Long Time Lurker, New Riv Owner!

[babypop]

Hi All, 

I hope your new year is off to a rolling start!

I've been lurking in this group since 2010, all the while pining for a Rivendell. I finally got a lugged Roadini frame and have the bike built and rolling. 

Here's a link to a Flickr album: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBWHdJ

And here's an overview of the specs:

Frame/Fork: Olive, 54 cm
Headset: FSA Duron
Wheels: Hunt Areo Lite
Tires: RH Barlow Pass, 700x38c (50psi)
Brake levers: Gevanalle/Tektro
Brake Calipers: Tektro 559
Crankset: Velo Orange Grand Cru, 48/30
Cassette: Shimano (M770), 9 speed, 11-34
Bar: Nitto Noodle (177), 44cm
Stem: Nitto Pearl, 90mm
Bar Tape: Origin 8
FD: Suntour
RD: Shimano Claris
Shifters: Suntour Bar-cons
Pedals: MKS Monarch II
Saddle: Brooks B17 Special
Seatpost: Velo Orange Grand Cru
Bottle Cages: Blackburn Stainless Steel
Chainstay Protector: Newbaum's

Some small things may change (How might a black stem look? Are those levers working aesthetically?), but the ride so far is impeccable.

I look forward to being more active here and sharing the love!

Take care, 

Michael Burns

[John Rinker]

Welcome Michael! What a beautiful build. The black Hunt rims really look neat with that lime-olive paint. Well done, and enjoy the ride!

Cheers, John

[Ryan]

Nice Bike! Looks really good and I'm glad it was worth the wait

[Bicycle Belle Ding Ding!]

Michael, oh my gosh! I was looking at your beautiful new bike and scrolled down and saw your pink/purple bike and was hit by an intense feeling I’d seen it before. And then it hit me - I met you at the Philly Bike Expo in Oct of ‘22! I have a video of us poking fun at Will, James and Vince. We’re busting their chops because we are embarking on a group ride to the Keystone Bike after party and they are renting e-bikes! Do you remember this? 

I love your new bike (and also your old one). Welcome to the group! Will I see you again this spring?

Leah

SW Michigan

[Patrick Moore]

Very nice! And welcome. I’ll be interested to hear more about how you like the ride.

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Patrick Moore

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

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[Patrick Moore]

I think that the ratio of black to silver with the black rims with silver brake tracks (and the tanwall tires) is just about right and the colors look very well balanced. In fact, I think the silver stem looks right and that silver levers might also look better, but I’d not increase the black beyond levers and rims. Of course, YMMV, etc etc etc. I have a mix of black and silver on my Matthews “road bike for dirt” that I think looks good, but the Matthews does not look as good as your Roadini.

On Fri, Jan 3, 2025 at 6:59 PM babypop <babypo...@gmail.com> wrote:

… (How might a black stem look? Are those levers working aesthetically?), but the ride so far is impeccable

[Jay]

Bike looks great!  Regarding the levers, if they're comfortable then keep them.  If you're really looking for something else, I think the Tektro RRL SR in Black/Silver would look great (and have a nice shape).

[Danny]

Congrats on the Riv! It looks great, and I agree with Jay that I think black hoods/silver levers would look perfect, but only if you've got the itch to switch levers and re-wrap.

Scrolled back on your flickr a bit, your Fisher Sphinx is so rad!

-Danny

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[Ryan]

The other nifty feature about these brakes https://www.rivbike.com/products/tektro-trp-rrl-sr-brake-levers-silver-drilled-alloy-gum-hoods-15180 along with their good looks and comfort is the little button that along with the QR  lever on your calipers opens them up a little more to provide you with additional slack to remove your wheels, without having to deflate your tires. I have mine paired with VO Grand Cru sidepulls and I love the combination. 

But of course, if you like your existing levers, do what Jay says and keep them. They do look good. That is a lovely bike. Love the color and you did a great job on the build. 

[babypop]

Hi All, 

Thanks for the kind replies! And I appreciate the increase in views to my Flickr account, too!

@Leah, I do remember you! That was a fun night! I'll do my best to make it to PBE this year, as I've been asked to help out with the ABEA booth (https://abea.bike/). Hope to see you there!

