Self-diagnosed Riv addicts (some) since 1994.

[Abcyclehank]

Anyone want to add themselves and their Rivendell fleet or history to a POSITIVE ONLY commentary on how Grant and RBW has affected your relationship riding bikes in the spirit of JUST RIDE in all it details.

For a starting tease: I currently have 10 Rivendell’s in a fleet of 16 bikes for my family of four (2 adult children).

Ryan “equally proud and embarrassed” Hankinson
West Michigan

[John Buglino]

I've got 5 going on 6 once all the part for my New to Me MUSA Atlantis arrive.

John in Jersey City

[lconley]

10 Rivendells plus Rivendell Custom on order. 23 bikes total. Just me.

Laing

Cocoa, FL

[Matt Beecher]

3 Atlantis (MIJ, MUSA, & MIT)
2 Saluki
1 Road Standard

Related
2 XO-2

More unrelated bikes than I would like to admit to..

Best regards,
Matt B

[Chris L]

I discovered Rivendell in August 2011, via a comment on a forum concerning a completely different subject.  I think the first thing that caught my attention was the beauty of the bikes and once I started browsing the website and reading, Grant's philosophy resonated with me and reflected much of my own philosophy with the biggest changes from his influence being to get me back on steel (from aluminum) and onto fatter tires.  

A series of e-mails with Grant, much of it not about bikes, ensured I would always remain a fan of both Grant and RBW.

The quirkiness of Rivendell is a big attraction for me but the biggest thrill I get is in following the development and unveiling of new bicycle models.  

In 2011, Grant recommended a Hunqapillar to me and next week, I'll finally have one.  

[Eric Myers]

Returned to cycling around 2009.  Was immediately inspired by Grant and Rivendell, but could only afford older bikes, including an XO-3 I kept original and an MB-3 which I Rivved out with Brooks saddle, Albatross bars, etc. Got up to 12 bikes for family of 3, but most are mine.

In 2018 I bought a NOS 2009ish Sam Hillborne frame, built it out, and haven't really ridden anything else since.  I keep planning to rebuild my old touring bike, but my Hillborne is more comfortable, fits better, and basically does everything better than the old one.  So as much as I enjoy wrenching on bikes, I like riding more, and I keep going for a ride instead of working on the other bike.

Meanwhile I'm in the process of selling off most of the older bikes, and finishing a Rivish build on one for my wife.  Hopefully I'll be able to afford another Rivendell one of these days -- for her if she starts riding more again, or for me if she doesn't.  I may take up rebuilding older bikes with Rivendell parts for friends and family if they are interested, but I'm mostly done with that for me.  I'd rather go for a ride.

Thanks to Grant and Rivendell, my cycling life is far more enjoyable this time around.

[Bicycle Belle Ding Ding!]

I found Rivendell in late 2012. I had ridden a Walmart Schwinn for years, pulling my 2 little boys in a cheap bike trailer until my Schwinn was worn out. The bike had many quirks, but the latest was some screeching sound it would intermittently make, and I would ride it, howling now and then (the bike, not me, ha!), through our neighborhood. After witnessing the freak show that was me, my old bike, and my bobble-headed boys in their bike trailer, my husband said, “You know, you really could buy a new bike...” Well, he didn’t need to tell me twice.

Up until then, a “nice” bike meant a Schwinn from Target. I decided I was really going to treat myself and find a Trek (a name I knew and equated with “nice”) on Craigslist. I ended up with a Trek 7.6 FX, which was aluminum with a carbon fork and a plush,wide saddle from the previous owner. I was so proud of my new bike; it was silver and I adorned it with pink accents. It came with a sort of rack/nylon zippered pouch that clamped to the seatpost, so I could haul a couple things from the grocery store. Despite all of this, I didn’t feel comfortable. I spent the next few weeks convincing myself this was a high-class bike and I just needed to get used to it. The tires were skinny, and I needed a new air compressor to fill the tires as the old one wouldn’t do 110 psi. I felt nervous when I’d take the boys off-road - the bike felt unstable and didn’t seem to like pulling loads. (I would later learn the term “squirrelly.”) The saddle was killing me. Absolutely killing me. The bars were flat and didn’t facilitate me looking around and enjoying the scenery -how was I going to point out my favorite ducks to the boys as we passed the duck pond? I was stuck with my wrists locked in one position, leaned over and facing straight ahead. But I had just spent $400 on a new bike (until then the most I’d ever spent was $140) so I kept telling myself I’d better learn to like it. I couldn’t face thinking this bike was a $400 mistake and that my cheap Walmart bike was superior.

I started looking online at biking forums to find out how to make bikes more comfortable. Everyone said, “Get a carbon fiber drop bar road bike, they are the most comfortable.” I had never had or wanted such a bike, but I wanted to be comfortable but still considered “serious” and I began to visit the local Specialized dealer. The bikes were garish colors and full of loud logos. I test rode one, and it was freakishly lightweight; not stable, like sitting on a plastic yard chair. I circled the parking lot, and when I turned those curlycue bars, the front tire scraped against my toes!!! $900, said the bike shop employee. I couldn’t give the bike back fast enough.

I kept searching the forums, and one day on Team Estrogen, someone said “Rivendell.” I found their website and knew this was what I’d always wanted but never knew existed. They agreed about upright bars! They said saddles could disappear beneath you, never to be thought of again, so comfortable were they.

