How & when & why did you find Rivendell? What was your first bike or part from them?

[Pancake]

Leah's discussion about long wheel base led to a lot of interesting discussions about how people found Rivendell. I'd like to know:

• How you first found out about Rivendell?
• What caused you to actually get your first Rivendell frame or component (or something Riv inspired) ... and what was that first buy?
• And could you add a photo of that first?

Personally, I was overweight and looking to make my biking more comfortable back in 2004 in Berkeley. Searching online led me to look at Brooks saddles and sweptback handlebars and ultimately to Rivendell to buy some steel Albatross bars ... which I still use today! On a student budget, I attached them to a Jamis Coda Sport (steel frame) with beefed up wheels from The Missing Link bike co-op. Then about 2 years ago my friend Ronnie gave me a Cheviot frame to build up as a distraction while waiting to adopt. The moment I finished building the bike, as I was attaching the pedals my wife pulled into the garage, jumped out of the car and with tears and a huge smile and told me to get plane tickets to Kansas because our daughter was about to be born! Now our daughter is almost 2 years old and I have the Cheviot, a Sam Hillborne, and the same friend is lending me a Rosco Baby frame until that we built a couple weeks ago for front kid seat rides. 

When Grant met my daughter, he noticed the "Baby Muggle On Board" sticker on our car window ... he was rightfully concerned that we didn't know if she was a muggle or not!

Ride on,

Abe

Some pics of my other Rivendell bikes (and the Rosco Baby with those original Albatross bars) here - https://imgur.com/a/wWgiDmh

[lconley]

First Riv was a Blue headtube Sam Hillbourne. I was looking for something for light touring and the blue headtube versions were on sale ($900?). Probably found Rivendell through Google. First build was with Peter White built 48 spoke Velocity Chuckers on Phil/Son hubs - indestructible rims - most other parts came from Riv. Second build after I got my Bombadil was as a one speed.

[Eric Norris]

Although I knew of Rivendell before, my real introduction came in early 2006, when I was preparing to ride the Big Fix, a cross-country ride on fixed gear bicycles. I had a Soma fixie, but I was looking for a more comfortable bicycle for the long miles in the saddle that the Big Fix would entail (we averaged about 125 miles a day).

Enter the Quickbeam, which turned out to be the perfect choice. My friend, the organizer of the Big Fix, had one, and after learning more about the QB it was clear that this would be the perfect bike.

I put a fixed cog on the original wheelset (not perfect, but it worked), eventually switching out the wheels for a new set built with a Phil Wood fixed gear rear hub. I also ultimately switched out the original mustache bars for a set of traditional drop bars (my first attempt to like mustache bars, and not my last).

The Big Fix turned out to be an amazing adventure, taking me and the Quickbeam some 1,750 miles from Davis, CA, to Scott City, KS, including riding up and over the Sierras, the mountains of central Nevada, the Wasatch, and the Rockies. Below are photos from the ride, featuring a somewhat younger and thinner me and the green Quickbeam, which I still own and ride (now in 3-speed mode).

The Big Fix in 2006 set the stage for Paris-Brest-Paris in 2007, which I also rode on the Quickbeam in fixed gear mode. My friend and I were part of a relative handful of fixed gear riders who completed PBP that year, which featured atrocious weather (almost constant rain) that held the completion rate to historic lows. PBP 2007 remains one of my proudest cycling accomplishments.

Side note: As readers of this list know, Rivendell has very specific ideas about how a bicycle should fit that are somewhat different from more traditional approaches. The staff in Walnut Creek was firmly convinced that the Quickbeam I selected would not fit, I would not like it, and I would inevitably be back to return it. As I recall, they almost asked me to sign a waiver. The bike fit perfectly, and almost 15 years later I’m still riding it. I’m not disputing Rivendell’s bicycle fit philosophy, just pointing out that one size (or method) does not fit all.

--Eric N

On Jan 8, 2020, at 9:52 AM, Pancake <abe.g...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[Joe Bernard]

I'm an original True Believer. My initiation to being an adult cycling person was going to a Bridgestone shop with a friend and seeing the XO-1 with Moustache Handlebars in the catalogue they gave me. I eventually bought a '94 XO-3 and signed up for the Bridgestone Owner's Bunch, which got folded into an RBW membership to get Rivendell Readers (my memory is fuzzy on how that transition worked). My first Riv product was a water bottle, my first Rivbike was many years later..a Romulus in 2003.

[Patrick Moore]

Eric: Was the Big Fix the trip where you increased your gear while crossing the Rockies? Didn't you say that you moved from a 70s gi to an 80s gi gear on that trip? Pretty amazing, as also PBP on a Quickbeam.

As for the general question: I was on Grant's mailing list when he started Rivendell, and got him to build me a "better than" road bike version of my 1992 XO-1; it was better, and the '99 and the '2003 were better yet.

[Chris L]

I first learned about Rivendell in August of 2011.  I started a thread on another forum having nothing to do with bikes and the gist of it was "at what ride distance would you switch from a hybrid to a road bike?".  At the time, I was riding a Trek FX 2, my second adult bike.

One of the responses was from a guy in Turkey who initially referred to RBW as "hippy kooks out on the West coast".  He was a huge fan of Rivendell and included a link to the website.  

I started looking at the bikes and parts and watching their videos and at some point, the desire to restore my 1995 steel Trek 730 with new paint and parts kicked in.  

The first thing I bought from RBW was a rear wheel, because I wanted to upgrade to 9 speed.  And I did take a photo.  

[John Phillips]

Eric, looking at the photo of you next to your Quickbeam, I'm flummoxed. In which direction did Riv think you should go, larger frame or smaller, or sideways to a different model?

[masmojo]

I guess around 88-89 I had a pretty decent job and I'd gotten a nice bonus, I was looking to replace the custom Cruiser I had built with a mountain bike. My buddy was managing a bike shop in Austin and said he'd help me choose something. I drove up from Houston and looked at what he had, the two I was going back & forth between were an MB-1 & a Klein Pinnacle. It was the 80s so you hafta know I went with the fluorescent green Klein, but I've always kinda regretted it.
6 months later I'm in pretty good shape & start racing. The shop I raced for carried Bridgestone & half the team rode MB-1s, fast forward until the XO-1 came out. I preordered my purple XO-1. I read articles by Grant in Bicycling amongst others, as he championed riding road bikes offroad. Bridgestone closed up shop here and I was aware Grant open Rivendell. I may have gotten some early Rivendell correspondence, but by that time I had the Klein, a Fat City Monster Fat, XO-1 and a couple wicked cruisers. I was pretty much set for quite a number of years, especially since the bulk of what Rivendell was doing was road bikes and I had no real interest in road bikes. My XO was all the road bike I needed.

Fast forward to a few years ago, life happened, wife, 2 kids and more than a few extra Lbs. I had picked up a Rawland Drakkar for commuting in 2010, but I was looking for something I could transition into old age with, my old XO-1 was really 1 size too small for me and I wanted something a bit more relaxed I could hook a trailer to. Somehow I stumbled on the Rivendell Clementine.
Ironically, the trailer I have doesn't fit the Clementine, so half the reason I bought it was negated.
Since then I've gotten an Atlantis & a Roscoe Bubbe.

[Coal Bee Rye Anne]

I first discovered Riv somewhere along the way through various internet searches when I began evolving into a DIY bike tinkerer (as I'm sure many others have.)  First contact with Riv circa 2010 if I had to guess.  It coincided with my immersion into the Sheldon archives so it's very possible that I likely jumped from Sheldon to Riv or vice versa, though it's difficult to pinpoint the exact chronology at this point.  Although between Grant, Sheldon, Velo Orange, and several other sources I found great value in many of their articles and products.  At the time I was still maintaining a one bike fleet which consisted of my early 90's rigid steel MTB which dates back to my first 'adult' bike-shop bicycle purchase at age fourteen or so.  After heavy use through high school and occasional commuter use in college it sat dormant for a couple years before my partner and I became more interested in cycling (in part due to a series of knee surgeries for her and we found cycling actually helped her rehab (or at least did not cause any pain/strain/etc.) at the time.)

