Photos and details of my 1995 Riv Road Standard build

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Adrianna T

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May 3, 2022, 8:52:32 PM5/3/22
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Hi!

Back in January I came across a custom Riv Road Standard that I didn't know anything about, other than that it was being sold by Joe Breeze (to raise funds for his bicycling museum).

A bunch of you here helped to spec it out and that helped me feel confident enough to buy it.

After several months, I finally have a bike!

(The delay was largely around waiting for parts to show up, with this supply chain and all).

Here's what I ended up with. Photos attached.

- Nitto Randonneur 25.4 400mm
- Gran Compe 202 Non Aero Brake Levers, Drilled
- Nitto Fillet FacePlater Quill stem
- Dia-Compe ENE Down Tube Shifters
- Rene Herse Double Crank 46-30 - 171mm
- MKS Monarch pedals
- Velo Orange 32 hole silver front and rear hubs
Velocity A32 32 hole polished rims 
- Shimano 105
- Microshift 11-36
- 26″ x 1.25″ Elk Pass Tires

- Dura Ace 

Thanks to Scenic Routes (community bike center in San Francisco), and this community here, for the input and advice. It rides like a dream and I am really, really happy with it.
1995riv.jpeg
1995riv-cockpit.jpeg

Ryan

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May 4, 2022, 8:15:14 AM5/4/22
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Oh...I'm glad it worked out for you and you like the bike! I love the splash of yellow; it's so cheerful. Matches the buttery smooth ride of those early Rivendells 

Hope you have many happy miles on it. 

Greg J

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May 4, 2022, 12:15:44 PM5/4/22
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Congrats, Adriana!  Beautiful color on that bike, and a nice sensible build!  

best, Greg/Oakland

JAS

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May 4, 2022, 12:34:40 PM5/4/22
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It's a beauty, Adriana!  I love the color scheme...like the flags of Ukraine and Sweden.  

Congratulations.  May it bring you a lifetime of joy!

#RivSisters,
 Joyce

Patrick Moore

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May 4, 2022, 4:12:19 PM5/4/22
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Adrianna: Kudos on the nice result and for resurrecting a classic Rivendell road bike in an unusual size. When I first looked at the profile photo, before I read the build specs, I thought, "Those tires are too plump for a 700C Road Standard, and the build must be a 650B conversion." But you are using the Elk Passes; wonderful! I've been riding these since about 2015 -- they came onto the market in Fall 2015, IIRC; and they are, along with the totally different but also exquisitely riding 700C X 60 ultralight model Schwalbe Big Ones that I have on another bike, absolutely the nicest tires I've ridden.

Jan Heine said that he had me in mind when he developed these, since for years I've been riding road bikes with 26" wheels (even tho' my "best" size road frame is 60 c-c).

Mine measure 27-28 mm on admittedly very narrow 19 mm outside/13 mm inside rims, but pumped to 50-55 (I'm 170-175 just me) they are both plush and my gawd, are they fast!!! I just got back from a very nice spring ride on my 1999 custom Riv Road gofast with these tires, on a route I ride very often on several different bikes, and the gofast with the Elk Passes is just easier to pedal, on the flats, against the wind, up the hills.

Gratuitous photo (yes, once again) of that 1999 gofast with the Elk Pass tires.

I hope you enjoy the Rivendell and the Elk Pass tires.

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

#2 WITH JUNIOR 04.02.2022.JPG

Patrick Moore

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May 4, 2022, 4:17:30 PM5/4/22
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Oh, and if you get flats on those Elk Passes, do consider using sealant before switching to a heavier, more sluggish tire. I ride amongst goatheads and with 1 to 1.5 fl oz of Orange Seal in my tubes (I use extra light -- 70 gram -- 650C X 21 or 26" X 1" -- the very lightest and skinniest) and I rarely get a flat. 

Adrianna T

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May 4, 2022, 4:45:24 PM5/4/22
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Wow your bike is gorgeous!!

The Elk Pass tires are really nice.

My primary concern about getting thinner wheels was that I live in San Francisco, where I've fallen way too many times into street car tracks especially when it's raining, so these feel like a good size. 

This is the lightest and nicest bike I've ever had. The classic look and feel suits me and the riding feels more 'my style'. I am excited to spend more time on it!