Then I saw the price tag.

My husband thought I had lost my mind. But when you want something bad enough, it starts seeming attainable. Finally, he made me a deal. He had wanted to cut our cable for years and I had always fought it. He said if I cut the cable, I’d have his blessing to get the bike. DONE. No cable contract was ever severed faster, and I called RBW and got a guy named Keven on the phone. I thought I wanted the Sam Hillborne, because the sweet and sloping top-tubed Betty wouldn’t be seen as serious (remember, I’d spent months listening to the wisdom of popular roadbike forums and in bike shops catering to racers) but Keven disagreed. I’m so glad he did, because I needed him to give me permission to like that Betty Foy. He told me HE had a Betty Foy, and if I wanted to pull children, this was the bike for me. And he was right. He was so, so very right. The problem was, there likely were no Bettys left in 55 cm. He said he’d do some checking and get back to me; otherwise I’d be waiting until March. It was November.

I got a call back saying there were two 55 Bettys buried in the warehouse and one of them would be for me! I planned a trip and drove with my family to get my new bike. It was love at first sight and has been a blithely happy 6 years and countless miles together. In 2015 we got my husband a 52 Clem when his Target Schwinn started behaving erratically, and when his mother found out about it, she got herself a 52 cm Clementine! In summer of 2018, my brother in law lost his Specialized Sirrus to theft, and replaced it with a 59 cm Clem L in grilver. Finally, in fall of 2018, a fine fellow on this very List gifted my 12 year old a brand new shiny grilver 45 cm Clem.

So now my family is Rivendell-rich, and we are very happy and very grateful. Attached are photos from 2012 of my pre-Rivendell life and when I got the Betty Foy.
1. My Trek and the sad set-up my dog was forced to endure.
2. First ride. We were headed to church, so no dog.
3. With the dog. We added more padding to his basket later. We had things to learn.

Thanks for this, Ryan, it’s been FUN! I hope to hear everyone’s stories here.
Leah

[Leah Peterson]

NOTE: For whatever reason, the photos posted out or order. But the captions should help you understand what is what. Also, I wanted to post recent photos so you can see our Rivendell triad today. (My bike has gone through several iterations...)Ok, then I’ll stop....

[Justin, Oakland]

2 Rivendells currently: my Saluki and my wife's Betty Foy. Both have come from listers!

Past Rivs: Bleriot & Simpleone. I regret selling neither but miss them both in a wistful but not serious enough to replace them manner.

I would potentially buy a GBW to replace my Salsa El Mar (it's that a Jones LWB) and a Clem L to bump my Saluki into Road bike mode.

-J

[Eric Daume]

Think about when Riv started: bikes with fat tire capability and comfortable riding positions were hard to find. Even mountain bikes were mostly hunched over, NORBA clones. The whole bike market has taken a sharp turn for the better since then, and I think Riv helped that along.

I'm very in tune with the "Just Ride" philosophy. Sometimes it's nice to have a name tag for what you do.

Eric

with just one Riv, a Clem.

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[Linda G]

Rivendell empowered me to figure out the bike I wanted, source the parts and frame and build it up myself. I was unhappy with the fit and poor quality parts on the various bikes I had owned through my adult life. The best one was a 1984 Trek 620 but the top tube was too long and the handlebars too low. I discovered Riv 10 years or more ago when my brother sent me a striped wool hat as a gift and the package included a copy of The Rivendell Reader. I ate up the information and also read the Riv website and this Google group. At first I just ordered parts from Rivendell and purchased 2 frames elsewhere. Earlier this year I bought my first Rivendell frame, a Roadini, and it's the best bike I have owned so far.

On Friday, January 11, 2019 at 11:25:13 AM UTC-8, Abcyclehank wrote:

[Fullylugged]

New to road riding in 2001, I followed the hoi polloi and went lighter and trendier from Trek Navigator to Fuji Touring to a KHS race bike. They were progressively lighter and less comfortable. All steel frames though! In 2005, I came across Rivendell while looking for a part online at the Harris Cyclery website. Particularly the Rambouillet. I was intrigued by the "unracer" mindset and riding without being hunched over or clipped in and still staying up with others. In 2006 I ordered the Ram (which is currently out of r a repaint) and was just wowed by its ride, fit and finish. A pretty bike that got lots of positive comments and is easy to "just ride." I followed that the next year with a used canti Saluki off this list for touring. TBH, it was under used as I found touring was okay but not really my thing and I passed it on, again through this list. I picked up a 1995 Road Prototype frameset again from this list in 2009. It has a level top tube and short headtube. It also has standard Waterford front geometry coupled to a slack seat tube angle and longer stays that are signature RBW. 4 1/2 CM larger than my size in a 700c bike, it fits great with a 650B conversion. This bike was made at Waterford from Reynolds 753. Last Summer, it developed a crack in a chainstay. I emailed pictures to Grant who replied that it was very fixable. A frame builder in Clearwater FL was suggested to me and the tube was successfully replaced. It is being repainted this weekend (first coat) and I'll get it back in about 2 weeks. The cost is about 1/3 that of a new frame from Waterford or an RBW made by them. I'm looking forward to getting both back and building them back up in new ways. It will be just lke 2 new bikes! I've put about 15K on the Ram and 10K on the Road, thhe rest of my miles (about 52K total) spread around on other bikes no longer here and 2 that are still around.

The Riv way is not always entirely in synch with my own tastes (some of the current bikes, pine soap or hatchets for example), but the over arching ideas of bridging gaps with bikes, of their being an extension of ourselves, and being like a 6th sense that helps us take in the world around us resonates strongly with me.

Pictures of the repainted bikes as they happen!

[Mark in Beacon]

I took possession of an Ibis Scorcher in 1993, a year before Rivendell opened its doors for business. The Scorcher came with Specialized Nimbus tires in 700 x 41, so I already had experience with wider rubber (also my first Brooks saddle a black B-17). Up to that point, I had heard of Bridgestone, but my background was in bike racing.

I used the Scorcher for many years as my commuter and get around town bicycle in New York City. At some point, I decided to convert another bike, a Kestrel carbon mountain bike that, like the Ibis, I also received in trade for an ad in my magazine, which was about cycling in the New York tri-state area.

By this time Rivendell was up and running, and I ordered set of mustache bars for the Kestrel build. Over the years, I bought lots of incidentals and sundries, mostly clothing and bags and such, but never a bike. I always figured I could create my own from the stock of vintage machines out there in the world. And to an extent, this is true. For the most part, this approach fits my personality for a number of reasons (not having a lot of disposable funds being one of them, but not the main one).

At one point I tried to trade a Bridgestone Atlantis for a Rambouillet. We had agreed in principle, but had not yet worked out the particulars.But Grant went off to Interbike and I didn't want to press the matter. As it turned out someone else got the bike for him, so that worked out well.

I've long been a fan of Grant's writing and his insights about various aspects of cycling. I don't agree with everything he writes on the blahg these days, but that would be pretty boring if I did.
One day while over there on the Rivendell website, I saw the Clementine. My first reaction was what and atrociously ugly bike! And then that changed within a minute or so and I decided I wanted to get one, in part to check out the long wheel base design. And so I got my first Rivendell. I've written several posts on this forum about how much I enjoyed that bicycle.

Unfortunately, due to some metal medical expenses, I had to sell a couple of the bicycles I owned that were worth something, and the clam was one of them. My plan is to get another Clementine frame and fork from this list or Rivendell at some point, but for now I've created my wanna-be Clementine, from a bike I've had on my to-build list for over a decade, a 1946 Bianchi 650b City bike.

In terms of Just Ride, one of the big things is probably riding without pedal retention. People get pretty freaked out when I do D2r2 in my sandals. I've been on a couple of big rides where I've had it explained to me how much faster I would go with clip-in pedals.

Also, Grant's approach helped me confirm my proclivities for riding in regular clothing, although on a hot summer's day riding with friends I will occasionally get into a set of old kit. I'm also a big fan of beausage, although that comes from mostly non-Rivendell sources. Other areas where we overlap are steel, wool, leather, bar-end shifters, non disc brakes, and natural materials for bike luggage.

But what I admire most about Grand and Rivendell is their approach to business and their commitment to their vision and values. Those are rare attributes in today's world, and not easy to pull off. I also admire Grant for putting himself out there, something that I doubt is on his top 10 list of things he likes to do. He gets lots of accolades, but also lots of criticism and that's not easy for anyone, public figure or not. Definitely the one bicycling source of information products and approach that has most shaped my biking life.

I pulled together a quick photo album of some of my Rivendell substitute bicycles:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/jwpLoNQrPow1z9gT6

[Todd Porter]

Just one. A Clem L. Always wanted a Riv. But couldn't afford one. Then the Clem came out. Bought one 20 months ago. It reawakened my love of riding and motivated me to get rid of my car.

[Surlyprof]

My next door neighbor used to work for Rivendell before we met. 11 years ago he invited me to ride bikes and the train up to Rivendell HQ. My introduction to Riv was a wonderful lunch talking about bikes and life with Grant and my neighbor, Gary. I also had the opportunity to test ride an Atantis and a 650b Homer. I had never ridden a 650b wheel size and I really liked it. I was in love with the ride and the unracer idea of just riding to enjoy riding a bicycle.

8 years later, after two misguided attempts to create a discount Riv (Surly Cross Check and a SOMA Groove), I found a used canti-Sam on CL. It immediately replaced two bikes, the SOMA and a skinny tire Bianchi road bike. I did feel a little bad since I was just days away from buying a new Sam from Riv.

Everytime I hop on that bike I enjoy myself. It turns bad days into good and good days into great ones. I can’t believe how much time and money I wasted trying to create a Riv on the cheap. I have 2 other bikes that I really like for specific purposes but the Sam will probably always be my favorite and, by far, the most versatile.

John

[Patrick Moore]

That's very nice. What frames made up the predecessors to the Roadini? And how -- in fit, handling, other ways -- is the Roadini superior to them?

It's been so long that I can't remember clearly, but I think I learned about Grant in the early 90s during the Bridgestone USA days, from the ads, and joined the original boblist (mail, not internet) a few years later, about 1994. I bought a 1992 XO-1 a year out of date, so that sounds right; I set the XO-1 up as a 26" wheel road bike, and it worked well, better on road than off road, IME.

I was on the mailing list for the new Rivendell company and ordered a 26" wheel Waterford road custom in 1994, which was delivered early 95. I ordered 2 more in subsequent years (small wheels not for fit but because I had, and still have to a degree) a liking for small road wheels). Later still I owned a canti Sam and a blue Ram. Left are the 2 later customs.

On my "maybe on day, God willing" list is to try a Roadeo and a Clem or one of those long stayed bikes that do well on dirt.

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------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Still 'round the corner there may wait
A new road or a secret gate,
And though we pass them by today,
Tomorrow we may come this way
And take the hidden paths that run
Towards the Moon or to the Sun.

                                --- J.R.R. Tolkien

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Resumes, LinkedIn profiles, bios, and letters that get interviews

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Patrick Moore

Alburquerque, Nuevo Mexico, Etats Unis d'Amerique

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Auditis an me ludit amabilis insania?

[Patrick Moore]

BTW, "Boblist" originally was Grant's Bridgestone Owners' Bunch" by-mail membership list. I think that the internetboblist was started about 1995, after Bridgestone USA folded. I know it was there in 1995, at any rate.

[Tim Bantham]

I love this thread because it provides opportunity for me to tell my Riv story! I started riding as an adult in 2006. This was an era when yellow bracelets and TdF glory (and cheating) heavily dominated American cycling culture. My older brother convinced me to buy a road bike so I could get into group rides and pretend I was in the pro peleton. This is not quite how he put it but that was the extent of what I was doing. My first bike was a too expensive aluminum drop bar road bike. After riding that bike for a year or two I decided it was uncomfortable (surprise!) Next I convinced myself that I needed a full carbon fiber frame so as to eliminate any excessive road vibration besides it would be a full 1/2 pound lighter then my original bike. As funny as that sounds that was the common advice back then. I purchased a Trek Madone which turned out to be the most sketchy, twitchy and uncomfortable bike I had ever owned. My rationale at the time was if it was good enough for Lance it must be good enough for me. Boy, was my thinking backwards! I crashed that bike into a guardrails on an overpass breaking my ribs and separating my shoulder. 

After the debacle with the Trek I somehow became convinced that I needed a custom frame to finally get the comfortable ride that I had been seeking. Wrong! Even though the custom steel Gunnar was better I was still uncomfortable on it. After one more carbon road bike purchased I sold that bike for a Rivendell. 

I had first heard about Riv back around 2009 when I read the "shoe ruse". The concept of riding in regular shoes and clothes really resonated with me. That said it took me until 2016 to act on it when I purchased my complete drop bar Sam. Mine is a 62 with the 2TT. The self proclaimed purist in initially would not allow myself to become comfortable with the appearance of an extra top tube. That changed once I started riding the bike and saw how handy that extra TT can be when lifting the bike into the work stand with my frame pump still attached. It wasn't love at first sight however. I took me 5 cockpit changes until I finally settled on Albatross bars. The biggest road block to finding comfort was my ego. That Sam is now my most endearing bike. I will never sell it. I have since picked up an Appaloosa to serve as my dedicated touring bike, my grocery getter, my multi use riding do it all bike. That said, the Sam will always be a favorite of mine. I have the desire to own many more Rivs but I have learned to practice contentment. That said, I wouldn't pass up the opportunity to own an Atlantis or a Hunqapillar. 

I am thankful to Riv for changing my bike life for the better. I plan on supporting them whenever I can for many years to come.  

On Friday, January 11, 2019 at 2:25:13 PM UTC-5, Abcyclehank wrote:

[Bill Rhea]

I guess I've been a fan of Grant's bikes and since when I sold Bridgestone bikes as an employee of Bay Area shops Wheelsmith and the Bicycle Outfitter back in the 80's.

I've accumulated some great stuff from Riv over the years, bikes, racks and bags (Carradice saddle bag, then Baggins Bags, Sackville), and plenty of wool.

First Bridgestone was a 1992 X0-1, which I just gave to my son-in-law to use. Tons of commute miles and touring on that one.

Second Bridgestone was an X0-5, bought for $99 on Bridgestone USA's last day of business.  This was a great commuter when I was in grad school.

First Riv was a Quickbeam from the first production run, now set up with an S3X fixed 3sp hub. I may need to find a home for this, as it's less practical for my needs / geography these days.  But what a sweet ride....

Second Riv was a Romulus, which I broke but had repaired.  This is now my only bike without racks and fenders, set up with NOS parts for L'Eroica CA.  This is my only non-commuting bike.

Third Riv was an A. Homer Hilsen, which I got while the Romulus was being repaired.

Fourth Riv was a gray Hunqapillar from the first production run. This one has more miles than any of the others, and is my everyday go-to commuter and load hauler.

I can safely say that my bike experience over the last 20 years has been positively enhanced by Riv products and cyclosophy.

-br

On Friday, January 11, 2019 at 11:25:13 AM UTC-8, Abcyclehank wrote:

[Patrick Moore]

Bill: what did you think of the XO-1? Or, what do you now think of the XO-1 after riding so many Rivendells?

I owned, loved, and put many, many miles on a '92 myself, and when I ordered my first 26' wheel road custom, I asked Grant: Can you make it as good as the XO-1?" He answered, "Oh, much better," and so it proved. In fact, my first custom was sorta-kinda based on the All Rounder, but with geometry tweaked for road, and full road tubing and lugs.

The XO--1 was very clearly an idea and product at the beginning of a process. Riv's road models and all road models are now much, much better -- as good as the XO-1 was in its day.

--

[sameness]

I'm not Bill, but I still have my '92 XO-1, and idiosyncratic though she may be, I still can't quit her.

Have I wished for 700C? Yep. Have I wished for bigger 26" clearance? Yep. Have I wished for a little less twitch up front? Yep. Would I change anything? Nope.

She's had every handlebar known to man, and while they're all weird at first, they all work out eventually.

If the '92 XO-1 excels at anything, it's fast 'n fun commuting, or maybe often sketchy but always fun underbiking.

Jeff "I Can't Quit You Baby" Hagedorn

Los Angeles, CA USA

[reynoldslugs]

Well, thanks for this thread. It's pretty easy to make this positive.  I owe Grant and Riv a lot and would like to thank them.

I "discovered" Rivendell in about 1998, when my friend Bradford Rex (aka The Reverend Mookie) gave me a Rivendell Catalog.  I'd ridden a lot in college and grad school (70's and 80's), but fell away cycling for a numbert of years, too busy to ride and uninterested in the new bikes, new materials, new technology.

Brad showed me the catalog, with pics of good steel bikes and riders in floppy cotton shirts.  My ship had finally returned to port...

I drove down to Walnut Creek, bought some wool shorts, and ordered a Heron.   Remember I got some fat tires (maybe Rolly Polly's) for my Jack Taylor and one of my Paramounts.  My love for cycling came back, and for the last 20 years I've enjoyed life with my Rivendells.  Not sure how many I have, maybe six or seven.  Maybe more, I don't actually keep track.

I don't like to post stuff that sounds dramatic, or make my experience sound special.   But I will say the oncology dudes and cardiology dudes say it's a good thing that I've biked so much over the years. I truly thank Grant for that inspiration, for the bikes, and for my health.

My story isn't unique or special, but the bikes sure are...

some are here:

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

cheers

Max Beach

Santa Rosa CA

[Linda G]

Patrick asks what frames preceded the Roadini. Other than the 1984 Trek 620, which was a nice bike and just didn't fit well, they were a Peugeot UO-8, a cheap knockoff of a Raleigh mixte and another cheap diamond frame 10-speed (don't remember the brand). What makes the Roadini work is the tall head tube so I can get the handlebars up where I want them, adequate standover and no toe overlap. Also it's the choice of parts that work for me: low q crank, low gearing, brake levers for small hands, good women's saddle, short reach handlebars. The handling feels a lot like my former Trek 620 and is just fine. This thread is supposed to be all positive so I will not mention what I do not like about the bike and the Rivendell philosophy of fit, but I am not going to buy a custom frame and for a production bike the Roadini is great and definitely the best bike I have owned.

[William R.]

I was super aware of Bridgestone in the late 80's and early 90's. Didn't know who Grant was, but I loved the ads and the bikes spoke to me. Never owned a Bridgestone though. I think the first time I became aware that Rivendell existed was not until late 1999 or early 2000 when I saw a beautiful Rivendell custom cross bike on eBay. I remember being stuck on that one and drooling over it, but not being remotely able to afford it. I lived in San Francisco at the time and they had the US National Cyclocross Championships in the Presidio in 1999. I attended and thought cross was awesome and I thought the bikes were awesome because they afforded the clearances that my road bikes at the time didn't have. I was stuck in a racing frame of mind back then and bought a pretty cool cross bike to use as a commuter. All was well for a few years. I didn't look deeper into Rivendell and in 2000 I moved to Colorado. I kick myself now for not being more aware and taking advantage of having Walnut Creek so close and the possibility of visiting RBWHQ in the early years. Ouch! In CO I was still clinging to the racer mentality but all the time wishing I could have bigger tires on my nice road bike for all of the dirt farm roads out there. I experimented a lot and was following Riv more and more. Moved east in '04 and was dreaming heavily of Atlanti and Hilsen's by then, but they still seemed a little out of reach for me. Power clip ahead to 2009 and I finally made my first plunge and bought a orange, canti Hillborne. Hooked: I've always had a Riv since then. A bleu Hillborne next. Today we have 3 Rivs in the house: 1 Roadini (mine), 1 Appaloosa (also mine!) and one Betty Foy (my wife's). Our kids bikes are also heavily influenced by Riv. My son rides a Cross Check and my daughter has a neat Diamondback step through/mixte that we got at REI. I'm totally addicted to Rivendells bikes and their ways. Current dream is to fill in the gap between the Roadini and Joe with a new MIT Hilsen. That may not be in the cards and I will have to live with what I've got! Good thing Rivs are so versatile. My two can handle just about anything I could dream of doing on a bike at my age. It would just be neat to have that Hilsen as my full time fendered bike, the Appaloosa as my full time dirt bike and the Roadini as my full time road bike. My love for Rivendell continues in tandem with my dreaming! Hmm... tandem... there's a thought...

Bill in Westchester, NY 

[Jonathan K.]

3 in the house currently - my Appaloosa and Sam and my wife's Clem L. 

1 on order - Hubbuhubbuh

From the time I came across Rivendell's website 10 or so years ago, I've admired the bikes and enjoyed reading Grant's writings but really thought that owning a Riv was a pipe dream. Eventually, though, things fell into place and I found myself in a position to afford one. So, after years of struggling with bike fit, and trying lots of different bikes, I decided to buy my first Rivendell - an Appaloosa. I was so amazed by how well it rode that I bought a Hillborne a few months later, and then a Clem for my wife, and last week I preordered a HHH. Strongly considering a Roadini too...

The bikes are amazing, but the other Rivendell offerings have been just as life-changing for me. I can't imagine my Appaloosa without the luxuriously comfortable Boscomoose bars. My Sam would be a different bike altogether without the Albastache bars. Neither would be nearly as capable commuters without the Nitto Racks, Wald baskets, and the Sackville bags. I seriously cannot stress enough how much I love my Shopsack, medium Saddlesack, and Baggabond. I've tried lots of arrangements for carrying stuff bikes, and these are absolutely the best bags for me and my commute, no contest. 

I've always liked riding bikes. I've owned a lot of different types of bikes from a lot of different companies. I've never enjoyed riding as much as when I am riding one of my Rivendells. What could be a better compliment for a bike?

[reynoldslugs]

Along the way, I became a Rivendell "Lifetime Member," which meant you had a lifetime subscription to the Rivendell Reader.  Before Rivendell had a website, those Rivendell Readers were the thread that held us all together.  I still have them all in a binder, they're still informative (and relaxing) to read.

[Chris Birkenmaier]

I’ve been immersed in bikes for most of my life. I was familiar to a certain extent with GP/Rivendell. A few years back I read some glowing reviews of his bikes in a magazine and that sparked my interest. So like eating potato chips, I start d buying them. I now own a Sam, Roadini, Joe A, Quikbeam, Cheviot, Rosco Bubbe Mixte, and a Soma San Marcos. My cycling needs are well taken care of!

[Will Rhea]

Hi Patrick,

Oh man, I loved that XO-1....  Feels lighter by comparison with those 26" wheels. Quick, low profile, nice handling.  Great for shorter tours (like max 4 days) and just plain fun to ride.

Only downside was that the 59cm seat tube was always a bit small for my 6'3" height, and the top tube was shortish also.  At the end I set it up with Albatross bars on an old, super-long Nitto-made steel stem off an old Specialized S-Works mtn bike to bring the bars up and out, and I rode it that way for years.

That said, I really like my Rivs, which are all bigger (63cm Rom, 64cm QB, 63cm Hilsen, 62cm Hunqa).  I'm running fillet-brazed Bosco Bullmoose bars on the Hunqa, and it's just a dream to ride.  I used to take it offroad more, but now it's an all-weather, day/night, racked and basketed beast of burden.  The Rom is my "road" bike that's a blast on dirt roads too. The Hilsen is currently out of commission as it needs a new rear wheel (rim got a chunk taken out of it), and it has also gotten a lot of commute miles and some touring.

Cheers,

-br

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[Lester Lammers]

I rode a Rossin Record for 20+ years. Nice stage racing frame. Around 2008 I decided I wanted a fatter tire roadish bike. Something more practical but not a MTB. I'm not sure how I stumbled on Riv but I got a 55 Bleriot, loved it and miss it. I have a 53 MIT Atlantis that is my all rounder and it fits better than any bike I have ever had. I keep eyeing and considering a 51 MIT AHH but I don't 'need' it. Yeah, right.

[Patrick Moore]

I wonder how many Rivendell aficionados were first attracted by Grant's Bridgestone USA ads. I know that they caught my eye, attention, and sympathy, for their retro/contrarian/poster-art aesthetic -- this when bike ads had already become neon/flashy/agressive (far worse now!). 

Speaking of poster art (forgive me Father, etc., for here starteth a rant): It's to be expected that artistic skills and skills generally ("skills generally" means "artistic skills") flourish in a suitable environment; you don't expect high-craft blacksmithing in today's auto industry. But the mechanization of work, where machines take over more and more of human and creative (= satisfying) art and skill (note: I use the word "art" in the traditional sense of habitual and acquired knowledge of translating concrete imagined forms into given material or combination of materials -- ars recta ratio factibilium) leaves the "worker" more and more of a machine minder, that is, a drudge; a slave, to put it bluntly but accurately. And I have been reading recently how AI will take over even more highly-skilled work; even that of surgeons! -- leaving programmers on one hand and Orwells proles on the other to be bought off with elusive and unaffordable guaranteed minimum incomes, or else bread and circuses. The computer is the apotheosis of the machine; and I predict it will become the machine antichrist. Note: I do not by any means condemn all those who are in IT; my worth brother in law is in IT; we do the best we can in the circumstances given us. But no one can stop us from looking reality in the eye.

Look back at advertising in the late 19th and early 20th century, before radio and later television. Although poster art was already a debased form enslaved to the profit motive and the machine, it still had scope for real human creativity; even if only on hoardings and flyers stuck up in public places. I have a very nice, framed repro "Cycles Gladiator" poster in my garage: it's not Chartres cathedral or Siva Nataraj, but it's still humanly creative and, to that extent, a medium for beauty. Now, it's not even TV ads; it's Twitter -- our Golem of Greatness, to use Kunstler's phrase, is a man of his time. 

I am acutely aware of this because my daughter, a senior in high school with some graphic talent and interest, will have to find a job and, one hopes and prays, not only a job but a remunerative and satisfying craft and profession, in a world that is more and more, and at an accelerating pace, more and more merely an adjunct to the machine. Or else she'll have to write resumes.