We eventually purchased her a new mass production bike from a local dealer somewhere around 2005-6-7 and I began to revive my old MTB which proved to require some attention.  It wasn't long before we became rather discouraged with the quality of service at some of our local dealers and so began my entry into the world of bike mechanics.  I'd spent plenty of time disassembling parts from older bikes as things wore out but not so much time doing actual assembly or replacement parts/cabling/etc.  In fact, prior to that 90's Mongoose mtb purchase I recall the Huffy 'Stone Mountain' I had before it eventually being stripped of it's levers/calipers/shifters to a brakeless singlespeed where I'd brake by standing on one pedal and wedging the other shoe between seatstay bridge and top the tire to skid-stop (I wish I was limber enough to pull that off today.)  That old Huffy took quite a beating in my youth and eventually suffered a frame failure at the seatube/seatstay junction thus paving the way for an upgrade and upsize. 

I tried to keep that Mongoose MTB going and never thought I'd really need to replace it (even before I knew how to articulate it or was aware of BOBish ideals, etc. I knew the frame itself was a good platform for customization and fit 'well enough') but as with many I soon found the long and low fit to be less than desirable as we evolved into riding longer distance mixed terrain/leisure/utility rides vs. the shorter and more aggressive trail rides of prior years.  My initial Riv parts/accessories purchase was somewhere around 2011 or so though it would not be until the release of the 65cm Clem H that I'd finally obtain my first Rivendell frame/bike.  Off hand, I cannot recall what parts/accessories my first order consisted of though it segued into a series of annual orders for a few years as I upgraded this or that and acquired a few additional frames along the way. 

The Clem really resonated with me based on its roots as a proper alternative to 'Riving-out a vintage MTB' and with an otherwise tight budget and fit issue at 6'5"/97+pbh I hadn't really considered many prior lugged models.  When the 65cm was announced I jumped on the pre-sale for the complete since I knew I'd finally obtain a properly sized off the shelf bike and it was my first complete bike purchase since that early 90's Mongoose.

Attached is my mustard Clem complete after an initial stem/saddle swap, plus Surly front rack install.  I'd eventually trade away the Bosco bar, both the stock tallux and pictured riser stems, as well as the Surly front rack for some other goods.  Just months after taking delivery of this bike we'd discover we'd be starting a family so Clem had since become my dadbike the past two years and now wears a Riv Bullmoose bar, which replaced a Jones riser loop bar, but has since gone into hibernation while I rotate another bike for dedicated winter duty with some thoughts on additional changes for spring as our son will soon outgrow his current front seat.

Best,

Brian Cole

Lawrence NJ

On Wednesday, January 8, 2020 at 12:52:28 PM UTC-5, Pancake wrote:

[Bill Schairer]

I became aware of Rivendell at least by 1996 but maybe earlier.  I have a 1996 catalogue plus some members only discount coupons.  I probably became aware through an advertisement in either the League of American Wheelmen or Bikecentennial publications.  I don’t remember being aware that they sold frames but must have been as they are in the catalogue.  At any rate, I wasn’t in the market for a frame or built up bike at the time.  I’m sure I bought some small bits but don’t remember what.

After some time, Rivendell dropped off my radar. Then in 2016 I saw an Atlantis locked up in LA.  It spoke to me.  I took a photo.  I had never heard of them and found by searching on the internet they were from Rivendell.  Still not in market.  Then in March 2017 I did an overnight camping trip with the San Diego Bicycle Coalition and noticed another participant’s Hillborne.  Again, never heard of it and he told me it was a Rivendell.  Instead of returning to San Diego with the group, I continued up to Long Beach and, there at the convention center my 1982 Trek 720 was stolen.  I was now in the market and started trolling Craigslist and in surprisingly short order found what is now my Atlantis.  At this point, I joined the RBW user group on the recommendation of the seller.

Unlike many posters here, I am a buy and hold em kind of guy.  And, as a postscript, I listed my Trek as stolen on bikeindex and in June of 2018 I got a call from someone saying he had my bike so I retrieved the frame less most of anything of value that had been attached to it.  

[Glen]

On Wednesday, January 8, 2020 at 10:52:28 AM UTC-7, Pancake wrote:

Leah's discussion about long wheel base led to a lot of interesting discussions about how people found Rivendell. I'd like to know:

• How you first found out about Rivendell?

1996 century ride swag bag included a Reader and catalog

• What caused you to actually get your first Rivendell frame or component (or something Riv inspired) ... and what was that first buy?

Sometime around 2005 I was looking for 28mm tires and found out there was a Rivendell dealer about 20 miles away. I drove up to Saturday Cycles to buy some Ruffy Tuffies and rode the owners 62cm Rambouilet. The next week I bought the 64cm model off his floor. Having long legs and a short torso it was the first bike that fit well.

 

[Gabriel Bruguier]

I first heard of Rivendell in 2015.  I had recently bought my first nice bike (an early Reynolds-tubed Crosscheck), and was poring over forums learning about parts upgrades, different set-ups, and the like.  I saw the name Rivendell come up frequently, so I checked them out.  I wanted an Atlantis so bad, but it was way out of reach on my grad student budget.  So I tinkered around on the Crosscheck, learned how to wrench at the bike coop, and developed into a regular bike nut.  Around this time I also discovered this group! 

In January 2017 I got my first Rivendell-- the Rosco Road Fatty.  By that time in my life I was done with grad coursework and was working an actual job, so I started on the course that I presume lots of other bike nuts take--I became infatuated with a bike for a season or two, then moved on.  I sold the Rosco on here in August 2017 and that partially funded my purchase of a 2003 Atlantis later in September.  In August 2018, I picked up a Cheviot on here.  In December 2019 I sold the Atlantis, and the Cheviot is still for sale.  I've really been trying to keep my bike nut tendencies in check, as least concerning the rapid turnaround of bikes.   

Prior to the Crosscheck I was a regular bike commuter, but completely ignorant of upscale frames and components.  I commuted on a 90s Trek Antelope 800 and 70s Schwinn LeTour II that I got from a pawnshop and local seller, respectively. 

Photos of the various builds have been posted previously, I've linked those above. 

[Deacon Patrick]

2002: After 8th concussion, brain bludgeoned beyond ability to unknowingly pretend nothing was wrong. Intense, constant, dual axis neurological vertigo due to damage in brain stem among other fun. Among best therapies discovered: exercise, including relearning to hike with 4 lb bludgers as walking sticks. Dumb enough to test out riding a bike ever year or so, generally needing a few days to recover after.

2009: Discovered barefoot living activates proprioception so my body knows where I am in space even though me brain has no idea. Gradually use lighter sticks for trail running, then no sticks at all by going barefoot, minimalist. Active contemplative prayer generally has me returning better than I left.

2011: Try riding a bike and this time it doesn't go poorly. Try more bikes. The better the bike, the less brain energy it costs to ride the same distance. Research the webs, find Grant's writings and musings and everything clicks.

2012: Order a Hunqapillar and all the trimmings. Wow. By far exceeds any bike I'd ridden. I'd been expecting rides would cost me brain energy, but, like running, I usually return better than I left.

With abandon,

Patrick

[Bicycle Belle Ding Ding!]

Abe, what a fun and fantastic topic! Thanks for starting it. Look at that delicious darling baby! 😍 I shall try not to covet her over here, but it’s asking a lot. 

1. How did you find out about Rivendell? 

After a life of garage sale Huffys and Walmart specials, I had no taste of finery in bicycles. But when my Walmart Schwinn started making screeching sounds I decided I’d really get something good this time - off of Craigslist, naturally. I never spent much money on myself in those early days. I was 31 and had 2 little boys. I got a used Trek Fx 7.6 and spent a whopping $400; the bike was worth more, but the seller and I bonded (both nurses) and she gave me a screaming deal. Finally, finally, FINALLY in possession of a “nice” bike, I could not understand why I was secretly disappointed. Super light frame, skinny tires, flat bars. My neck hurt. Other stuff hurt. The bike felt squirrely when I pulled a Trek tagalong with my son on it (duh). I couldn’t sit up and look around. I was sick to my stomach that I had spent so much money on myself and disappointment was what I had to show for it.

