Your thoughts on a Rivesdale (Riv + Clydesdale)?

[NYCbikeguy]

I've become more of a utilitarian over the years in outlook and lifestyle and I love the idea of a cargo bike. But I'm not sure the Rivbike ethos meshes well with that of a cargo bike. Either way, I got the opportunity to get one for cheap and so I'm thinking.... I'm contemplating whether I should even try it on a riv or just go straight for the vintage MTB. What do you all think? Will there be too much of a clash between the brutalist utilitarian fork and the classy lugs of a Rivbike?

Best,

IY

NYC/CT

[Bill Lindsay]

It was not explicitly stated, but I think what you attempted to convey is that you had the opportunity to purchase a Crust Clydesdale Cargo Fork platform, and now you are in the market for a bicycle to fit the fork.  Is that what is going on?  

If that is what is going on, then it starts with the steer tube of the fork.  What is it?  If it is 1-1/8" then the ONLY Rivendells that have ever been made with a 1-1/8" compatible head tube were the HubbuHubbuH tandem and the Gus Boots Willson Hillibike.  I assume you don't intend to build a cargo tandem.  If you wanted to do a Gus Boots Willson cargo build, I think that would look sweet.  Go for it.

If you have a 1" steer tube cargo fork, then you have a lot more Rivendell options, in addition to 1980s MTBs

If you have a 1-1/8" steer tube and don't want a Gus Boots Willson, then go vintage 1990s-2000s MTB and have fun with it.

Bill Lindsay

El Cerrito, CA

[NYCbikeguy]

Thanks for the clarifying questions, Bill!

The clydesdale fork that I will be getting is a 1" steerer.

Funny enough, I own both the Gus and the Hubbuh, but I also own a couple of other Riv models as well, such as the AR, Toyo atlantis, MUSA atlantis, and Hunqapillar. 

My original intention to ask about the potential "Rivesdale" build is to survey people's opinions on how it might look/come off. 

Basically, are the Riv frames and the fork from completely different realms of design?

Referring to the age old adage, "just because you can, doesn't mean you should," will I regret it because I will have butchered a completely fine Riv frame?

Thanks in advance for all of your thoughts!

[ian m]

IMO, it will look fine. It looks fine on vintage MTB commuter builds and a lot of those are dressed like Rivs anyway. At worst it may look like your Riv is slumming it (especially with a milk crate on the rack) which you could lean into, or you could paint the rack and put something kitschy on it and have fun with it. It'll look fine. It won't permanently effect the bike so no harm in giving it a shot.

BUT, I do think you'll lose everything about riding that Riv that you once loved. I do not have experience with a Clydesdale fork, but I do have experience with proper cargo bikes and also with carrying too much on a porteur rack, and I think the difference between the two is not dissimilar to the distance between riding a Rivendell and riding a bone-stock early 90s Specialized Hard Rock with albatross bars. Heavy cargo directly above the steering axis that is not isolated from the turning of the handlebar and wheel does not make for a fun ride. Cinderblock flop

It sounds like you're a bikeguy, and probably live in NYC, so if the draw of the clydesdale is the ease of use/carrying/storage of a small footprint bike, I'd suggest looking at the Omnium mini models as a replacement or supplement for your fleet.

[Laing Conley]

The Clementine/Clem Smith Jr works great with the Clydesdale fork. 

Laing

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[NYCbikeguy]

Ian,

Thanks for your perspective! The name of the game here is CHEAP, so I'm not sure gettin a whole new dedicated cargo bike will be the direction I'll ever go in. But good to know!

This won't be in any way a crazy hauler, so I'm not too worried about poor handling. It'll just be a bike that'll be used once in a while for grocery trips and fun picnics. We all have a fleet of bikes, so we can pick and choose which bike to ride, depending on your mood or the goal of the day. 

Laing,

That clementine looks out of this world! I think I'd definitely invest in a steering lock/ steerstopper like yours with the extra cargo up front. With too much "uprightness" of the clem, do you find yourself handling the bike in a way that's unnatural? I can imagine the long chainstay of the clem would help, but something about the balance of the bike looks precarious. Would love some more info on your build! 

Thanks
 

[Jason Fuller]

I've considered doing this as well. I had the opportunity to own a Surly with a Clydesdale fork but ended up not keeping it long term because I found that when loaded up beyond about 20 lbs, it didn't handle very well, and for my purposes it made more sense to load up a pair of roomy panniers most of the time. It's certainly a nice way to carry bulky, lower density loads and there is a joy in just tossing stuff in the big basket / bin on the front, but overall my feedback would be: it's not going to entirely ruin a Rivendell or anything, nor is a Rivendell that sacred (I might catch hell for saying such things), but I think the combination of the aesthetic and functional drawbacks will get you in the end. The one bike I'd totally try one on, despite all I've said so far, is the Clem L. That would be a neat rig. For most people I think a Pass & Stow makes more sense though. 