@John, Ryan, Danny, Jay, and Patrick, Thanks for the feedback on the black/silver ratio. All good considerations! I may give the TRP levers a try. For those with experience with the levers, do they increase the reach significantly compared to a more traditional hood shape? 

Take care, 

Michael

[Ryan]

Compared to old Campy SR hoods or the Shimano road levers Riv sells, I'd say yes. But just eyeballing the hoods on your current brakes, I'd guess not a lot. Unscientific, I know. 

[J-D Bamford]

Really sweet build, Michael. The green/black/silver and tan/brown balance is really tasteful. The green bar tape is unexpected, but perfect... has me reconsidering my tape choice. I received my green Roadini on Friday, but might take some time migrating parts from my old bike. It's a bit cold in my garage here in Denver for focusing on a build (and it's nordic ski season).

This RBW group is almost making me feel like revitalizing my old Flickr account... well, almost!

https://flic.kr/p/ij7Dz7. 

J-D

[Bill Lindsay]

Here are my thoughts on the subject

1. If you are going to run black rims on modern low spoke count, you get a pass for essentially as much black stuff as you like.  The dark rear Der also gets you some balance

2. Not being brifters is the key step to making it more of a retro look
3. On those levers, it's not hard to push out the pivot, freeing the lever blade.  At that point you could polish off the black and leave silver behind.  A pedestal grinder with a scotch brite wheel is probably the fastest way to get there.  

Bill Lindsay

El Cerrito, CA

[Pam Bikes]

Love the build.  I like the silver bars.  See you in  Philly.

[RichS]

Michael, welcome to the group and congratulations on your first Riv. It's a good looking, thoughtfully put together bike. Nice of you to include the build list. Enjoy the ride!

Best,

Rich in ATL

[Philip Williamson]

Welcome and well done!

i think the bike is perfect as is. The black rims and levers, derailleur and saddle, all recede and focus the eye on the lovely bike frame. 

if you still want to fettle a bit, i might say try panda pedals and a black chainstay protector.

Philip

Santa Rosa, CA

On Friday, January 3, 2025 at 5:59:19 PM UTC-8 babypop wrote:

[Bikie#4646]

Welcome Michael! You did a nice job on outfitting that Roadini. I'd leave the stem alone. The silver there balances the silver seat post.   I'll wager that the 38mm tires will be a sweet spot for the majority of the rides you do on this bike.   I have 38's under VO fenders for a Homer Hilsen that I use for mixed surface riding.I I 

Paul Germain

Midlothian, Va.

On Friday, January 3, 2025 at 8:59:19 PM UTC-5 babypop wrote:

[Ben Adrian]

That bike looks fantastic. To me, it's the perfect blend of old and new.

Cheers!

Ben

[Paul Germain]

Thanks Ben. In 2015, I purchased it from a list member who had restored it, had it powder coated and converted to cantis. Once completed, he decided it really did not fit wide enough tires for his purposes. The color he chose was more subdued than it appears in my photo. He said it was a vintage classic Porsche blue.

This bike may not be quite as capable as my Hillborne touring bike, but a fun bike for spirited mixed surface stuff.

Paul 

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[Jay]

Michael's build has given me the push to deck out my Roadini when using the 2nd wheelset, with narrower tires for fast rides with my friend.  

When I first built up this bike in February I was holding onto my dedicated road bike with Dura-Ace wheels in case I couldn't keep up (riding the Roadini).  So I mounted some 30mm tires on old CXP33 wheels, and with silver spokes I thought it looked good.  And I was able to keep up.  I've now mounted these tires onto Dura-Ace C24 wheels; great hubs, a lot lighter, and I think it will look okay as I'm also mixing black/silver parts, like Michael's build.  Photo to come!

Otherwise it's set up with GKSS 43mm tires on silver rims with silver spokes and looks good IMO.

[Nathan Mattia]

Welcome, Michael.  That Roadini is SWEET ACTION!

I was a long time lurker (maybe 5 years?) as well before finally pulling the trigger on a Riv.  

Everything I had always read about the ride and the feel turned out to be true.

ENJOY!

[J S]

Very nice. Love that you used bar end shifters. The green reminds me of an old Riv I had.

On Friday, January 3, 2025 at 8:59:19 PM UTC-5 babypop wrote: