first impressions of Atlantis

[Clark Fitzgerald]

I've had my new Atlantis for one week now, and have taken it on one 4 hour ride and one quick overnight trip. It's my first Rivendell, and I'm very happy with it. It's the quintessential "All-Rounder", and I plan to use it for anything and everything, for a very long time. Photos.

My original order was for a Susie Longbolts, the "Hillibike". In fantasy land I ride my bike on high alpine singletrack all day long. The Hillibike would be great for that. In reality, I have little time for those kinds of grand adventures. My day to day adventures are more modest in scale. I tow my kids, ride my bike on bike paths, smooth urban singletrack, gravel roads, with at least 50% pavement. The terrain is similar to Walnut Creek. I know that if I got something with big knobby tires, then I would not be so happy on the pavement.

Will at Rivendell changed my order over to the Atlantis. He's a nice guy. The frame is a 59cm, with the rainbow double top tube. It's unique and beautiful. I had some nitpicks about details on the Susie Longbolts, but the Atlantis is Rivendell design and details at its finest.

I'm 6'1", and my PBH is 89 cm, which puts me right on the edge of fitting this bike. It's a big bike. I noticed it more when I had it fully loaded, because I have to do a roundhouse kick like Chuck Norris to get my leg over my sleeping pad that's on top of the saddle bag.

This is my first time using the saddle bag, and it has been great. I thought the thigh rubbing would bother me, but it doesn't. I do need a kickstand to tour with it though. It's no fun to dig through everything in the saddlebag while the bike is laid on it's side in the dark.

The ride is smooth and stable. I passed a group of hikers while climbing some steep singletrack, and got some comments like, "I can't believe you're riding this hill on that bike." Don't let the non racy looks deceive you, this bike climbs better than any bike I've been on, both loaded and unloaded. It reminds me of a tractor on the steep hills. Just put it in low gear, sit down, and spin. 

After the 4 hour ride my body felt fine, which surprised me, given that I haven't been on a long ride in months. On any of my other bikes I've owned I would be hurting after a ride that long. I credit the relaxed position. It invites one to unwind, take in the sights, and see where those side trails lead to.

[Roberta]

Congratulations on your first Riv. My first Riv ride was on an MUSA Atlantis and the ride was unbelievable! (I goe a Joe Appaloosa. ) Youll be so happy with it as the years roll by. Love your bike train😊.

[JohnS]

So I'm not the only one who wrestles with dream world biking and reality?

Thanks for sharing,

JohnS

On Wednesday, April 8, 2020 at 12:39:39 AM UTC-4, Clark Fitzgerald wrote:

[Bicycle Belle Ding Ding!]

I *love* the rainbow top tube of the Atlantis. I also really think the Atlantis creamy green is hard to beat; and what a great name fora bike. It was great fun reading how nicely it rides and how satisfied you feel with your new bike. Congrats, and many happy miles!

[Rob Kristoff]

Great pictures. Beautiful bike AND adorable kids!

[Christopher Cote]

Beautiful bike! You can post pics of a build like that, however, without telling us what those bars are!

Chris

[Clark Fitzgerald]

These are Rivendell Billie bars, flipped "upside down". This way they remind me of a highly evolved dirt drop handlebar- I'm loving them. Last night I painted my pump to match the stem and head tube, see pics.

[Clark Fitzgerald]

The other build highlight is the Schwalbe G-Ones, 29 x 2.25. They are the perfect tire for an Allrounder build- at home on road, trails, and gravel.

[Michael Cinibulk]

I’d be interested in hearing more about how the G-One Allrounds do off road and what kind of trails you ride.

I’ve been thinking of putting them on my Jones SWB since I ride quite a bit on road and rarely ride on trails when they are muddy and don’t feel like knobbies are really needed for the riding I do.

Thanks,
MikeC
Bellbrook OH

[Patrick Moore]

I on the contrary will be interested to hear how the G-Ones roll on pavement. I've got a stash of the predecessor Big Ones -- these have even smaller "knobs" -- "knoblets" is a better word -- but in the event that I live long enough to outlast my stash, I wonder if the G-One replacement will roll as unresistedly on pavement and firm dirt as its predecessor, which, I read, was reported by Schwalbe to be its fastest rolling tire in the entire product line, not excluding road racing tires, after it first appeared on the market.

I've designed the Matthews to feel as much like a fast road bike on pavement while still accommodating our silty riverine bosque sand; this means almost 30" tall 60 mm tires with largely road tread run at low pressures. The Big Ones shine at this -- note again, road bias, so I accept loss of dirt traction for road speed. I wonder if those G Ones might give a bit more grip on dirt while remaining fast on pavement.

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Patrick Moore

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

[Clark Fitzgerald]

MikeC- I ride mostly gravel, fire roads, and mellow singletrack. They don't have much bite cornering in the loose stuff, as I've discovered with a couple low speed crashes. They did very well on loose, steep climbs, but some of that may be attributed to the frame with long chainstays and super low gearing (16.5 gear inches at the bottom end!) I'm still getting used to it all, but I wouldn't switch tires. I think they'd be a great choice for a Jones SWB- I came pretty close to buying one of those too, instead of the Atlantis.

