Just thinking - Rivendell mini-velo?

[lconley]

I have wondered what a Rivendell version of a mini-velo would be like. A mini velo is a small tired, non-folding but full size bike like the VO Neutrino, BikesDirect also had one some years back. You could have the long Riv wheelbase and ride, without the actual total bike length being any longer that a "normal" bike. And, of course the low top tube.

I do have a folding Bike Friday and a VO Neutrino. Too heavy for the Bike Friday now, but the Neutrino seems stout enough.

Laing

[amill...@gmail.com]

I think a mini-Riv would be cool. Lugs, long chainstays, fully eyeleted, 2”+ tires. 

I remember when Riv did a review of the rim brake Pugsley. I thought that would be a cool Rivendell model also. 

Best,

Aaron in El Paso 

On Nov 16, 2022, at 07:03, lconley <lco...@brph.com> wrote:

I have wondered what a Rivendell version of a mini-velo would be like. A mini velo is a small tired, non-folding but full size bike like the VO Neutrino, BikesDirect also had one some years back. You could have the long Riv wheelbase and ride, without the actual total bike length being any longer that a "normal" bike. And, of course the low top tube.

I do have a folding Bike Friday and a VO Neutrino. Too heavy for the Bike Friday now, but the Neutrino seems stout enough.

Laing

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[Joe Bunik]

IIRC, the very first "Rosco Bubbe" was indeed a 20" mini /
youth-proportioned Rivendell prototype. I have pics of it somewhere
deep down in a hole.

=- Joe Bunik
Walnut Creek, CA

> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/2A5419FF-7CE8-49C0-B0E0-F072485AB123%40gmail.com.
>

[Joe Bernard]

I think it would be an interesting exercise and in the current "they all sell out" climate Riv would probably do ok with one, but you'd have to convince Grant there's a reason to own one. I had a VO Neutrino for a while, which I bought online, and was quite surprised to discover how not-all-that-mini it was. I'm not convinced a 20-inch-wheel Riv with long stays and a long toptube is going to be notably more compact than one with 26 or 27.5. Now if he wanted to do it with separators to break it in half like a Moulton, I'm in! 

Joe Bernard 

[lconley]

I was not thinking that it would be "mini". I was thinking that you could get the advantages of the long chain stays, long top tube and long wheelbase, in the overall length of a "normal" non-Riv bike. It would then be more usable when transporting on public transportation and easier to navigate a tight stairwell or tight living quarters with. It wouldn't be so wide on a back of the car bike rack. It would fit more easily inside my Element. I have zero expectation that Riv would actually do one. Riv obviously doesn't have a stack of unused, long steering tube 20" wheel forks sitting around to do a run of Rosco Bubbes with. One a the few persistent complaints that I hear about Rivendells on this site is about the overall length and the possibly mis-named Mini-velo concept might cure that without a lot of other compromises. Just the rambling thoughts of an old gear-head.

Laing

[Joe Bernard]

I'm also just rambling. I'd certainly like to see one, my opinion is every style of bicycle would benefit from Grant's design abilities! 

[iamkeith]

I realize this is just a fun thought-exercise, but I think I can confidently say that they wouldn't even consider the idea.  The reason being that Grant has made it clear that he doesn't like the proportions of small wheels on a big frame - even when "small" means 26"/559 wheels.   I'd guess that he's had several thousand requests to re-make 26" All-Rounders and has, as far as I can tell, refused.  Even the Saluki/Hilsen frames in the larger sizes went from 650b to 700c, so his preference now seems  to be to use as large a wheel as can fit.  That doesn't mean that 559 and 650b aren't preferable for smaller frames built for smaller riders, but it's a whole different equation, now that 700c tires are so readily available in large volume casings, than it was when the X0-1, All-Rounder and Saluki were first designed.

As one of the vocal small-wheel prostheletizers, I once looked at those VO mini-velos with some interest and curiosity.   After studying the geometry, it turned out they weren't nearly big enough, despite looking so huge.  (My rivendell roadish-bikes are roughly 60cm st with 59cm tt, so not even extra large by any means. The VOs capped-out at the equivalent of about a  56cm-ish frame, if I recall correctly.)  So I think that even they looked at it and decided that larger frames would look too ridiculous to bother.