How Rivendells are received in your city ... (was: Rivvish Shop in Santa Barbara?)

[Patrick Moore]

This is so odd, or perhaps I just live in a very nice city. Not only have I ever gotten only praise and interest for my Rivendells and other such oddities, but I've been a favorite at one of the high end, Cervelo selling, Madone stocking, carbon fiber living shops in town. Owners drooled over Rivendells, 1958 Herse, late '70s Ken Rogers British Racing Trik*. Local roadies and grocery store doofuses all say, "Nice bike!"

Hell, I even had the owner of another now defunct high end store accept the 30 lb rear wheel from a 3 speed Schwinn for spoke replacement and truing without a single grimace or sotto voce comment, and this was 25 years ago before I had any real shop cred.

(Though I did have a snarky youth make a deprecating comment about my hot rodded 1992 XO-1 ... Perhaps it was the purple rims and SRAM drop bar twist shifters?)

On Sat, Sep 10, 2016 at 6:19 AM, 'Chris Lampe 2' via RBW Owners Bunch <rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com> wrote:

When I first started looking into building up my own bike, I visited an LBS and in conversation I casually mentioned RBW being an influence and the owner grimaced and said something to the effect of "stay away from those Rivendells......".    About a year later, I was in there again and he was showing off his new Salsa that he chose for the frame material being steel and the chainstays longer.....for comfort.       

On Friday, September 9, 2016 at 10:55:59 PM UTC-5, PG wrote:

 Will Ashe wrote:

I live in Los Angeles, and as such am intrigued. Would it be a Riv dealer or just carry Riv like parts and gear?

Will

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

Will,

By rivvish, I mean a shop that understands a wide variety of bike designs, and accepts them all as valid. Or, to put it another way, a shop where you can walk in with a Rivendell and not get laughed out the door. (That's happened to me before.)


Paul

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[drew]

In Los Angeles, I've found the majority of bike shops tolerate my bikes and don't give me too much flack...to my face at least. Though there have been times, and there have been many unwelcome recommendations to better my riding. Almost always these come from the bike shop crew that just hangs out at bike shops. They don't work there, but they get some sort of feeling of power being able to offer advice and walk behind the counter of shops they don't work in. Is this unique to LA? I really hate this subsect.

I live on the eastside where there is a pretty large percentage of people who ride old steel road bikes. Some because they can be had cheap, some because of the more casual aesthetic. A lot of times shops just think my bikes are old because that's what they are used to, and a couple are.
I have 2 shops that I'll go to for work, who seem to fully understand what they are working on, and not ridicule me for it.

At the shop closest to where I live, the employees wear jerseys and Lycra while they are working. Yet I'm the weirdo for having a bike made of steel.

[Deacon Patrick]

I try to order stuff through my LBS and fail most of the time (as in "we can't get that even through special order). So I mostly order through Rivendell. My LBS does dutifully do things like hub and headset work for me.

A few days ago (recent enough I still remember it, not so recent I know it was yesterday), I passed a lad of similar age on a typical oldish front shocked MTB climbing up Lovell Gulch. He chose to speed up and ride with me and we chatted a bit and not once about the bike, though he constantly commented on how fast I was. I presumed an undertone of "on THAT bike, with RACKS and PANNIERS too, AFTER riding to the trailhead! in his tone, but it may have been breathing heavily.

With abandon,

Patrick

On Saturday, September 10, 2016 at 6:44:59 AM UTC-6, Patrick Moore wrote:

This is so odd, or perhaps I just live in a very nice city. Not only have I ever gotten only praise and interest for my Rivendells and other such oddities, but I've been a favorite at one of the high end, Cervelo selling, Madone stocking, carbon fiber living shops in town. Owners drooled over Rivendells, 1958 Herse, late '70s Ken Rogers British Racing Trik*. Local roadies and grocery store doofuses all say, "Nice bike!"

Hell, I even had the owner of another now defunct high end store accept the 30 lb rear wheel from a 3 speed Schwinn for spoke replacement and truing without a single grimace or sotto voce comment, and this was 25 years ago before I had any real shop cred.

(Though I did have a snarky youth make a deprecating comment about my hot rodded 1992 XO-1 ... Perhaps it was the purple rims and SRAM drop bar twist shifters?)

