One Riv to Rule Them All

[Jay]

Curious if anyone out there has only one Riv (bike) and uses it for, almost, everything?

I'm northwest of Toronto, and we usually have proper winter here (snow, salty roads).  If it wasn't for this one factor, I would likely only want/need/have my Roadini.

In recent years my bike ownership has had a few changes:

- one custom road bike (skinny tires only) for 15+ years (now on the trainer)

- a myriad of 'gravel' bikes; from a Masi singlespeed w/32mm tires, to 2-3 cx bikes, to gravel bikes; all of which were sold for one reason or another

- a Salsa Fargo (2yrs ago) that has been my trail bike and winter bike

- then enter the Roadini, two wheel sets, one with 30mm tires and the other 43mm.  This has become my road bike, all-road bike, and I've now decided is my trail bike.  It has been comfortable from day one, but I kept the Fargo for the trails...because I had it and didn't want it feel like a waste (winter bike only).  Sure it's a bit more capable on the trails with 2.2" tubeless tires, but for where I ride, the Roadini with 43mm at 30psi is almost as capable, and definitely more comfortable.

[Mathias Steiner]

>> proper winter here (snow, salty roads)

I suggest you use an 90s mountain bike for that. $100 should get you a functional Hard Rock or better, and then you add fenders + snow tires, and viola.

It's obscene what salt does to bicycles...I rode an Al hybrid for a dozen years and when I donated it to the co-op, not wanting to throw away a bike that I'd just spent three months commuting on, they salvaged the 3spd Nexus hub and chucked the rest. Not complaining, they had a point.

I know people who run decent bikes in the winter but they do look pretty sad come March.

It gets a little better if you can frequently hose it down with water and have a place inside to park it. But it's cruel and unusual punishment for a Riv.

[Feliks Ulvåen Isaksen]

My Clem Smith jr. L is my only bike currently. I certainly WANT to buy more bikes, but the Clem does everything I need right now. I use it as a city bike, a gravel bike and dad-bike. 

On Monday, 28 April 2025 at 18:46:59 UTC+2 David Blinn wrote:

My Sam Hillborne is my only bike. I got it last year to replace my Cross Check and haven't looked back. I use it as my daily driver for commuting, grocery getting, and mixed terrain rides. It was set up with Wavie bars in its initial configuration, but I recently swapped on some Albatross bars to change up the feel and add an extra hand position for longer rides.

I'd love to have other bikes but am limited by a lack of indoor storage. For now, the Hillborne has been a fantastic do-it-all bike, and definitely my favorite bike I've ever owned.

[Kim H.]

@Jason,

I have a Clem like Feliks. It is my only bicycle. I embrace it as being an all-rounder solid and stable bicycle with the capability of riding on or off road riding upright and seeing the world around me. The frameset can handle a wide variety of tires sizes up to 2.6mm, like that of Grant's Clem. It is a keeper.

Kim Hetzel.

[Richard Rose]

It occurs to me that most(all?) current Riv models fit the bill as “all rounders” with the possible caveat of not going to the extremes of a given category. For instance, my Clem does everything. It’s a wonderful road bike, but not a road racing bike. It’s fantastic for sub24’s but gets a little wonky if you overload it for a longer tour. It’s a fine trail bike but not the really ruff stuff. And so on.

None other than Richard Sachs famously went off on gravel bikes when they became a thing. “A good bike does it all” or something close to that. Ironically Riv’s bikes likely come closer to that ideal than Richards bikes? 

As for me, Clem does everything I want except serious singletrack. My Gus does that. A second set of wheels for Gus could possibly eliminate the Clem. But we will never know.:)

Sent from my iPhone

On Apr 29, 2025, at 8:05 AM, Feliks Ulvåen Isaksen <feliks...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[Toshi Takeuchi]

Wow, David, that's a fantastic Sam H. It looks ready for anything.

Toshi

[Bruce Herbitter]

For one do-it-all bike, I think it's hard to beat the Atlantis. You need the fatter tires and cantis for good gravel performance, but it is still quick enough on the road. Strong enough to carry a lot, but not too heavy. Good looker too.  I have a Ram and have put fatter tires on for gravel but the caliper brakes don't cut it on that type of riding. It is superb on smooth of rough pavement though. More roadish than the atlantis and less cargo capable so not as good as a one bike only.

[Bruce Byker James]

+1 on the Clem. Since I got mine I rarely ride my other two bikes and keep scheming about how to make them enough different to make me want to ride them more. 

I think if I had a truly quick-release fender system for the Clem I'd probably get rid of my fatter-tire 26" Kona Smoke and buy a second set of wheels for the Clem with tires at maximum size.