I started searching online forums when the bike shops I tried (and I tried ‘em all) were of no help. Someone mentioned “Rivendell.” The name was more than enough to get me looking and I hit their website and read every last word typed there. I loved everything about it. Then I found out how much they cost and nearly tipped over. If I thought $400 was over the top, $2400 sounded like an impossible dream. We simply were not in the habit of being so extravagant.

2. What caused you to get your first Rivendell frame? What was the first buy?

I would never spend that kind of money without talking to my spouse. I broke it to my husband. He thought I was nuts. Completely nuts. He couldn’t see anything that would make a Rivendell bike $2k better than this perfectly good Trek. (He’s very financially responsible, and it will never matter how much money we have - he’s always going to be practical and humble about it. I love this about him. Also, I hate this about him. 🤣) But, seeing what it meant to me, he agreed to it if I’d sell the Trek (I did! For a profit!) and if we could finally cut cable, which he’d been dying to do and I had road blocked. (It was 2012. It’s 2020, and we still don’t have cable.)

Keven talked me into a Betty Foy. He had a Betty Foy. Vince had a Betty Foy. Since I was pulling kids, I should have a Betty Foy. But there were none to be had. He said he’d dig through warehouse. I waited. He called me back and he had unearthed 2 Betty Foys in my size from somewhere in the maw of the warehouse and he was ready for my credit card digits, please. 

My best friend from college lived in Los Gatos, so when the bike was built up, I drove from SoCal (where we were living then) and we girls went to get it. Will was a new hire at the time. It was a Saturday and Harry H was working. Grant and Mary swung by for a minute (via car) and Grant slapped a rare earth Rivendell magnet on my bars. I was star struck.

3. Photo of New Bike Day. 

I had to dig, but I found them. You know what else I found? The new bike day photos for the next several Rivendells my family went on to purchase after listening to me blather on about mine. Should I send those, too? 😂

On Wednesday, January 8, 2020 at 9:52:28 AM UTC-8, Pancake wrote:

[Daniel D.]

I first heard mocking references to rivendell and grant on forums and blogs.  Read some of Grant's writings.  Even though I liked wool, steel, axes, etc.  I joined in the mocking.

On a whim I went by Rivendell.  I loved the store and everyone I interacted with.  Every time I've been by I've enjoyed the visit.  Test rode a hillborne, loved it.  I never got one, still kick myself occasionally for not pulling the trigger on a $1600 craiglist hillborne that looked like it was fresh from Rivendell.  My having money and Sams being in stock never coincided.

I heard about the roadini and it seemed to be a great match for my riding.  I've always bought off the rack and decided to build from a frame.  I had a few other frames in the running.  In the end decided I wanted to support a great company  with my dollars.  

[Addison Wilhite]

I am one of the old school BOB members with plenty of Bstones in my quiver over the years.  Alas, I never had the money for the pumpkin XO-1 from 1993.  When I did have the money I did the most obvious best thing...I bought the pumpkin AllRounder.  Still a mainstay in my stable and a joy to ride in whatever way/parts I throw on it.  The only other Riv I've been particularly interested in is the Legolas, though I test rode a Hunqa a few years ago.  Loved it but it felt like my AR so not much point in getting it.

I suppose I should throw out that now that I have a 4 month old the new baby carrier frame they are offering is very tempting.  And a good price at that.

Addison Wilhite, M.A. 

Academy of Arts, Careers and Technology 

“Blazing the Trail to College and Career Success”

Portfolio and Blog

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[Leah Peterson]

Hmm, I sent those images too low-res. Let me try again...

Sent from my iPad

On Jan 8, 2020, at 2:12 PM, Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! <jonasa...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[Joe Bernard]

Send all the New Bike Day pics, Leah!

[Leah Peterson]

I don’t need to be asked twice!

1. My husband and his mother found out about Rivendell because I have a big mouth. My husband got his first, and as soon as my mother in law heard, she wanted one, too.

2. His Target Schwinn was falling apart. It was 2015, and Clems were brand new at Rivendell. While he would never pay for a fully lugged model for himself, he decided to get the Clem which was more reasonable and then we “could match.” 🙄😂 When we walk out of our closets on weekend mornings, he likes to see what I’ve got on and color coordinate. I am not making this up. This was an actual factor in choosing his bike. A French blue Clem from Rivelo came to our door.

Her previous bike was something she got on Amazon. When she heard her son was getting a Rivendell, she called me with her credit card info and asked me to order her one. A Clem for him, a Clementine for her! When it came time to choose all the trimmings she said, “Get all of them!” And she meant it. Racks, bags, bandanas, hats in every variation, she got them. And then she handed them out on our summer visit. I think I actually called or emailed Rivendell to tell them this order was not a mistake. We rode and rode and rode all over her Minnesota town that summer.

3. Photo.

[Joe Bernard]

He matchy-matches clothes and bikes. That's sweet. And hilarious. But mostly sweet 😉

[aeroperf]

We lived in Munich, Germany for a while where you rode bikes everywhere with friends.  I had my Diamondback Approach and my wife got a KTM touring bike.  When we moved back to the US and bought a place on a bike trail, I figured I should start looking for a good touring bicycle like hers.  We had done a number of tours, and the Approach was just not comfortable going a long distance or over multiple days.  I found Rivendell in 2010 while looking at user reports on the Surly Long Haul Trucker.  After 4 more years looking at different bikes and then tracking them down and riding them, I called Will up in 2015 and ordered a Sam.
By then I had researched Grant and Bridgestone (and Fuji and Surly and Soma and the Europeans like KTM and…). I could name the parts of a bike and change a tire, but not much more.
I was sent a bog-standard sage Sam - and it fit like a glove.  Here’s a pic 5 years later.
I don’t buy into the whole Riv thing - I use Arkel panniers, German accessories and REI clothes.  But, dang, they make a good bike.

[Leah Peterson]

1. 2019 spring break. My parents came to Vegas to visit us, and then we roadtripped to San Fran. Went to Rivendell while we were there.

2. I left Mom alone for 5 minutes, I swear, and then this happened. She didn’t go for the Clem. She went for the Cheviot. She wanted “sea foam” (Grant thought it was light sage but he was wrong) and she thought it would look nice with this bag.

3. SUPRISE New Bike Day:

[Leah Peterson]

1. My sister had been stealing her husband’s 59 Grilver Clem L. She knew all about Rivendell. All her closest family seemed to be getting them, save for poor little her. His bike was too big for her but she was making it work.

2. My brother in law and I were in cahoots. He was missing his Clem and I was in the know about the dwindling stock at Riv. He was able to snag one of the last 2 chameleon green 2019 Clem Ls for his anniversary gift to my sister. THAT’S LOVE, folks.

3. She never takes photos. After weeks I finally badgered her enough and she gave me this one awful pic:

[Eric Daume]

I found out about Riv while searching for Bridgestones for sale, back around RR3. Turns out Rivs were not a budget alternative to used Bridgestones :)

Eric

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[reynoldslugs]

Hi Riv Gang:

Rivendell came along to me, and substantially improved my life, in nineteen and ninety-nine, IIRC. 

This was pre-hipster era,  before the current boom in customs and the current availability of good steel bikes.

So one night in 1999, I was drinking beer with The Reverend Rex (Mookie LeRoy), complaining that I didn't like the bikes then in vogue - for all the reasons discussed on this forum.  Everything was aluminum, indexed, and uncomfortable. Couldn't find Books saddles and Phil hubs anywhere.

The Rev handed me a Rivendell Catalog, with a picture of one of the Rivendell staff in a wool sweater with baggy shorts.  

I knew then that my ship had come in, that I had found my people.    I visited RBWHQ and bought a Heron Road.  I've acquired, and still own and ride a number of the Rivendell models. I eventually gave my Quickbeam to the Reverend out of gratitude for introducing me to Rivendell (plus my bad knees precluded SS  and fixed riding.  So anyway the Rev now rides my QB).

I bought the Heron because I wanted a good steel bike, with good craftsmanship, and no ergo/STI fancy stuff that I didn't understand.  Things have changed, evolved since 1999 (I don't drink beer or anything else these days)- but my reasons for riding Rivendells and other steel bikes remain the same: craftsmanship, comfort of steel, good clearances and comfortable, common sense geometry.

