My Secret Platypus

[Bicycle Belle Ding Ding!]

I have become like some of you and cannot leave well enough alone on my bikes. I was perfectly happy with my Platypus trio and my Charlie Gallop. But the more you ride, the more you know, the more you can’t stand something irksome in your build.

My 50 cm purple My Little Platy: dialed. Has a defined purpose. Fat tires, compact frame = perfect for dirt, gravel and travel. Have taken it on several of those rides this year and it slayed. Taking it on another dirt road 50 miles next weekend, and I expect it to do the same.

My raspberry OG Platy: Dialed. Became my camping and touring adventure bike this summer. Sublimely comfortable and utterly capable. Hundreds of miles of touring and camping just this summer! We are now converted.

Charlie: We’re in love. We go to all the club rides together, which is usually 3 days/week. He’s a scoundrel and utterly charming. 

My mermaid Platy: Crickets.

So, the mermaid. I was falling out of love with the color. And it was set up as a 1x, which was all the rage and definitely what I thought I wanted at the time. I got exactly what I asked for; everyone did right by me. But I was never in the right gear; they were all too hard or too easy, and I never felt at home in that gearing. Any other bike in my collection will do what I require of it, and each feels like it was made for me, and me alone.  

In the nearly 4 years we’ve lived in Michigan (which is also when I got this 1x mermaid Platypous), I have gone gangbusters on my riding. I am closing in on 4,000 miles for the year of ‘25. I have ridden nearly 12,000 miles in 4 years and I have developed preferences.

So, change the drivetrain, Leah, you say. Well, it was a fancy Garbaruk drivetrain done in lime and gold to match the earthy theme of that bike. Shifters, derailler, chain rings, cages, pulleys, cassette - it would all have to go. The lime and gold drivetrain should stay with that bike, and that bike should stay with someone who loves it. I decided I’d sell the bike with the drivetrain and try to keep as many parts as I could reuse.

Because I had another project in mind.

Rivendell came to the Philly Bike Expo with one of the prettiest, if not THE prettiest production color I’ve ever seen. A periwinkle stunner, belonging to James. When Rivendell released it as a production bike color, I looked wistfully at it. They were sold out at Riv, but one dropped onto the Blue Lug page in 55cm, and I bought it. It must have been the only one, because they were out of stock after my order went through. 

I sold my mermaid bike to a darling couple just north of me, so I hope to see it again one day.  I didn’t even have to make a listing as I had merely mentioned it to my buddy and he sent me a buyer.

I kept the wheelset, dyno lights, bars, stem, mirror, rack, basket, fenders, mudflaps and kickstand. I bought Silver shifters, a used derailler, traded my cerakoted Paul levers for silver Paul levers, new Rivet stamped leather grips, a rose gold Crane bell, Silver cranks, a triple, a new cassette, new seatpost (the new Platys have 27.2), and a new Brooks B68. 

Like most of my bikes, this one has a theme. The purple bike: 80s My Little Pony, Charlie: Northern Lights. The raspberry needs one; I’m working on that. 

This Platypus is a Woodland Fairy. It’s all I could see when I looked at the periwinkle. Ethereal, delicate, silvery lusciousness. 

I’ve covered it in little butterfly charms and holographic fairy decals for the fenders. There are bottles of “fairy dust” hung on the frame if you look for them. The colors are pastel and shimmery. The walnut leather brings an element of earthiness to the build.

I don’t have a dedicated purpose for this bike; it’s pure luxury to have it. It could be used for shopping, touring and even camping, the way it is presently set up. But all my bikes get ridden, and I don’t mind a little redundancy.

The instagram link is below, if you want to see the Woodland Fairy Platypus. And now, I’m really done for good this time. Hold me to it.

Leah

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPrnTrYkloq/?igsh=MXM1czE0YTMzYzJuZw==

[Leah Peterson]

And for those of you who don’t fancy Instagram reels, here are some photos.

On Oct 11, 2025, at 4:44 PM, Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! <jonasa...@gmail.com> wrote:



--
You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group.
To unsubscribe from this topic, visit https://groups.google.com/d/topic/rbw-owners-bunch/1lluONSzFMs/unsubscribe.
To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/dc934e51-e3a4-4783-9d2b-7fd9d8aadff4n%40googlegroups.com.

[Dan]

Leah, 10/10 build. 

I admire your choice to theme the bike. It’s an interesting idea I hadn’t considered before, apart from maybe a colour them like ‘silver’ or ‘purple’. But your themes bring so much personality to the build that I can’t help but smile. Bikes are fun. Bikes should be fun. 

The fairy dust - chef’s kiss. 

Thank you for taking the time to share the story behind the build too. It’s always enjoyable to read.  

[Kim H.]

@Leah,

I am very happy that you were able to purchase the last 55cm periwinkle Platypus frameset from Blue Lug. It was meant to be. Your bike looks great  !

The periwinkle color is absolutely amazing. It's the best color yet from RBW. I would be delighted beyond words, if RBW came out with a periwinkle Clem. 

I love reading your stories and thank you for sharing. Your Instagram presentation was marvelous. 