On Sat, Sep 10, 2016 at 6:19 AM, 'Chris Lampe 2' via RBW Owners Bunch <rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com> wrote:

When I first started looking into building up my own bike, I visited an LBS and in conversation I casually mentioned RBW being an influence and the owner grimaced and said something to the effect of "stay away from those Rivendells......".    About a year later, I was in there again and he was showing off his new Salsa that he chose for the frame material being steel and the chainstays longer.....for comfort.       

On Friday, September 9, 2016 at 10:55:59 PM UTC-5, PG wrote:

 Will Ashe wrote:

I live in Los Angeles, and as such am intrigued. Would it be a Riv dealer or just carry Riv like parts and gear?

Will

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

Will,

By rivvish, I mean a shop that understands a wide variety of bike designs, and accepts them all as valid. Or, to put it another way, a shop where you can walk in with a Rivendell and not get laughed out the door. (That's happened to me before.)


Paul

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[Patrick Moore]

Patrick The Deacon said: A few days ago (recent enough I still remember it, not so recent I know it was yesterday), I passed a lad of similar age on a typical oldish front shocked MTB climbing up Lovell Gulch. He chose to speed up and ride with me and we chatted a bit and not once about the bike, though he constantly commented on how fast I was. I presumed an undertone of "on THAT bike, with RACKS and PANNIERS too, AFTER riding to the trailhead! in his tone, but it may have been breathing heavily.

Not relevant to the "how do they like Rivendell thread," but speaking of passing: I recall some 20 years ago (I was a feisty 40-something youth) riding my knobby tire'd (Farmer Johns!!) around my parents' rolling Rio Rancho, NM neighborhood, and, stoutly climbing a steepish hill, passing another 30-40-something juvenile on a Merckx. "Nice bike!!", I said. He disdained to reply. I can recall other incidents of this sort, passing roadies on pavement while riding a knobby tire'd mountain bike.

Now that I am 61-and-a-half and regularly passed by many of the young women on my routes, I have to cherish my memories. (He wept tears of nostalgia into his yellowed beard.)

My brother (5 1/2 years younger than I) did me one better. Some 20+ years ago he was pulling his 3-4 year old son in a Burley up San Vicente Blvd in W LA, and passed a young buck on a currently fashionable road bike. "Hi! Howzit going!" he said, with no irony measurable by modern instrument. He was surprised that the other rider seemed discontent.

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[Brian Campbell]

You two are the biggest "closet roadies" on this list!

[Kai Vierstra]

Passed by Schwalbe Big Ones gets racers racing.
As for NYC bike shops and their love of Riv and the like, good shops act great, bad shops don't. Never having brought a carbon fiber $$$$$ into the bad shops, I don't know if it would change anything.
-Kai Vierstra
Brooklyn NY

[Patrick Moore]

Roadie, hell. This is The Deacon getting home for his daughters.*

* In reality, Reg Harris making time, but Reg was, despite all his many faults, a worthy disciple of The Deacon.

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[IanA]

"Hey nice Rivendale" was common when I had my Riv. Positive, but wrong!

I did get asked where my Rivendell came from once and seriously replied "middle earth". The fellow was happy with that and carried on.

I sold mine, but there's the odd Riv around. I saw a SimpleOne a while back and talked to its owner for a bit.

Rivendell carries some cache even this far north. But, being Canada, people will spot a Marinoni a mile off.

Ian A Canada

[Deacon Patrick]

Nah. At least in my case, I'm comfortable on my Rivs, thus enjoy riding, thus I ride them more, thus my engine is better then most folks. I get passed at my normal speed, and I pass folks at my normal speed. I do not speed up to pass or ride with. What's the point? Less enjoyable riding. Grin.

However on those occasions when I pass someone on the latest and greatest, there is a certain and pleasant satisfaction on the part of my engine. Grin.

With abandon,

Patrick

On Saturday, September 10, 2016 at 12:27:05 PM UTC-6, Trenker wrote:

So people who ride Rivendell bikes ( or own Rivendell bikes? ) are subtly or openly persecuted…yet possess a  hidden reserve of strength or willpower that enables them to blow past riders of other brands of bikes when the situation arises…?   :-)

[Patrick Moore]

Now that is eloquence piled on top of quick thinking! I approve!

On Sat, Sep 10, 2016 at 12:50 PM, Trenker <dctr...@gmail.com> wrote:

Another compliment came from a group of university lads in a car ( they love to shout out words of encouragement ): "Nice bike, Fag!" I responded with the only thing that came to mind, "Nice car, asshole!" All part of a pleasant ride.