Pics of my various Rivendells - an emerald green Road Standard, the Heron (now a 650b), Rambouillet, Atlantis, Legolas, Roadeo and maybe one or two others are on my flickr page, along with a few other bikes:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/41563482@N06/albums

20 years on, and I'm very grateful.

Cheers

Max B

Santa Rosa CA

 

[Michael Cinibulk]

I learned about Rivendell in 1997 when I was educating myself Online on high-end steel road frames and manufacturers. I ended up buying a Waterford but became a Riv member shortly thereafter and continued to follow them along with BQ. I’d always wanted an Atlantis When they were introduced but couldn’t justify another bike and they kept going up in price; but then when I was looking for a new frame to build up in 2009 that would take tires larger than 30 mm, Riv introduced a low cost version, Sam Hillborne so I bought one and built it up myself. I commute on it daily and it serves as my tourer and gravel bike. I love it! Oh by the way, my first purchase was LS Merino tee sometime around 2000 and I still wear it regularly.

Mike C
Bellbrook OH

[Patrick Moore]

Others have submitted multiple posts to this thread so, dammit, I will also do that.

I did 2 morning 30+ mile rides last week on my #2 custom Road, and today did a nice mid-week 20 miler on #3 to take back-up packages to the Post Office. I've ridden my share of bikes, and getting back on one of these 2 is like coming home -- the blue stripped down one, especially -- and I am 100% serious about that; it just feels so "right" and has done since I got it almost 21 years ago.

Note that #3 (green) has gone thru a few minor alterations since this photo was taken.

H'yer they are:

Patrick Moore, who is even now having a 40-hole AM hub built into a light 32-hole 559 rim by Kelly at the Westside High Desert Bicycles, for .... who knows?

[Pancake]

Thanks for all the delightful stories and photos! This has been so fun to read through today! Keep those Irvin stories coming.
Abe

[Eric Myers]

I'd ridden bikes as a kid and had a Cannondale touring bike in college, but then nothing for about 15 years.  Around 2007 my wife and I decided that bike riding would be a good family activity for us and our young child.  We got three-speeds (mine was a beat up 67 Raleigh Superbe), but I fell in love with riding and wrenching on bikes again, and started looking for a newer bike to tinker around with.  I came across Rivendell in my research, loved what I read, and knew I couldn't afford one.  I bought a 1984 Univega Gran Turismo on Craigslist, and a Dirt Drop stem and barend shifters for it from Riv.  Not too long after, the Sam Hillborne was introduced and the description was a perfect match for what I wanted.  But I still couldn't afford one.  Ten years later I had too many bikes, but mostly rode my Gran Turismo and a Bridgestone XO-3.  One day browsing CL again, but this time trying to figure out what I could sell some bikes for, I came across a NOS Hillborne frame in my size, in the original green.  I bought it, I built it up, and have barely ridden anything else since.  I've sold about half my old bikes, and plan to sell most of the rest this spring.  Everything Grant said about the Sam in that first article is true, not just a sales a pitch, and I grin every time I get on that bike.

-Eric

[Drw]

Early 2000’s fixie craze. I converted a number of lugged Japanese toad bikes to fixed and then single speed bikes. Got the taste for lugs and classic looks. rivendell (and velo orange) sold brakes and other parts that Made these conversions easier. That was my introduction. Coincidentally, a lot of my bike friend group at the time were riding Bridgestone xo’s and rb’s. With the mustache bars and tire logo, I didn’t quite get it and didn’t make the Bridgestone-rivendell connection for some time.

First real riv product I bought was a saddle sack small (still have it), and I was sorta flabbergasted at the quality. Thought I’d never have enough money to buy an actual bike from rivendell, but then “somehow” ended up with a hunq frame like a month later.

I’ve now owned 2 sams, 2 atlanti, a Clem, a roscoe bubbe and that hunq. Still have 3 of those in family circulation.

[franklyn]

I have been an active person all my life, so when an ACL injury that I sustained as a teenager finally caught up with me in my mid-20's, I had to find a new sport and a friend organized a long ride in 2002 and I was hooked on cycling. After a couple of years I moved from a Marin flat-bar Al roadbike to a Merlin Ti and a Lemond 853. One time in 2004, I was going to SF to meet up with a friend for a ride but somehow forgot to load my bike into the car. So he loaned me this other bike he had. Before I got on the bike I was a little hesitant--it looked old! it had leather saddle, clothes bar tape, and really wide tires (they were 28mm). The bike also seemed to be too big. My friend told me it was a 59cm. I was sure I couldn't ride it since my Lemond was 55cm and Merlin was 56cm. But there is no other choice so I hopped on and went out. 

It was the most enjoyable riding experience I had yet!

The bike was a Romulus that my friend bought it at Jitensha Studio (did you know that Jitensha helped sell Romulus for a short while?) So I started looking into it. Soon, I called Walnut Creek and talked to John (who is recently retired from running Rivelo) and decided to take a 59cm Romulus frameset Riv had in stock for $700! It was also the first bike that I built from the frameset up with instructions from a bike maintenance book and Park Tools website. A couple of years later I repainted it a darker blue. Later, I owned a 57cm Romulus and a 59cm Bleriot. In recent years, I have moved to custom or semi-custom steel bikes with lighter tubeset, but still fondly remember my Rivs! I still do have a specialized sequoia (650b converted) that is rumored to be the inspiration for the design of the Romulus.

Franklyn

[Joe Bernard]

Speedblends!

[ascpgh]

In 2001 my wife and I were invited to join several folks riding across the country by a college friend of hers. She said it was a thinly veiled to get a ride along mechanic on the trip since there was no way she could get the time off, but I was up for it. We agreed that going light and credit card touring would work best. The other three had all purchased Serotta customs in the last year and had no interest in purchasing new touring bikes. Made sense.

My riding on the road had been down from a peak several years earlier and as I put my miles on my RB-1 I revisited the problem that made me favor riding my XO-2 and MTB. While perfect for my legs and pedalling, the front end was just too long and short stem foolery helped a little but the handling suffered. I needed a bike I could ride more than four hours without ibuprofen .

Looking for a bike with a shorter top tube than seat tube, I was soon frustrated. In my then recently past shop days we sold Bridgestone and I had met Grant at InterBike several times. I was a hardcopy BOB member and Riv Reader subscriber. It seemed like I needed a custom frame and I needed his insight about options and queues. He said he had something "on the way" that would meet my needs. It was an under square stock sporty road model to join the Atlantis, the Rambouillet.

The timeline was right, just needed the container ship to dock, Joe Bell to paint and RIvendell to build it and ship it. Easy, right? It arrived the night before I went to Yorktown, VA to begin the ride. I had just a few hours to put on the fenders and rest of the kit and adjust my load to fit the Nelson Longflap. After the travel day to the start I rode my Ram every day for the next month and a half, just as it arrived, across the country. 

I have continued to replace consumables, a few components here and there and ridden this bike on all surfaces ever since. 

Andy Cheatham

Pittsburgh

[Justin Kennedy (Brooklyn, NY)]

• How you first found out about Rivendell?

In summer 2006, I had just arrived back in the States from visiting my girlfriend (now wife) in the Netherlands. We had been riding bikes like crazy for a month there and fell in love with its casual/sensible bike culture. Back stateside, I was staying with my parents one weekend in rural Virginia and happened to go into an outdoors store called Mountain Sports Ltd. in Bristol. They aren't a Riv dealer but somehow had a shiny new Atlantis fully built up. It was the most beautiful bike I'd ever seen. I found the Riv website later that day and over the next few days read everything Grant had written on the blog/site.

• What caused you to actually get your first Rivendell frame or component (or something Riv inspired) ... and what was that first buy?

I was fully enthralled with the Riv approach to bikes, but also a poor grad student. Later that same summer (2006), I helped a friend move, and instead of cash he gave me a vintage Batavus road bike with upright bars, fenders, and a rear rack. I upgraded it with a few Riv components (Albatross bars, cork grips, a Brooks saddle, and a Wald basket for the rack) and commuted on it around DC and eventually NYC for the next decade. Finally last year, I bit the bullet and got my first actual Rivendell frame, a 60cm Cheviot. It is a dream ride. 

• And could you add a photo of that first?

First is the vintage Albatross'd Batavus Monte Carlo. Second is the Chev. 

[eddietheflay]

about 20 years ago i stumbled onto the forum sponsored by Serotta Bicycle Company. via that virtual method, I was introduced to Dr. Douglas Brooks. He had the strongest opinions, the most convincing reasons for having those opinions, and a giant and every changing collection of bikes = only the most gorgeous of bikes. DBRK as he was known online loved Rivendell and Grant Peterson. I ride big bikes for two reasons: 1. i am old and not very flexible and 2. because DBRK and GP convinced me that it just made sense.

Since that time I have owned two orange Rabouillets, two gorgeous blue Bleriots, and one green coupled Rambouillet. I have mostly moved on to all fast pavement bikes but my fit is still based on DBRK and GP.

https://www.glo.com/preview/teachers/dr-douglas-brooks?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=1656894644&utm_content=63333025643&utm_term=kwd-591110618803&gclid=CjwKCAiAu9vwBRAEEiwAzvjq-5FAx4tgFD3yQIOsVnzlcas5t5gWJn7Xu8KRljvt7ZVdlA3cTVnViBoCu3cQAvD_BwE

[Mike Godwin]

It started with me from co-workers in Oakland CA talking about BOB while on rides, and doing group orders by mail to Bike Nashbar, so 91-92 ish. I sent in my post card to be a BOB, but shortly after mailing, I think BOB folded and resurfaced as Rivendell. The first "readers" were several 8.5x11 stapled pages (maybe 11x17 double printed and folded) talking about the new business and bikes available - Road Standard and All Rounder, and maybe a mountain bike. My first purchase was Cyclone short reach brakes to install on my Guerciotti. Followed by Willow tripleizer (I think) for a 144 bcd crank. Later, I put a deposit on an All Rounder, and paid monthly on a lay-away plan. I think that was about 1996 or 97 when I received the All Rounder frame and fork. Rode it on the 1998 Grizzly Peak Century. Since then, No.005 Rambouillet, AHHilsen, Legolas, Roadeo, MIT Appaloosa and MUSA Atlantis. Still get small parts from Riv when I am near Riv WHQ. The MUSA Atlantis is the only Riv in the stable (shares with Black Mt Cycles Road, 85 Schwinn Voyageur, 97 Lemond Zurich).

Mike SLO CA 

[Jeremy Till]

I think I first became really aware of Rivendell through Sheldon Brown's website, shortly after I moved to Berkeley for college in 2003 (although I do think I remember seeing the Atlantis in a Bicycling magazine buyer's guide prior to that). I was looking to build up a cheap beater to ride around town and campus, had read about fixed gears in a book about bike messengers, and seen a couple of fixed gears around Berkeley. Some quick internet searching (I think I was still using AltaVista in those days??) brought me to Sheldon's site and his beautiful collection of bicycles, including his fixed gear (with early WI eccentric hub) Rambouillet. That bike was one of my first objects of pure, aesthetic bicycle desire. Through Sheldon I made the connection to Rivendell on the web and tracked their progress over the next few years while I was in college, as they brought out the Quickbeam and Saluki, starting the whole 650B and country bike thing. Despite living just over the hill I didn't actually venture over to Walnut Creek until my last year in college, I think because I new I couldn't afford to go down that rabbit hole.  

However, sometime in the fall of my senior year at Berkeley I did venture over to Walnut Creek, to buy a pair of Moustache bars for my Trek 520 (converted to fixed gear with the WI eccentric hub, just like Sheldon's Rambouillet). Ultimately I didn't get along with the Moustache bars (in hindsight, I had them mounted much to long and low to really give them a chance) but along with my order they gave me a couple of Readers and that year's print catalog and the rest, as they say, is history...I was a confirmed GP fanboy after that. Around then I also found our illustrious group moderator's cyclofiend.com site with its beautiful collection of Rivendell and similar "Current Classics."

Despite all that, it wouldn't be until late 2011/early 2012 that I bought my first actual Rivendell bike. I was depressed, realizing that I didn't want to be in graduate school anymore, and my wonderful then-fiance (now wife) asked, "what do you really want?" I replied that I wanted a good singlespeed bike with upright bars that could take racks and fenders for riding around town. She said, "It sounds like you want a Rivendell, and you should get one." (This is why marrying her is one the best decisions I've ever made). That weekend we ventured to Walnut Creek, hoping to take advantage of the SimpleOne closeout that was happening at the time. Vince helped me out, and was skeptical that the max 62 cm SO would be big enough for me (long-legged 6'3"). He said, "I may have something in the attic...let me go check." A few minutes later he came down with a NOS 64cm orange Quickbeam frame and fork. I couldn't say yes fast enough.  

https://flic.kr/s/aHsjCb7qtE

I've owned at least one Riv since then. #2 was a Clem H frame and fork from the first batch, acquired in early 2016. I'd long been tracking the development of their long-chainstay designs and was excited to try one out at an "entry level" price point. Between that and the ability to run full 29" size tires, in many ways the Clem fulfilled what I always wished that the QB had been. 

https://flic.kr/s/aHskBihWen

The QB and I always had a somewhat fraught relationship, and I was constantly changing setups on it. I think my expectations, after years of fantasizing about them, had just been too high. So, shortly after the Clem was built up, the QB went on the auction block and now resides with list member Wally in Maine. Judging by Wally's instagram feed it's had tons of great adventures since then. 

Riv #3 came in 2018, about a month before the birth of my son. I was casually surfing, not really looking to buy a bike, when a beautiful 64cm Rambouillet popped up locally (not sure if I saw it here or on CL first). It instantly took me back to my early love affair with Sheldon's Rambouillet. I showed it to my wife and once again, she told me to go ahead and buy it. Serendipitously, the seller ended up residing literally across the street from my sister-in-law in Oakland, so it was a very convenient transaction. The Rambouillet is by far the most beautiful bike I have ever owned, and I get compliments every time I ride it. Function wise, it's also the best road bike I've ever own. Most of the credit goes to the previous owners, who took the stock build and added some wonderful accoutrements, namely hammered Honjo fenders and a Berthoud bag. The only things I've done have been to convert it to drop bars (it came to me with Albatrosses) and tweak the front fender a bit, adding a forward stay so that it doesn't rattle as much.  

https://flic.kr/s/aHsmqiuhka

 

Here's some pictures a friend took of me on it yesterday, on a big ride from Richmond, across the now-bikeable Richmond-San Rafael bridge, over Mt. Tam, and finally across the Golden Gate to San Francisco. It was a big ride for a flatlander like me but the bike performed wonderfully the whole day. Apologies for the hand gesture, it's a bit of an inside joke between me and the photographer.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7M4vXTlfVj/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link 

-Jeremy Till

Sacramento, CA

[Meade Anderson]

I guess I hooked up with Rivendell around 1994 with the email list and ordered a bunch of Suntour parts Grant had snatched up...

[Rob Kristoff]

PBP on a fixed gear. Pretty impressive!

[Ted Shwartz]

Found out about Rivendell around 2000 when’s researching a new bicycle

Pulled the trigger in 2003 for a Quickbeam based on Sheldon Brown’s articles

The Quickbeam showed up in 2004

[hugh flynn]

For me, it was 1996.

I had become hip to the benefits of wool cycling clothing after finding Swobo at my LBS and, if I recall correctly, a search for wool cycling clothing brought me to the iBOB list which introduced me to RBW. I became a Riv member (back when that was a thing), and those Readers changed my life.

Bought a Heron Road from Riv in 1998 or 99, an Appoloooooosa 18 years later, and god knows how much other stuff in between. 

Hugh "old guy" Flynn

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Hugh Flynn
Newburyport, MA

[Brian Witt]

[Brian Witt]

Bought my Rivendell Quickbeam in 2003 i think.  i believe  it was Bicycle Quarterly that I first heard about Rivendell.   While the Quickbeam is the only Rivendell I own, it is my 'go to' bike for getting around the village, and it is much complimented whrever We go.  The guys at the LBS have designated it as a 'Cool Bike'!  This is my first entry in the Owners Bunch as i am just now finding about it... currently it is running a S/A S3X three speed fixed,  TA cranks, Paul cantis, faded green carridice bag and Honjo hammered. 

