3 nice things from Rivendell

[MobileBill]

Three surprising things Rivendell led me to (besides my Saluki and my
wife's Betty Foy):
1. It sounds silly to say too much about such a small thing, but as
I listened to it jingle on the way home this evening, it struck me
that the dollar bell Rivendell sells is as close to perfect as any one
dollar thing will ever be. The sound is comforting (not at all like
the Poe poem Grant attached to it). Not too much; just enough. People
smile when I pass by; I think it's me, and then remember it's the
bell. It's the best excuse for sleigh bells we'll ever have on the
Gulf Coast. Sorry. I said more than I should have. It just seems
strange to be so pleased by something that appears so insignificant.
2. Some of us are made for SelleAnatomica saddles. Best I can
figure, some of us don't get a proper lift from the too-thin layer of
fat covering our sit bones, so the lovely B17 remains a pain, unless
we ride it absolutely upright. The design of the SelleAnatomica
addresses that anatomical issue, maybe like no other saddle.
Unfortunately, SelleAnatomica saddles had a reputation for poor
materials, particularly the metal frame. Fortunately, Tom Milton's
siblings have taken over the company, and have made a number of
excellent changes to the materials and to the website. They've bent
over backwards to help me replace some of my old saddles. I'm very
pleased with the new chromoly rails, and have mounted it anywhere on
my seatpost with confidence. It may be time to give them a second
look.
3. I've now gone more than 7,000 miles on my standard Schwalbe
Marathons without a flat. As Grant warns, the dang things don't seem
to want to wear out, though I'll probably replace them soon just
because I don't want to risk discovering their limits. Maybe there are
other important things to say about a tire, but this is a key
attribute for a tire that has to get me to work 6 days a week. I only
regret that Schwalbe doesn't have more offerings (Dureme, for example)
in 650b.

[Michael Hechmer]

Thanks for sharing that ,Bill.  My wife loves ringing the bell when we ride together, and it does have a very pleasant, crisp sound that says "hello" more than "outa my way".   I have two of the early Selle Atomica saddles and the leather has worn very well and they are the most comfortable saddle I own.  The rails are, however rusting, and they no longer make the model, Robusto, which is 15 mm narrower than the current Titanico.  And we ride the Marathon Racers on the tandem and they have held up very well under the nearly 400 lbs of two riders and steel tandem.

I would add Nitto racks to my list of favorite things I've discovered at RBW.  They are strong, easy to install, and beautiful.

michael

[Liesl]

Two nice small Riv things to add: 1) the Spoke Reflectors and 2) the
Irish Straps. Every bike in our home has both a pair of spoke
reflectors and a set of Irish straps. The spoke reflectors can also
be attached to the back of a Keven's bag in a pinch. But those dang
straps keep migrating to other useful purposes like strapping up a 12-
foot square canvas tarp and its poles for transport and storage...and
then you have to replace the straps for the bike from whence you stole
them!

cheers,
liesl

[Steve D.]

Yes. I like ringing my bell as I pass pedestrians on the trail. I
prefer ringing it rather than saying "on your left." Or maybe I just
don't want to talk to anybody while I'm enjoying ride, caught up in my
own thoughts and paying attention to the environment around me. For
this, the bell works well--you don't have to say "on your left," which
sometimes has a rushed tone to it; the bell, on the other hand, has an
interesting quality about its tone that says "...hey, heads-up. I'm
passing by. Please be aware." in a pleasant harmonic. Now, I'm not
saying I know what's going on from the pedestrian's perspective. Maybe
they find the tone comforting in some way, other than thinking,
"...ugghhh, that obnoxious bell. Again." Bells are a nice compliment
on the bike. Never used one when I was a kid, growing up in the Santa
Clara Valley during the '60s and '70s. Back then I remember bicycle
horns (along with the Marx Brothers and the Three Stooges).

A must add to the list of nice things from RBW is the customer service
as well as their approach to cycling. I think that's where they really
shine. Yeah, and they carry some neat odds and ends that most some
people might not think practical for bicycling. Like Tagua nuts (some
of Grant's write-ups are priceless). This is a very nicely modeled
company--down to earth and straight forward in its approach to the
product and customer interest. You can't say that about a lot of big
companies where it seems that all they want is just your money; and in
the long run your feel that you didn't quite as much as in return as
you expected. Very smart man, Grant Peterson.

[Rex Kerr]

When I first read about the bells on the Rivendell site I liked the idea, so I ran upstairs and grabbed my bear bell from my backpack and looped the leather lanyard over my brake cable on my touring bike -- it's a great match, leather strap next to sewn leather bar-wrap.  Unfortunately it doesn't jingle much, more of a clank.  I've been thinking that my AHH is missing the bells, perhaps I should include a few in my next order. :-)  I do like that it has less of a "GET OUT OF MY WAY"

[Rex Kerr]

Ooops... was still typing, and somehow sent incomplete...

Just saying that I like that it has less of a "GET OUT OF MY WAY" tone than a normal bell or a shout, though it does get some funny looks.

My bear bell has a slot just big enough to slide in a rare-earth magnet that I store stuck to my top-tube to silence it on dirt roads, which I like.  Not sure how you'd silence the tiny bells when I don't want them.

[Joe Bernard]

Bells are wonderful things, much better than "on your left", which invariably leads to someone leaping to the left in front of your bike. But both are near useless on my local paths, because everybody uses those damn iPods. I'm usually resigned to approaching slow and far left, hoping they don't panic at the last second. Especially entertaining on my recumbent trike, which is wide and low, and a huge shock to a walker in music la la land.

[Zack]

I would add the "BACK OFF Safety Triangle." 