[Joe Bernard]

I've never had any Riv prejudice thrown my way in the SF Bay Area, but this is possibly because I'm kind enough to be a very slow rider. Dudes on Huffys with fishing rods pass me ;-)

[Deacon Patrick]

Brilliant!

[RichS]

I'm with the Deacon 100% on maintaining the engine and just enjoying the ride. Here in the ATL I get a goodly number of "beautiful bike" comments from riders and non-riders. Once I got a "Rivendell"! shout from a guy in a car.
Made my day:)

Best,
Richard

[Zed Martinez]

I got stopped the other month in my neighborhood by a guy in a car, who rolled his window down to ask me something. I popped my headphone out (which I often use in my neighborhood when off for a commute), expecting to have to try and give some impromptu directions as that's what usually happens in these interactions. He kindly repeated his question, "Is that a Clem Smith Jr?" And I was, I have to admit, a little floored. Apparently a friend of his had also bought a Riv from the local Riv dealer (A1) and he'd been looking. So, that was an unexpected and lovely interaction.

I've got a few other 'nice Riv!' from other Riv or bought-parts-from-Riv riders (I think there're at least 3 Bosco'ed bikes in my city now, including another green Clem that somewhat confounded me when I realized what I had passed). Can't comment too much on the shops though, I do my own wrenching for everything but wheels and most of the shops around here are roadie and hybrid oriented, so, I'm already the oddball. I had a service guy at the big and commercial but still good shop tell me I was the first person yet to ask the shop about 650b studs. A1 excluded (they're just a lot farther away and I have to plan to get to them, less good for a quick item like patches or tubes).

On Saturday, September 10, 2016 at 8:44:59 AM UTC-4, Patrick Moore wrote:

This is so odd, or perhaps I just live in a very nice city. Not only have I ever gotten only praise and interest for my Rivendells and other such oddities, but I've been a favorite at one of the high end, Cervelo selling, Madone stocking, carbon fiber living shops in town. Owners drooled over Rivendells, 1958 Herse, late '70s Ken Rogers British Racing Trik*. Local roadies and grocery store doofuses all say, "Nice bike!"

Hell, I even had the owner of another now defunct high end store accept the 30 lb rear wheel from a 3 speed Schwinn for spoke replacement and truing without a single grimace or sotto voce comment, and this was 25 years ago before I had any real shop cred.

(Though I did have a snarky youth make a deprecating comment about my hot rodded 1992 XO-1 ... Perhaps it was the purple rims and SRAM drop bar twist shifters?)

On Sat, Sep 10, 2016 at 6:19 AM, 'Chris Lampe 2' via RBW Owners Bunch <rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com> wrote:

When I first started looking into building up my own bike, I visited an LBS and in conversation I casually mentioned RBW being an influence and the owner grimaced and said something to the effect of "stay away from those Rivendells......".    About a year later, I was in there again and he was showing off his new Salsa that he chose for the frame material being steel and the chainstays longer.....for comfort.       

On Friday, September 9, 2016 at 10:55:59 PM UTC-5, PG wrote:

 Will Ashe wrote:

I live in Los Angeles, and as such am intrigued. Would it be a Riv dealer or just carry Riv like parts and gear?

Will

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

Will,

By rivvish, I mean a shop that understands a wide variety of bike designs, and accepts them all as valid. Or, to put it another way, a shop where you can walk in with a Rivendell and not get laughed out the door. (That's happened to me before.)


Paul

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[Mark in Beacon]

Patrick asks How Rivendells are received in your city

Any Rivendell entering the walls of my city is greeted with maidens strewing local, in-season, native flowers before it. As soon as it is parked, a cadre of stable boys coalesces around it, scrubbing and polishing all the metal bits and gently washing the tires in warm, soapy water.

[Don Compton]

I bought my first Riv ( a blue Ram) around 2005. I am a club rider and after years of trying to ride bikes set up for racing and suffering severe back pain all those years, a fellow rider had just bought a Romulus bike. In a situation where I would try anything, I thought maybe I should take a look at Rivendell. Well. long story short. I drove to Walnut Creek, talked with G.P. for almost an hour and bought a Ram frameset that day and built it up that night and rode it the next day. My riding buddies were a little skeptical at first, but after seeing my improvement in riding the compliments started coming. 

With my newest Riv, a bright red Roadeo, I never get anything but compliments.

