The Building of a Platypus: A Diary

[Bicycle Belle Ding Ding!]

Nov. 23rd, 2020.

I have been waiting for this day for years. This is not an exaggeration; and those of you with a history on this List know it because your ears are bleeding from all of the pining I’ve subjected you to. A metallic red Rivendell mixte - yes, you’ve heard it before.

Rivendell shipped my raspberry Platypus and the parts a month ago. There was a wait for the hand-built Velocity wheelset and custom anodized parts from Analog Cycles, but those came today. I dropped everything to take the load of stuff 35 minutes across town to one of the few bike shops left in Las Vegas. This bike shop earned my allegiance this summer when they expertly installed my wheelset and dyno on my Clementine. (I will also admit here that I cried in their parking lot on arrival that day because their name is Pro Cyclery and I was sure I’d be a joke there.) 

I entered the shop with my face masked and my arms full and took in the scene while I waited for the mechanic. There were 3 other customers in the store; one man looking at parts, an elderly gentleman complaining about his hybrid bike (“Everything on this bike feels too high!”) and an old duffer who had planted himself at a high boy table and was watching the mechanics work.

The shop manager and the mechanic peered into the box and could see the seat lug with the cream heart peeking out. That was all it took for the Platypus to charm them. We moved my boxes of stuff into the mechanics’ bay (special privileges, what?!) and the mechanic opened the Analog box. There were mounds of parcels in brown paper wrappings inside. 

“Here,” said the mechanic, “We’ll both unwrap them. It will be like Christmas.” 

The first thing he unwrapped was...a bottle of Vermont syrup. 

“Oh, they’re from Vermont,” I explained, “Their shop is actually a sugar shack.” 

“VERMONT YOU SAY? WHERE IN VERMONT?” boomed the Old Duffer.

“Vermont syrup!” squealed the manager. “Do you know how good Vermont syrup is?” The mechanic enthusiastically agreed with her, so it was only right that they should keep it.  

We went on with our unwrapping - Ooh, I got teal HEADSET SPACERS - what’s in yours? Oh, rose bolts, you don’t say! - until we had everything laid out. 

We went to the computer to input the information. “Ok,” said the mechanic, “This is another Rivendell...does it have a name?” 

“Well, it does, actually,” I said with great hesitation, “It’s....a Platypus.”

“No it isn’t,” said the mechanic.

“Are you serious?” asked the manager.

“PLATYPUS?! ISN’T THAT WHAT THEY CALL THE MISSING LINK?” boomed the Old Duffer.

“Well,” I said, considering, “I don’t know, but did you know they glow in the dark?!”

Tonight I got a call from the mechanic. He’s started my build early and will be doing cabling in a couple of hours. He wants to know how high I’d like my bars so he can cut the cables for a perfect, customized look. I have never gotten a call like that from a bike store. I’m cautiously optimistic that this is all going to work out just fine...

_________________________________________________________________________________

Nov. 25th.

The shop was swamped today. The air compressor cracked. These were the explanations offered up, and I barely heard them. My nails are painted raspberry metallic, I am wearing hard pants (that’s what we call jeans in the pandemic!) and all for naught. Naturally, because it is 2020, the bike will not be ready for TWO more days because the 26th is Thanksgiving. I’m so used to being disappointed this year that it barely matters. Ok, another night ride on the Clementine, clunky bottom bracket and all...

__________________________________________________________________________________

Nov. 27th.

I called to see about what time I should come pick up my bike. The shop is having trouble with a couple of things, mostly the details that will make this a polished, high-end build. The dyno wire is too long and they don’t have expertise with cutting and splicing. They ask if I’m set on having a kickstand, express woe about damaging the paint. I am confused and point out that there’s a kickstand plate (do I know about kickstand plates? No, but I suspect they make kickstands easy to install) and the shop acknowledges this but they are opposed to the bolt as it is long and ugly. I tell them I don’t know about these things but I definitely want a kickstand, and they reassure me that they’ll “make it nice and pretty for ya.” They decline to give a time for me to pick up the bike, but the shop closes at 3 and they *think* the bike will be done by then. 

Here is where it is good to remind myself that it is STILL 2020 out there. Even though I am wearing my hard pants again and my nails are painted and I will surely be wearing the appropriately-colored lipstick under my mask, it may all be for naught again.

I’ll report back.

 

[dougP]

Can you take a photo of the shop & crew with your new bike? 

dougP

[Mark Roland]

If Leah doesn't get her bicycle today it truly will be Black Friday. Ackkk! The suspense!

[Leah Peterson]

Good news! I got it! There are lots of adjustments to be made, make no mistake, but the bike is in working order. I’m taking it out on my 10 mile route in a bit. I’m kinda scared of it.. 

I’ll write a post tonight!

Sneak peek:

Sent from my iPad

On Nov 27, 2020, at 3:06 PM, Joe Bernard <joer...@gmail.com> wrote:

I suspect she got it today and it looks SPECTACULAR. Just a hunch. No way of knowing..

Joe "know nothing" Bernard

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[Matthew Williams]

Oh wow Leah, it's fantastic! The raspberry-over-cream combination is just gorgeous. I love the white grips!

What parts did you have custom anodized?

On Friday, November 27, 2020 at 12:37:38 PM UTC-8 Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! wrote:

[Joe Bernard]

Ta DA! It's beautiful!!!

I love the "Leah in the pro shop with the full-suspension mountain bikes" pic. With your fancy Raspberry Metallic Rivendell Ballgown Bike it looks like royalty visiting the common folk 👸😁 

[David Person]

Very, very, nice.

[Roberta]

It’s  just beautiful, and the proportions with the 700c wheels look perfect to my eyes. Love the teal pedals, what a great amount of color. I think though my favorite feature is the double hearts, one on the head tube and one only an inch away on the down tube, both facing the rider.  Leah, perhaps you can get a closeup of that?

