Custom bike

[Toshi Takeuchi]

Hi all, I've gotten several questions about the custom up on Instagram, so I thought I would tell you about the bike.

I plan to use the 650b bike for randonneuring.  It has the dropout that allows a wireless connection to a Schmidt dynamo.  I'm planning to ride with 42mm Hetre/BSP tires.  The 42s likely wouldn't clear the Paul Racers without deflation, so I opted to get the Compass Centerpulls.  There is internal wire routing as well as some thoughtful braze-ons for wiring of the taillight in the rear.

While Grant was designing the bike, he had me ride the Blue Rosco Road.  The long chainstays gave the Rosco Road a fantastic stability in the ride, but the bike felt really nimble when I shifted my weight.  I know that I am going to love the ride with the long chainstays. 

Can't wait till it's built up!

Toshi

[Dave Small]

For those of us without an Instagram account, it'd be nice if you could post pictures of the bike you're describing.  

Dave

[Toshi Takeuchi]

I don't have an instagram account either, but you can look at the riv instagram pictures through a link in the Blug.  Here is the link to my picture: https://www.instagram.com/p/BX6vQ-gl7WQ/

Toshi

On Fri, Aug 18, 2017 at 10:38 AM, 'Dave Small' via RBW Owners Bunch <rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com> wrote:

For those of us without an Instagram account, it'd be nice if you could post pictures of the bike you're describing.  

Dave

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[Bill Lindsay]

Toshi, it looks spectacular.  I can't wait to see it built up.  I love that you went with the long chainstays.  

BL in EC

[Ryan Fleming]

Wow....nice...can't wait to see it all built up

[Lee Legrand]

Hi Toshi,

What do you mean by stable? Do you mean the rear does not wag when you climb out of the seat? (That what happens on my old bike)

[Patrick Moore]

That's a beauty. Yes, lots of photos when it's built, please.

What is a custom going for now?

Lee: Toshi will speak for himself, but what I've noticed in all the Rivs I've ridden is an absence of twitchiness when you are going straight at speed, but also an absence of any hesitation or sluggishness when you initiate a turn. It seems to be a Rivendell quality. 

On Fri, Aug 18, 2017 at 11:48 AM, Toshi Takeuchi <tto...@gmail.com> wrote:

I don't have an instagram account either, but you can look at the riv instagram pictures through a link in the Blug.  Here is the link to my picture: https://www.instagram.com/p/BX6vQ-gl7WQ/

Toshi

On Fri, Aug 18, 2017 at 10:38 AM, 'Dave Small' via RBW Owners Bunch <rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com> wrote:

For those of us without an Instagram account, it'd be nice if you could post pictures of the bike you're describing.  

Dave

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[Patrick Moore]

Toshi: how long are those chainstays? >45 cm?

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[Toshi Takeuchi]

Hi Lee,

Yes Patrick is right, the stability is a feeling of being in control of the bike with the absence of any jittery feeling or twitchiness.  I had a similar epiphany when I converted my Ram from 700c to 650b and went from 32 mm 700c tires to 42 mm 650b tires.  The wide supple tires gave a strikingly greater feeling of control and balance on my bike.

--Not sure how long the chainstays are--I didn't see the final geometry on paper...

Toshi

[Ryan Fleming]

For me it was 3500 for the frame with braze-ons for Paul centerpulls. + parts and labour and I got pretty fancy with the parts (Paul,Phil ,Chris King,  WI , lots of Nitto, Rich l-built wheels,yada,yada,yada. Fenders but no racks or bags)

On Friday, August 18, 2017 at 2:47:33 PM UTC-5, Patrick Moore wrote:

That's a beauty. Yes, lots of photos when it's built, please.

What is a custom going for now?

Lee: Toshi will speak for himself, but what I've noticed in all the Rivs I've ridden is an absence of twitchiness when you are going straight at speed, but also an absence of any hesitation or sluggishness when you initiate a turn. It seems to be a Rivendell quality. 

On Fri, Aug 18, 2017 at 11:48 AM, Toshi Takeuchi <tto...@gmail.com> wrote:

I don't have an instagram account either, but you can look at the riv instagram pictures through a link in the Blug.  Here is the link to my picture: https://www.instagram.com/p/BX6vQ-gl7WQ/

Toshi

On Fri, Aug 18, 2017 at 10:38 AM, 'Dave Small' via RBW Owners Bunch <rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com> wrote:

For those of us without an Instagram account, it'd be nice if you could post pictures of the bike you're describing.  

Dave

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[Ann L]

Toshi:

The frame is beautiful.  I would love to see how the build turns out.

Ann

[Tony DeFilippo]

Gorgeous frame, and I'd wondered about the details having seen it on Rivs feed so thank you! I love the idea of the son for connector for a no wires Dyno. That really seems like the ultimate indulgence in rando-frame options to me. That green and the Rivendell on the down tube is also superb.

Riv is the only bike company I know where the stock bike model names get first billing on the down tube. Really interesting because you have to be familiar with the frames to know it's a Riv. And then the cost of entry for a bike without the Riv logo on your down tube is 1.5-2x... I do think my Saluki would be 1.5-2x faster and sexier with Rivendell on the down tube. But other than a son connector fork and a touch more tire clearance I don't think I'd change anything.

[Bill M.]

This may have to do with some dealings with the Tolkien estate.  IIRC Grant agreed to stop using middle-Earthian related names for any new products but was allowed to keep the company name.  So, customs under the Rivendell name and the Legolas are grandfathered, but new products get names like Clem and Homer.  

Bill

Stockton, CA

[Christopher Murray]

The Tolkien names thing was a story in several chapters. IIRC, it was originally stated that Riv was contacted by the movie people and told to stop using the Tolkien names that came after the production of the movies. A few years later Riv said that they had agreed to stop using the names voluntarily when they were contacted by the movie people. Next, Grant said that they were contacted by the movie people and Riv agreed to stop using the names voluntarily but the movie people really had no real legal recourse. Then Riv said they had agreed to not put the names on the website or advertisements but could still make the bikes and that it was all probably moot anyway because the movie people couldn't really stop them if they wanted to put them on the site but that it just wasn't worth the hassle and Riv went in another direction naming wise. I think that's where it currently stands.

I think the Rivendell/ no Rivendell downtube is just Grant's preference and possibly tied to the historical trajectory started with the multi-party Heron bikes.

Cheers!
Chris

[Joe Bernard]

The last part is definitely correct. When the Heron project happened the original Rivendell-labeled frames became customs, and it was ever thus through Atlantis, Rambouillet and onward. The model names took a turn to avoid Tolkein references later, but that was not the issue with the Rivendell name.

[Patrick Moore]

I think there is a complication. If I remember correctly, Grant actually named his company after a '70s, US manufacturer of camping gear -- Rivendell Mountain Works? Whether or not it was they, they have a current web presence.*

*And isn't that a sinister phrase? (Whooo! A web presence!)

From the RMW "web presence":

The Back Story

Rivendell Mountain Works was the brainchild of Larry Horton back in 1971. The flagship products were both based on designs created by the late Don Jensen, who was a climber active with the Harvard Mountaineering Club, in the 1960’s. Larry had a keen sense of how to manufacture these products to a high standard and a design philosophy of adhering to a theme of simplicity. In the 1977 catalog, Larry wrote “In spite of our choice to remain a cottage industry-or, perhaps, because of it-we have managed to continue an innovative influence on the world of equipment for backpackers, climbers and skiers.”

One thing that RMW gear came to represent, in the 1970’s, was gear that was reliable and had great longevity. Packs and tents are certainly two of the most important items that you need to be able to trust implicitly. Even now the Jensen Pack™ is built to be far more durable than many packs on the market today. For longevity and during extreme use, it is just not going to come apart on you. These packs are overbuilt to the nines.

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Auditis an me ludit amabilis insania?

[John Hawrylak]

I'm confused on the Tolkien discussion.   Patrick brought up the mountaineering company which I remember GP stating.  The only Tolkien names I recall is the Baggins Bags.  The Bike names did not seem particularly Tolkien, Atlantis is a well know lost continent, not Middle Earth.

Anyhow, how did it get mentioned on Toshi's custom??

John Hawrylak

Woodstown NJ

[Christopher Murray]

Legolas, Quickbeam, Baggins (a line of bags), and possibly a few others are Tolkien names. Someone mentioned that Rivendell doesn't put Rivendell on the downtube of non-customs and suggested it was tied to the Tolkien name issue.

Along with Tolkien, Rivendell was also an outdoor gear company Grant admired.

A bit off topic/ thread hijack for sure!

cm

[lconley]

Bombadil - in the books, didn't make the movies.

[Patrick Moore]

Legolas and Bombadil.

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[Patrick Moore]

Ah, and Quickbeam.

[Dave Johnston]

Any more build pictures?

Eagerly awaiting the full build!,
Dave

[Fullylugged]

And don't forget the Sauron MTB ;)

[Brewster Fong]

On Thursday, September 7, 2017 at 8:07:58 PM UTC-7, Fullylugged wrote:

And don't forget the Sauron MTB ;)

You mean this one?

[Bruce]

The very one!

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From: Brewster Fong <bfd...@gmail.com>
To: RBW Owners Bunch <rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, September 7, 2017 11:34 PM
Subject: Re: [RBW] Re: Custom bike

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[Ron Mc]

Beautiful frame.  

[Mark in Beacon]

Are those fenders or umbrellas?

[Toshi Takeuchi]

On Sun, Sep 3, 2017 at 6:22 PM Dave Johnston <jdi...@gmail.com> wrote:

Any more build pictures?

Eagerly awaiting the full build!,
Dave

Picking up the built up custom tomorrow. Gonna take it for a spin home--will try to post some pics soon.

Toshi

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[Toshi Takeuchi]

I picked up the custom on Saturday, and it is really perfect for me.  It feels fast in handling, extremely responsive to weight shifts, but feels stable.  The top tube is about the same length as the Roadeo, so the drops feel extremely comfortable, and the bars are set up high so I will feel really comfortable on long distance rides.

I am greatly honored by all of the work that Mark put into building up the bike.  It has many thoughtful features that I hope to highlight later in pictures, and the dynamo wiring was a nightmare that he fully tamed and organized on the bike.  I feel extremely fortunate and lucky to have received the kind of effort and attention along every step of the way that was necessary to receive this bike. 

--I offer this first photo of the custom quickly taken with my phone.  I promise more pictures and closeups at a later date.

Toshi

[Ryan Fleming]

that is a beauty

[Ron Mc]

It's time to quit Toshi - building another bike after this one would be pointless - she's perfect.  

On Monday, September 11, 2017 at 12:19:01 AM UTC-5, ttoshi wrote:

[RichS]

Congratulations Toshi. That's a beauty. Well done!

Best,
Richard

[reynoldslugs]

Toshi -

That bike is stunning.  The green looks pretty close to my emerald green 2003 custom:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/41563482@N06/albums/72157625808579123

twins separated at birth?

Enjoy that beautiful bike,

Max Beach

Santa Rosa CA

[Joe Bernard]

There's a bunch of amazing pics of this on the BLUG. I know this is the littlest thing in comparison to all the other amazing details, but I never would have picked multicolored Paul skewers on a green frame: It's so cool! My Cheviot-green Clem L is definitely getting those skewers.

[reynoldslugs]

ok, one more comparison.  The mounting of the pump on the seat stays got me thinking - here's my vote in support of seat-stay brazeons (albeit for a slightly different use):

https://www.flickr.com/photos/41563482@N06/13677927445/in/album-72157643546486474/

and

https://www.flickr.com/photos/41563482@N06/13677921485/in/album-72157643546486474/

I actually like the idea of using that spot for a pump.  Well done, Toshi.

Max B

[Toshi Takeuchi]

Hi Max--beautiful color! Hopefully the twins can ride together at a Riv gathering!

Toshi

--

[Toshi Takeuchi]

I definitely had fun with the Rasta Paul skewers, but the other key features are credited to Mark Abele who worked with Mark Nobilette to not only implement the ideas but make it a work of art.

Check out the front fender which Mark kept in place under the rack to maintain a beautiful curve. 

The dynamo wiring is meticulously organized and the rear wiring is not shown in the blug  but has beautiful wire guides that are tastefully hidden from view when looking from the rear.

Look at the rear cable stop in the last blug pic--wow that sure beats a cable hanger any day :)!

Mark had the idea to put some extra braze-ons for the pump. I was a little skeptical because my frames tend to be a tight fit, but the pump fits beautifully. I should have had a flask holder too ;)!

The paint is so beautiful I had to get a kickstand to protect it! I am definitely loving every minute with the bike!

Toshi

On Mon, Sep 11, 2017 at 5:01 PM Joe Bernard <joer...@gmail.com> wrote:

There's a bunch of amazing pics of this on the BLUG. I know this is the littlest thing in comparison to all the other amazing details, but I never would have picked multicolored Paul skewers on a green frame: It's so cool! My Cheviot-green Clem L is definitely getting those skewers.

[Ryan Fleming]

I am so happy for you...your bike is a real stunner...built by the best!

[Ryan Fleming]

Neat...that is a real custom

What is the screw in the seat stay above the bridge to the left of your pump...I know it has a purpose...is it for a rack mount? So there is probably one on the other side I guess. How elegant is that?

[David Johnston]

Very Cool! I've always wanted a green bike. Out of curiosity what did
the chainstays measure out as? Are the tires 650b Hetre?

-Dave

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[lum gim fong]

Congrats on the new bike!

What toothcounts are on the cassette and the  crankset?

 

[Toshi Takeuchi]

Hi all,

The screw in the back is a recessed rack mount.  My chainstays are 49 cm long from the center of the bb to the center of the rear dropout.  I have a 24-38-48 crank with 11-34 cassette.

See you,

Toshi

On Tue, Sep 12, 2017 at 2:13 PM, lum gim fong <john1...@gmail.com> wrote:

Congrats on the new bike!

What toothcounts are on the cassette and the  crankset?

 

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[Ryan Fleming]

Yours is a real classic too...colour looks more metallic than Toshi's though...just an observation

[Dave Johnston]

Toshi,
I'm curious what size the frame is. When you go to sell it I think it will fit me! :p

-Dave J

[Toshi Takeuchi]

Ha! It is somewhere around 52.5 C-T. My 54 Hilsen is tight in terms of my body parts and this custom has more room :).

Toshi

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[R Shannon]

Toshi, it fits me as well! Ha!

Best,

Richard

Sent from my iPhone

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[David Johnston]

Oh well too small for me after all :p

I'm curious about your Saddle height though for the bike. It looks
perfect in the pics so 68.5cm?

-Dave J

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[Ann L]

Absolutely gorgeous.  Congratulations on getting a truly fabulous bike.

[Toshi Takeuchi]

Good eye Dave, it's 69 cm.

Toshi

On Thu, Sep 14, 2017 at 5:16 AM, David Johnston <jdi...@gmail.com> wrote:

Oh well too small for me after all :p

I'm curious about your Saddle height though for the bike. It looks
perfect in the pics so 68.5cm?

-Dave J

On 9/14/17, Toshi Takeuchi <tto...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Ha! It is somewhere around 52.5 C-T. My 54 Hilsen is tight in terms of my
> body parts and this custom has more room :).
>
> Toshi
>
>
> On Wed, Sep 13, 2017 at 7:43 PM Dave Johnston <jdi...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Toshi,
>> I'm curious what size the frame is. When you go to sell it I think it
>> will
>> fit me! :p
>>
>> -Dave J
>>
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