19-year old Riv

[James Valiensi]

I’ve had my Rivendell custom since Feb 2003. It’s been thru several iterations. I just fitted the Losco handle bars and long stem. The red pedals are hideous, don’t you think? 

[Damien]

Well, wow. This is a really lovely Riv. Thanks for sharing.

Fun fact: your bike is legal drinking age in Canada!

[Collin A]

That is an immaculate bike, and I actually like the pop of red on those pedals!

Is this version 19.1, or has is stayed mostly the same throughout those 19 years?

Cheers,

Collin, almost as young as Rivendell, in Sacramento

[Patrick Moore]

Very nice!

On Thu, Dec 17, 2020 at 9:13 AM James Valiensi <jpval...@gmail.com> wrote:

I’ve had my Rivendell custom since Feb 2003. It’s been thru several iterations. I just fitted the Losco handle bars and long stem. The red pedals are hideous, don’t you think? 

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Patrick Moore

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

[Patrick Moore]

Forgot to add that my Joe Starck 26" wheel fixie gofast road custom is getting on for 22 years next April. It gets ridden less these days than the dirt road bikes or the new Matthews fixed/3 speed road bike, but I took it out yesterday and man, once again as always over the years, it just feels (1) comfortable like well broken in, high-quality shoes, and (2) just is easy to pedal. Like coming home.

James: Your custom is getting on for 18 years. 2021 - 2003 = 18. That's all right, it will grow up.

[James Valiensi]

Hi,

I’m a regular parts changer, I like to try different combinations. But this is really close to the first build.

The fenders and headset are original. The shifters are the same thing, but new because the originals are missing parts.

The wheels are about ten years old. They are lightweight for racing bikes but are strong and feel super fast.

The tires are a Specialized cottons. Its my second set, I worn one set out this year. I highly recommend these tires.

The rear derailleur came with my wife’s Clementine. I replaced an older Ultegra long cage with it and was surprised to find a noticeable difference in chain drag. The bigger wheels do make a difference. 

The 1st Brooks saddle was replaced in kind.

The Campy Nouvo Record seat post has a filing job, that I learned from the late Brian Baylis. 

Original brakes where Shimano long reach, then Velo Orange came out with the Grand Creu billet jobs. They are very good brakes. I just got the Paul levers, the  high polish remind me of Harley Davidson parts.

I’ve tried a front rack and this bikes handling get much worse with it on. Actually, the steering on this bike is not neutral. It likes to dance around and tucks in towards the center of curves. It takes me a few rides to get use to it, if I don’t ride it regularly. Grant & Curt blew it here.

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[Ben Mihovk]

Those PAUL brake levers are just plain dope. Wowza. 

Ben "Checking to See if Paul Makes those for V-Brakes" in Omaha

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[dougP]

Actually, I think the red pedals are kinda cool.  Touch of whimsy?  Always neat to see an "old bike" that looks brand new & is well maintained.

I took delivery of my Atlantis in April '03, but it looks like an old delivery van compared to your bike.  I used to do an annual paint touch up but gave up after a few years.  Let's just say it's well traveled & looks it. 

dougP

[Jeremy Till]

Short answer: they do. 

https://www.paulcomp.com/shop/components/brake-levers/long-pull/love-lever/

-Jeremy Till

Sacramento, CA

[Ben Mihovk]

Yeah, they've got them on the Riv website, too. I looked right after I posted, but thanks! Your link got me to poke around the Paul website, which is always a worthwhile endeavor. 

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[Dave Redmon]

That's a looker for sure, James. What is the beautiful crankset?  I recall having one like it a few years ago.   --Dave in Kansas

[James Valiensi]

Thanks for the kind words.

The Rene Herse crankset was on my list of most wanted parts for many years before I pulled the trigger.

It gave me a bunch of grief. It came loose several times. It wasn’t the 1st time I mounted a taper spindle crank set. I’ve done hundreds of times. The only time one came loose for me, was the very first time I did it. I couldn’t believe this one. I ended up using a breaker bar to tighten it down.