I wish you more wonderful adventures with joyful smiles. 

Kim Hetzel.

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com.

[Sally Bidleman]

Big Grin!!

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/CANRt_xkOFKsP%2B63HwGKAOA6LRLFkdC1spjvs9fvHr-TnV6CcGA%40mail.gmail.com.

[Evan E.]

Beautiful! 

[Ted Durant]

On Saturday, October 11, 2025 at 3:44:38 PM UTC-5 Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! wrote:

Rivendell came to the Philly Bike Expo with one of the prettiest, if not THE prettiest production color I’ve ever seen. A periwinkle stunner, belonging to James. When Rivendell released it as a production bike color, I looked wistfully at it. They were sold out at Riv, but one dropped onto the Blue Lug page in 55cm, and I bought it.

As someone who bought a 3rd Sam because of Periwinkle ... I APPROVE! 

And now, I’m really done for good this time. Hold me to it.

 

Don't look to me to hold you to it. I need all the support I can get in the N+1 bike club :-) 

I bet there are lots of people who'd hire you to spec their bikes for them, and that might help scratch the itch for a while.

Ted Durant

Milwaukee, WI USA

[Roberta]

Just beautiful and so much fun. Just as I thought nothing could even come close to your raspberry bike.  You get to stretch your creative mind beyond your writing. 

I think you need this bike for RivSister visitors- perhaps one from PA?  You can let your husband know this too!

A burning question would you do have a few months to decide – – which Bike will you be bringing to The Philadelphia bike expo in March?

Roberta

Philadelphia, PA

[Roberta]

Ted – –

I’m a very practical spender of my money.  I have a mermaid Platy which I like, but when I saw the color of James‘s bike at the Philadelphia bike expo last year, I was so incredibly tempted to swap out my mermaidplatypus for the same exact bike, but in periwinkle.  it is beautiful beyond words and what the pictures show. And Leah truly made it her own with her sparkling personality all over the Bike.

Roberta

[Patrick Moore]

Very pretty. I have to say it’s prettier than Ultegra R8000.

But I have to laugh when I think of fairy stickers in the middle of a peloton of Trek Domanes, Specialized S-Workses, and Cervelo R5s.

Kudos on 4K.

Patrick Moore, aiming for 3K this year but probably won’t make it (but next year …).

[Patrick Moore]

Along another train of thought: Have others found it hard to get both sufficient range and comfortable steps with even 12-speed 1Xs? 

I usually aim for comfortable steps instead of widest range but I get 14 sufficiently distinct and usable gears on the custom 2X10 on the Matthews dirt road bike with a 91” to 29” in range with the Thunderburt wheelset; and, with, very important, 1-tooth steps in the extended cruising range. In fact, accepting slightly bigger jumps in the gears above 80” and below 60”, I could probably get a low 20s low gear, but I don’t do loaded touring or 100 mile mountain rides. 11-speed could get me below 25” with no sacrifice (well, except I couldn’t use the lovely DA 7402 rd).

[Joe Bernard]

I love your Woodland Fairy Platy, that color is spectacular. The decals on the fenders are a darling (that's a Leah word) touch, and the fairy bottles finish the theme quite nicely. It's such a nice bike! 

[Ryan Fleming]

Why am I not surprised you got a periwinkle Platy, Leah? Glad you found a good home for the mermaid platy and I think the fairy dust periwinkle Platy is a stunner! It's you, for sure.  I agree that the periwinkle is one of Riv's best colors yet! And, of course, good on you for closing in on 4K miles and embracing touring and camping. 

[Leah Peterson]

Thanks for being so good about this, everyone! A woodland fairy theme is definitely not going to be everyone’s favorite number 1 top choice, but you see what I was going for and you’re complimentary! I love the idea of bikes being insanely personal; Grant said in the Blue Lug video that each bike should be distinct from all others. Uniquely yours. I hope if someone came across one of my bikes, they could look at it and know it must be Leah’s. My favorite bike is still and will always be that raspberry metallic OG Platypus. It was the first bike I had so much say in building, because by then I was starting to develop preferences. But it was before I began doing themes on bikes and that bike doesn’t have one. Since it’s the queen of my collection it is tragic that I haven’t figured out its theme. I’ve got to address that. Winter project, maybe. Probably going to involve anodizing again.

I have had the best time riding in Michigan. Worlds have opened up to me with camping/touring. I will still have a lot to figure out in that mode of cycling because our college-aged son was my partner and I will need a new partner as he goes off into the world to seek his fortune. (My husband does not ride and cannot be convinced. He has other gifts.) There is a woman widowed young who occasionally attends our women’s ride. She told me she would like to be my partner for bike adventuring. “I have a bike with fenders and I have bags and everything!” she said. I don’t even know her but I’m crazy enough to take her up on it. I’m in my I’ll Try Anything Era. 