[Derek Simmons]

I got my first and only Rivendell because at the time it was the only cool tall-framed bike--other than a custom from Zinn.(Which I couldn't afford) And my Redwood though not custom was "limited run". I don't think Grant expected it to be so "limited." I guess there weren't that many 6'5"+ Lance wannabes. (Or even Bridgestone wannabe's.) Any way--I loved it well and long and it now sits far from its original CA home--mine, not Grant's--on a Park stand in my workshop. The mountains of Western North Carolina--now home--are not a good fit for my Redwood and my now 80 year old knees. So--I think fondly of "her" as I ride my ICE Adventure HD around the 'hood. And farther....

I'm hoping my tall-gened grandson will "take up cycling" but It may turn out to be part of my "estate" that somebody wonders "what's the story on this?"

Very earlier in its life while I was still a Californian, my Redwood had to go back to WC for a seat stay repair.

I decided to have "her" repainted to a less "garish" green. [I decided

my "kit" was garish enough.]

Derek Simmons
retiredins...@gmail.com

On Wed, Jan 8, 2020 at 12:52 PM Pancake <abe.g...@gmail.com> wrote:

Leah's discussion about long wheel base led to a lot of interesting discussions about how people found Rivendell. I'd like to know:

• How you first found out about Rivendell?
• What caused you to actually get your first Rivendell frame or component (or something Riv inspired) ... and what was that first buy?
• And could you add a photo of that first?

Personally, I was overweight and looking to make my biking more comfortable back in 2004 in Berkeley. Searching online led me to look at Brooks saddles and sweptback handlebars and ultimately to Rivendell to buy some steel Albatross bars ... which I still use today! On a student budget, I attached them to a Jamis Coda Sport (steel frame) with beefed up wheels from The Missing Link bike co-op. Then about 2 years ago my friend Ronnie gave me a Cheviot frame to build up as a distraction while waiting to adopt. The moment I finished building the bike, as I was attaching the pedals my wife pulled into the garage, jumped out of the car and with tears and a huge smile and told me to get plane tickets to Kansas because our daughter was about to be born! Now our daughter is almost 2 years old and I have the Cheviot, a Sam Hillborne, and the same friend is lending me a Rosco Baby frame until that we built a couple weeks ago for front kid seat rides. 

When Grant met my daughter, he noticed the "Baby Muggle On Board" sticker on our car window ... he was rightfully concerned that we didn't know if she was a muggle or not!

Ride on,

Abe

Some pics of my other Rivendell bikes (and the Rosco Baby with those original Albatross bars) here - https://imgur.com/a/wWgiDmh

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[Robert Hakim]

I first found out about Rivendell while I was working at a small bike shop around 2006 or so. My boss there was very influential and taught me a lot about bikes, introducing me to the BoBish philosophy. (He even qued me in when he found an RB-2 in my size) One day, while I was working there I ran into the storage area to grab a bike for a tune... On the hook immediately next to the bike I was collecting was an orange Rambouillet with a cream head tube, leather saddle and bar wrap, hammered fenders and gum-wall tires. I though it was the most beautiful bike I had seen at the time, and I was lucky enough to enjoy a few laps around the parking lot on it. I was not able to forget about how looking at and riding that bicycle made me feel.

Fast forward to 2019- after many years of oogling Riv bikes on the internet and the rare opportunity in person I finally was able to to get one.

There was a double top tube Sam on my local classifieds for well under market value. The gentleman had listed it as a 62cm. In order to avoid an irresponsibly impulsive decision I decided to wait a few days and think about it- a plan I abandoned after about 12 hours. Without speaking to my partner about buying the bike I went ahead and contacted the guy. Almost a week went by without a response so I had figured it sold. He ended up giving me a call back, I had a word with my SO and headed down to pick it up. He brought the bike out and two things were very clear

1: It was a 56 despite the double TT- definitely too small for me

2: It had maybe been ridden around the block a few times before it was thrown in his garage.

I bought it despite it being way too small and enjoyed a few weeks of riding it around. I knew I could sell it to someone who it would fit better and who would appreciate the bike more than the original owner, but I wanted to have some fun first.

Right as I was starting to probe around for sales, I found a black 59cm double TT Sam listed on the BoB list. I ended up selling the 56cm Frame/Fork/Headset/Post to my best friend and bought the black frameset that day. I kept all the components from the blue Sam to build up the black Sam- and I was able to give my friend a very good deal on an excellent bike while also earning a chunk of my initial payment back. Jeff is very happy with his blue Sam and very happy with his blue Sam and I am smitten with my tuxedo Sam. None of us expected to be able to afford a Rivendell in the next few years, and after a few magical weeks we had nearly matching rides. All thanks to a guy who seemed like he didn't mind loosing a bit on the sale.

[Patrick Moore]

Congratulations on the serendipitous discovery of both sellers and buyer that gave you the right-sized Sam without, I gather, a great deal of hassle and anguish. (I've moved through wrong bikes to right bikes with a great deal of hassle and anguish, not to mention expense!)

For some reason, I always associate Sams with the nice green of my first-edition 56 (long since sold), so that it is always a bit startling to see other colors; but I have to say that the black/cream and the blue/cream are very, very pretty -- tho' I'd guess I'd choose blue, as well as 56 if I were to buy another.

Patric Moore, happily riding (current colors) Ford Blue and Sage Green Riv Roads in ABQ, NM.

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Patrick Moore

Alburquerque, Nuevo Mexico, Etats Unis d'Amerique, Orbis Terrarum

[Roberta]

This is such a fun thread and I enjoy reading everyone's stories.  Pancake, your daughter is just so adorable!

Riding my 30 year old Specialized Hard Rock caused me neck pain.  So, I bought a Craigslist ‘90s Specialized Crossroads.  That bike was an improvement, but it got me wondering if there was anything even better.    So started my hunt in 2015 for a perfect bike.

I’m lucky to live in a very biking city, with a dozen shops within a few miles of my home.  I tried every non-drop bar bike under $1000, but after each ride, I’d hop on my Crossroads and found I liked it better than what I just tested.  I learned that I wanted steel, upright riding habit (no drop bars), and rim brakes.

Searching for steel framed bikes, I stumbled upon a thread where some guys were raving about this Betty Foy bike, saying it was the best bike ever made (Leah, BBDD, isn’t the only one who thinks so.).  I found one for sale at $4,000!  These guys were saying it was worth the money, since it’s no longer produced.

From there, I researched Rivendell and found the RBW forum, a great help for the Rivendell-ignorant.  I called Rivendell and this guy Grant answered the phone and was so nice and informative.    The Rivendell just ride philosophy resonated.

Now, I’m not a bike-mechanic type person, so I’m unlike most on this list; I didn’t know about geometry, stems, chain stays, wheelbases, trail, or anything like that. I didn't know about Grant, Bridgestone or Rivendell.   I did know that I wouldn’t buy a bike that I couldn’t test ride, and James at Gravel and Grind in MD (now of Analog Cycles in VT), was within driving distance.  I visited him November 2016.  He had at least 10 Rivs built up, many in my size!

I loved the ride of his MUSA Atlantis, but that was more than what I could spend.  I liked the Cheviot and the Sam Hillborne.  I went back Good Friday April 2017 expecting to purchase a Sam, but before I did I also tried Grant’s suggestion, the Joe Appaloosa.  I WAS IN LOVE!  How much is it?—I don’t care!  So, I spent more than three times on this bike than the sum of all the money I spent on all my bikes in my lifetime and it was the best purchase I ever made!  It was a 2016 floor model and all James needed to do was raise the saddle.  I brought it home that night, grinning from ear to ear (still do when I ride it), and rode it all weekend.

I sold both Specialized bikes and in June 2019 bought an A. Homer Hilsen from a list member, so I could have a bike to ride at my office, and one that was easier to travel with—car, train, or bus.

After years of riding with neck pain, it’s such a relief to enjoy every ride and come back home smiling.   I’m indebted to the good folks on this board and the information you easily share, as well as to Rivendell, who makes such quantity products that have bought me so much joy.  I wish more people like me would hear about Rivendell.  They have great bikes, even for us non-tinkerers.

