Second Rivendell Question - Avoiding (Too Much) Overlap?

[Chris Buckley]

Hi folks! This is going to be a wall of words. I'm sorry in advance!

Long time lurker, and I have recently bought my first Riv - a Clem! Which is great! But sadly, it has made my old Bridgestone MB-3 kind of... redundant and it's a bit long in the tooth with rust (which is the previous owner's fault!). For slim(ish)-tire, roadie, get-in-the-drops-go-fast duties I have a Crust Malocchio, which is great as well!

I've got a young family and that has led to clearing out a few bikes over the past 12 months (e.g. my big backcountry touring dreams that led to a Romanceur purchase are never going to happen, which is ok!). This means I've got a little money to spend, and a hole in my stable between the Clem (which I will ultimately set up in MTB/utility mode with knobby tires, a basket for riding to the market and a Thule Yepp Mini for kiddo outings) - and the Malocchio which is very much the road bike.

This hole feels like it should be filled by a bike that can do lots of things, but is a bit zippy (i.e. quicker than a Clem, slower than a Malocchio) and mostly pavement suited. It'll do a lot of commuting, and would be something I could grab for a quick ride to go get coffee, run some errands, etc. And it should be fun to ride.

I'm super inclined towards another Riv as in Australia I have Heaps Good Garage as a local dealer (Matt delivered my Clem!), and also Blue Lug proximity. I've also fallen in love with step-throughs since I used to get absolutely thrashed on my commute home by a guy on a Peugeot mixte.

I thought I was a shoe-in for a Platypus, but then the Charlie Gallop caught my eye. This Blue Lug video was very helpful (https://youtu.be/PukP_g4ct-w?t=2437), and leaned me more towards the Platypus, as it appears to really sit in the center of everything. But then do I want something lighter that is more like an upright road bike? Maybe! Or does that overlap too much with the Malocchio? And maybe the Charlie Gallop would be a bit wobbly/funky with a basket and my commuter load (a laptop and a change of clothes)?

Cost is not a factor - the Platy from Heaps Good and the Charlie from Blue Lug (both framesets) would ultimately cost me the same. And the parts from the Bridgestone will largely migrate to the Clem, and the Clem complete parts will migrate to whichever frame I choose (Silver Cranks, Toscos, etc.)!

And so I've talked myself in circles again. Gosh, I can't figure it.

Help!

[Jim M.]

I'd say Hilsen. More trail-ready than the Crust, but plenty sprightly on the road. Comfortable with either upright or drop bars, and big plus, it's in stock. 

jim m

walnut creek

[aeroperf]

I’ve had both the Hilsen and the Sam.
I’d say the Sam, hands down.  Country bike like the Platy, a little bit beefier than the Hilsen.
With 42mm tires it easily fits your gap between the Malocchio and the Clem.

[R Olson]

I would second the Hillsen/Hillborne recommendation.  I too have a Malocchio, which is a great road bike.  I also have a hardtail Mtn bike and wanted something in between that I could throw racks on and ride around in town.  I got a Hillborne and couldn’t be happier.  Between the Hilsen/Hillborne, I would just pick the size that fits you best or the brake type you prefer..  I wanted a Hillborne over the Hilsen because I already had a set of Paul canti brakes.  

Good luck,

Ryan 

[Bicycle Belle Ding Ding!]

Get that Platypus. I have had all three bikes in question - Clem, Platypus and Charlie. You want the Platypus. The Clem is great for what you’re doing with it. But if you want the perfect marriage between spritely and capable, that’s the Platypus. I was riding a Platypus in club rides in the 16 mph class and it was fine. But when the Charlie came out, it sounded like they made it for ME, and I got one. It is a bit lighter feeling, but not a lot, and if you ever plan to carry anything than go with the Platy. The Charlie is meant to be a road bike and not laden. The Platy is fast; you won’t feel slow on it. And the colors they’re offering are CHEF’S KISS this year.

Leah

[Brent Eastman]

Sam Hillborne all day. I have a Sam with upright bars and fat tires, goes everywhere, feels plenty different than my Roadini (your Malocchio), still super quick and fun. I think you could set up a Platypus different than your Clem, but they are pretty similar. Hillborne sits dead center in between your Clem and Crust, and could swing either way a bit more than the Platy could. IMO.

[Drew Fitchette]

I second Leah’s Platypus suggestion. 

I’ve got a 59 Clem and an 54 Appaloosa(similar to the 55 Plat) and although both are capable of racking and carrying stuff, the Appaloosa feels quite a bit more “maneuverable” and less like driving a boat.The Plat will feel plenty zippy and fun while still providing a super comfortable ride, and in the event you go on a trail or two the longer chainstay length will soak up the bumps.

