Two Bicycle Belles in NV—2nd Annual Visit

[REC (Roberta)]

Rivendell and the folks at the RBW board have made my life better!  Besides riding and loving my most awesome Joe Appaloosa, I’ve gotten a chance to meet a few of you through group rides, emails and the board. 

Circumstances happen that Leah, aka Bicycle Belle Ding Ding!, and my sister live near each other in the same sprawling NV city.  So, when I commented last year that I visit every March, Leah immediately invited me to meet for coffee and chat.  Three hours later, which seemed like just 10 minutes, we parted as friends.

So this March, Leah suggested a bike ride.  Whoa!  Philadelphia is FLAT, where I could ride for two hours and perhaps have a 350’ elevation if I searched for one.  She does not live in a hilly area, but in a mountainous area!  An incline to her is a hill to me.  Don’t worry she told me.  There is a small path that runs through a residential area that we can go.

On the day of our planned bike ride, my sister lent me her car and helmet.  However, the day started out with me not knowing how to open an automated garage door! (I don’t have a garage, but park under the stars.)  It took 10 minutes of texting my sister and brother-in-law until he told me how to open the door.  I kept texting Leah that I’d be there ASAP, but I’m stuck inside a garage!   She was so kind, saying if needed she’d pick me up, since I was still able to walk out the front door.

I got to ride her TBBITW (The Best Bike in the World) Betty Foy on the way out and her husband’s Clem on the way back.  They both rode wonderfully, more upright with their Bosco bars than my Joe A. with its Choco-moose bars, and perfect for a leisurely ride and conversation.  All three are delightful bikes.  My plan was to keep my Joe A. until I couldn’t swing my leg over it, and then replace it with a Cheviot, the next iteration of the Betty.  Thanks to Leah letting me ride her TBBITW, I know that is a good plan.

We talked about everything—kids, family, bikes, Rivendell, salt water pools, organic chicken and quality food, health care, school, scarves.  We talked about bikes and the fact that both of us were so happy with our Rivendell bikes that we don’t really want any others.  Well… perhaps in a most perfect world, she would have a fabulous red low step through Riv, and I would have a Homer to keep at work for after work riding (Joe A. would reside at my home for weekend rides).  In the meantime, we’ll be buying whatever we can from Rivendell to support them.  We want them to be around for the long term.

 In fact, we had such a great time talking and riding, we forgot to take pictures of our ride, but did so afterwards.  There is one of us each enjoying a cup of incredibly delicious coffee at her favorite coffee emporium and one of us with her sweet dog, her TBBITW, and her husband’s Clem.  If you look closely, we are both wearing scarves with bicycle motifs—hers given to her by her friend who made both and mine given to me by my friend Leah.

Four and one half hours later we said goodbye.  I fondly remember the day and look forward to next March.  

[Bicycle Belle Ding Ding!]

Oh my word, did we have fun. Do you know how refreshing it is to have coffee with someone who knows and loves Rivendell? I feel like it’s just me out here in NV, so you might imagine how I look forward to Roberta’s visits. Two Bicycle Belles (who were dingalings for not taking nearly enough photos by which to remember our day) chatted all the way through lunch! We could have gone through dinner had I not needed to rush to school and pick up my sons.

I loved hearing about how Roberta’s Joe rides in comparison to my Clem and Betty. We discussed our wish lists and future bikes and upcoming bikes events. You really can’t know how much a kinship over a shared love means unless you’ve had one - and I finally do! I did wish I had better terrain; I kept making apologies for the hills and lack of great bike destinations. Next time we should road trip to RBW HQ, Roberta.

The coffee was good and the company sublime! Thank you for a fantastic visit. 💖

[Abcyclehank]

So happy you Rivendell loving ladies connected. More of this needs to happen. Interesting how something like a parallel bike appreciation reveals enormous overlapping values and interests.
Just as you each are blessed and lucky to have a Riv, we are blessed to have you both on this list.

Sincerely,
Ryan Hankinson
West Michigan

[Patrick Moore]

As a long-time (22 years?) member of the very much related Boblist and a Rivendell customer since 1994, I've long participated in convoluted discussions about the merits and demerits of this or that bicycle or part or accessory, but always very much in male mode. It's very interesting  to hear similar discussions in female mode. Refreshingly different!

Roberta, I'm glad your visit was a successful and pleasant one.

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Still 'round the corner there may wait
A new road or a secret gate,
And though we pass them by today,
Tomorrow we may come this way
And take the hidden paths that run
Towards the Moon or to the Sun.

                                --- J.R.R. Tolkien

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Patrick Moore

Alburquerque, Nuevo Mexico, Etats Unis d'Amerique

[Shoji Takahashi]

This warms my heart. Thank you Roberta, Leah, and Riv!

Shoji 

Arlington MA

[Deacon Patrick]

Sweet meet! Delightful to experience the femine Rivendell ride through you both!

With abandon,
Patrick

[Leah Peterson]

Thanks, All! I loved it. So fun. Roberta is a true gem and a brave woman for taking in the mountains with me. Bicycle scarves were all the rage and head tube angles and gear ratios never came up! 😂

Sent from my iPhone

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[Ryan Mallory Fleming]

Which is a refreshing change, along with your great family stories, Bicycle Belle

Ryan Fleming in Winnipeg,Manitoba

[REC (Roberta)]

I'm sure it's not going to come as a surprise to anyone that Leah is as nice, kind, and down-to-earth as she is in her letters!   My plan is to work on riding hills here in mostly flat Philadelphia,  although I do live near the infamous Manyunk Wall that's on a famous bike race route (don't ask me which one; I don't know), so next year we can go on a longer ride, and remember to stop and take pictures!  The view in her area is beautiful with mountains in the distance.

One thing that I think most of us on this board share is a love of quality.  It might start here with bikes, but I see it with discussions of accessories, nature, cameras and coffee.

[DHans]

Cool story Roberta and Leah. Riv riders seem scattered around the USA but meeting up is awesome.
Doug