes
gorgeous. I’ve certainly come across several AHH, Rambouillet &
Quickbeam sightings, their slender proportions standing out against a
sea of increasingly curious frame shapes.

Currently we have a pair of Rivs: a 48cm Sam Hillborne for the missus,
in first-run green & olive; and a newish to me 1997 Riv Road (W’ford),
in 61cm. Were it not for the limited apartment space there would no
doubt be many more. But my stable already includes four others.

Having welcomed home a newborn recently I’d best limit long all day
rides, but I would gladly join this owners’ bunch for a ride across
the GWB/River Rd.

-Nathan
(Manhattan, UWS)

> > but that sounds too off-roady for me.  (I like pavement.)- Hide quoted text -

[ascpgh]

I live in Pittsburgh, several hours and mountain ridges from the east
coast corridor, but have ridden in Washington D.C. and NYC on my
Rambouillet including the Five Boroughs Ride a couple years ago.
During that day I was addressed by more people who commented on the
aesthetic and the fit of my bike to me. My wife was pretty sarcastic
about it by the end of the day and the drive home cracking about
friends I haven't met yet who will come drooling at the parking lot of
the next stop along the way home.

I wonder if that population-dense region of this country reinforces
generalizations, like Manhattanites preference for black. If so, the
major cycling theme would be the one dictated by the volume players
and the ones using the tech materials as their marketing. Ask some
adherents of that theme about their bike and they incessantly talk in
the same vocabulary of carbon fiber, stiff, light, "weighs...", blah,
blah, blah. Never much descriptive about how they ride. There is a
superiority, or at least hiding weaknesses, one may assume under the
cloak of conformity; if you have the look, no one assumes anything but
that you belong. Few new to cycling will assume minority sensibilities
to aid their recognition in their new pursuit

Veteran cyclists work through stuff like that on their long run of
bikes, parts and sensibilities. I think it is those riders who are
particular minorities in the general population of cyclists. The CF
mashers come and go from the group with whom I ride. They ride with a
different group for all-hammerfest riding and sometimes alternate
because while the VO max crew is satisfying of the desperately
desired self-image, they must not be very much fun and certainly do
not waste expiratory tidal volume on conversation.

Me on my steel Ram and the others, core to the group I ride with,
share information like this list does and many from other bases of
aesthetic and materials seem enlightened by the quality of
information freely shared. I think that is more important than one's
preference of frame material because it promotes cycling and rather
than controlling the communication of information, a weak base of
power, it facilitates it.

ANDY
Pittsburgh

> People literally stop me on Manhattan streets and say, "Wow, that's a
> beautiful bike!" or "I've heard about Rivendells but have never seen
> one."  I'm the odd man out in the local club, but I think the
> Rivendell aesthetic has just not penetrated much here; nor has the
> notion of bicycles as other than mere fitness machines.
>

[Steve Palincsar]

On Thu, 2012-02-16 at 02:19 -0800, ascpgh wrote:

> I live in Pittsburgh, several hours and mountain ridges from the east
> coast corridor, but have ridden in Washington D.C. and NYC on my
> Rambouillet including the Five Boroughs Ride a couple years ago.

Coming to join us on the GAP?

[Joe Bunik]

Andy!

Man, I miss Pittsburgh! Still riding with the Td'O group? We wound up
way out west, 'Nut Creek of all places... somehow that was always on
the wall for us!

Got rid of (some of) my CL-armada and am finally able to represent for
the home team around here, a friend hooked me up with his ex-Legolas -
best bike evar. :-) http://www.flickr.com/photos/joe_bunik/6630326105
- bars and tires have changed out since that pic, though.

Hope yer well
=- Joe Bunik, PGH '06-'09

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[Joe Bunik]

D'OH... damned Reply-To:!!!

Andy is a great guy, rides an enviable Riv, always has.

Maybe I ought visit y'all for this GAP ride. I <3 PGH

[Joe K]

Thanks for all the nice responses. It's nice to know there are some
others of us out there. I may look into the Riv Rally East (same as
the Croton ride?) and see if the dates work out for me.

Peter F, yes, I remember our conversations from before, and remember
your work...someday I'll get to one of the Avian concerts, and sorry I
haven't thus far! Similar to you (but older) I used to haul my kids
around in a trailer; back then it was a C-dale Bugger.

Would be very happy to meet up with any of you local folks. I'm in
Staten Island, and for all I know I'm the sole Rivendell owner on the
island, though my wife has an XO-1. I'll try to bookmark this thread
to save your addresses.