Will and James have fantastic examples of how a Plat can be kitted out on the employees bike build pages. And Leah having experience with Clems, Plats, and her Northern Lights Charlie I’d say you can’t ask for a better endorsement. 

Just my 2 cents!

[Mathias Steiner]

A T-series (1993+) Cannondale would be perfect ;)  Fits 38s + fenders and has all the braze-ons. [TIG-ons?]

Its geometry is within millimeters and half-degrees of the Hillborne, which is of course the proper answer. 
Either bike will feel quite zippy.
The Platypus is much nearer the Clem than the Crust.

Your young-family budget would prefer a 'dale...these are  readily available through the usual channels.

[Kim H.]

@Leah,

Are planning on purchasing a Platypus bicycle in the color of periwinkle later this month ?

I, too love that color.

Kim Hetzel.

On Sunday, June 15, 2025 at 1:03:35 PM UTC-7 Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! wrote:

[Morgan Fox]

I’ll add another voice to the Platypus advocates. I got mine back in February of this year and it is the perfect daily rider (for me). My daily commute is about 12 km round trip and is mostly pavement with the exception of the single track that I add on at the end through my local park. It is an absolute joy to ride. It’s zippy and not sluggish yet stout enough to carry my 100 kilo self plus about 2-10 kilos of stuff on any given day. I carry groceries, my tote bag with gym clothes, an extra pair of shoes, etc. This bike is the friend who shows up to lend a hand, no questions asked. 

On a day off, I pack light and zip around on all sorts of surfaces. The Platypus is NOT a “slow” bike, but it is perfect for cruising when you want to take your time and it is wonderfully fast and responsive when you decide to pedal hard. 

My PBH is 88 and I picked a 60 cm frame. It’s perfect for me, but it would be unwieldy if I lived in a dense city. Transporting it in the car takes work, but it’s doable. I have to remove the front and rear wheels to fit it in the trunk of my wife’s Honda HRV with the back row of seats down. There are worse things in life. 

If I wanted something stouter I would have gone for a Joe and if I were lighter and carrying less stuff I probably would have picked a Sam. 

[Morgan Fox]

Here’s a picture, taken after my commute today. 

[Bicycle Belle Ding Ding!]

Kim, I don’t think Riv would even ALLOW one more Platypus to come and live at this address! I cannot use another, but I sure do wish my mermaid Platy was a periwinkle Platy!

[Ryan]

im sure you could  make that happen, Leah! That periwinkle is a great color

[Kim H.]

@Leah,

Yes, you do have quite the stable of Platypuses. 

I wish my Clem was a periwinkle color or on a secondary bicycle. 

Kim Hetzel

[Toshi Takeuchi]

I have a Homer and a Cheviot (step-through) and the Cheviot is more stable with a front load for me than the Homer. I have the Cheviot set up with a front basket. For errand-riding about town, I lean toward my Cheviot. For touring and fire trail-riding, I prefer my Homer.

Good luck!

Toshi

[Steve]

Chris - glad you initiated this thread. I've also been pondering a second Rivendell, though I'm considering a complement to my Platypus and have been leaning toward a light-ish pavement oriented model & build with the Platy already serving as an excellent allrounder. As others have attested, the Platy is definitely a versatile bike. I've run mine with 38, 42 and currently 47mm tires. I've settled on the 47s for mixed surface riding, but the 38s and 42s served nicely for brisk road riding.  

An additional argument in favor of the Platypus is that it is pure eye candy!  (IMHO)

[Jason Fuller]

The Platypus no doubt lands very squarely between the Clem and Malocchio, especially if you set it up with slick-ish tires and accessorize it appropriately for being an all-rounder. Charlie would also be great for the comfortable, chilled out riding position but my reason for thinking the Platy is the better bet is that with the kids, the Platy can wear a lot more hats - carrying heavier loads, or set up with the kid hauler. Plus, the tire clearance will facilitate a wider range of routes. 

There is no wrong answer here though, basically the whole lineup between the Clem and Roadini will fit the bill, so whatever sparks the most joy I am sure you'll be fully happy with. Arguably if you plan to run racks and carry stuff like groceries or beach kit, the Platy makes more sense on paper, but I'm sure the Charlie would handle it just fine too. 

[David Tilli]

Agree with the Hilsen recommendation. The Platypus is a fine bike but it does not offer a substantially different ride experience from the Clem in the grand scheme of things. Plus, the Hilsen/Hillborne are more adaptable and versatile. You can transform the Hilsen into a zippy road bike or stable trail explorer. Or anything in between!