May 2026 Photos!

[Ted Durant]

First ride of May, and my first time riding in Colorado. Pal Eric gave me a tour around Longmont. Alas, we did not ride into the town of Berthoud, where my saddle might have felt at home except they pronounce it funny here.

Ted Durant

Milwaukee, WI, USA

[Jay]

Looks like a nice place to ride, Ted.  Haha - that's funny about the saddle!

I took the morning off work to go out on a 3hr ride.  First rail trail of the year (I'm not really a fan of riding on them for long, I prefer more change in surface and hills, but they're good as a connector).  These cows wouldn't give me any attention, maybe it was the saddle ;-)

[Ted]

Great minds Jay!

I also took the day off to ride and spent about 3h in the saddle starting from Ottawa and getting up into Gatineau Park and back. Most of the ride was on paved pathways and roads closed to cars, plus this little bit of trail.

There was a thick layer of frost in the AM and a stiff breeze but the sun was warm and it was awesome to be out.

Oh? You noticed? Why yes, this is a brand new to me XTR derailleur, thank you for asking (it's my first XTR anything).

My brother found it and gifted it to me for my birthday. I just about lost my mind when I opened it.

[John Dewey]

How many miles on that beautiful back-country gravel? Looks to be easy on the tires. 

Do the local farm dogs enjoy a spirited chase? Just can’t let ‘em get a good angle. 

Jock

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[Ryan Fleming]

You're lucky to have a nice brother like that :) Always did like that early XTR stuff. Very nice

[Tony Lockhart]

Sam outside of the Pacific Asia Museum in Pasadena, CA.

[Bill Lindsay]

Alfred Nobel patented Dynamite in 1867 and it made him enormously wealthy, leading him to sponsor the Nobel Prize.  

The Giant Powder Company in San Francisco was the first company to manufacture dynamite on Nobel's patent.  Business was brisk, but the factories kept exploding.  They wanted to stay in business while killing fewer people so over the next several years they kept moving to more and more remote locations, finally settling at Point Pinole in the nether-regions of Richmond, CA.  

The old site of the Giant Powder Company (which was acquired by the Atlas Powder Company) is now a large park, crisscrossed by a network of trails, all small-gauge-railroad-graded.  Some are paved, most are dirt or gravel.  Some are brick.  It's a great place to ride, walk and run.  If Richmond CA was the USA, then Point Pinole is the Olympic Peninsula (Seattle) of Richmond.  

I was out there today on Legolas:  https://www.flickr.com/photos/45758191@N04/55244744000/in/datetaken/

Bill Lindsay

El Cerrito, CA

[Keith Paugh]

Nice one Tony

k.

On May 2, 2026, at 11:09 AM, Bill Lindsay <tape...@gmail.com> wrote:

Alfred Nobel patented Dynamite in 1867 and it made him enormously wealthy, leading him to sponsor the Nobel Prize.  

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/c7f047d7-c046-48ba-beb0-0c4bd31fc297n%40googlegroups.com.

[JohnS]

Bill,

The Legolas is looking good. What's the story on the fixed gear Pogliaghi? Columbus spirit tubing, it should have a sweet ride. 

JohnS

[JP]

This is actually a photo from earlier in April--but it is a photo of Roberta's old Platypus adjusting to life here in the midwest! I am quite out of shape  (for which the Platypus is the carrot dangling in front of me encouraging me to get going), and it has been working. It is such a pleasant bike to hop on and pick up some groceries or take out with. The way it integrates into my daily errands has been dream fulfilling. I am in the midst of fitting it with some accoutrements, and I am afraid I am going to have to figure out how to rewire the lights to to fit the new racks. Pray for me! Otherwise, I feel like I am living my best 'lovely bicycle' life!

[Jason Fuller]

I got my first camping trip in for the year May 1st to 3rd, about 150km of total riding / 2500m elevation, and 50/50 pavement and single track.  Unseasonably warm for early May here, but not hot by modern standards. One night solo and one night with a couple friends - a perfect mix of social and solace for me. 

[Ted Durant]

On Saturday, May 2, 2026 at 1:22:08 AM UTC-5 John Dewey wrote:

How many miles on that beautiful back-country gravel? Looks to be easy on the tires. 

That gravel is a driveway, so, no miles on it. I was just taking advantage of the photo op. Might have been some dogs down there.

Ted Durant

Milwaukee, WI USA

[Drew Fitchette]

Jason - that Bombadil looks well suited for the task! Nicely packed, and loaded up.

[Jason Fuller]

Thanks Drew! I meant to add, more photos and a short write-up posted for anyone interested: 
https://www.jasonmytail.com/2026-05-03-gabriola-island-trip/

[Christopher Young]

This past weekend we had the Steel Bike Riders of ABQ group ride for May. There were just 3 of us this time, but we were all on Rivs. The route was a loop around the back of the Sandia mountains, a total of 54 miles with 4,500 ft of ascent (almost all of that in the first 17 miles). We took the train from downtown ABQ north to the town of Bernalillo, and then started the ride by heading east towards the tiny village of Placitas.  There are many great rides in the ABQ area, but this might be the most epic. The riders were Patrick Moore on his Roadeo, Tyler Johnson on his Rambouillet, and me on my Homer Hilsen.  Zach Cannon did the route earlier in the week and gave us an excellent scouting report.

Chris Young

[Gabe]

NM ride looks awesome! I've seen the sandia mountains from a distance but haven't been IN them. My grandpa was from Santa Cruz NM and and grandma went to HS in El Rito. But they lived in California by the time I was around. 

I rode up to Fremont Peak again yesterday afternoon/evening. Here's a pic from the Anza trail going over the hump from the fertile salinas valley towards San Juan. Unfortunately the water was shut off at the campground!! Lame!!! 

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[Gabe]

Oh yeah here's the picture. 

On Mon, May 4, 2026, 17:41 Drew Fitchette <drewfi...@gmail.com> wrote:

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[Michael Kashuba]

ABQ group ride looks like a blast! Thanks for the Pics. MJK Fair Oaks, CA

Sent from my iPhone

On May 5, 2026, at 8:47 AM, Gabe <carm...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[Daniel Ocanto]

Nice trip out to Tonto National Forest near the Horseshoe Reservoir just north of Phoenix. Pretty long and arduous climb up Humboldt Mountain to the lookout point, but the descent was incredible the next morning. Originally the camping chair was packed near behind the seat tube, but it slid down and was rubbing against the front derailleur cable. I'll find a way though, seems a shame to not take advantage of all that negative space.

[Steve]

Daniel,  love that long range view - nice pic.  I have seen custom bags tucked into that space on both a Gus and a Susie;  great idea.

Here's a pic from a mellow ride yesterday with my Riv riding bud Dick P. on his Albastached Homer.  Temps in the low 60s and breezy following a hard rain over the night.  We did manage to detour off the rail trail for a climb up Into the hills (and the fast descent back down!). 

Steve in AVL

[Dan]

Something a little different from the usual photos of Rivs in the beautiful wilderness (though I do like seeing those, and Steve, I like the artful arrangement of the two bikes in your photo!): my Appaloosa loaded up with a basket full of shopping outside the Central Markets.

The bike has new bars, grips and stem from my recent visit to Blue Lug. The bottle is also new and Riv-branded, though the rams adorning it reference a Riv era before my time!

[John Bokman]

Hey Dan, which Ergon saddle is that? How do you get on with it? Looks like it may have a "central channel"?

[Scott Garrison]

Lake Almanor, CA. Lassen Peak in the background.

Scott Garrison

Red Bluff, CA

[Steve]

Another cool, breezy day in Western North Carolina - my favorite for riding in the woods!

A note on the 52cm Noodles -- I recently posted about giving drop bars a try after a 20 year hiatus. The Nitto 321 Grand Randos I initially mounted on the Hillborne were very nice on pavement, but not so much on rough stuff. The narrow 39cm span across the ramps did not provide adequate front end control, especially on chunky climbs (no doubt exacerbated by my front loaded setup). The wide Noodles solved that problem, although the deeper drop is less to my liking.  It may be that I just need to spend some time with them and that's my current plan. 

Steve in AVL

[Patrick Moore]

Me, I like narrow bars — 42 cm at the hoods, at the widest, for off road — but it looks as if the utterly wonderful Rene Herse Maes Parallels are available in widths up to 46 cm at the hoods:

https://www.renehersecycles.com/shop/components/handlebars/professional-318-handlebars/

Note that RH changed the name; these are (apparently) the same lovely Maes Parallels that I use in 31.8 mm on my “road bike for dirt.” And of course, they also come with a 25.4 mm clamp area.

On Tue, May 12, 2026 at 1:15 PM Steve <steve...@gmail.com> wrote:

… A note on the 52cm Noodles — I recently posted about giving drop bars a try after a 20 year hiatus. The Nitto 321 Grand Randos I initially mounted on the Hillborne were very nice on pavement, but not so much on rough stuff. The narrow 39cm span across the ramps did not provide adequate front end control, especially on chunky climbs (no doubt exacerbated by my front loaded setup). The wide Noodles solved that problem, although the deeper drop is less to my liking.  It may be that I just need to spend some time with them and that's my current plan. 

[Steve]

Hmm....15mm less drop would be nice, and 420mm across  the ramps just might be wide enough to keep me happy, especially if I'm comfortable enough on the 460mm drops to ride them while on the brakes going  a rocky descent.    Hmm...