Joe

On Feb 16, 10:24 am, Norman <norr...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Allingham II, Thomas J]

Joe:

Come on East! If you need a bike for RRE2012 on the GAP, I've got Rivs that from the look of your Legolas would probably fit you.

Tom

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[Peter F]

It tends to be in October or early November, though I think they've
done a spring one occasionally too. It's organized by a guy named Tom
McMahon. I don't think he's on this list but he might be. Even though
I haven't gone on it in a couple years, he still usually sends me the
announcement in the fall. I can forward it when I get it. Or if you
want to contact him directly, email me privately off list and I'll put
you in touch with him. (Don't think I should post his address in a
public forum without clearance, obviously.)

Peter
NYC

On Feb 16, 10:24 am, Norman <norr...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Peter F]

Nope, Croton Aquaduct ride and Riv Rally East are two separate events.
The former is a one day local ride. The latter is the weekend long
rally organized by Montclair Bobby, this year scheduled for April
21-22 down in VA? Search the recent archives and there's copious
discussion of it.

[Lee Chae]

All you East Coasters seem pretty well represented, at least according
to one source:

http://www.renaissancebicycles.com/interactive-google-maps/rivendell-owners-map/

Happy riding,
Lee
SF, CA

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[Brooklyn]

I am glad to see that there is another Bay Ridge Brooklyn Rivendell
owner. I have an Atlantis and I too ride the Brooklyn water front
(mostly at the crack of dawn on weekends) to to Island and beyond.
I often like to take a ride out around Jamaica Bay and Riis Park.
There are some great views. Last year I did not get a chance to ride
much but I am looking forward to increased day length and
temperatures. The Atlantis is a perfect bike for the city with its
potholes etc. It takes the boardwalk guide will. I love it. I
have had it for several years now. I have 35 mm tires that seem to
be a perfect compromise between comfort and they don't make you feel
too slow. I have it outfitted minimally and it is great.

I keep a bike at work, an old steel-framed 10 speed and ride around
Rutgers Campus and down thee old towpath along the Raritan River
during the week. Last summer did the Riv thing with this bike and
put shellacked cork tapes and tine on ti. Great improvement.

The point made about ex[pensive bikes in NYC is well taken-given not
the cost but the risk of losing it. So this type of bikes will
always be a bit rate here. And the other issue is that most of the
bike stores (at least the ones I have been to) tend to either focus on
Tour de France pretenders with dollars or the very occasional
rider.

Cheers,
DC

On Feb 16, 6:47 pm, Lee Chae <leec...@stanford.edu> wrote:
> All you East Coasters seem pretty well represented, at least according
> to one source:
>

> http://www.renaissancebicycles.com/interactive-google-maps/rivendell-...

[Montclair BobbyB]

Joe, you got the dates correct, but Riv Rally East will begin in
Cumberland MD, riding the Great Allegheny Passage Trail to Confluence,
PA on Day 1, and continuing to Connellsville, PA on Day 2. I've
received commitments/deposits from roughly a dozen so far; hopefully
we can double that number!!! Please consider joining us... It's a
true celebration of Riv-ish culture, whether or not you actually ride
a Riv. All are welcome, including lycra-clad skinny-tired carbon-
framed racer types (if you think you can endure 2 days of overwhelming
Riv-envy)... In fact I'll reiterate Tom Allingham's offer; if you
would like to join but lack a bicycle, I am confident we can find you
one well-suited for this ride.

Peace,

BB

[Jonathan Poor]

I'm in Maplewood, NJ, with a '98 RivRoad.

I'm an all-steel, all-wool sort of rider, from way back... worked in
the Montclair Bikery in the 70s, and raced back then... My Riv is my
main ride these days, although I also love my '89 steel Harry
Havnoonian. I also have a BikeFriday tandem with trailer, that gets
lots of use ferrying kids to school and hauling groceries.

I ride sometimes with a local group of business-man carbono hammer
heads. It is gratifying to get the occasional double-take at the lugs
and down-tube shifters. (Or even, my wood rims and tubulars) At a
rest stop after I'd managed to hang with the front, a guy who'd been
dropped told me I was "messing with his rationalizations" (for needing
a multi-grand carbon bike)...

[Rusty]

Steve and Andy,

I also live in da 'Burgh, and am the owner of a new Hillborne.
We're riding in to Cumberland from Ohiopyle on Friday before Riv Ride
East
and will join you for the GAP ride. One of the nicest sections of
trail I think.

Rusty
Pittsburgh

[Montclair BobbyB]

Jonathan:

Come join us at Riv Rally East!!!

BB

[Noah Deuce]

Alas, I can't join you all for Riv Rally East this year, but I just
wanted to pipe up as another Brooklyn-based Riv owner. I've got an
original green Quickbeam that I use to get around the city nearly
every day, and an A. Homer Hilsen that I ride on the weekends with the
New York Cycle Club and when I want to go a bit faster. I stick out a
bit on those club rides, what with the lugs and the mustache bars, but
everyone likes to draft behind me. *grin*

Good to meet everyone!

On Feb 17, 3:21 pm, Montclair BobbyB <montclairbob...@gmail.com>
wrote:

[ascpgh]

Joe:
Nice to hear from/of you! Thanks for the plug too. Love to see you
around on that weekend, the GAP is certainly what the NYT article
(http://travel.nytimes.com/2009/10/23/travel/escapes/23passage.html?
pagewanted=all) suggested. I'm working hard against the constraints of
employment to be there the whole time.

ANDY
Pittsburgh.

[Chris]

Glad to know that there are Riv owners out there in NYC. 

I'm in the Financial District.  My wife and I just got our Sam Hillborne and Betty Foy at the end of last summer.  The only other Rivendell owner I know is a buddy of mine at UWS.  He was the one who introduced me to Rivendell and biking in general.  

I've once seen an orange Quickbeam with front rack and a nice saddle bag locked up in Chinatown (Mott St.?).  Unfortunately, I didn't see the owner.

Chris

[Brad]

Sounds like my Quickbeam. Did you notice an "I ♥ NY" patch on the
saddlebag?

I don't see a ton of Rivendells around the city, but I get excited
when I do. Two weeks ago there was a nice Bleriot locked up near the
Express DMV on 34th st.

Brad

[Philip Williamson]

I saw a Kogswell with moustache bars locked up in NYC last week. Park
Ave and 33rd, maybe? Made me feel good. I saw a couple of other Rivish
bikes, but the food delivery bikes with electric assist were by far
the most numerous.

Philip

[Peter Morgano]

Not a riv but saw a delivery guy on a colnago master beat to hell on 23rd and 5th Ave. Soo tempted to try and buy it off him. If I see him again might pounce.

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[Chris]

Hey Brad,

I'll make sure to say hi next time I run into you and your bike.  

Do you lock your bike outside pretty often?  How's your experience been?  Any tips you can dispense?  I've equipped my Sam with Pitlock on both wheels and seatpost but have yet left it outside.  It'd be really nice to run errands on the bike, but I'm bit worried...

Chris

[Peter Pesce]

I walk by that Kog every day on the way to and from work.
The moustache bars always make me smile - especially compared to all the stubby little sawn-off flat bars that seem so trendy on fixies around town. I fully expect to see guys riding around clutching a bare stem eventually!

-Pete

[Peter Morgano]

Haha, I once bought a fixie where the bars were no joke 8 inches wide, not even big enough for my hands on the ride home. What a joke!

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[Peter F]

Brad, are you sure it wasn't an Atlantis outside the DMV? (Not that
I'd accuse any of us of mis-identifying a Riv.)

I had mine locked up there about two weeks ago when I was renewing my
license. (Yes, unfortunately I have to drive a car sometimes. Happens
when you have two kids.) Who would have thought you'd find two Rivs
outside the Manhattan DMV at almost the same time? There seem to be
more of us than anyone thought!

[Jay LePree]

Hi all:

I live in the Northeastern Corner of NJ, right on the Rockland County
border of NY. My orange Rambouillet is ridden regularly to Piermont
and Nyack along the Hudson. I have a lugged steel Carrera Andromeda
that rides the same routes also.

Jay
Demarest, NJ

[Brad]

I lock my bike outside almost every day around Manhattan and
Brooklyn. This is my deal:
I use one of those ridiculously heavy kryptonite chain locks (I tell
myself it'll just make me faster on weekend rides when I leave it
home).
At work (usually the only place I lock my bike outside for more than
an hour or so) the bike rack can't be seen from the sidewalk and is
within view of a security guard. Last year a bmx bike sat on the rack
for 3 or 4 months without a lock. My Quickbeam is really beat up so it
definitely doesn't look fancy. Ultimately, I don't think Riv's stand
out to bike thieves and I keep mine locked up well enough that there's
probably an easier bike to steal nearby. I had Pitlocks on the stock
wheels, but they're finished (the rear exploded when it wore hour and
the front got trashed when a car hit me a few weeks ago). Now I'm
using bolt-on wheels and I'm not too worried about the front getting
stolen (I lock the rear). My Brooks saddle is around 7 years old and
has a ratty-looking cover.

