The Rivendell Yellowolly bicycle

[Kim H.]

There is a very different yellow mixte Rivendell bicycle I have never seen before. On the downtube it reads YELLOWOLLY from what I can read.

Here is the link:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Rivendell_Bicycles/comments/1jn0fi0/i_traveled_8000_miles_and_visited_the_sacred_site/#lightbox

This is mystery bike that starts with the letter "Y".

Kim Hetzel.

[Kim H.]

I would like to know, if the top tube is lower than the Platypus and other step-through mixtes ?

Kim Hetzel.

[iamkeith]

There are pictures and more information in Grant's most recent Blahg.

[Kim H.]

Thank you, Keith.

Kim Hetzel.

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[Diana H]

Looks like the downtube is lower than the Platy and Clem

https://www.instagram.com/p/DHzuRZLR9YP/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link 

[Kim H.]

@Diana,

Thank you for the video. I appreciate it.

Yes, it seems that the top tube is lower.

Kim Hetzel. 

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[Kim H.]

@Diana,

The other day, I emailed Will at RBW headquarters, and I asked about the down tube as to whether or not it was lower than the Clem. He said that "it is higher than the Clem to make room for the lifter bar."

Kim Hetzel.

On Sun, Mar 30, 2025 at 6:27 AM Diana H <diana....@gmail.com> wrote:

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[Bill Lindsay]

It's pretty smart that they didn't declare a price or even a price target for the YelloWolleY, because whatever that price was, there is now a significant variable on what it may be months in the future.  I hope that Rivendell has already paid for the Atlantis pre-sale so that they can deliver those frames for the price they charged.  If Riv gets slapped with new fees when the Atlantis' get imported, it's tricky to say who should pay those fees.  Should it be all Riv?  All the customer?  50/50?  Hopefully they will be able set a price that people will be willing and able to pay.  

Bill Lindsay

El Cerrito, CA

[Richard Rose]

Minor quibble here of no real consequence but; I think what folks are referring to here is the top tube (if it’s higher or lower than a Clem or Platy) not the down tube? It’s tricky as these step through frames do not have a traditional top tube. The down tube connects to the bottom bracket which connects to the ankle bone…:)

Sent from my iPhone

On Apr 4, 2025, at 7:09 AM, Kim H. <krhe...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[Drew Fitchette]

@Bill,

I work in Import/Export(coffee specifically). and have been on a ton of calls trying to get clarity on things re: these blanket/reciprocal tariffs. What I've been able to gather thus far is:

• Any goods with a Bill of Landing (BOL) of April 4th or earlier will not be affected (exempt) by the tariffs

• Any goods with a Bill of Landing (BOL) of April 5th onward will subject to % of Tariffs outlined by country

• Goods loaded on a vessel at the port of loading and in transit on the final mode of transit before 12:01 am ET on April 5 shall not be subject to the additional 10% blanket

• The country-specific reciprocal tariffs shall not apply to goods loaded onto a vessel at the port of loading and in transit on the final mode of transit before 12:01 am ET on April 9th

So, the long and short of it is that if the Atlantis frames have been loaded for shipping or have shipped already they won't be subject to additional tariffs. Though, we can assume the Homers, Platypi, Roadinis, Charlies, and Sams scheduled for the rest of the year will be hit with a 32% tariff that all goods from Taiwan will be subject to. 

Most economists agree that these tariffs lead to price increases being passed to end consumers being the case. This being especially true, as these "reciprocal tariffs" are assumed to close the trade deficits with all these countries... Without getting into the politics of it all, treating something like bicycles the same as wheat or crude oil feels a bit farfetched to me. For reference, in green coffee all contracts moving forward will include verbiage that the final counterparty(roaster) will be responsible for accrued tariff/import cost, and all of my customers say they plan to raise prices to cover these costs.

Alright, done with my boring global trade talk. 

[Drew Fitchette]

Oh also:

Japan now has an additional 24% tariff, which may be applied to folks buying frames from Blue Lug... though it sounds like folks have had various experiences with paying or not paying import duties when buying from them in the past. 

[Bill Lindsay]

"done with my boring global trade talk"

A. it's not boring to me

B. Fridays are dead on the group, so something to talk about is always cool

C. there's a lot of Riv-business-content in there

That's a significantly impactful set of IF/THEN scenarios for these Atlantis customers and their business with Rivendell.  I hope it works out equitably for everyone.  

BL in EC

[Ryan]

On this topic, Jan Heine's latest journal entry posted yesterday may be of interest...

https://www.renehersecycles.com/bikes-in-the-age-of-tariffs/ 

[Richard Rose]

It’s not at all boring. And, the politics of it all are unavoidable. I really hope it’s not the end of Rivendell.