Anyway, Grant's ads harked back to that already modern but still relatively human medium, and -- one grasps at even very small and relative goods -- they were very refreshing and intriguing.

I wish I'd kept my small collection of BUSA catalogues. (Yes, "...gues".)

On Tue, Jan 15, 2019 at 8:33 AM William R. <wrom...@optonline.net> wrote:

I was super aware of Bridgestone in the late 80's and early 90's. Didn't know who Grant was, but I loved the ads and the bikes spoke to me. Never owned a Bridgestone though. I think the first time I became aware that Rivendell existed was not until late 1999 or early 2000 when I saw a beautiful Rivendell custom cross bike on eBay. I remember being stuck on that one and drooling over it, but not being remotely able to afford it. I lived in San Francisco at the time and they had the US National Cyclocross Championships in the Presidio in 1999. I attended and thought cross was awesome and I thought the bikes were awesome because they afforded the clearances that my road bikes at the time didn't have. I was stuck in a racing frame of mind back then and bought a pretty cool cross bike to use as a commuter. All was well for a few years. I didn't look deeper into Rivendell and in 2000 I moved to Colorado. I kick myself now for not being more aware and taking advantage of having Walnut Creek so close and the possibility of visiting RBWHQ in the early years. Ouch! In CO I was still clinging to the racer mentality but all the time wishing I could have bigger tires on my nice road bike for all of the dirt farm roads out there. I experimented a lot and was following Riv more and more. Moved east in '04 and was dreaming heavily of Atlanti and Hilsen's by then, but they still seemed a little out of reach for me. Power clip ahead to 2009 and I finally made my first plunge and bought a orange, canti Hillborne. Hooked: I've always had a Riv since then. A bleu Hillborne next. Today we have 3 Rivs in the house: 1 Roadini (mine), 1 Appaloosa (also mine!) and one Betty Foy (my wife's). Our kids bikes are also heavily influenced by Riv. My son rides a Cross Check and my daughter has a neat Diamondback step through/mixte that we got at REI. I'm totally addicted to Rivendells bikes and their ways. Current dream is to fill in the gap between the Roadini and Joe with a new MIT Hilsen. That may not be in the cards and I will have to live with what I've got! Good thing Rivs are so versatile. My two can handle just about anything I could dream of doing on a bike at my age. It would just be neat to have that Hilsen as my full time fendered bike, the Appaloosa as my full time dirt bike and the Roadini as my full time road bike. My love for Rivendell continues in tandem with my dreaming! Hmm... tandem... there's a thought...

Bill in Westchester, NY 

--

[Patrick Moore]

I had a 55 (c-c; I think that was the next smaller size; 56.5 cm tt, c-c) which, with the level tt, was as much as 5 cm too short; but the tt of the 59 was just too long (my ideal flat tt size, c-c, is 60 X 56 or 57). I ended up with a long but very upjutting Tioga T-Bone stem to get the drop bar where it had to be, and back then my bar was about 3-4" below saddle. (And, I used a Cinelli Giro d'Italia with 26.4 mm clamp; I had to do some serious stretching to get it into the 25.4, and very, very wide, clamp of the T-Bone. Thank God for steel.)

Really, I think that the XO-1 was really the beginning of a Grantian design trend that led through the All Rounder, the Sam Hill, the various country bikes, and on to the long-stayed sweepback bar bikes of today's product portfolio (if I can borrow a bidniss term). One can jump in and jump out where one likes.

[Joe Bernard]

The first Bstone ad I remember was the lady racer on an RB-1 with a facial injury from a recent crash. She was cool!

[Patrick Moore]

That one I didn't see; can anyone post a link or the photo?

I remember the neo-retro Pineapple Bob ads. All had what I call a Grant touch.

I just found a Sheldon Page of BBUSA catalog(ue)s which contains them and other BBUSA art:

https://www.sheldonbrown.com/bridgestone/

On Tue, Jan 15, 2019 at 5:51 PM Joe Bernard <joer...@gmail.com> wrote:

The first Bstone ad I remember was the lady racer on an RB-1 with a facial injury from a recent crash. She was cool!

[Joe Bernard]

It's (lady racer ad) on a Blahg somewhere, Grant showed it sometime last year I think.

[Toshi Takeuchi]

I got introduced to Rivendell by my friend who introduced me to road riding.  He is a big fan of lugged steel bikes and showed me the Saluki and told me that I needed to get that. At the time, I did my first road ride by changing my mountain bike tires to slicks.  I enjoyed road riding, so I got my first lugged frame off ebay.  It was a nice used Marinoni frame I purchased.  This must have been around 2003-2004. 

I appreciated the common sense approach to bicycling espoused by Rivendell and latched onto the comfort and safety of wider tires.  I had my first child and wanted to take him on a trailer, so I got a used Surly Pacer that accepted "wide" 32 mm 700c tires.  Using wide tires was a life and death matter for me because the roads were not always maintained, and there was a highly publicized local death near my house on Grizzly Peak Blvd. when a rider lost control on the road and went into incoming traffic--presumably due to poor road conditions.

At this point, I was doing some long distance riding, and riding on a comfortable Rivendell was a big dream for me.  I broke into this dream when I purchased a used Riv Rambouillet.  I built up this bike myself and rode several brevets up to a 400k.  At this point, I wanted even wider tires and more comfort, so I bought my first new Riv, the A Homer Hilsen.  I put 38 mm Parimoto 650b tires and was sold on comfortable 650b frames.  My first big ride was a 600k on this bike.