The latest trend to high quality, largers has renewed conversations about about my bike and Rivendell in general.

On Saturday, September 10, 2016 at 5:44:59 AM UTC-7, Patrick Moore wrote:

This is so odd, or perhaps I just live in a very nice city. Not only have I ever gotten only praise and interest for my Rivendells and other such oddities, but I've been a favorite at one of the high end, Cervelo selling, Madone stocking, carbon fiber living shops in town. Owners drooled over Rivendells, 1958 Herse, late '70s Ken Rogers British Racing Trik*. Local roadies and grocery store doofuses all say, "Nice bike!"

Hell, I even had the owner of another now defunct high end store accept the 30 lb rear wheel from a 3 speed Schwinn for spoke replacement and truing without a single grimace or sotto voce comment, and this was 25 years ago before I had any real shop cred.

(Though I did have a snarky youth make a deprecating comment about my hot rodded 1992 XO-1 ... Perhaps it was the purple rims and SRAM drop bar twist shifters?)

On Sat, Sep 10, 2016 at 6:19 AM, 'Chris Lampe 2' via RBW Owners Bunch <rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com> wrote:

When I first started looking into building up my own bike, I visited an LBS and in conversation I casually mentioned RBW being an influence and the owner grimaced and said something to the effect of "stay away from those Rivendells......".    About a year later, I was in there again and he was showing off his new Salsa that he chose for the frame material being steel and the chainstays longer.....for comfort.       

On Friday, September 9, 2016 at 10:55:59 PM UTC-5, PG wrote:

 Will Ashe wrote:

I live in Los Angeles, and as such am intrigued. Would it be a Riv dealer or just carry Riv like parts and gear?

Will

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

Will,

By rivvish, I mean a shop that understands a wide variety of bike designs, and accepts them all as valid. Or, to put it another way, a shop where you can walk in with a Rivendell and not get laughed out the door. (That's happened to me before.)


Paul

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[Joe Bernard]

Hey Don, was that the Benicia Club ride? I only showed up once, but it was on a Romulus around that time.

Joe Bernard
Vallejo, CA.

[Don Compton]

Sorry, it was the Stockton Bike Club.

[Will Ashe]

I see, I haven't had that issue but I certainly can understand that happening.

[RichS]

Kai, in your neck of the woods 718 Cyclery is a welcoming shop. You probably know they are a Riv dealer. Easy to see why. I had the pleasure of visiting there two weeks ago. Talked with a nice lady named Lee. Lots of fat tire bikes; few if any roadies. Three Rivs on the floor: two Joe Appas and one Clem. Lee offered to let me ride one but I didn't want to test out the unfamiliar Brooklyn streets.

Regards,
Richard

[Kai Vierstra]

718 is great! I took a wheel building class there. They'll teach you how for free, give you a discount on the parts needed, and let you use their shop to build. It's crrrazy! Best shop ever? Probably.
-Kai Vierstra
Brooklyn NY

[Surlyprof]

I've encountered almost all positive comments here in the bay area. After a broken chain took out my rear derailleur, I took it to a lbs to have the hanger readjusted. The kid who got to work on it was just beaming when I entrusted "such a cool bike" to him to work on. He took extra care in getting it just right.

My only negative experience was that my friend and previous riding partner quit calling me to ride after I sold the Bianchi and got that "touring bike" as he referred to it. I honestly think he feared that he'd feel the need to scrap his $9000 BMC carbon if I ever beat him up a hill on my Hillborne.

John

[R Shannon]

Selling Rivs and allowing a customer access to their shop to build wheels? Talk about full service. That is over the top! You may be right about best shop ever. Certainly in the Pantheon of great shops.

Thanks!
Richard

Sent from my iPhone

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[cyclot...@gmail.com]

Only positive responses from the shops. Interestingly the older guys are kind of neutral, the younger ones tend to really appreciate it. On the trails only positive, mixed in with amazement "Your rode up here on that?!?!?!" from the MTB crowd.

Funniest anecdote was when another rider at a rest stop one day told me I would be faster with clip in pedals/shoes. He was possibly right, I chuckled to myself riding off on the Quickbeam, thinking that adding 28 more gear ratios would make me faster as well.

On Saturday, September 10, 2016 at 5:44:59 AM UTC-7, Patrick Moore wrote:

This is so odd, or perhaps I just live in a very nice city. Not only have I ever gotten only praise and interest for my Rivendells and other such oddities, but I've been a favorite at one of the high end, Cervelo selling, Madone stocking, carbon fiber living shops in town. Owners drooled over Rivendells, 1958 Herse, late '70s Ken Rogers British Racing Trik*. Local roadies and grocery store doofuses all say, "Nice bike!"

