I'm a Rivendell owner! (a saga, long)

[Joe Bernard]

Well, technically, it's paid for..it's not here yet. I bought Rocky's AHH. My first/only Riv was a Romulus I bought new in '03 (wow, I can't believe how long ago that was now). It was a great bike, but I never liked the light blue color much. It was a "this is the only Riv I can afford" purchase, and I don't recommend that approach. Ya don't "get used" to a color you're not thrilled with (in my opinion).

 

Anyway, I rode it a few years, then decided recumbents were the bee's knees and sold it. I bought a long-wheelbase 'bent, which was very comfortable, but uninvolving. Those wheels so far from each other smoothed the road out so much that I couldn't "feel" anything. Odd. So then I got a short-wheelbase, which was lots of fun, but a little tall for me. After breaking my 'dabbing' big toe a couple years ago, riding it became an issue, so I moved on to a recumbent trike. It's been huge fun, and I'm not sorry I tried it, but I discovered something with 'bents - especially trikes - that hadn't occured to me: Riding them is like being a movie star walking through the mall. Everybody's looking, and everybody wants to talk.

 

Here's the thing..I have Asperger's Syndrome. Think of it as 'kinda autistic'. Not in an extreme way where I can't function in society and all - I'm not considered 'disabled' - but enough that social interactions which aren't carefully planned in advance can be a bit awkward. So there I am, all alone on the bike, all 'kinda autistic' and stuff..and everybody's waving and smiling and asking questions. Sheesh!

 

So, after four years on recumbents, I sat down and did an inventory of how much riding I've been doing, and realized that I've spent less time on the road with bikes that were supposedly more comfortable, hence, should have had me out there more. Apparently I've been subconsciously "calling off" rides because I wasn't ready to "deal with it". Not good. So I made an offer on an original Waterford Rivendell, which fell through. Then I considered a new Hunqapillar or Sam; then I thought I would wait to see what the HS production bike turned out to be. Finally, Rocky showed up yesterday with that gorgeous silver-green AHH frame, which I already have most of the parts for (sell me some wheels, people!). SOLD!

 

Yes, I'll get some attention on this lovely bike, too. I don't mind some, I'd just rather avoid the "Brad Pitt level", if you know what I mean. So I'm back to the Rivendell. I'll still be looking for that HS. I can't wait to find out what Grant has up his sleeve next..

 

Cheers,

Joe Bernard

Fairfield, CA.

 

 

[Norman]

Congratulations on your new differently abled bike. It's my size and
I thought very briefly about buying it but it's too close in character
to my less than 1 year old Hillborne. I visited Riv this summer and
rode a Hunq. If and when I can ever justify another bike purchase,
that's it. Happy riding.
Norman

On Sep 29, 1:23 pm, Joe Bernard <joerem...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Well, technically, it's paid for..it's not here yet. I bought Rocky's AHH.
> My first/only Riv was a Romulus I bought new in '03 (wow, I can't believe
> how long ago that was now). It was a great bike, but I never liked the light
> blue color much. It was a "this is the only Riv I can afford" purchase, and
> I don't recommend that approach. Ya don't "get used" to a color you're not
> thrilled with (in my opinion).
>
> Anyway, I rode it a few years, then decided recumbents were the bee's knees
> and sold it. I bought a long-wheelbase 'bent, which was very comfortable,
> but uninvolving. Those wheels so far from each other smoothed the road out
> so much that I couldn't "feel" anything. Odd. So then I got a
> short-wheelbase, which was lots of fun, but a little tall for me. After
> breaking my 'dabbing' big toe a couple years ago, riding it became an issue,
> so I moved on to a recumbent trike. It's been huge fun, and I'm not sorry I

> tried it, but I discovered something with 'bents - *especially *trikes -

> that hadn't occured to me: Riding them is like being a movie star walking

> through the mall. *Everybody's* looking, and *everybody* wants to talk.

>
> Here's the thing..I have Asperger's Syndrome. Think of it as 'kinda
> autistic'. Not in an extreme way where I can't function in society and all -
> I'm not considered 'disabled' - but enough that social interactions which
> aren't carefully planned in advance can be a bit awkward. So there I am, all

> alone on the bike, all 'kinda autistic' and stuff..*and everybody's waving
> and smiling and asking questions.* Sheesh!

>
> So, after four years on recumbents, I sat down and did an inventory of how
> much riding I've been doing, and realized that I've spent less time on the
> road with bikes that were supposedly more comfortable, hence, should have

> had me out there *more. *Apparently I've been subconsciously "calling off"

> rides because I wasn't ready to "deal with it". Not good. So I made an offer
> on an original Waterford Rivendell, which fell through. Then I considered a
> new Hunqapillar or Sam; then I thought I would wait to see what the HS
> production bike turned out to be. Finally, Rocky showed up yesterday with
> that gorgeous silver-green AHH frame, which I already have most of the parts
> for (sell me some wheels, people!). SOLD!
>

> Yes, I'll get some attention on this lovely bike, too. I don't mind *some*,

[René Sterental]

Thanks for sharing your different perspective and approaches. It's an
enriching story for me.