Happy riding. I hope ( know) it becomes the bike of your dreams. 

Roberta 

[Mark Roland]

Raspberry and cream, yes. Delicious. Since she has mentioned it here before, I don't think she will mind me telling you the pedals were custom-anodized in teal.

[Joe Bernard]

Check out the teal headset spacers and spoke nipples, too. SO cool. 

[Matthew Williams]

Wow, I missed that! I love the custom touches--that's pretty trick. Very cool!

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[Abcyclehank]

So excited to here how her shakedown ride goes.  I can not imagine a more fitting and perfect bike for Leah than this platypus.

Very happy for you and all future Platypus owners.  Happy at least one will get ridden in 2020.

Sincerely,

Ryan Hankinson

[dougP]

That garage door photo is great.  Submit that to Rivendell & I'll bet they'll include it their weekly e-mail or on the blug.  Funny thought:  Rivendell does a lot of their  "glam shots" with no people, just the bike, with hands holding the wheels from each side.  THAT could make it into a catalogue. 

dougP

[JAS]

Oh gosh, Leah, it is just stunning! The colors mesh so well...the dreamy raspberry, the pedals and other anodized parts, the white hand grips, the silver fenders. It’s just luscious. I’ll bet the ride feels luscious too on those 700 wheels. Thank you for leading the way with this bicycle; you’ve set the style bar pretty high!

#RivSisters,
Joyce

[Bicycle Belle Ding Ding!]

Ok, I’ll make a new thread so the photos and video will be at the top and folks don’t have to go digging. Thanks for your well wishes and kind words, friends!

[Roberta]

" ...double hearts, one on the head tube and one only an inch away on the down tube, "

I meant the double hearts are on the head tube and top tube (which slopes down),

[Mike Godwin]

Stunning, I love that color, and the combo with teal. OK, but what tail light is that?

Mike SLO CA

[Leah Peterson]

Mike - SON something or other on the tail light. And Edelux II on the headlight! Thanks!

Sent from my iPad

On Nov 27, 2020, at 8:09 PM, Mike Godwin <spoke...@gmail.com> wrote:

Stunning, I love that color, and the combo with teal. OK, but what tail light is that?

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[Shoji Takahashi]

Late to the party, though I've seen v nice pics on IG. 

Gorgeous bike... that raspberry is perfect. And the blue ano pedals are just like platy-feet.

Seems like this LBS is a good one: humble, willing to listen and learn, and trying to please. I like how they didn't think the kickstand bolt was attractive enough for the build. That's attention to detail! 

Tailwinds, LP!

shoji

Arlington MA

[Bicycle Belle Ding Ding!]

A quick update to this thread since I’ve changed the bike a bit.

I decided I couldn’t be without a rear rack. I wanted to keep the bike light without hamstringing it. The med Nitto Big Back Rack from my Betty didn’t fit the 700c wheels, so I had to either choose the large or go another route. I chose the RBW-51, fairy-like and light, as it would support a saddle sack without obscuring the beauty of the frame. And it weighed half of what the large Nitto did.

My bike is an anomaly in a sea of carbon road bikes and mountain bikes at the LBS, but those mechanics do me right. “It’s perfectly level!” I said of my new rack. “I know,” said the mechanic, “because I used an actual level.” See how the rack disappears under the bag! I really don’t think the RBW-51 gets enough good press. It’s unobtrusive, delicate, and will work great with a saddle sack. Hurry and get one for your Platy!

These valve stems and caps, anodized (Analog again) in teal and rose were late to the party, but I’ve got them now. Upon first glance, you’d think it was a waste, but no, I notice them every time I see my bike. My Clem has fuchsia and burnt orange, and I’ve never gotten over them. These are the details that mean so much to me. Grant said perfectly about head badges how I FEEL about little sparks of color on my bike: “They shouldn’t shout stuff, but they should be worth a closer look if you’re looking at them at all, and then they should make you glad you looked.”

Here it is pictured dressed up in neutral gray bags with that luscious raspberry and cream paint. Note the missing trouser guard - Rivendell was sold out, so I sent mine to Analog to be anodized in rose, along with headset collars (or whatever they are), brake levers and some bolts. This should bring out more of the rose and tie it together with the teal. We initially planned for Velocity Quill rims in polished rose, but they were so hopelessly backordered that I went with the available polished silver Quills. Hoping this gives this pretty little Platy a beautiful, polished and finished look. 

This bike has taken forever to put together, but it’s been a fun project and well worth the wait. I’ve not got the miles on it that I should have because it’s spent much of my custody of it waiting for parts. But I bet I’ve got a few hundred miles on it, and the layer of dirt on the down tubes and in the drive train back support my claim. The paint hides grime surprisingly well! Another magical attribute of this enigmatic, pretty little Platy. 

Leah

[Joe Bernard]

I love that rack. When you started on this project of getting one that wouldn't obscure the taillight, I figured it was going to kind of hide the look even if you could visibly see the light at night. Nope! It hovers just above and slightly in front of the light so you see the whole aesthetic vibe that was there before. Oy, I can tell that doesn't make sense. I liked the fender/light look and it's still there!

Speaking of such matters (I bought that rack, too, and love it), Riv needs to update the photos on the site to show how minimalist and whispy it is. All their pics show it mounted on the front and it looks HUGE. 

Joe "still a little loopy from the vaccine yesterday, can't type a clear sentence to save his life" Bernard

[Roberta]

I just love seeing your bike and everyone else's.  Gives me so many ideas! 

The rack is very sophisticated looking.  I might need to think which rack I'll be getting.  And, yes, color wherever you can put it! 

I know you're enjoying the ride.

Roberta