Hell, I even had the owner of another now defunct high end store accept the 30 lb rear wheel from a 3 speed Schwinn for spoke replacement and truing without a single grimace or sotto voce comment, and this was 25 years ago before I had any real shop cred.

(Though I did have a snarky youth make a deprecating comment about my hot rodded 1992 XO-1 ... Perhaps it was the purple rims and SRAM drop bar twist shifters?)

On Sat, Sep 10, 2016 at 6:19 AM, 'Chris Lampe 2' via RBW Owners Bunch <rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com> wrote:

When I first started looking into building up my own bike, I visited an LBS and in conversation I casually mentioned RBW being an influence and the owner grimaced and said something to the effect of "stay away from those Rivendells......".    About a year later, I was in there again and he was showing off his new Salsa that he chose for the frame material being steel and the chainstays longer.....for comfort.       

On Friday, September 9, 2016 at 10:55:59 PM UTC-5, PG wrote:

 Will Ashe wrote:

I live in Los Angeles, and as such am intrigued. Would it be a Riv dealer or just carry Riv like parts and gear?

Will

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

Will,

By rivvish, I mean a shop that understands a wide variety of bike designs, and accepts them all as valid. Or, to put it another way, a shop where you can walk in with a Rivendell and not get laughed out the door. (That's happened to me before.)


Paul

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[Jeff B]

My coworkers know that I commute 20 miles round trip every day, but most of them are shocked when they actually see my bike. "Do you ride that far on a beach cruiser?"

[Alexei Marcoux]

When I lived in Chicago, I got much Riv-love from the now-defunct Rapid Transit Cycle Shop (one of whose mechanics, Doug Haynes, built up beautifully for me a fixie-with-a-front-drum-brake SimpleOne). Here in midtown Omaha, I have received favorable responses to my Rivendell ownership from Olympia Cycles (who built up my first-ever derailleur-geared bike, a Velo Orange Campeur) and from Riv dealer Omaha Bicycle Company (which will supply me imminently with a new 52cm Clem Low in mustard).

[Patrick Moore]

Just yesterday evening as I pulled up to Albertson's front door on my '03, a shopper leaving exclaimed, "Nice bike!" Those praising the bike are by no means usually cyclists themselves -- or, at least, they don't look like the sort of person who has studied bikes for years. Though occasionally, I'll have a passer-by say, "Rivendell! Nice!"

[Scott McLain]

I was exited to get my new used Homer.  I have a couple of neighbors that are good friends and big bikers.  When it finally came, my neighbor came over and picked it up and said "it's kind of heavy, how much did you pay for it?".  

I live where I never see another Riv in the wild.  I ride it every day to work.  I don't know that anyone knows what it is or appreciates it like I do.  But I love it more and more with every ride.

My wife and I were in San Francisco last week and took our Riv's.  I got a few compliments there and saw a few other Riv's in the wild.  The Homer and Sam are the perfect bikes for the city.  The funnest trip we have had.  I highly recommend the Street's of San Francisco guided bike tour.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/100305995@N06/shares/g4aVZF

Scott

[R Shannon]

Scott, that's a beautiful Homer!

Regards,

Richard

Sent from my iPhone

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[Fred Craven]

In Dallas I have met two kinds of people: Those in the know, and those not. The latter are all over the place. They see me in my upright position, and feel that they have to get past me (least they be considered slow). Some of them feel like they need to suggest how I should pedal (I spin more than you do, deal with it, I'm comfortable with a higher cadence), they think I really need toe clips (I like toe clips, really, but right now, I'm enjoying my flat pedals). Then... They call my Rivendell a "cruiser" 

It's not a cruiser damnit, it's a road bike. OK, I'll let that one go, to the ignorant they think that any bike with a steel frame, upright bars and/or a color other than black, white, or red, is a "cruiser": fine. I can let them think that.

But the former group: Those who know–It doesn't matter what they ride, be it steel, aluminum, or carbon, it doesn't matter what kind of clothes they wear, or how fast or slow they go–they know. They know that each of us is a part of a community, and that there are different kinds of people,bike, and bike riding, and they know that a Rivendell is a beautiful thing. It usually starts with the color (Joel Green), then the lugs, then the parts. It may not be for them, but they totally respect it. 