This was the end of my desire to send Jan Hein any more money. He has absolutely no customer service. No phone number listed, no responses to multiple emails, no help or support. He has all my contact info but refuses to give his out. He has nice parts, too bad they are not sold by better people.

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[Ian A]

Really nice looking bike and the new handlebars suit well. I also admire the impressive tile work in the background.  Is there a stone mason in the family?

I appreciate this year would like to have been skipped by many, but isn't 2003 - 2020 closer to 17 years?

:) IanA Alberta Canada (where we are about 30 years behind the rest of the world).

[James Valiensi]

Yes my math was bad. I ordered the frame Aug 2002 and it was delivered Feb 2003.

I requested the front rack braze-ons for a front rack. At the time Rivendell had not done this. I had to send a drawing of where to put them. Now they are standard.

I also requested an extra low bottom bracket. I’m not sure they would do that again because there is an issue with pedal strikes while cornering. I don’t pedal thru fast corners (I enjoy coasting!)

I have a carpenter that I’ve used for many years, he does excellent work. 

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[Pam Bikes]

Pristine!  How do you keep it so new looking?  Most people think mine is vintage b/c it has so much beausage.

[ascpgh]

James, your custom is a thing of beauty! It is a fantastic time capsule of a Rivendell. 

My 2002 Rambouillet, following Pam's comparison, shows its campaign stripes in what I describe as beausavage in respect to the events leading to this place in time. 

Andy Cheatham

Pittsburgh

[James Valiensi]

Andy,

I’m originally from north of your area, New Castle PA. My folks still live there. I keep a bike at their house. There is a really nice bike trail that runs along the Mahoning River between New Castle and Youngstown OH. Have you ridden it? It is ten miles one way and not exactly challenging or too exciting but I love riding it because it is so different that pedaling in LA. The trail was built on an old electric trolly right of way that ran from Youngstown to Cascade Park in New Castle. I think it was from the late 19th century. One time I found some of the original bricks from the tracks and the date was something like 1890.

I try to be careful with my bikes. I have a friend that is the opposite, he can take a brand new bike and make it look 25 years old in a month.

Cheers!

On Dec 18, 2020, at 6:31 AM, ascpgh <asc...@gmail.com> wrote:

James, your custom is a thing of beauty! It is a fantastic time capsule of a Rivendell. 

My 2002 Rambouillet, following Pam's comparison, shows its campaign stripes in what I describe as beausavage in respect to the events leading to this place in time. 

<8B80B8D9-58CA-432E-BFCB-F16028B6930B_1_105_c.jpeg>

Andy Cheatham

Pittsburgh

On Thursday, December 17, 2020 at 8:20:28 PM UTC-5 Pam Bikes wrote:

Pristine!  How do you keep it so new looking?  Most people think mine is vintage b/c it has so much beausage.

On Thursday, December 17, 2020 at 7:51:36 PM UTC-5 James Valiensi wrote:

Yes my math was bad. I ordered the frame Aug 2002 and it was delivered Feb 2003.

I requested the front rack braze-ons for a front rack. At the time Rivendell had not done this. I had to send a drawing of where to put them. Now they are standard.

I also requested an extra low bottom bracket. I’m not sure they would do that again because there is an issue with pedal strikes while cornering. I don’t pedal thru fast corners (I enjoy coasting!)

I have a carpenter that I’ve used for many years, he does excellent work. 

On Dec 17, 2020, at 4:32 PM, Ian A <atte...@gmail.com> wrote:

Really nice looking bike and the new handlebars suit well. I also admire the impressive tile work in the background.  Is there a stone mason in the family?

I appreciate this year would like to have been skipped by many, but isn't 2003 - 2020 closer to 17 years?

:) IanA Alberta Canada (where we are about 30 years behind the rest of the world).

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<8B80B8D9-58CA-432E-BFCB-F16028B6930B_1_105_c.jpeg>

[Dave Redmon]

Turns out my former crankset was a VO Polyvalent 46-30T which is no longer offered. Curvaceous yes, accessible bolts to attach rings to crank spider yes, but I switched to a Sugino XD2 compact double. Hoping to avoid changing out a chainring in the future!