Patrick- The G-Ones do seem to grip a bit more in the dirt than my Compass Rat Trap Pass, a similar sized tire without tread. I'm about 2-3 mph slower than I would be on a road bike, but much of that likely comes from my more upright position on the Atlantis. Unlike real knobbies, the G-Ones never felt slow, buzzy, or squirmy on pavement, which is all I wanted. I've been experimenting with pressures, ranging from 19-25 psi.

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[Robert Tilley]

I put 27.5 G-One's on a recent tandem build. I only have a couple of shakedown rides on it so far but I have been very happy with how the G-One's roll on pavement. I'm not feeling much resistance at all but it's tough to compare to other tires since a tandem riding experience has so many other differences to the singles I'm used to riding.

My intended use for this bike is for mixed terrain use so it will see off-road use. I hope to get the G-One's on dirt once the rain stops and the trails dry out. And the trails open again...

Robert Tilley

San Diego, CA

Sent from my BlackBerry - the most secure mobile device

From: bert...@gmail.com Sent: April 11, 2020 9:58 AM To: rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com Reply-to: rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com Subject: Re: [RBW] Re: first impressions of Atlantis

I on the contrary will be interested to hear how the G-Ones roll on pavement. I've got a stash of the predecessor Big Ones -- these have even smaller "knobs" -- "knoblets" is a better word -- but in the event that I live long enough to outlast my stash, I wonder if the G-One replacement will roll as unresistedly on pavement and firm dirt as its predecessor, which, I read, was reported by Schwalbe to be its fastest rolling tire in the entire product line, not excluding road racing tires, after it first appeared on the market.

I've designed the Matthews to feel as much like a fast road bike on pavement while still accommodating our silty riverine bosque sand; this means almost 30" tall 60 mm tires with largely road tread run at low pressures. The Big Ones shine at this -- note again, road bias, so I accept loss of dirt traction for road speed. I wonder if those G Ones might give a bit more grip on dirt while remaining fast on pavement.

On Sat, Apr 11, 2020 at 10:20 AM Michael Cinibulk <mkcin...@gmail.com> wrote:

I’d be interested in hearing more about how the G-One Allrounds do off road and what kind of trails you ride.

I’ve been thinking of putting them on my Jones SWB since I ride quite a bit on road and rarely ride on trails when they are muddy and don’t feel like knobbies are really needed for the riding I do.

Thanks,
MikeC
Bellbrook OH

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Patrick Moore

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

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[Patrick Moore]

Good to know, thanks.. Not that I really need to worry at this point, since I've built up a small stash of the Big Ones; and they seem to wear quite well for tires that are so very light (for their size: 450 grams in a 700C X true 60???!!!). 

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Patrick Moore

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

[John Hawrylak]

Clark

Great report and a very nice build from the photos.  You mentioned the Atlantis climbs better than your other bikes.  Any ideas or reasons why this is so??

I noticed all MIT Atlantis have a 72° STA and with your 89cm PBH, a 1° slacker STA (from 73° to 72°) results in a 1.3cm increase in saddle setback.

John Hawrylak

Woodstown NJ

[Clark Fitzgerald]

John

I believe it climbs better because the long chainstays distribute more weight on the front wheel. The front wheel tracks straight, and stays down. Adding 5 pounds of gear weight to the front rack also improved this feeling. In contrast, on many other bikes I've found that in steep climbs (for example, some Bay Area fire roads) the front end will pop up or wander all over. 

I have my Brooks saddle adjusted all the way forward in the clamp, FWIW.

[Clark Fitzgerald]

This is a follow up after a couple more weeks of riding.

My other bikes are a tandem and a 94 Specialized Hard Rock with 2.3" Rene Herse RTP tires and nice handlebars. It's a great bike that I lock outside and use for errands. I took this bike out on the same route that I've been riding my new Atlantis, and was surprised how much I preferred the ride of the Atlantis. Compared to the other bike, the Atlantis is much smoother on bumpy terrain, seems to keep up the momentum better, moves less when I pedal, and requires more leaning to turn. Both bikes weigh about the same, and are the same speed (15 mph) on the section I measured.

I thought I was buying a Rivendell for the aesthetics. I was pleasantly surprised that the ride was so much better.

[Bryan Quinn]

Thanks for all these details you provided about your new Atlantis. How do you find the standover height for you? I just bought the 59cm and expect it sometime in the next few weeks. This will be my first Rivendell. I’m curious because my PBH is a shoeless 87.5 and I’m hoping I made the right call. I’ve got a longer torso than most and was on the edge between the 55 and the 59.

[Clark Fitzgerald]

Bryan, my PBH is a shoeless 89, and I'm right on the cusp with the 59
Atlantis. When I wear thin soled shoes and the bike has 2.3" tires,
I've got zero clearance. I like the aesthetics and proportions this
way. I sometimes notice it when I'm mounting the bike on rough
terrain, or when I get bucked off a steep dirt climb.

If I were riding steep, rocky MTB terrain regularly I would want
something with more clearance. If not- no biggie.

On Mon, Jun 15, 2020 at 7:21 AM Bryan Quinn <br...@onenaturellc.com> wrote:
>
> Thanks for all these details you provided about your new Atlantis. How do you find the standover height for you? I just bought the 59cm and expect it sometime in the next few weeks. This will be my first Rivendell. I’m curious because my PBH is a shoeless 87.5 and I’m hoping I made the right call. I’ve got a longer torso than most and was on the edge between the 55 and the 59.
>

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