[Jason Fuller]

Hah, I didn't scroll down to see Laing's Clem L before writing my previous post. 

[John Johnson]

I have a couple rivs (clems) and a clydesdale built around an MB-1 frame.

I agree with Jason that handling worsens with weight up front. If you want to conserve the ride ofnyour Hunq/AR/Atlantis, then I'd go with a cheap 90s MTB and make a project out of it. If you don't care, use a riv! Aesthetically, why not? Sal from shovel research has the best clydesdale conversion ever IMO with the rosco bubbe. And Laing's clem is excellent. 

About handling, I had a flat bar on mine at first and found the handling to be twitchy. I like it much better now with Klunker bars (and Albatross bars worked great too).

As for utility and fun, it's the most useful bike I own and the one I ride most (anytime I'm not sure where or what I'll be doing, it's nice to have a big old basket up front to throw stuff into). But I'm glad to have other bikes for dedicated offroad rides or fast road rides. It's also by far my ugliest bike.

Either way, it's a super fun format for a build.

Cheers,  

John

[Laing Conley]

For more information on my conversion enter “Crustendell” in the search bar. I did some previous write-ups.  I think that I changed the front disc caliper to a Paul after I did the write-ups. 

Note that I am all torso - 6’ with an 83.5 PBH and 68 years old, so for an electric city cargo bike, I want to be very upright so that I can rotate my body to see around me. If there were any hills in south Florida, I would not feel as comfortable being so upright while descending. 

Laing

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[NYCbikeguy]

I get the concerns surrounding heavy cargo. I don't foresee heavy or long hauls on some sort of tour or anything. It'll most likely be for convenience rides!

Also the Crustendell looks cooler after checking out the build process. I've heard of the steerstopper before but your build convinced me that it's a pretty cool investment over the VO spring!

[Mackenzy Albright]

Agreed with Jason here. Great with bulky hauls - but the Clydesdale fork wasn't the answer to hauling heavy loads that I desired. I much prefer a Burley flatbed trailer. I'd consider another Clydesdale fork if I had a cute lil dog tho. 

That being said - that ClemClydes is always inspirational. I think Clyde's builds look awesome and definitely serve a niche for some people and I respect that. 

[iamkeith]

I just stumbled on this photo from Blue Lug, of a lugged crust frame with the cargo fork painted to match.  I probably wouldn't have noticed it if you hadn't asked this question, but thought it might be informative:

[J Imler]

I had some good times on my Appaloosa / Clydesdale build.

[J Imler]

[NYCbikeguy]

J Imler,

That's a cool build! What was your experience with it like on the dirt roads and for extended periods of time?

[J Imler]

It was all good. The tires were Big Bens so not ideal on dirt but wth... I'm rooting for an AR build from the  NYCbikeguy. 

[Paul Donald]

Somewhere on the Riv newsletters/Blahgs theres images of a dog in the front of a Clem/Clydesdale build?

I have a clydesdale with a 1 1/8 steerer, which I foolishly cut down by 1". That has seen use on three different bikes. Soma double cross, New Albion Privateer, and now a Soma Saga. Handling was best on the Privateer, but I dislike using horizontal drop outs for the rear wheel, cos, punctures etc. Here's the Double cross with all my headset spacers and Crust Towel Rack bars. Which actually were nice but I cut the steerer down too short... Home made giant bag on the front. I use the largest Wald basket up there now, with that bag in it, only because I can stack stuff up in it and it won't bounce out.

Anything you put up front will have the living daylights shaken and jiggled out of it. That little front wheel bounces around. 

+1 on the steer stopper (and double leg stand).

[Ronald Halili]

Hi IY,

Did you end building the Rivesdale?

- Ronald

On Sunday, August 25, 2024 at 1:28:28 PM UTC-4 NYCbikeguy wrote:

[NYCbikeguy]

Hey Ronald!

Thanks for following up! and apologies to the community for leaving you all hanging...

I ended up converting my sam braxton frame (that I found out about on this group) which was conveniently color matched and has an integrated rear rack to make this brax-dale look sleek.

I left the bike at my girlfriend's place so I can't take pics of it at the moment, but here's the instagram post I made when I first built it up in early September.

Instagram post

I will post new pics when I get a chance! It has a large wald basket and outfitted with grips and stuff to make it look less bare.

Cheers,

IY

NYC/New Haven, CT

[Ronald Halili]

Hi IY,

No worries!

Nice build! Such an interesting frame with the integrated rear rack.

 I myself have a Clem L and and a Clydesdale bike and maybe someday converting the Riv. This is what mine looks like. Found a frame like the Clem L, a 1950s Schwinn cruiser that I got from eBay.

- Ronald