Dang you Patrick Moore, I just got those Noodles nicely wrapped   ; - )

Thank you for the tip.   Steve

[Ryan Fleming]

Yes..you did get them nicely wrapped, Steve...that is a good-looking bike and that green looks good with the gold/mustard  frame :)

[Ted]

I had the same experience Steve.

I started with the randos and found the hoods far too narrow. Then moved to the noodle. I've had the noodles for over a decade now and quite like them.

I run the tops just a bit higher than my saddle which strikes a nice balance for upright riding on the hoods and a (relatively speaking) tucked position in the drops.

It might be worth putting some miles on the noddles. They're on and, as you say, wrapped so nicely! 

[Cormac O'Keeffe]

Great photos and thanks for sharing.  The Legolas build is very slick. 

[Roberta]

I nearly missed this post!  You look lovely on your new-to-you platypus.  Welcome to our newest RivSister.  

The path you’re riding on is lovely; perfect for that Platy.  I think it shines on that type of path even more so than on paved surfaces.  

I wish you miles of smiles, even more than it brought me. 

Roberta

[Jason Fuller]

Couple pretty big black cottonwoods in a park area not too far from home, right along the highway. I bought a 50' tape measure and have started measuring these notable trees for the local big tree registry.  

[Steve]

Beautiful photos Jason! (as always). 

That is one impressive Cottonwood, what did the circumference measure?  

Steve in AVL

[Jason Fuller]

Cheers, both! The one up on the mound measured 1.83m (6ft) diameter, the other was 1.62m (5.3ft). There are cottonwoods exceeding 10ft diameter out there!  Mostly I am interested in our old growth cedars, doug firs, and hemlocks - but these particular trees i always admire when i ride past. 

Non-Riv, but I hiked my Evasion up to one of the biggest Douglas firs in BC last weekend. It was arduous and silly to carry a bike to it, but I am glad to have probably the only photo of the Temple Giant with a bike for scale!  And for the record: it's 3m / 10 ft diameter


 

[Brian Turner]

Here’s one from one of the first rides on my newly assembled Sam! I might tweak a few things, but the bike feels incredible so far.

Brian
Lexington KY

[Gabe]

Bruce Gordon tires, nice!!!

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[john Bokman]

Love the 43mm Rock n Roads on my Sam!

John

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[Kesler Roberts]

5/1 On the way to NYC for the 5 Boros Ride.

 

 

[Ted Durant]

On May 14, 2026, at 1:42 PM, Brian Turner <brok...@gmail.com> wrote:

Here’s one from one of the first rides on my newly assembled Sam! I might tweak a few things, but the bike feels incredible so far.

The Sam is the only bike I’ve had that feels great with drop bars or upright bars. Magic!

[Steve]

Ted, I concur; the Sam is a truly versatile bike.  Here's a couple pics from this past Thursday, mostly on pavement with a wee bit of dirt thrown in for good measure. I am definitely warming up to the 'new to me' Noodle bars (Thank you Ryan & Ted for encouragement to give the a fair try).  Still, I must add that my Platypus with Billie bars remains uncontested in the contest for sheer comfort. 

[Jason Fuller]

I visited the old woods again today, on the Bombadil as usual. I measured the two huge sitka spruce in the second photo; 2.13 and 2.22m diameter. I also measured an old hemlock at 2.07m a little ways down the valley. 

[larson....@gmail.com]

Beautiful trees and forest Jason! My Appaloosa on the trails of the Kickapoo Valley Reserve, one of my favorite places in the Driftless. Hillsides covered with drifts of Trillium. Wild Geraniums and May Apples, the woods alive with the songs of Warblers, Baltimore Orioles and Rose Breasted Grosbeaks. A magical place at the peak of Spring.

Randy in WI

[Josh H]

Beautiful! What tweaks do you want to do? I’ll be setting up my soon to be in my possession Appaloosa very similarly. What’s the rear rack model, and basket bag?


> On May 14, 2026, at 12:42 PM, Brian Turner <brok...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Here’s one from one of the first rides on my newly assembled Sam! I might tweak a few things, but the bike feels incredible so far.
>
> Brian
> Lexington KY
>

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> <image0.jpeg>

[Brian Turner]

I’m still not sure if the rear rack (Nitto R14) is staying. I may play around more with something lower profile to serve as a rear bag support, like a Mark’s Rack.

As nice as the MKS Allways pedals are, my feet tend to slip around on them a lot. I might go for something with a wider platform, more aggressive pins, or both.

The basket bag is from the first run of Swift’s Sugarloaf bags. It’s waxed canvas - you don’t see many of those around.

Brian
Lexington KY

> On May 18, 2026, at 10:13 PM, Josh H <hask...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Beautiful! What tweaks do you want to do? I’ll be setting up my soon to be in my possession Appaloosa very similarly. What’s the rear rack model, and basket bag?

[Takashi]

Visited southern Aizu area in early May.

Rural areas in Aizu are wonderful places to ride.

Takashi