By far the best $10 I have ever spent.  I and a friend had a late start on a long ride and ended up climbing Killington in the dark - the road that goes up Killington doesn't have a ton of traffic, but the speed limit is 55, so people are cruising.  It's a two lane road, with a small (sometimes smaller) shoulder.  I had the triangle on the back of the bike, and almost every car that approached us from behind slowed way down and pulled left, giving us wide berth as though we were doing road work.  I know for certain it made us safer than just lights would have.  I definitely would not do a long ride without it, nor would I ride at night without it if I can help it.  

[Joe Bernard]

I like it when I get a little extra in my package. My recent vest/pedals/visor order came with two post cards - Hunqapillar and Roadeo - and a round RBW logo that I haven't quite figured out yet. I can't tell if it's a peel-off sticker, or a soak-off decal. Sure is purty, though.

[islaysteve]

I'd love to know more about the round logo.  How big is it?  Full color, 2-color, etc?  Wonder if they are available for order?  

Steve

[Peter Pesce]

Looking at the photo on the RBW site, I thought hanging a pair of bells off the rails of a Brooks would be the Riv equivalent of Truck Nutz!!
:-D

[islaysteve]

Redneck Riv? Love it. 

[Joe Bernard]

It's a full-color replica of the headbadge, like you see on the pins and magnets. I couldn't find the sticker/decal on the site.

[Geoff]

Hi Joe,

That RBW logo is a peel-off sticker.  It's a bit of a challenge getting the edge to separate from the backing, but you'll get it.

[David Faller]

Same problem here. I ride a local trail a lot, and some days upward of
50% of the walkers have ear buds plugged in; then they get mad because
you scared them by passing on the left, even after ringing a bell, etc.
Nothing you can do, really, except avoid them when they jump!

[Joe Bernard]

Avoiding them when they fall onto a trike they didn't expect to be way down there can be a challenge..

Thanks Geoff!

[Jim Cloud]

Well, someone has listed their postcards and label on eBay (NOT
ME!!). Here's the link:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Rivendell-Postcards-And-Sticker-/140591224467?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20bbe3d693

I don't, by the way, get the bells.. I prefer one of the ring-a-ding
bicycle bells that were traditional for bikes. I have a vintage bell
like this on my RIvendell Road Standard (Photo here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/37964304@N05/6036991834/in/set-72157619758078965/
) it has a pleasant sound that can range from a light ding to a more
empathic ringing if the situation demands!

Jim Cloud
Tucson, AZ

[Joe Bernard]

They're SELLING them? I give up..

[Johnny Alien]

I really like the sticker but I wish it was a white background and not clear. I thought it was white because it has a white paper backing but when peeled off it revealed itself as clear.  Thusly it did not look good on my window at all.  In fact you couldn't see it.  So I have been wondering where to put the other one. It has to go on a white or light colored surface.

[PATRICK MOORE]

The cure for clueless, casual cruisers:

http://www.mtbr.com/cat/accessories/extras/delta/air-zound-2-air-horn/prd_351041_117crx.aspx

Have used it with malicious joy myself, occasionally, tho' not for some years.

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Albuquerque, NM
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But in you is the Presence that will be
When all the stars are dead.
(Rilke, Buddha in Glory)

[Zack]

yep.  the sticker is described as "typical Rivendell quality."

I laughed out loud at that.  

[Joe Bernard]

"Not like those cheap TIGed stickers from China.."

[Seattle Smitty]

I got a sticker recently too. I put it on my tool box. I'm glad it's a clear background... makes its presence subtle. I probably wouldn't have put it on if the background had been white. 

I saw a guy with alba bars about a year ago. I had no idea what they were so I waved him down and asked. I was completely smitten by the Riv site. Of course I had to join and order $150 worth to get free shipping. When my order arrived it had Reader #42 in it. "What's this? I didn't order any magazine." Just reading the cover set the hook firmly. 

so, yeah, +1 for the surprises in the box. 

[Ryan J]

I have a couple of items that I really enjoy and Rivendell not only
sold them to me, but turned me onto them as well.

1. Sackville BarSack with Nitto rack. This is a great handlebar bag
that not only functions well but also looks great. I had an Arkel
handlebar bag before this, which functions fine but I never like the
look of it. The Barsack looks better and the way it mounts with the
Nitto rack is a better all around system in my opinion.

2. Railroad Shirt. What can I say, just a good tough shirt that
stands the test of time. I often rode, and still do, in flannel
shirts, but the railroad shirt not only looks different but is a
little stronger and more durable then my other shirts.

3. Wiggy's Desert Mummy sleeping bag. This is a great sleeping bag
for Spring through Fall where I live, tough and large enough to be
roomy but not bulky. I love it.

[Steve D.]

It's a peel-off. I got one with a recent order (as well as a Rodeo
postcard) a couple months ago. I put the decal on my seat tube just
below the 2 decal on my Atlantis.

[Joe Bernard]

Another "nice thing" is the RMX pedals. They're stupid cheap, and work amazingly well. I've probably ordered half a dozen through the years - maybe more - as I sell or give away bikes. They're not expensive enough to bother removing before a sale, so I always end up with a new stash from Rivendell eventually. I have one pair of Grip Kings, which are nice, but I prefer these.

[EricP]

My three would be -
RMX pedals. Now on all three of my bikes. For my riding style (lack
thereof), they work.
Wiggy sleeping bag. Just used it at a 4 day bluegrass festival. And
two weeks earlier on my overnite to Wisconsin. My favorite bag in
years.
Clothing. Can't be specific as I like the railroad shirt, the Viyalla
shirts and all the pants/shorts. Again, wore only MUSA shorts and
long pants at the above-mentioned festival.

Would also mention advice from Grant and the others. They are quite
nice when I have sometimes silly, often non-bike related questions.

Eric Platt
St. Paul, MN