Patrick Moore

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May 4, 2022, 5:30:29 PM5/4/22
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I expect that your Riv Road won't clear these tires, but for future reference for fatter tires in the 26" size, consider the Rene Herse "Naches Pass" 26 X 1.8" tire, which comes in Extralight (casing equivalent to that of the Elk Pass) and Regular (slightly thicker sidewalls). I use the extra light model with tubes and sealant on my 2020 Chauncey Matthews "Sorta Clone" of my 2003 Riv Road custom, and while they don't feel (note: "feel") as fast as the Elk Pass, they certainly feel better than any other mid-width 26" road tire I've used.


Second and third gratuitous self-advertising photos of the 2020 Matthews ("RBFR") with Ortlieb Sports Packers and with right-side-SP-removed-to-show-shift-cable (SA AM hub) -- have no idea why this one came out in black and white.





PROFILE WITH ORTLIEBS 050422.JPG
PROFILE ORTLIEB REMOVED 050422.JPG

Fullylugged

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May 4, 2022, 9:03:53 PM5/4/22
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Very nice build.  As a fellow '95 Road rider, I share your enthusiasm for this bike's riding characteristics.  26" was used by RBW a couple of times to get better geometry in smaller size frames. It works. Hope you enjoy many miles on yours!

On Tuesday, May 3, 2022 at 7:52:32 PM UTC-5 Adrianna T wrote:

Adrianna T

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May 5, 2022, 11:36:18 AM5/5/22
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Now for the million dollar question.. what handlebars and saddlebags would you all recommend? I know there are other conversations about Carradice bags, but I don’t know anything about bags that would fit this type of bike or era.

Bruce Herbitter

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May 5, 2022, 2:08:45 PM5/5/22
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I use Banjo Bros bags on mine.  Carradice  did not survive long in strong sun. The RBW kevens bag did better but not great.   Black Rose gave good service and looked nice but holds too little. Ymmv

Sent from my iPhone

On May 5, 2022, at 10:36 AM, Adrianna T <skinn...@gmail.com> wrote:

Now for the million dollar question.. what handlebars and saddlebags would you all recommend? I know there are other conversations about Carradice bags, but I don’t know anything about bags that would fit this type of bike or era.
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Patrick Moore

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May 5, 2022, 5:08:02 PM5/5/22
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Now that is odd. I've owned literally a dozen Carradices here in high desert NM, where, believe me, the sun makes your seal-level high-noon, mid-summer sun look like twilight -- noonday sunlight on the ocean boardwalk in Venice, CA on a clear day looks murky in comparison, and I've seen it. My Carradices have never suffered in other than color, which tends to be bleached (to a blacky-green or so) by the very strong sun.

After all, this is the state where Georgia O'Keefe and ilk moved to get the light effects that come from 5K+ feet of altitude (7K feet in Taos where O'Keefe settled).

On Thu, May 5, 2022 at 12:08 PM Bruce Herbitter <bruce.h...@gmail.com> wrote:
... Carradice  did not survive long in strong sun. 

Patrick Moore

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May 5, 2022, 5:18:31 PM5/5/22
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Do you like drop bars? I heartily recommend the Rene Herse Maes Parallel as the ultimate road drop bar - shallow drop, moderately long reach, long, flat ramps, just a hint of flare in the hooks. I use these on both road bikes and on the drop-barred gravel sand bike. https://www.renehersecycles.com/shop/components/handlebars/maes-parallel-254-handlebars/

I was going to suggest the 38 cm c-c model (as I prefer 38s on my road bikes -- I use very wide 42s on my dirt road bike; again 60 c-c road frame) BUT just discovered that the narrowest model now offered is the 40 cm c-c. Too bad. 

Saddlebags: The ultimates are the current Rivendell ones, but Carradice (https://carradice.co.uk) makes many, many models, ancient and modern, and supports, and it's often cheaper to order directly and pay ocean shipping than to buy from a US vendor. Carradice + internation shipping will be cheaper than Rivendell, btw, tho' the Riv bags are bijou top-10% purse quality. Margaret at Carradice -- is she still there? She was Customer Service, and was always very helpful. Again, I've never had the sun (furnace bright here in ABQ, summer) damage a Carradice apart from bleaching the color a bit after years of use.

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John Hawrylak

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May 5, 2022, 8:57:41 PM5/5/22
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Adrianna

I like the RH Radonneur Bars.  I set the bar height even or slightly above the saddle height and use the drops a lot when riding

John Hawrylak
Woodstown NJ

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