Is my Atlantis redundant?

[Taylor Kurosaki]

Hi folks,

After decades of "Riv-like" setups on bikes like my Soma Doublecross, I finally got my first Riv three years ago with a 56cm Susie W. Longbolts I got off Craigslist. I checked it out on a lark but I was smitten. It's by far my most capable off-road bike. It's also my most comfortable. I've been picking it when entering group "gravel" events as I'm way more happy and confident on it. It's set-up with Doom Lucky Riser bars and some SQLabs diner bar ends. I never thought I'd like it so much. Next up was a 58cm A. Homer Hilsen I found on Facebook Marketplace. I was looking to recreate the sporty, planing feeling of the steel road bikes I used to ride in the '80s, but more comfortable. It came with Albastache bars and Silver bar-ends though I was positive I wanted drop bars on it for the reason I stated above. Well, after a long process of trying to get drops to feel comfortable for me, I'm now all the way back to the Albastache bars and friction bar-ends. I LOVE the Albastache bars from the moment I tried them and am really happy to have them back on. They feel great for spirited riding, out of the saddle climbing and are even capable off-road. The final bike in my stable is a custom DeSalvo Ti drop-bar gravel bike that I also really enjoy.

Finally, last year I leaped on buying the Riv I've always coveted- a 59cm Atlantis. I just love the lines of the Atlantis- to me it's the quintessential Riv. To make this bike different from the others, I'm running it with Billie Bars and flat pedals. I've been borrowing the wheels from my Susie while I get some built-up. I've barely ridden it at this point, but I'm having a hard time imagining it occupying a distinct spot in this four-bike array. If I want the sensation of going fast, it's either the Homer or my DeSalvo. When riding technical terrain or even for really long days in the saddle, the Susie is both more capable and comfortable. I feel like I'm sitting ON the Atlantis more than the other bikes. I don't love how detached I feel from the bike with flats, and although I like the multiple hand positions of the Billie bars, they don't feel all that capable. Even if I was going on a long tour, I think I'd pick the Susie. I get that's it really early here, and I may play around with some different cockpits, but I feel like the Atlantis is the odd man out in my lineup.

[Mike Rossi]

“Is my Atlantis redundant?”

Not to me.

Mike

On Jan 24, 2026, at 11:51 AM, Taylor Kurosaki <taylork...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi folks,

After decades of "Riv-like" setups on bikes like my Soma Doublecross, I finally got my first Riv three years ago with a 56cm Susie W. Longbolts I got off Craigslist. I checked it out on a lark but I was smitten. It's by far my most capable off-road bike. It's also my most comfortable. I've been picking it when entering group "gravel" events as I'm way more happy and confident on it. It's set-up with Doom Lucky Riser bars and some SQLabs diner bar ends. I never thought I'd like it so much. Next up was a 58cm A. Homer Hilsen I found on Facebook Marketplace. I was looking to recreate the sporty, planing feeling of the steel road bikes I used to ride in the '80s, but more comfortable. It came with Albastache bars and Silver bar-ends though I was positive I wanted drop bars on it for the reason I stated above. Well, after a long process of trying to get drops to feel comfortable for me, I'm now all the way back to the Albastache bars and friction bar-ends. I LOVE the Albastache bars from the moment I tried them and am really happy to have them back on. They feel great for spirited riding, out of the saddle climbing and are even capable off-road. The final bike in my stable is a custom DeSalvo Ti drop-bar gravel bike that I also really enjoy.

Finally, last year I leaped on buying the Riv I've always coveted- a 59cm Atlantis. I just love the lines of the Atlantis- to me it's the quintessential Riv. To make this bike different from the others, I'm running it with Billie Bars and flat pedals. I've been borrowing the wheels from my Susie while I get some built-up. I've barely ridden it at this point, but I'm having a hard time imagining it occupying a distinct spot in this four-bike array. If I want the sensation of going fast, it's either the Homer or my DeSalvo. When riding technical terrain or even for really long days in the saddle, the Susie is both more capable and comfortable. I feel like I'm sitting ON the Atlantis more than the other bikes. I don't love how detached I feel from the bike with flats, and although I like the multiple hand positions of the Billie bars, they don't feel all that capable. Even if I was going on a long tour, I think I'd pick the Susie. I get that's it really early here, and I may play around with some different cockpits, but I feel like the Atlantis is the odd man out in my lineup.