Congrats on the new bike!

René

Sent from my iPhone 4

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[PATRICK MOORE]

Congratulations; let us see photos and hear descriptions.

On Thu, Sep 29, 2011 at 11:23 AM, Joe Bernard <joer...@gmail.com> wrote:

> I can't wait to find out what Grant has up his sleeve next..

We all *know* it is a Rivendellian delta upright; right? (C'mon, Grant!)

--
Patrick Moore
Albuquerque, NM
For professional resumes, contact
Patrick Moore, ACRW
http://resumespecialties.com/index.html

[Thomas Lynn Skean]

"Rivendellian delta upright"? While I surmise the statement was not intended to be taken strictly seriously, I really have no idea what that means.

Yours,
Thomas Lynn Skean

[PATRICK MOORE]

But we others know.

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[Joe Bernard]

One addition to my little saga: A few months ago I picked up an Electra Amsterdam sort-of-a-dutch bike. It's a slightly less radical (geometry-wise) version of their Townie Crank Forward bikes, a type of bike that was reviewed in the Reader a couple of times. It's a very sit-up-straight-on-a-big-seat-and-look-around bike..a "more upright" recumbent, if you will. I love the big old tank. In retrospect, Crank Forward would have been a good place to start..I doubt I would have progressed to full recumbents if I had tried it first.

[Joe Bernard]

"Delta" is two wheels in back, one in front. Patrick is messing about with his new fascination with British Racing Trikes. Don't mind him..

[Thomas Lynn Skean]

I love both responses! Thanks, Patrick! Thanks, Joe! May irony and straightforwardness coexist thusly forever!

Yours,
Thomas Lynn Skean
who in retrospect should've gotten the reference and will try to do better in the future

[Joe Bernard]

Brother, "delta" is a pretty obscure reference if you're not a trike owner, which Patrick and I are. Well, were...mine is moving on to a more appreciative (and hopefully, social) owner on Monday.

 

Joe "former (long list of bikes here) owner" Bernard

Fairfield, CA.

[Thomas Lynn Skean]

Yeah, but I got "tadpole" first time out in a similar context. Shoulda seen "delta" coming.

If your AHH is anything like the somewhat-spritelier somewhat-normal-er Hillborne experience I'd expect it to be, you will have no buyer's regret. Color notwithstanding. Enjoy!

Yours,
Thomas Lynn Skean
whose Hillborne may not have added years to his life (only Virtue and Discipline can do that) but has definitely added Life to his years

[Joe Bernard]

I love the color, and I love the "cream windows" thing. I can't wait for it to get here. She'll have a big, wide Brooks and an Albatross bar, of course..otherwise known as "Rivendell Recumbent". :-)

[PATRICK MOORE]

And thanks for your sense of humor!

The Delta is scheduled to arrive tomorrow!

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[islaysteve]

Joe, Congratulations on your new Rivendell and thanks for the great and insightful write-up.  If the color is like the other bike posted, well, I want one.  Anyway, I'm pretty much a loner-type rider myself.  If my experience  is any indication, you probably won't attract too much attention on your Riv. In my area, there are lots of racing-oriented roadies, riding CF Treks, etc.  I think my Bleriot is pretty different-looking, but I haven't had any comments on it.  Have certainly seen some folks looking though.  I'm looking forward to pix of your new bike.  Happy riding, Steve

[Minh]

Joe,

Don't worry about the attention, while everyone here loves the look of
Rivendells, the world outside has long since moved on. I ride mine
every weekend on the busy trails here in DC and only once every few
weeks will i get any comments. And there is plenty to comment about
on my bikes, from the wierd leather saddles (brooks, sella anatomica
or berthoud) to the bags (ns tweed, berthoud or carradice) and i only
get a nice bike comment from the folks in the know, i.e. they comment
on the bike by name.

Of course this assumes that your hypothesis is correct, that people
are just complimenting on the bike. It could just be you that they
are complimenting :)

[Joe Bernard]

You just know what's going to happen, right? I'll be in a good mood, all happy and smiley and pedaling away, wondering, "Where'd all my 'friends' go? Why aren't the kids shouting 'cool bike, dude'?" :-)

[Geoff]

Hi Joe,

Congrats on getting your AHH!

I know your experience well.  When my wife and I ride our trikes, we get a fair amount of 'double takes' and "Those must be really comfortable." comments.  When we ride our Rivs(her Betty Foy or QB, and my Hunq), we rarely ever get any comments.  And that's okay...we know what we're riding.  ;)

Enjoy your AHH! 

[PATRICK MOORE]

What sort of trikes? Photos?

I just got mine (Ken Rogers) on the road; photos to come. (It's
Rivendell-ish if not Rivendellian. It's lugged!)

On my inaugural ride yesterday evening I got three smiles and one guffaw.

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[Joe Bernard]

Thanks, Geoff. I'm sure I'll have another trike down the road. If I could afford to keep my Greenspeed, and get the AHH, I would, but priorities.. One of the reasons I'm selling it is that I've put maybe a hundred miles on it in a year. That's crazy..someone needs to ride the poor thing.

 

Joe Bernard