59cm MIT Atlantis build and (short) ride report

[ctifusion]

Hi all,

Just finished my Atlantis build and I couldn't be happier. I've been coveting (and riding) Bridgestones and Rivendells since the 90s and, though I had a Quickbeam and still have vintage B-stones and a bunch of vintage bikes, my last major/modern build was based around a 60cm LHT with 26-inch wheels and Compass RTP tires. Just couldn't justify/afford a Rivendell build five years ago. And that's ok, the LHT has served me well and will continue to be my rough weather/winter bike. But I've been wanting a new, geared Rivendell for a long time.

The sizing on the Sams was just off enough for me (I'm right between the 58 and 62) to pass on it the couple times I got serious and I never took a serious look at the Appaloosa. I have a collection of vintage 80s mountain bikes that are just too close to justify getting a Clem. So when I saw the new Atlantis I was hooked. I have always loved the color and I've been dying to try the modern long wheelbase Rivs. 

I've built a lot of bikes with different versions of the classic riv build so I was looking to do something different and (in my mind) modern. I decided on a 1x11 (ended up with a 1x10), fat tires, and the super wide Crust bars (swapped from my LHT which will go back to an upright bar). I was worried about having to use a couple black parts to make the 1x10 set up work but I think it looks pretty cool. I can do a full parts list if anyone is interested.

I will still use my LHT for the majority of my committing and winter/rain riding. The Atlantis will be used for longer rides and hopefully adding some more serious mileage to my routine. I've seen my pleasure riding diminish recently, so it's time for a new bike and some new roads.

I finished it last night and was able to get a few miles on it before dark (and of course it's been raining all day today!). I immediately found it a really engaging ride, especially compared to the LHT which is stable but a bit "dead." I'm a big guy and the combination of the stout frame, long wheelbase, and fat Compass 55cm tires makes for a stable and lively ride. I LOVE the extended read end, especially when cornering and accelerating from a seated position. I'll post a more detailed ride update with the rain clears.

I should note that it took 2 chains because of the wheelbase, other than that everything went smoothly on the build.

Best,

Brynnar

Indy

[WETH]

That is beautiful! Thanks for the preliminary ride report and photos. I wish the second top tube came on the smaller sizes. It looks great!

[John G.]

FINALLY a drop bar MIT Atlantis! I love yours—especially with the new Compass tires and the color of your bar wrap.

[Clayton.sf]

Looks excellent! Have a 1x11 59cm drop bar MITlantis waiting to be finished. Should be done next week.

Clayton Scott
SF, CA

[Lester Lammers]

Looks mighty fine. What wheels are you using? I hope to have mine together soon.

On Thursday, June 21, 2018 at 4:35:23 PM UTC-4, ctifusion wrote:

[Bill Lindsay]

That's saucy.  Vigorously APPROVE

[Deacon Patrick]

Love that bow tube! Wow. ANd if the roughest seas you encountered in the build were needing a second chain ... well, that’s equitorial doldrums! Grin. Beautiful build and great job.

With abandon,
Patrick

[Robert Barr]

Very nice Brynnar!

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[ctifusion]

Thanks everyone. My 8 year old son picked the dark teal tape from the riv site and it's a great match. An excellent local wheel builder (Scott at ICS) who I've known for many years built the wheels. Velocity Atlas with XT/T hubs (Shimano has added the T for XT touring hub I guess).

Such a fun ride. I'll add some comments after I get a real ride in. Looking forward to seeing pics of all the new rides!

Brynnar
Indy

[Dave Small]

Congrats on the new bike, Brynnar.  I don't care much for the look of parallel double top tubes, but I really dig that curvy mid-tube.  

Dave

[phil k]

Thanks for sharing Brynnar! Looks super good!

[Virgil Staphbeard]

I didn't realize you were from Indy until I read "Scott at ICS." I hope to see you and the Atlantis on the road someday.

On Thursday, June 21, 2018 at 4:35:23 PM UTC-4, ctifusion wrote:

[Michael Hechmer]

Very nice looking bike.  I am not convinced that the dbl TT offers much advantage but the curved tube looks cool.  I do notice that the bottle cage mounting looks very low.  Do you think it will require a longer reach than your comfortable with

Michael

On Thursday, June 21, 2018 at 4:35:23 PM UTC-4, ctifusion wrote:

[John Bokman]

Hot! Love the drops!

Will be very interested in hearing about ride quality, comparrisons vs. shorter wheelbase bike.I'd also be on a 59. Love my Sam, but I've always lusted after an Atlantis, and this one, with drops....oh my.

On Thursday, June 21, 2018 at 1:35:23 PM UTC-7, ctifusion wrote:

[ctifusion]

Thanks John and Michael,

I don't have a direct comparison to the recent riv models. My last Riv was a Quickbeam that I bought in 2006 and just sold this year. I loved the ride of the QB but I wanted to have a geared Riv and I also realized that as I got older (and fatter!) I really like big, stable bikes. I am happy to say that compared to my Surly LHT the Atlantis is a complex and interesting ride that gives tons of feedback without ever feeling noodle-y. I've heard people hypothesize that the extra tube doesn't do anything or that it makes the frame over stiff. All I can say it that it's much more solid than the QB but still feels like a fancy, well-designed steel bicycle. I can notice the length of the wheelbase and that is my favorite part. It feels like you ride "in" the bike and that the bike carries you more. Hard to explain.

I noticed that the water bottle cages are a bit lower than normal but I can't tell a difference when using my bottle.