<Susie.jpeg>

<Homer.jpeg>

<DeSalvo.jpg>

<Atlantis.jpeg>

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<Susie.jpeg>

<DeSalvo.jpg>

<Atlantis.jpeg>

<Homer.jpeg>

[Dan]

If you’re worried about it being redundant, how about you set it up in a way that allows riding you can’t do on your other bikes?

For example, it could become a chill cruiser. Those Billie Bars are very ‘capable’ at letting you enjoy riding at an easy pace. You could add fenders, which none of your other bikes have. And maybe even a front basket!

Good problems to have. 

[Dave Johnston]

I was thinking the same as Dan. Add some racks and a basket. Fenders if you are OK with it being your rain bike.

-Dave J

[Brian Forsee]

single speed it!

[Armand Kizirian]

None of your bikes have racks or baskets. Problem solved. ;) 

[Drew Fitchette]

Clearly the answer is to get rid of the DeSalvo and make the Homer your go fast bike ; )

Maybe try different bars on the Atlantis if you aren't digging the Billies? and throw a rack and/or basket on there like Armand said?

That being said, I'm also a big believer of letting things go if they aren't serving you.

[Brian Turner]

If this were my stable, here's what I would do:

Keep the fast bike as-is. Keep the Susie light and nimble as a fun, laid-back trail bike (after all, the Susie is the one Riv that Grant and Co. seemed to put the most weight restrictions on). Give the Homer fenders and a basket. Keep the fatter tires on the Atlantis and have it be more of an all-rounder / all-terrain / gravel / tourer.

This way, each bike has it's own niche, but you can still easily pull double-duty with any of the Rivs with just some slight easy modifications on the fly.

Brian

Lexington KY

[Taylor Kurosaki]

Thanks for the ideas so far. I realize this is not a bad problem to have. I have a set of fenders to throw on the Homer as it's my all-rounder and I don't want to shy away from it in the rain. The Susie is definitely my mountain bike, and I dig it so much for what it is. Agree with Brian that it shouldn't be laden down with racks and such. What I'm probably reacting to the most is the cockpit of the Atlantis. The Billies just feel super chill and cruiser, but I don't really connect with this kind of riding. I like to feel connected to the bike and in control. I bet if I swapped the Billies out for those new slightly swept-back Riv/Nitto bars coming out, or some Wavie bars, or even something more in the Jones Bar type of vibe, the bike would feel better to me. Probably the simplest thing to do is just throw a less chill bar on there to see how she feels, though there'd then be some overlap with the Susie. I really liked the idea of symmetry of the full gamut of bar types: drop, Albastache, flat/riser, swept back to cover the full spectrum. I see all the Riv guys going full off-road with Loscos, Chocos, Toscos, Billies... Those bars don't seem to be lacking in capability for many of you. I wonder what I'm missing? Can anyone comment on it feeling like I'm on top of the Atlantis more than in the bike with some of my other steeds?

[Drew Fitchette]

Hey Taylor, 

I have had a hard time with Billies except for on my Clem, which had by far the longest reach of all the bikes I've owned. I switched my Atlantis to Moth bars to widen my grip which has me leaning a little further forward. I like them quite a bit more than the Billies for feeling more "in" the bike, rather than on it. Of all the swept back bars I've tried I like the Bosco/Tosco/Losco most... but I've only ridden the widest of each variation.

I'm interested in the new bars too, and might put those on the Atlantis and move the Moth bars over to a bigger/longer frame. 

[Gordon Stam]

Taylor, regarding the feeling of "sitting on the bike not in it", I've been having the same sort of feeling with my new Charlie Gallop. What may have made the difference is getting a Velo Orange Grand Cru long setback seatpost. I haven't had it out for a ride yet but test sitting in the garage feels like I'm more down "in" the bike. This is with Billie Bars.