Not as many of those folks, but they are here.

If they are cool enough I give them the question they really want to here, "Would you like to ride it?"

[Caroline Golum]

Here in NYC we don't see a whole lot of Rivs, but the touring style is becoming increasingly popular for long-ish rides, hauling groceries, commuting, etc. I can say that every shop I've been to has received the bike well - mechanics are generally impressed. Riders, not so much. 

[Marc Irwin]

Here in Kalamazoo there are probably 10 or 12 Riv's.  Mine seem to be the only ones out in public on a regular basis.  I usually hear, "Nice!  How old is it? It must weigh a ton!"  But this reminds me of a club ride with my Hillborne a few weeks ago:http://simplecycle-marc.blogspot.com/2016/08/had-really-pleasant-ride-to-breakfast.html

Marc 

[Ryan Fleming]

My experience..generally is that my rivs are much admired...some riders and shop folks really love the lugs and the classic good looks. There are not a whole lot of Rivendells in Winnipeg...if there are more than 20 in Winnipeg , I'd be very surprised

[Scott Henry]

I'd be surprised if there is more than 20 in any city outside of San Fransisco or Portland.

 

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[Brad]

Quickly, off the top of my head, I can list 14 Rivs I've bumped into (or noticed locked up) in NYC. That's not counting riders on this list I've never met. I'm sure there are many more than 20 here.

Brad P.

Queens

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[Dave Johnston]

Over 20 in the DC area for sure, but we have had a Riv dealer on and off for 20 yrs. 1st Collage Park bikes now Gravel and Grind. Plus its not unusual for Riv owners to own more than one.

-Dave J

On Saturday, September 10, 2016 at 8:44:59 AM UTC-4, Patrick Moore wrote:

This is so odd, or perhaps I just live in a very nice city. Not only have I ever gotten only praise and interest for my Rivendells and other such oddities, but I've been a favorite at one of the high end, Cervelo selling, Madone stocking, carbon fiber living shops in town. Owners drooled over Rivendells, 1958 Herse, late '70s Ken Rogers British Racing Trik*. Local roadies and grocery store doofuses all say, "Nice bike!"

Hell, I even had the owner of another now defunct high end store accept the 30 lb rear wheel from a 3 speed Schwinn for spoke replacement and truing without a single grimace or sotto voce comment, and this was 25 years ago before I had any real shop cred.

(Though I did have a snarky youth make a deprecating comment about my hot rodded 1992 XO-1 ... Perhaps it was the purple rims and SRAM drop bar twist shifters?)

On Sat, Sep 10, 2016 at 6:19 AM, 'Chris Lampe 2' via RBW Owners Bunch <rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com> wrote:

When I first started looking into building up my own bike, I visited an LBS and in conversation I casually mentioned RBW being an influence and the owner grimaced and said something to the effect of "stay away from those Rivendells......".    About a year later, I was in there again and he was showing off his new Salsa that he chose for the frame material being steel and the chainstays longer.....for comfort.       

On Friday, September 9, 2016 at 10:55:59 PM UTC-5, PG wrote:

 Will Ashe wrote:

I live in Los Angeles, and as such am intrigued. Would it be a Riv dealer or just carry Riv like parts and gear?

Will

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

Will,

By rivvish, I mean a shop that understands a wide variety of bike designs, and accepts them all as valid. Or, to put it another way, a shop where you can walk in with a Rivendell and not get laughed out the door. (That's happened to me before.)


Paul

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[Surlyprof]

Nice write up, Marc. My experiences have been similar.

John

[ascpgh]

I receive some of what Marc describes so well, but I also draw the ire of CF riders whose bikes cost multiples of what mine did yet it is my bike that is singularly noted and complimented by other riders. CF, low spokes wheels and electric shifting have become the uniform backdrop against which my Rivendell stands out. 

I rode a community event here a few weeks ago and gravitated toward a fella on a Merckx Corsa TSX in 7-11 red and green with a full Mavic group, including BB, cranks, HS, stem, bars, brakes and levers. We struck up a nice conversation and rode the metric century together. We collected many overt compliments and attention from others in the sea of that new normal. 

There is a groundswell of practical bikes with fenders, lights, bags and racks beginning to show in the streets and roads lately. Bike shops being businesses are either welcoming that interest or turning away new customers. 

Andy Cheatham

Pittsburgh