An aside--when doing my original search, I stopped by a bike shop who employed had a mechanic who had been following Rivendell, but never had ridden one.  I let him ride my Joe A, and when I got my AHH, his grail-bike, I suggested he ride it while I left it at the shop.  He is now the happy owner of of a drop bar AHH.  That makes me smile.

On Wednesday, January 8, 2020 at 12:52:28 PM UTC-5, Pancake wrote:

[ascpgh]

Roberta,

That 's the mechanic who bought the demo drop bar AHH from the Rivendell booth at the Philly Bike Expo? I'm pretty sure you told me that story while I was bothering your lunch!

Looking forward to more stories from East coast  Riv owners new to their bikes by way of that event. I think WIll and Vince were warmly surprised by their experience at the show. 

Andy Cheatham

Pittsburgh

<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Nam

[Roberta]

Yes, the same, Zach.   He does quality work.  He and some friends are getting together to open their co-op, Keystone Bicycles in one of the "hippest" part of Philadelphia, Fishtown, where all the owners are mechanics and all the mechanics are owners.

I loved meeting you, Melanie and everyone else at the Expo.  Hope to see you again next year, where we all will have a meetup place and time. 

Roberta

[Philip Williamson]

Awesome thread - thanks for starting it. Thanks everyone for their stories, too!

I read about Rivendell in a 1996(?) magazine comparison of “two kinds of cyclists,” one of whom was on a Rivendell. I think the other bike was a Cannondale, but I’m not even sure if it was a mountain bike or a road bike. In any case, the Riv rider was much more my speed: in it for fun and the joy of being outside. That magazine had been left in the lunch corner of the screen printing place I worked; a cold warehouse overhanging the Petaluma River.

Shortly after that, I got a job in video games, and became technologically savvy, what with using the internet and all, and tried to stalk Rivendell through their website, but it was blocked by the IBL (internet black hole) due to an open relay from their ISP. I went down the deep well of rec.bicycles.tech, soaking up everything Jobst and St Sheldon wrote. The most cogent thing I learned was to keep my mouth shut if I didn’t know what I was talking about. I also got enamored of fixed gear and classic bicycles. Oh yeah, I had never stopped riding bicycles as an adult - I just kept reconfiguring my old mountain bike for commuting duty.

The first Riv-specific thing I bought was a used pair of moustache bars for a Ross Super Grand Tour I got at the goodwill. I paid $25
for the bike, and $25 for the bars. I still have them both, but I put a fresh set of bars on the Ross a couple years ago.

The second Riv thing I got was a Quickbeam, in 2004. It ticked all the Sheldon boxes except tire width (I recently found a 2002 sketchbook with my criteria for a dream bike - it was basically a Quickbeam that would take 54mm tires).

I’ve had the Quickbeam ever since, and it’s still my main bike - I commute on it from the Golden Gate Bridge Toll Plaza to the SF Financial District several times a week. I think after 15.9 years, the only original part is the headset.

Picture: https://www.instagram.com/p/B5bBj4ClY5O/?igshid=h32oexnlf792

Philip
Santa Rosa, CA

[Joe Bernard]

I remember Philip's Quickbeam on a Riv shop ride, which would have been when his bike and my Romulus (both first Rivs) were fairly new..I'm guessing this was 2005. I remember because everyone was talking to him at the ranger station about how crazy it was to ride a singlespeed up Mt. Diablo! My impression was it was his first time on the mountain and he didn't know what he was getting into. Good one, Philip! 😁

[Philip Williamson]

Oh yeah, I knew I was boned when I saw I was the only one with a 50” low gear. Fixed gear up, grinding out a cadence that kept me moving, and then dying after three turns and watching everyone I’d passed pass me back. I pulled a freewheel out of the bar bag at the top and coasted down, though. Fun times. We should do that again. This time with a kickback S2 on the Quickbeam.

Philip
Santa Rosa, CA

[ted]

Your mental Philip.

I've got two ss bikes I like a lot, but I'd not take either of em to that hill. I prefer having access to a 1-1 (e.g. 28t ring with 28t cog) gear on that climb.

[Carla Waugh]

As far back as Pineapple Bob I have been a fan. I remember entering the contest for what I don't remember pertaining to Pineapple Bob. I have ordered many items along the way. I had a Bleriot and a Sam at one point. I have always longed for a Quickbeam because I enjoy riding SS. Maybe someday I'll find one. I have only seen one in Norman many years ago. I have adopted the Bob/Rivendell philosophy in many ways.

[Joe Bernard]

I also remember a young lady on that ride on an orange Rambouillet, April or Ann I think. She descended that mountain at a speed that terrified me just watching. I've gotten better at it but I'll NEVER be that brave!

[ascpgh]

Roberta, Already have my room booked and saw on the Philly Expo Instagram that Rivendell is signed up to return. 

Andy Cheatham

Pittsburgh

[Melanie]

I first discovered Rivendell in 2008 via Alan Barnard’s late lamented Ecovelo blog. Once on the Riv website, I took a deep dive into Grant’s essays and became transfixed by the absolutely beautiful bikes. The obsession grew once I subscribed to the Riv owners list.

Living on the East Coast I despaired of ever seeing one in the flesh until I stopped into the local bodega one day. To my amazement, there was a caramel-colored Saluki resting against a display case, not locked up!! How gorgeous! But where was the owner, and how could they not lock up this treasure? I looked around and saw a gentleman on the sandwich line with a panic-stricken look on his face. So I slowly moved away from the bike, not wanting the poor fellow to have a heart attack.

Now that I had seen one in real life I couldn’t bear it any longer and determined to get my own. The Bleriot was the only bike I could afford, so the choice was easy. I spoke with the charming and helpful Riv-dealer Dick Denning of the now-defunct, Country Bike Shop who happened to have a complete Bleriot on hand. So in 2009 I became a Riv-owner.  But that was only the beginning…. Three more Rivs have now joined the family during the past decade. I sure wish I had a garage! - Melanie

[rob markwardt]

I think I got a copy of the Riv Reader while registering for the 2002 STP. The reader was pretty awesome back then and it was a big inspiration for how I feel about bikes and biking. I got a Bleriot frame when they first came out and have put many miles on it since. I also own a second hand custom (my main summertime ride) and just purchased an awesome Saluki to replace the Bleriot...not sure I can actually do that!

[Jim M.]

I considered myself a racer in the 80s (as was Grant, but he was faster than me from what I know), but I also toured and commuted by bike. I knew about Bridgestone, but I really started paying attention to the company when John Stamstad set the 24-hr mountain bike record on an XO-1 in 1991 or 2.  That got me interested in GP's designs, and by then I was living in Walnut Creek so it was easy to follow the development of Rivendell. I remember the early Readers had Campy and Simplex parts, among other delights, and even a boomerang (replaced by hatchets now?).

As I got older and bars below my saddle became untenable, I paid more attention to GP's writings about bike fit and comfort. My first purchase from them was a set of 650B wheels and albatross bars so I could convert one of my race bikes, which wasn't really being written about until RR #33. That worked well, and I got hooked. 

happy trails!

jim m

walnut creek, ca

[Surlyprof]

I moved to Mountain View, CA across the street from an early-ish employee of Rivendell.  He re-sparked my interest in bikes with his garage full of bikes he was reviewing for Bike Radar (his then employer).  We took his Bromptons (and a couple of trains) up to Rivendell to have lunch with Grant.  I had a great time and absolutely fell in love with the bikes and the Just Ride mindset.  Initially, I built up a wanna-be Riv with a Surly Cross Check and some mustache bars from my neighbor.  That didn't compare to the magic I had experienced on the bikes I'd tried out at Riv.  Fast forward 7 years, another Riv-inspired bike and after we'd bought our house (around 2015).  I was riding a bike everywhere so my wife succumbed to my pleading to buy a Hillborne.  I was just about to plunk down the deposit on a blue, sidepull Hillborne when a 2010 or 11 orange, canti-Hillborne showed up on CL only 10-15 minutes from home.  It was destiny.  I do regret that I've never had the full Rivendell purchase/build experience but the Hillborne I found has been the best bike I've ever owned in 45+ years of riding bicycles.  Anytime I ride it, I enjoy myself.  Even if I were to buy another (fourth) bike, I won't give up the Sam.  It feels like it was built custom for me.