I definitely recommend the big Crust bars if you are attracted to the idea. They have an email sign-up that I think will get you on a list for when they come out with another run. Otherwise, I'm sure that most people would love this bike with the wide noodles too.

Hey Virgil, didn't I sell you a LD stem once? Maybe we should go for a ride.

Best,

Brynnar

[MattB]

Hey Brynnar, that is a sweet build. Scott at ICS has built a couple of wheels for me as well, a really good guy! I’m in Indy as well and ride what I think is the only Hilborne, sparkly, orange Atlantis, at least the only one I know of.
We need to hook up for an Indy ramble.

Matt in Indy

[Robert Barr]

Brynnar/Matt, its Bob. Looks like the Indianapolis Riv Society is going public!

[Matt Byam]

Bob,  I really want to see your new Atlantis.  I think the curved top tubes are very cool.

matt  

On Wed, Jun 27, 2018 at 10:38 PM, Robert Barr <rcb...@gmail.com> wrote:

Brynnar/Matt, its Bob. Looks like the Indianapolis Riv Society is going public!

On Wed, Jun 27, 2018, 8:38 PM MattB <matt...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hey Brynnar, that is a sweet build.  Scott at ICS has built a couple of wheels for me as well, a really good guy! I’m in Indy as well and ride what I think is the only Hilborne, sparkly, orange Atlantis, at least the only one I know of.
We need to hook up for an Indy ramble.

Matt in Indy

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[Tom M]

I do like the curved second top tube and the Cambium (?) saddle. Just a beautiful build. Enjoy the ride.

--Tom

On Thursday, June 28, 2018 at 1:09:13 PM UTC-4, MattB wrote:

Bob,  I really want to see your new Atlantis.  I think the curved top tubes are very cool.

matt  

On Wed, Jun 27, 2018 at 10:38 PM, Robert Barr <rcb...@gmail.com> wrote:

Brynnar/Matt, its Bob. Looks like the Indianapolis Riv Society is going public!

On Wed, Jun 27, 2018, 8:38 PM MattB <matt...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hey Brynnar, that is a sweet build.  Scott at ICS has built a couple of wheels for me as well, a really good guy! I’m in Indy as well and ride what I think is the only Hilborne, sparkly, orange Atlantis, at least the only one I know of.
We need to hook up for an Indy ramble.

Matt in Indy

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[ctifusion]

Matt and Bob, let's make a plan! Any other Indy rivs out there? Virgil?

[Robert Barr]

Sounds good.

On Thu, Jun 28, 2018, 1:30 PM ctifusion <brynnar...@gmail.com> wrote:

Matt and Bob, let's make a plan! Any other Indy rivs out there? Virgil?

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[Tully Lanter]

Don't think I could imagine a nicer-looking build than that. May it serve you well!

Intriguing bars, by the way. Are these the ones? 

On Thursday, June 21, 2018 at 1:35:23 PM UTC-7, ctifusion wrote:

[ctifusion]

Tully,

Thanks! And yes, mine were the first run. If you think you'll like them get on their list. I love the ultra wide bars

[Timothy Hurley]

I agree with everyone, that bike looks perfect. So sick!

[Virgil Staphbeard]

Yep I'm in the SoBro Butler area. And Matt, I'm not sure if you were saying only Hilborne or only orange Hilborne, but I have a friend in Indy that has a black Hilborne.

[Matt Byam]

Virgil,   My description was very awkward, its an Atlantis painted in the original Hilborne orange color. It's widely understood that Orange is the fasted color.  I've run across a black Hilborne parked at the Jazz Kitchen a couple of times, I haven't been able to track down the owner!  Maybe we could get together this coming weekend!

matt

--

[Virgil Staphbeard]

I unfortunately will be out of town this weekend, but I'm in for a meetup and ride sometime. 

On Monday, July 2, 2018 at 6:48:55 AM UTC-4, MattB wrote:

Virgil,   My description was very awkward, its an Atlantis painted in the original Hilborne orange color. It's widely understood that Orange is the fasted color.  I've run across a black Hilborne parked at the Jazz Kitchen a couple of times, I haven't been able to track down the owner!  Maybe we could get together this coming weekend!

matt

On Sun, Jul 1, 2018 at 7:46 PM, Virgil Staphbeard <vqstap...@gmail.com> wrote:

Yep I'm in the SoBro Butler area. And Matt, I'm not sure if you were saying only Hilborne or only orange Hilborne, but I have a friend in Indy that has a black Hilborne.

On Thursday, June 28, 2018 at 1:30:26 PM UTC-4, ctifusion wrote:

Matt and Bob, let's make a plan! Any other Indy rivs out there? Virgil?

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[ctifusion]

I'm in and out of town for the next couple weeks too.

[Tyler Lone]

Love it! I have really been wanting an Atlantis and this doesn't help matters. Glad you like the Compass tires. I have been interested in the new 55's and wondered how they ride.

I'm also from Indy. Hope to see it out and about sometime.

Tyler

[Ash]

That's a stunningly a beautiful bike!!

Congrats!

[Bill Gibson]

Here's to the Supple Life! It's the Atlantis of the Future!

Bill Gibson
Tempe, Arizona, USA

My Photographs : https://billbgibson.myportfolio.com/ and on Behance: https://www.behance.net/BillGibson

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[ctifusion]

Hey Tyler,

Some of the Indy Riv-ers are trying to plan a ride i a couple weeks. Ill let you know!

Brynnar

[ctifusion]

Thanks Ash, I digging in more and more every ride.