During this period, the randonneur's dream tire was the 650b Grand Bois Hetre.  The Parimoto was nice, but going to 42 mm was supposed to be the optimum of comfort and speed.  I bought into that idea and converted my Rambouillet to 650b and honestly did find that the 42mm tires were amazing. 

At this point I ditched the Surly Pacer and made the A Homer Hilsen my commuter.  The 650b Ram became my brevet bike and I did a whole ride series up to 600k with the Ram.  The Marinoni was too twitchy and had a carbon front fork to boot, so it had to go and I bought a Roadeo for my "faster" road ride.  The carbon fork is a big deal, as an acquaintance of mine who also did double centuries came to the top of Coleman Valley climb and as he was approaching the summit, the fork fell apart and he crashed.  If he were 100 feet farther along on the descent, he might have been dead.

Anyhow, I managed to do the Triple Crown Stage Race--not really a race for my buddy and I as we were the Lanterne Rouge, but we finished three of the toughest double centuries within the time limit (which was a challenge for the Terrible Two).  Anyhow the Roadeo had plenty of good use there.

The Ram was a great bike, but it was a bit kludgey as it was converted to 650b and the brakes barely fit and the dynamo lighting required wires everywhere, and the front rack used P-clamps.  As you can tell, I just HAD to have a custom :-).   The custom rides beautifully, it's so stable and comfortable and beautiful.  I rode the SF Randonneurs Populaire this weekend, and I should have taken a picture as there were 50-60 bikes all lying on the grass, and my lone bike upright with a kick stand.  OK, I did take the kickstand off for the 600k, but I tell you kickstands are way underrated in the rando scene.

Anyhow, I bought my wife a Betty Foy which is the best bike she has ever ridden by far, and my family and I love the Hubbah Hubbah tandem.  I even got a Cheviot with Albastache bars.  I won't get any more Rivs in the near future unless they are for my kids or I want a divorce :-), but I am still dreaming of a mountain tourer when I have more time to do such stuff!

Toshi

[Patrick Moore]

Not unrelated to the thread about historical Rivendell match-ups: Grant's Blug of 1/7 contains a lot of interest, including the most eloquent and heartfelt (I assume) explanation of what he has been doing with Rivendell and how his focus has changed. I certainly don't agree with everything he stands for, or desire everything he designs, but I wholeheartedly like and support his business model: Love something useful and beautiful, make it barring as few holds as you can, with a staff you really care about and care for and pay as well as you can, and market it with a fervor of love and not by sly, cynical manipulation of people's subconscious fears and lusts. Hell, even if Rivendell was in the business of making fancy trivets, I'd have to support it simply because of their honesty.

And there is a lengthy 1990 Grant interview of Tom Ritchey from a 1990 Bicycle Guide (remember that one?), followed by some readers' letters; really surprising at the depth and detail of the discussions; you find that now only in aficionados' blogs. I have to say that while BG was excessively roadie, it was one of the best cycling magazines for its detail and thoroughness; no wonder it went out of business!

Finally, Grant asserts that the highest, best, noblest kind of riding is riding to the store. (I am being metaphorical.) Sheldon said the same. I have to agree, though only if that makes going to the store fun.

And, there is a very interesting

[George W Millwood]

I was reading a cycling magazine that was running a series of articles on bicycle builders when they announced with some sadness that Bridgestone was finishing up in the USA and that Grant was setting out on his own.  I enrolled for the boblist, I think that's what it was then, bought a bunch of bits and pieces and set about civilising my Trek hybrid.  I changed the seat, the seat post, the bottle cages, the stem and bars a number of times, the wheels, the drivetrain and finally I bit the bullet and bought Atlantis Frame No 93.  I still have it and still ride it and shortly I will complete the transformation and replace the brakes.

Grant changed everything about how I ride, I owe him an enormous debt which is why I still buy my bits from Rivendell when I can get them across the counter at my LBS.

[lconley]

Oops - 25 bikes - does that cross the line into hoarding?

On Friday, January 11, 2019 at 3:04:16 PM UTC-5, lconley wrote:

10 Rivendells plus Rivendell Custom on order. 23 bikes total. Just me.

Laing

Cocoa, FL

[Joe Bernard]

Found the Bridgestone ad.

https://goo.gl/images/764UoQ

I started here, got The Three Catalogues, joined the Bridgestone Owner's Bunch just before it all went south, then signed up for the Reader. First Riv was a Romulus in 2003, have had a stack of them since but oddly enough currently own none. Is a Gus next? Probably!

[Will Rhea]

Awesome photo gallery, Max! Thanks for sharing.

-br

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[Ed Fausto]

Not yet, seems its more likely to be 26 with the upcoming Gus. :-)

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[RichS]

This has been an enjoyable thread! Thanks for putting it up Ryan. My Rivendell addiction mirrors that of many others on the list. If I had made the discovery sooner, money spent on less satisfying bikes could have gone Rivendell's way instead (part of this cyclist's education I guess).

One Riv thing that has always captivated me is Grant's fork design. The fork bends are a thing of beauty and I never tire of looking at them. The crowns are pretty sweet too!

So happy to be a Rivendell bicycle owner/customer. Thank you Grant & Company!

Best to all,

Rich in ATL