Sent from my iPhone

On Apr 4, 2025, at 11:09 AM, Drew Fitchette <drewfi...@gmail.com> wrote:

@Bill,

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[Laing Conley]

It is important to note that, as pointed out in the Rene Herse article, the tariff is on the cost of the imported item, the “wholesale” price, not the retail price. 

Laing Conley 

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[Bill Lindsay]

That's true, but I think a lot of people don't realize how thin the margins on bikes are.  Expensive frames and bikes generally have about a 30% margin.  If that's what Riv gets on a $1750 Atlantis, that means wholesale cost is $1225.  If there's a 32% tariff on a $1225 product, that's a $392 fee on a frame that Rivendell was going to make $525 of profit on.  Should Rivendell eat all that fee and make $133 on a $1750 frame?  Maybe they should.  Should the people who paid $1750 eat that $392 fee?  Yikes that would hurt.  Should they split it 50/50?  There's not an easy answer.  Hopefully they're already on the boat and there will be no extra fee.  

Bill Lindsay

El Cerrito, CA

[Kim H.]

@Will,

In the last several days, I have emailed Will at RBW headquarters. I have asked him about the YelloWolloy bicycle and tariffs.

As far as the pricing of the YelloWolloy for the complete bike he stated, 

"We're hoping for $2200, but we fell into the same trap that we did with Clems: we set out to make a cheap(er) bike but then we can't resist making parts and details a little nicer here and there and before we know it, it's a fancy bike. The completes are coming with Nitto seatposts, for instance. We'll see!

-will"

Tariffs:

"I'm guessing they will although we'll try to keep it as minimal as possible. The 24% tariff on Japanese imports certainly hurts.

-will"

Kim Hetzel enjoyed the beautiful warm 67 degree spring sunshine today here in the PNW.

[Eric Daume]

If they're on the boat but not through customs, I think they would still get hit by the tariff. It's paid by the importer, remember.

I wonder if the tariff cost is based on just the manufacturing cost, or mfg cost + shipping cost? No idea.

Eric

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[Mike Rossi]

For those who don’t read the newsletter, Atlantis frames are through customs and even if they weren’t, Riv wasn’t going to charge any more for those of us who already paid for them.

But, the Homers. Apparently a different story. I’m guessing $2200. 

[Sally Bidleman]

Drew,

Thanks for the clearest explanation I've read. 

Especially appreciate it since I have a B72 winging its way here...think it's safe, after reading your post: whew!

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[Drew Fitchette]

@eric - The boring bullet points I listed above are on good merit from the customs agent my company has working for us. Per Grants blurb in the newsletter I assume This means Riv does the presales when they have confirmation of the container of frames shipping. 

@Sally - of course! Always happy for my extremely specific knowledge of global trade to come in handy, especially if it relates to my favorite hobby 🙃

@Mike - that would be my guess too, which will be a good barometer for where the diminishing point is for what people will spend on a frame. 

[Johnny Alien]

Grant is optimistic that the tariffs will be reduced by end of April but while I agree with him on a lot I don't agree with him on this one. I am going on the assumption that futures Rivs will be a chunk more money. I would never be happier to be proven wrong though. For both them and us (the loving consumers)

[Patrick Moore]

The fully built Clem is priced at $2,400, tho’ this is pre-tariff (and they’re sold out), so what will distinguish the Yello etc from the Clem except for less tire clearance and the color? $200 doesn’t seem enough of a differentiator by itself.

On Fri, Apr 4, 2025 at 6:56 PM Kim H. <krhe...@gmail.com> wrote:

… As far as the pricing of the YelloWolloy for the complete bike he stated, 

[Shannon Menkveld]

Even from an around-the-industrial-park test ride, the difference was obvious. Jamming and sprinting on the Charlie was fun. Jamming and sprinting on the Clem was pointless. James called the Clem "our ATB for the apocalypse." Whatever Charlie H. Gallop is, he's very much not that.

--Shannon

[Shannon Menkveld]

Oh, shoulda pointed out that I liked both bikes a lot, but they're hella different.

--Shannon

[Patrick Moore]

But the Yellow Wellow …? How does that ride?

The Clem has received universal praise for its ride, but I confess to being partial to more nimble frames. If the Yellow Wellow whatever is a more sprightly Clem, I’d choose that despite the tire limitation. (And someone please come up with a short, easy nickname; I can’t remember it, let along pronounce it and I don’t like typing it. Let’s just say, the “Yello.”)

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Patrick Moore

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

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But wouldst gabble like a thing most brutish,

I endowed thy purposes with words that made them known.

[iamkeith]

I somehow assumed it was "Wolley," pronounced "Wally."

[Nick A.]

Same here, Keith.

Nick in Falls Church VA