Definitely say hi!

[Brad]

It was definitely a Bleriot! Once I spotted an VERY well used Yellow
Atlantis on locked Delancy by the Williamsburg Bridge,though.

[Chris]

That's an encouraging report, Brad!  I guess I'll start with short grocery runs to Tribeca or Chinatown, once my bike is ready.  I'm in the process of changing out the handlebar setup and re-cabling everything (and missing the good weather).  I bought a Kryptonite New York lock, though not the model with the chain (it's heavy enough without the chain!).  

I think I remember seeing your saddle cover.  So it actually helps to put on a cover?  I have to find the cover that came with the Brooks box.  

What LSB do you recommend?  Bike Works by the Williamsburg Bridge is my favorite.

[Mike S]

Some good Lycra Warrior vs. Hipster-Fixie LOLZ here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vn29DvMITu4

"You can barely get your hands on your handlebars
Lookin' pretty shaky when you're weavin through cars
You think it makes you look like a courier
It really just makes you look girlier"

On Feb 22, 2:03 pm, Peter Morgano <uscpeter11...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Haha, I once bought a fixie where the bars were no joke 8 inches wide, not
> even big enough for my hands on the ride home. What a joke!

[Peter F]

Can't speak for Brad, but I lock my Atlantis outside short term when
I'm running errands. Knock on wood, I haven't had any problems yet. At
least not with the bike itself. Had my headlight stolen once because I
forgot and left it on the bike. And I take any saddlebags, handlebar
bags off when lock it too. I generally just use one of the Kryptonite
NYC u-locks, usually through the front wheel and frame, but if I'm
leaving it for a longer time I'll also use a heavy duty cable lock
through the rear wheel and frame too.

My impression is that bike theft rates vary widely from neighborhood
to neighborhood. But maybe I've just been lucky too.

I figure the Atlantis is for riding. If it gets stolen or vandalized,
well, it would be pretty annoying and an inconvenience for sure, but
just another excuse to save my pennies and go shopping at Rivbike.com
again.

On Feb 22, 9:39 am, Chris <cch...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Brad]

I think Bike Works is great. I also like B's Bikes in Williamsburg,
which is a little closer to my house. Both (in my experience) will
treat you well whether you're buying something stupid like a spoke.

Seat covers work for me. Keeps the seat dry when my butt isn't on it
and makes it look cheap to discourage thieves (it helps that they
develop holes that I patch with ragged pieces of duck tape).

[Brad]

I've had a few lights stolen. I don't leave them on my bike anymore.
But I have been leaving my saddlebag on for a while. Two or three
years and it hasn't been stolen (knock on wood). My thinking is that
people who steal bike parts don't know what they're worth and they're
a little tricky to get off. Or I've just been lucky.

[Peter Morgano]

Sorry having had bikes stolen in Brooklyn before I would never lock up an Atlantis or my homer  outside,  being out my 200 dollar nishiki is one thing being out my right would be another.  Seen so many Cl posts about bikes stolen and especially in hipsterburg.

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[Peter F]

Just to reiterate, I think it make a HUGE difference which
neighborhood you in. Williamsburg may be more risky. I've been
locking my Atlantis in Chelsea/West Village/Tribeca/East Village and
haven't had a problem. (Knock on wood) The times I've had thing stolen
off my ride are when I've locked up in Flatiron or Midtown.

Not to generalize, but I think the worst offenders for stealing parts
off your bike are the messengers, but that's strictly based on
anecdotal evidence. Having the whole bike stolen is another matter and
honestly, a Rivendell, just because there aren't many of them and
they're pretty unique looking, is probably a lot harder to move on the
black market than a Nishiki or a Schwinn or a Giant or a generic
looking CF ride. The restaurant delivery guys wouldn't want it and it
would be a little too obvious for a hipster to be suddenly riding a
Quickbeam or an Atlantis. And who else would want it? Not too many
folks who'd buy one from a shady character.

Thus, while we're certainly not immune to theft here, the fact that
we're a small niche does work in our favor a bit.

Peter
NYC

On Feb 23, 10:03 pm, Peter Morgano <uscpeter11...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Sorry having had bikes stolen in Brooklyn before I would never lock up an
> Atlantis or my homer  outside,  being out my 200 dollar nishiki is one
> thing being out my right would be another.  Seen so many Cl posts about
> bikes stolen and especially in hipsterburg.