  - Bruce

[Heike Larson]

As the Atlantis was mentioned--for me, my Appaloosa fits the single-bike bill. I have a carbon road bike and a fat-tire mountain bike who are sadly collecting dust in the garage (might be time to get real and sell them; the only non-Riv bike I ride is my Gazelle e-bike, which is my instead-of-car bike). I don't do hard road rides or gnarly single-tracks, and my Appa is just fine for leisurely long rides on pavement and relaxed rides on fire roads. Plus, it's a great around-town bike, carrying groceries and farmers market hauls. I have only taken it on short tours, but it feels quite capable for longer multi-day rides with a heavier load—something I'm looking forward to doing when my days open up in a few years.

It's interesting that many here think their Riv is the best all-round bike: they all seem like such great rides!

[Kat]

That's a beautiful silver Appaloosa, and the fender line is to die for!

[larson....@gmail.com]

I have three bikes that I ride, and love them for different reasons. Only one is a Rivendell, a 62cm 2TT Appaloosa. This bike rides very well and could just about do everything I need a bike to do. 

Randy in WI

[Patrick Moore]

Though I would miss my 2 Matthewses.

[Jason Fuller]

The beauty and perhaps paradox of Rivendell is every single model is plenty capable of being an only bike - each and every one is versatile and hard working, but where on the spectrum of Rivs you'd fall depends on the type of riding you do, or prioritize.  A Roadini is plenty capable of being an only bike for someone who tends to mostly ride road or smooth dirt and doesn't typically carry a lot on the bike. On the other end, if you're not in a rush and like to ride a variety of terrain in comfort a Susie or Gus is all you need. 

For me, I'd say my Bombadil is extremely capable of being my only bike even though I currently have six - its geometry is neutral and middle-of-the-road, it can easily carry everything I'd want to, and with 48mm tires and fenders I'm comfortable riding it just about anywhere - I'll do long road rides on it as well as blue MTB trails.  The Appaloosa or Atlantis would be a modern replacement, more or less the same other than an extra 6 or 7cm of chainstay.  

[larson....@gmail.com]

Well said, Jason. I agree completely with these thoughts.

Randy in WI

[Kim H.]

@Jason,

I, too agree completely with your thoughts.

Kim Hetzel.

[Andrew Joseph]

I am no expert.

It seems one bike is certainly possible. However, priorities may change with riding experience, age, injuries, and mobility limitations. It seems Jay still prioritizes the need for a decent road bike…but most Riv bikes can handle flat bars or drops really well depending on frame size and geo.

I have been riding my Concept2 more while finishing a Roadini build, rehabbing a six month old neck injury.  I unfortunately had to eliminate another activity entirely due to the injury.  I am grateful to finally be healthy enough to buy drop bars for the Roadini.

If I hadn’t gotten better.  My Joe was going to be this one bike, and I was very much satisfied with how well it performs all roles mentioned.  

The question I might add is whether one can be content with that “one bike.” If so, for how long?

Best,

Drew

[Jay]

Sweet rides!  All of them look capable to be the one bike.  Happy to have more though!

I like the silver with the green grips/accents.  And the stunning B&W photo.

[Earl Grey]

From 2009-2011 I rode nothing but a Sam, but then I discovered low trail and got a Rawland rSogn as well. Last month I bought two more bikes, so I am way out of the running. But if I had to pare down to one, it would have to be the Sam. Most recently set up as a sensible go-fast anywhere: 44mm tires & fenders.

[Earl Grey]

10 years ago my Sam was set up with porteur bars, large Wald basket, 2 child seats, and a massive Hebie double kickstand. Very much like my wife’s Betty Foy, which is still set up that way, minus the child seats. 

[Jason Fuller]

Hillborne is a really good pick as a One Bike if being relatively quick is a priority. And I will say, it does okay on the trails too!  Evidence that I ride with metal fenders where most would not (note: front is rotated forward for root & step clearance, flap makes up the difference. also safety tabs front and rear) 

[Bruce F. Byker James]

Nice! I'm also on team fenders-on-trails. I've never really looked for info on how much tires deflect, but this picture makes me wonder: About what tire pressure / tire size are you on there?

On Mon, May 5, 2025 at 12:35 PM Jason Fuller <jtf.f...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hillborne is a really good pick as a One Bike if being relatively quick is a priority. And I will say, it does okay on the trails too!  Evidence that I ride with metal fenders where most would not (note: front is rotated forward for root & step clearance, flap makes up the difference. also safety tabs front and rear) 

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[Jason Fuller]

Hah, you're not the first to notice that! I was surprised to see it too, since I don't feel rim contact very often at all, and almost never pinch flat - though it's happened. 

This is a 43mm width Gravel King SK and I'd guess it's around 30-32 psi but to be honest, I pump them up to 35 or so and don't re-inflate until they feel soft. I certainly run my tire pressures lower than most people I ride with.