Question about the 1995 Waterford Road standard

[Adrianna T]

Hi folks,

I saw this ad and I am very tempted: https://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/bik/d/fairfax-wow-beautiful-1995-rivendell/7429374409.html

I'm going to see it next week to decide.

1. I am 5' 5 female, any ideas on whether this will fit me? 

2. This will be my first vintage bike, and I am so excited! Any other tips or advice on this particular frame? 

-Adrianna

[Cyclofiend Jim]

Didn't realize the Mountain Bike Museum was selling frames....
Road Standard dimensions are on this never-quite finished resource - 

http://www.cyclofiend.com/rbw/gen1/

Here's the direct link to the image
http://www.cyclofiend.com/Images/rbw/gen1/rivcat05_framespecs.jpg

I will say it sort hurts to hear a '95 described as "vintage".... but there ya go.

Good frame - won't have quite the tire clearances we're seeing on more recent models, of course. Horizontal dropouts, too. 

Jim

[Joe Bernard]

I've been staring at that frame for weeks, it's gorgeous! At 5'-6"-ish it's too small for me, I'll bet a 50 × 52cm would be perfect for you, especially with drops or Moustache/Albastache bars. 

The listing says 125 rear spacing but I'm pretty sure all Riv Roads werr 130. Check for wheel size, I think the 50cm frames used 26" like mountain bikes. 

Joe Bernard

On Sunday, January 16, 2022 at 4:49:47 PM UTC-8 Adrianna T wrote:

[Ryan]

But in the spec sheet Jim attached, the smallest size is 52cm. I guess it depends on how Rivendell  measures .CC or CT?  Rear spacing is 130 and wheel size is 700 c according to the Riv spec.

Nice frame...grab it if it fits!

[Joe Bernard]

It depends on when the frame was built, it could be several years away from when that spec sheet was published. The ad says it's measured C-to-T so I believe it's a real 50cm frame, and my (vague) memory of that time is it came with 26" wheels. The Rambouillet in 50 and 52cm also used the smaller wheels. 

[Greg J]

My 1996 Riv catalog says that the 50cm (c-t) is built for 26" wheels. 4.5cm drop.  The rear spacing is listed at 129, "which can be squeezed or spread slight to fit various hubs."

"50 women's" has a tt of 50.5cm, and "50 men's" has 52.5cm.  So I would guess this one is 50cm men's.  Not that that makes any difference. 

@Adriana, it's hard to guess the fit - there are so many factors to consider.  Personally, I'd say this is on the smaller end of what fits for you, but probably will fit fine.  5'-5" would usually put you at about a 52cm seat tube (center-top) and 53.5cm top tube.  Because this is a frameset only, you'll be taking a bit of a risk I think, without being able to ride it.

I had one of these a while back (54cm size), and it was a really nice riding bike.  I sold it because I wanted to fit even larger tires.

Greg

[Paul Brodek]

Just some thoughts from an Old Guy who owned a '95ish Road Standard, currently has a '98 Road Custom and lotsa Waterfords.

It is kinda pricey. It is also one of those things that you won't find often/easily, there's often a Riv premium to be paid, and in this smaller frame size w/26" wheels you'll likely have better tire clearance than with a 700c Road Standard. But if you boil it down to a production frame from '95 build by W'ford, $1,450 is big number in my book. A clean/stock '95 W'ford road frame might get $600-$700, a clean W'ford Riv might get $200-$300 more? The highest I've seen a Road Standard go for was around $1,200, pretty clean, sold by Jan Heine on ebay some years back, haven't seen anything else sell that high. I'd be happy to get $1,200 in 2020 for my '98 Riv Road Custom, built by Joe Starck. $1,450 is a pretty aggressive price.     

The frame looks lovely. It evidently is being sold by/for a good cause. It's a Riv. Vintage steel is cool/fun. It looks very clean. Likely has pretty good tire clearance? Rare fer sure. Lots of pluses. Just be comfy knowing you're not necessarily getting a bargain, and if you decided it didn't work well for you, I'm not sure you'd be able to get close to the same price reselling it.

Tips on your first vintage frameset is a big topic, and one that others here generally do that better than I do. I'll just hit a couple/few basics. 

My first question would be whether you want this to be a cool vintage bike without being concerned whether it will ride as well as your current bikes? Or would you want to be able to essentially ride it the same places/ways as what you ride now? Rivs have changed a lot in the past 35yrs+. If you're riding newish/current Rivs now with looong chainstays and wiiiide tires, is the '15 Standard going to feel like the equivalent of hopping on a 700c bike with 28mm tires? Or do you want something that feels faster and maybe not as comfy?

In terms of knowing what you're potentially getting, you do want to try your best to make sure it'll fit you well, before buying. Also make sure you know how much real tire clearance you'll have, maybe especially important for someone coming from a current Riv, especially if it's a wide/long Riv.

Paul Brodek

Hillsdale, NJ USA

[Corwin]

The Mountain Bike Museum sells lots more than frames...

Every time I go by there, I am tempted by at least a couple of their bikes.

Corwin

[Adrianna T]

Thank you everyone for your input!

I am going to think about this quite seriously and may come back with questions about the parts I need to build it up.

[Adrianna T]

Thanks for all the thoughts. I have reservations about buying this frame at this price, but that's alleviated by the knowledge that it's for the museum. In any case, I will go see it, and probably decide later in the week.

I don't actually have a Riv at the moment, I have one of those gravel bikes that I will likely sell for a Riv. Whether it's a 1995 one or a new one, I don't know.

[Adrianna T]

Definitely a toss up at the moment because of price, and how I am not sure it will be 100% a perfect fit. But it's tempting because of the color and how it's not that common to come by. 

I don't actually own a Riv at the moment, but have ridden a friend's Roadeo, and loved it; so either I go into this for the heck of it, or I try to get a new Roadini, Roadeo or Atlantis. I have a fancy modern gravel bike right now, which I like, but I think for the same weight I probably prefer the Riv style of things.

On Monday, January 17, 2022 at 9:08:32 PM UTC-8 Corwin wrote:

[John Hawrylak]

I respectfully suggest you consider a A Homer Hilsen in a 47.5 or 51 cm frame, if you really want a Rivendell.   It has all the improvements G Peterson learned from the Road Standard and has light tubing.  Horizontal dropouts are not as easy to work around as vertical ones, & the AHH accommodates much wider tires and 9 speed components.    I'm sure the RS is a very nice vintage frame.   Just my 2 cents.

John Hawrylak

Woodstown NJ

[Ryan]

Gee...not to complicate things...because in the related thread I said you could probably make the original work for you...but maybe, since you have a new gravel bike, AND you rode a Roadeo and really liked it, maybe the new Roadeo is the way to go. It IS built by Mark Nobilette and it is 2800.00, but it has 51 and 53 cm sizes and you have a range of options , including paint so....something to consider

https://www.rivbike.com/products/roadeo  

As others have said about the older frame, special as it is, there may be some fit/component options that you have to work around /compromise. 

Good luck , whatever you decide

[Patrick Moore]

Curious: are the smaller HHs and Roadeos built for 26" wheels?

I know that if I were in the market for a top-level, light road bike I'd certainly consider the Roadeo (700c wheels in my size, of course).

[Joe Bernard]

47.5 and 51 Homer are 650B, I believe all Roadeos are 700C. The last 26-er I'm aware of in Riv's lineup is the 46cm Appaloosa and I'll be surprised if we see it again. The new 45 Clem dropped 26" for 650B this year.