Somewhere else someone mentioned the Ahearne +Map bars. Maybe take a look at those.

At any rate I think it sometimes takes a while to get a bike dialed in. It did with my Clem. And sometimes it's just a serendipitous change that does the trick, as with my Clem when I put some really wide bars on it.

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[Teague]

Sure Loscos, Billies, n Boscos work for full off-road, but it's gonna be a different ride than with get arounds, wide wavies, etc. If you're looking for a different feel, a bar swap is probably the fastest way to make that happen. If you don't have any others hanging around, perhaps you can borrow susie's bars and try em out on the Atlantis. Will's susie was inspiration for mine. Somewhere along the line he wrote about going for lower rise, less swept bars to get that "sportier" (probably not the term he used) feel.

Tires totally change the ride too - perhaps those kenda tires are making the atlantis feel a little redundant to the susie.

[Dorothy C]

I don’t care for the Kenda tires. If it were me I would try a pair of the Poteau Ridge Rene Herse 48mm tires. Even in Endurance Plus casing, the sturdiest, those would be almost 90g lighter per tire. The Billies have the most backsweep, maybe try a Choco or the new bar Riv are coming out with 

[Taylor Kurosaki]

Yeah, the tires and wheels are currently being shared between the Susie and Atlantis. I sure do love the Rene Herse 700x55 Fleecer Ridges. That, plus the bar swap may help a bunch. I'm probably just not digging the super upright stance the Billies provide. Another simple change I may try is just throwing on a longer stem to see if that feels a tad more sportive than my current setup. Currently running a 100mm and have a 120mm in the bin. Sweptback seat post already on there. 

[Dan]

Changing the bar position may do the trick. 

Have you seen how Ultraromance runs his Ortho bars? Which are very similar to Billie Bars. 

He recommends a long stem (120-130mm), bars tilted slightly downwards, and bar ends at or just below saddle height. Doing it this way lets you get your weight more forward for a more spirited ride, especially in corners. 

This is the approach to bar setup I use on my Appaloosa and I can confirm  it works well. 

[Garth]

Looking at your bike photos Taylor it appears that your favored bikes all place your hands over and in front of the steering axis, while the Billies place you well behind. Plus the stem is set soooo high. This in turn allows the body to naturally lean forward. The Billies place your hands well behind the steering axis, and are set very high, not allowing you the same natural lean-forward-and-into the pedals. Certainly if you used and placed any of your other bars/stems onto the Atlantis it will feel like the other bikes you ride. I doubt the longer stem is worth investing in as the Billies extend so far back. Even if you chopped off a few inches, it then becomes notably more narrow. I could only use 56cm Albatross bars with a 130mm stem, bar end brake levers, and padded bar tape over the curve to get my hands as far forward as possible. Even then, compared to now using drop bars on the Bombadil, it's a completely different feeling bike. A swept back bar like a Billie or Albatross is never going to offer a feel like a bar that places the hands over/in front of the steering axis, no matter how long the stem is. I think they used to make 160's, hah hah, but even that's like putting a dress on pig and pretending it's not a pig. 'Ya just can't make something into what it isn't. 

[Taylor Kurosaki]

Garth and Dan, Thank you so much for these perspectives. Looking at my photos, it all seems so obvious to me now. As soon as my Atlantis and I are reunited I'm going to play with lower bars, longer stem, and even swapping the Billies for something less swept back. I've had to dial in my position on all my bikes, I'm not sure why I suddenly thought the Atlantis would feel great with an initial stab-in-the-dark setup. Thanks!

[Rusty Jefferson]

Before making wholesale changes, consider wrapping tape on the forward part of your Billie bars and maybe even using brake interrupters up there. That's a fairly equivalent position to your bike with the Albastache bars. You could sample it without cutting cables by moving your levers up there and going for a ride. You may still want to experiment with stem length. I'm a big fan of that position on the Choco/Billie bars.

Jim in Annapolis