But back to periwinkle - it really is amazing and I’m not surprised you bought that 3rd Sam, Ted. Color just matters, and I love the colors I have right now. Sarah Carlson (who is still with us but lost her Google password so cannot comment on here) told me I have a Barbie Dreamhouse collection of Rivendells and that’s just accurate. I don’t think Grant foresaw what might happen if a RivSister got hold of his bikes! I hope he never makes a pink mixte or step-through because I would be so tempted, and I really do not want a 5th bike, but also can’t see parting with any of my current 4.

Roberta - Gosh, how to decide which bike for Philly? It can’t be Charlie because he’s no good for carrying anything, so it’ll be a Platypus. You’re right that the periwinkle is a great guest bike; I hope my younger son does not take a liking to it and want it for college, however. He borrowed my mermaid Platypus before I sold it. We were doing the wild Wednesday Evening Ride in Grand Rapids. A day later, I sold that Platypus. We went to Chicago to bike the Lakefront Trail and I brought his OG Clem H. Within 3 minutes of riding it he said, “Everything about that other bike was better.” 

That is a lot of rambling about bikes for this early hour. Thanks if you made it this far in my wall of text!

L

On Oct 12, 2025, at 6:33 AM, Ryan Fleming <ryte...@mts.net> wrote:

Why am I not surprised you got a periwinkle Platy, Leah? Glad you found a good home for the mermaid platy and I think the fairy dust periwinkle Platy is a stunner! It's you, for sure.  I agree that the periwinkle is one of Riv's best colors yet! And, of course, good on you for closing in on 4K miles and embracing touring and camping. 

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group.
To unsubscribe from this topic, visit https://groups.google.com/d/topic/rbw-owners-bunch/1lluONSzFMs/unsubscribe.
To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/de69cc62-7df0-4320-ab65-35c7adab0373n%40googlegroups.com.

[George Schick]

Too late now, but a great introductory ride for this bike would've been 300 miles to Southern Indiana where this year's Hilly Hundred is taking place this weekend.  Two days 50~ miles each over some very steep terrain and yes, camping is available. Beautiful weather now, too.

hillyhundred.org

[peec...@yahoo.com]

this bike just makes me smile.  thank you.

[Brent Knepper]

no one builds em like Leah ᵕ̈ what a great post

much cheaper to accessorize with etsy (maybe?) finds than custom ano bike parts I bet!

Brent in colorful NY

[Dorothy C]

I got one too - found a 55 periwinkle frame very briefly available on the Blue Lug site last Tuesday. It arrived Friday and I finished building it on Sunday, borrowed wheels off my son’s 55 Platy that I store in my bike shed for him, until I get a set of Rich built wheels with SON. This is my second Platy - I also have a 50cm Sergio green from 2023. 

[Dwain Weary]

Magical bike. Beautiful!

[DTL]

Love the vibe of this! I have seen online before wicker basket panniers (albeit very pricey).

I remember thinking, if a Hobbit rode a bicycle, it would be a lime olive Clem with these basket panniers, but they would equally suit this fairy bike!

[Johnny Alien]

Look....do I kind of sort of want you to have a collection of every color they released each in a different theme.....I do. Am I sad that one left to have this one come in....I am.

Love the new bike! I am s super fan of the oil slick look

[Jay]

This works on many levels!  Love it :-)

[Leah Peterson]



Johnny, what a small stroke of brilliance. A collection of themed Platypuses is just the ticket. It would be more cost-effective for me to assign all the new Platypus owners themes for their bikes! 

DTL - you are exactly right. A hobbit would ride a lime olive Clem for SURE. And pack his 2nd breakfast in those wicker basket panniers!

Brent - it was MUCH cheaper to accessorize with little Etsy finds. I will probably do something similar for my OG Platypus. I’m thinking that bike is a flower. A posy, if you will. Should be easy to accessorize that theme.

Dorothy - 2 Platypuses and a Cheviot…we are definitely sisters.

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/9ad59dce-e4c0-40e9-97bb-716724dcb236n%40googlegroups.com.

[Josh C]

I'm loving your Riv collection. I say do what you love and do it well. I'm living vicariously through you're rides and bike builds. 

[Tyler Johnson]

Hi, Leah.

I keep a bottle of “fairy dust” on my Appaloosa. The contents are fur from my sweet departed kitty, Willa, who was always super excited to go out to the garage and build bikes. 

Tyler

You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group.

To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/b9e65c66-3f62-43db-bc08-b8e96d723e72n%40googlegroups.com.

[Bill Lindsay]

Willa was a very good kitteh, clearly.  

Expanding the "fairy dust" theme, I'm big on "invincibility talismans": something I deliberately and mindfully carry to manifest getting home safe.  For brevets I have bracelets.  A friend had an Etsy store where she sold handmade cat collars.  I bought some of her extra small cat collars and I still wear one every time I go out on a brevet.  Every time I put it on, I imagine Fafi saying "godammit bubba, don't do any dumb $#1+ or I'm gonna come kick your ass". My daughter has given me several "bike bling" objects that serve a similar role.  I still have the beads "FDFD" on my saddle rails on one bike.  She was like 5 when she gave it to me and she said it stands for "Fia Daddy Fia Daddy".  

Bill Lindsay

El Cerrito, CA