Rivendell folding bike?

[Forrest]

Probably been discussed before, but when is Rivendell coming out with its folding bike?  -- Forrest

[Aaron Thomas]

I'd like to see Rivendell do a breakaway style bike in the spirit of the Romulus. It seems there would be an opening in the market for a Romulus-style breakaway. Hitherto, the only options are a Dahon touring bike, Ritchey's Road (which accepts only up to 28mm tires), and Ritchey's cx, which has decent clearances and nice geometry specs, but has an dreaded (and ugly) crabon fork. 

How about a standard reach, caliper-braked, sporty road model à la the Romulus? Sounds good to me. Who's in?

[charlie]

I've been suggesting this for some time now but it better be able to
support a heavier rider so no 8x5x8 tubing..... make it beefier like
an Atlantis or Hunk so more people can ride it safely and for a long
time. Its less metal so it'll be lighter anyway. Ya gotta keep in mind
what a folder is used for. 'Trailability' is a prerequisite too. A
lugged folder based on the 20 inch BMX wheel would be perfect with
wide tire availability and decent rolling qualities. What say ye Yves
Gomez ?

[Joe Bernard]

Y'all's lost yer mindses. Wait for the economy to stop bashing into the ground, then to talk Grant and the gang about an expensive folder in a market where a fully outfitted tourer with front and rear racks and a dynohub is $1200. When it's not on closeout for $800.

 

Joe Bernard

Fairfield, CA.

[Brewster Fong]

On Wednesday, August 24, 2011 6:16:04 PM UTC-7, Aaron Thomas wrote:

I'd like to see Rivendell do a breakaway style bike in the spirit of the Romulus. It seems there would be an opening in the market for a Romulus-style breakaway. Hitherto, the only options are a Dahon touring bike, Ritchey's Road (which accepts only up to 28mm tires), and Ritchey's cx, which has decent clearances and nice geometry specs, but has an dreaded (and ugly) crabon fork. 

How about a standard reach, caliper-braked, sporty road model à la the Romulus? Sounds good to me. Who's in?

Actually, there are several custom builders who make frames with the breakaway system. I have a Paul Taylor breakaway cross bike and it has a steel fork. It is fillet-brazed and works well. 

My bike has canti bosses and I run a Suntour xc pro canti brake in the rear and the tektro mini v brake in front. Btw, the tektro mini v brake works GREAT (no chatter or shuttering that I got with the front Suntor xc pro) and for $20, its a bargain! 

I believe Curtlo, Iglehart and several other builders will also build a frame  with this system. Of course, none of these builders are Grant designed, but it is available. Good Luck!

[Forrest]

Joe --  It is only a strict coincidence that I have lost my mind . . .  My question was not completely serious; in fact, it was frivolous. And so I withdraw it. I know RBW always has new projects/products in the chute and that they understand their market and timing for roll-outs best.  -- Forrest "Not Quite All There" Meyer

[Steve Palincsar]

On the other hand, Nobilette builds the Riv customs, and he has a
demontable system too, said to be very similar to the Rene Herse (which,
by the way, he also builds).

Or, for something completely different, consider a Moulton with a
separable frame.
http://www.moultonbicycles.co.uk/models/TSR30.html

[Dan Abelson]

Surly made a coupled Crosscheck for a couple years.  I think the price was pretty reasonable too.  They stopped making the coupled Crosscheck and now make a coupled Long Haul Trucker  http://surlybikes.com/frames/trucker_deluxe_frame/

Dan Abelson

[PATRICK MOORE]

This is what you want. One of my projects.

I'm thinking: drop bars, fixed drivetrain, 52X16, Flite, Look Keo Max,
1" tires. Not really: I hope to paint it and build a nice big front
rack with 1" X 1/4" aluminum strap. Bags or baskets front and rear. I
do already have the B72.

This will be my shopping and time trial bike.

What color bar wrap? Or cork grips?

No-retention pedals!

[Joe Bernard]

This will be my shopping and time trial bike.

 

That's funny.

[Forrest]

I am very jealous about your Parliament folder, Patrick.  -- fm

[Joe Bernard]

It's funkadelic. Sorry.

[rex]

+1 for corkgrips!

[CycloFiend]

on 8/25/11 7:30 AM, cm at chrisp...@hotmail.com wrote:

I am pretty sure that the Bleriot was originally going to be an coupled/ breakaway bike travel bike- hence the airplane theme. I think this was mentioned briefly in the RR maybe sometime around 2003-- not totally sure though. I would guess with the cost of labor and parts, the bad economy, and the niche market for such a product it wont be happening any time soon.

Not sure I recall that - the first  mention of the Bleriot "proper" was in 2006 - I've got the page scanned here -
http://www.cyclofiend.com/rbw/bleriot

I'm pretty sure that the name referred more to the French origin of the tire size - at that time pretty obscure knowledge stateside.

- Jim

--
Jim Edgar
Cyclo...@earthlink.net

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-- Robert McCammon, "Boy's Life"

[GeorgeS]

I have a Surly Traveler's Check which is the S&S coupled CrossCheck.
I also have a Brompton. These are entirely different bikes with, IMO,
very different functions. The Brompton folds up in less than 2
minutes and can be thrown into even a very small car trunk or it can
be put in a bag and checked as luggage. When one needs to use it, it
unfolds in about 30 seconds and you're off. But, it does not ride
like a normal bike. It has small wheels and frame is designed with
shock absorber in the middle which gives the bike a kind of spongy
feeling. For a convenient way to get around while traveling it is
hard to beat. I know people ride centuries on these things, but
personally I wouldn't. The Surly on the other hand, takes some time
to assemble and, if it's been packed in a case, one has to deal with
the tires that in my experience have to be deflated in order to get it
to fit. In my experience it takes about half an hour to get the thing
together and ready to ride. Even disassembled it will not fit in a
small car trunk. Airlines sometimes will charge extra for the large
travel case. When it's ready to ride, however, it is a regular, light
weight bike which is set up exactly like you want it regarding
everything from tires to stem length. If I'm traveling and I'm going
to be in a place for enough time to do some recreational riding, I'll
take the Surly hands down. If, on the other hand, I'm going to be in
a place for a day or so and I just want to get from one place to
another or do a little in-city site-seeing, the Brompton is perfect.
GeorgeS