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[Patrick Moore]

James's report on the RH crank surprised me, since I have thought that I might one day buy one. But this report of loosening does not make me confident.

Have others had the same experience with loosening?

Note: I am aware how hard it is to get a response from RH "customer service." My method to force things is to post an indignant message of complaint on the iBoblist, which seems somehow to chivvy the inert little gnomes of service into immediate, ingratiating action. Try it at home.

But back to RH cranks: do they loosen more than, say XD2s and Pro 5 Vises? I don't think I've had 1 crank out of scores if not hundreds come loose, except for very cheap Indian-made cottered ones that I probably installed with the wrong-sized cotter pin, and that was 50 years ago.

I certainly am not doubting James's experience, but I'd like to know others'.

On Thu, Dec 17, 2020 at 3:53 PM James Valiensi <jpval...@gmail.com> wrote:

Thanks for the kind words.

The Rene Herse crankset was on my list of most wanted parts for many years before I pulled the trigger.

It gave me a bunch of grief. It came loose several times. It wasn’t the 1st time I mounted a taper spindle crank set. I’ve done hundreds of times. The only time one came loose for me, was the very first time I did it. I couldn’t believe this one. I ended up using a breaker bar to tighten it down.

This was the end of my desire to send Jan Hein any more money. He has absolutely no customer service. No phone number listed, no responses to multiple emails, no help or support. He has all my contact info but refuses to give his out. He has nice parts, too bad they are not sold by better people.

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Patrick Moore

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

[James Valiensi]

Patrick,

I’ve mounted hundreds of tapered-square bottom brackets, only one came loose and that was because I didn’t tighten it enough. 

This one required much more tightening force than any other one I’ve dealt with before (Campy, Shimano, TA, Sugino to mention a few I’ve worked on). 

My RH crank came loose about 4 times, I started to carry a wrench after the 2nd time. Finally, I figured I had nothing left to lose and put the breaker bar to it. It’s been good for a few thousand miles since.

I’d love to have another on for my Joe Appaloosa. Maybe one day I’ll pony up for another (pardon the pun). I would not recommend against it.  

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[Trevor Bradshaw]

Wow! I have a 1999 Riv Road. Definitely have put some loving wear on mine. Yours looks brand new.

On Thu, Dec 17, 2020 at 10:30 AM Damien <damien....@gmail.com> wrote:

Well, wow. This is a really lovely Riv. Thanks for sharing.

Fun fact: your bike is legal drinking age in Canada!

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Trevor Bradshaw

[Patrick Moore]

I believe you. I wonder if your instance was a production outlier.

Have others had James's problem with RH cranks loosening? If so, I shall resolutely avoid buying one.

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[jack loudon]

Patrick: "Have others had James's problem with RH cranks loosening? If so, I shall resolutely avoid buying one." 

There was a thread about RH cranks coming loose a few months back, and mine are among a few that have had that issue. It happened more in the beginning and decreased in frequency over time (mine are near 3 years old).  I got in the habit of checking the tightness at least once a week.  I use socket hex bolts instead of the supplied crank bolts, so carry a small hex key instead of a big PB wrench.  I finally installed self-extractor caps over the bolts (suggested by Mark Bulgier?) which act as locknuts and seem to have solved the problem.   Like James, I've installed many cranksets in the past and the bolts have always stayed tight.  I'm not sure what the problem is with these cranks, but my guess is an imperfect fit with the BB spindle (mine is a Phil, JIS taper).    I still  like them but for $455 they shouldn't have any issues.

Jack - Seattle

[James Valiensi]

Hi,

The RH instructions tell you to install the cranks dry. Which I did. This goes against my normal method. So, in the end I greased the spindle and bolt and tightened it all down. So, far so it has held up. 

My BB is a cheap Shimano. Perhaps the SKS BB has a better fit.

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[Nathan Mattia]

DANG, what a nice looking bike!

It’s the Christmas Bike!  God Bless Us, Everyone!