John

On Wednesday, January 8, 2020 at 9:52:28 AM UTC-8, Pancake wrote:

Leah's discussion about long wheel base led to a lot of interesting discussions about how people found Rivendell. I'd like to know:

• How you first found out about Rivendell?
• What caused you to actually get your first Rivendell frame or component (or something Riv inspired) ... and what was that first buy?
• And could you add a photo of that first?

Personally, I was overweight and looking to make my biking more comfortable back in 2004 in Berkeley. Searching online led me to look at Brooks saddles and sweptback handlebars and ultimately to Rivendell to buy some steel Albatross bars ... which I still use today! On a student budget, I attached them to a Jamis Coda Sport (steel frame) with beefed up wheels from The Missing Link bike co-op. Then about 2 years ago my friend Ronnie gave me a Cheviot frame to build up as a distraction while waiting to adopt. The moment I finished building the bike, as I was attaching the pedals my wife pulled into the garage, jumped out of the car and with tears and a huge smile and told me to get plane tickets to Kansas because our daughter was about to be born! Now our daughter is almost 2 years old and I have the Cheviot, a Sam Hillborne, and the same friend is lending me a Rosco Baby frame until that we built a couple weeks ago for front kid seat rides. 

[Christopher Murray]

Found the Outside magazine article "Lead Us Not Into Titanium" in an Alaskan outhouse in 1999. Fast forward to summer 2000 and biking from Seattle, WA to Cape Cod, MA. Met a cyclist on an RB-1. It all just clicked and I've never looked back.

Chris

[Lucky]

A bike geek since I was 11 or so, I discovered Bridgestone in 1991 when I went shopping for a mountain bike to take to college. Couldn’t swing the MB-1 I wanted so I bought a General Pro Shadow.
In the late ‘90’s I attended Interbike for work and bought an Atlantis. (Still have, many miles and incarnations later) Currently sporting an Albatross bar because I am older.
In between I was a BOBlist member and have had a variety of BOBish bikes pass through my hands. By the way I did eventually get that MB-1.
Passing on the Riv/BOB inspired madness to my kid, we’ve built him a lovely’90’s Rockhopper all-rounder.

[John Bachman]

This is pretty close to my experience except b-stones were 93 xo1 and mb4.  1st official Riv purchase was a superbe xc pro rear derailler (still on my Atlantis) and tshirt!

Very proud and happy owner of 1998 Heron Road and a Made in Wisconsin Atlantis.

On Wednesday, January 8, 2020 at 2:13:43 PM UTC-5, Joe Bernard wrote:

I'm an original True Believer. My initiation to being an adult cycling person was going to a Bridgestone shop with a friend and seeing the XO-1 with Moustache Handlebars in the catalogue they gave me. I eventually bought a '94 XO-3 and signed up for the Bridgestone Owner's Bunch, which got folded into an RBW membership to get Rivendell Readers (my memory is fuzzy on how that transition worked). My first Riv product was a water bottle, my first Rivbike was many years later..a Romulus in 2003.

[Drew Saunders]

On Wednesday, January 8, 2020 at 9:52:28 AM UTC-8, Pancake wrote:

Leah's discussion about long wheel base led to a lot of interesting discussions about how people found Rivendell. I'd like to know:

• How you first found out about Rivendell?
• What caused you to actually get your first Rivendell frame or component (or something Riv inspired) ... and what was that first buy?
• And could you add a photo of that first?

Y'all may want to get a refreshing beverage before reading this:

It started in 1991 when I bought a Bridgestone RB-1 from Wheelsmith in Palo Alto (the original Hamilton Ave location). I got into "serious" biking when I received a 1989 Bianchi Volpe as a college graduation present from my parents, and wanted a "faster" racing-style bike, but one that I knew I might never race on. I was intrigued by the mix of practical components: Sugino cranks, Ultegra derailleurs, Dia Compe brakes, and Ishiwata steel frame. That RB-1 is still the one and only time I've intentionally gone into credit card debt, as it took me two payment cycles to pay for it. Eventually, the bottom bracket lug cracked, so I gave it to someone to take apart and learn frame building.

I picked up the '92 and later Bridgestone catalogs and somewhere learned about BOB, and joined early enough to be member #717. At some point, iBOB was created (a mailing list, I think?) and I joined. I was a fairly active reader and occasional contributor to some rec.bicycles.* usenet newsgroups and ba.cycles. I think it was from a usenet newsgroup that I learned about iBOB. I left iBOB long ago, probably 2 or 3 versions ago.

I bought a '93 Bridgestone XO-1 from BOB in 1994, I think this was part of the Bridgestone USA fire sale. Long ago, I set up a web page, complete with scanned film images, on that bike: http://web.stanford.edu/~dru/xo1.html I've since mostly disassembled it and put it away, and will eventually dig it out of storage, inventory it, and contemplate selling it. That web page is...well, it was me 25 years ago, I'll leave it at that.

In 1999 I was surfing the Ibis web page and found a "clear out the warehouse" sale that netted me a 1998 Mojo in Eggplant. That has a few Rivendell-bought things on it, primarily the fairly recently bought Velocity wheels. The Ibis is the reason the XO-1 went into storage.

I don't honestly remember the first thing I bought from Rivendell as opposed to BOB. Maybe it was a water bottle or cage or something. I do recall getting a lot more items, mostly small things, back then, as I really wanted them to succeed.

I did buy a "Rivendell Riders" Brooks B-17 Saddle and rode it for a while. That was an early offering, and not many were made. I think I still have it. I should sell it, maybe it's become collectable? Maybe I can trade it for a new car or house or something? I have regular, plain, black B-17 and Champion Flyer saddles now.

In 1996, I ordered a 56cm Rivendell Road Standard in "chameleon." Here's the very 1990's web page about it: http://web.stanford.edu/~dru/myriv.html 

That 1996 Waterford-built frame wasn't well suited to my weight at the time (I reached 275lbs in 1999), and the fancy pointed lugs cracked the downtube, so Rivendell replaced it in 2000 with a 1999 match-built custom that for some reason wasn't wanted by whoever first ordered it and it was the same size. That was originally in sage green, but I always wanted a red bike, so I paid to have it repainted by Joe Bell. 

I still ride that 1999/2000 Rivendell, but of course, many parts have changed over time, most bought through Rivendell. I'm still using the Suntour front derailleur bought from BOB; the Nitto Frog seatpost and the Dia Compe BRS 200 brake calipers, but most everything else has changed. Many parts migrated from the RB-1 and the 1996 Rivendell. I have some photos of it on the Rivendell Flickr group, but none more current than 2012, so I need to take some more recent ones and post them. I still have an original Banana Bag on the back. Here's one from 2011: [url=https://flic.kr/p/9cnEJW][img]https://live.staticflickr.com/5082/5379563274_fb804851c3_m.jpg[/img][/url][url=https://flic.kr/p/9cnEJW]All Clean and Pretty![/url] by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/drew_saunders/]Drew Saunders[/url], on Flickr

In 2004 I injured my right knee and was informed by orthopedics and the PT that I had to lose weight, so I dropped from around 265 then to about 180 in 2006. I celebrated the weight loss in 2006 by buying an orange Quickbeam, which is still my daily commuter (when I don't walk to work). It has a rack (Mark's Rack, I think) to hold the Wald basket and a BOB-era bought Carradice Lowsaddle Longflap bag. I think it's mostly original, except for tires and bar tape. I put a White 17/19 DOS ENO on one side and a Riv-bought 22t generic freewheel on the other, but mostly just leave it in the 40/17.

I still get items from Riv a couple times per year. It's been 14 years since my last new bike. Sadly, I have no space for another bike, and I still like the Ibis, 1999 match-built Rivendell and orange Quickbeam too much to replace any one of them.

In 2017-2018 I dealt with colon cancer (spoiler alert: I survived), so I have a good reason to celebrate with a new bike, but still no space. Maybe I'll just get new wheels with blue rims for the Riv? 

Drew