New Clementine for Bike Blogger

[LeahFoy]

Back in 2012, I was shopping for a new bike and discovered this company called "Rivendell Bicycle Works." I was *this close* to purchasing some Specialized carbon drop bar thing because online forums told me that I wasn't comfortable on my Trek flat-bar road bike because what I really needed was drop bars and carbon. And while that may be true for some, I kept thinking, "I miss my old Walmart Schwinn. Why do those handlebars seem comfortable? Serious bicycle folks say otherwise." Someone mentioned Rivendell on a bike forum and the sunshine came down and choirs of angels sang. So, then I had to learn all there was about Rivendell and their velosophy. And one of the sites that hit on my Google search was Annie Bikes. She's a dedicated commuter who hasn't bought a new bike in 30 years or so. She had thought of Rivendell during the Betty Foy and Cheviot times, but just didn't place the order for various reasons. But she had several posts about admiring the Rivs and toying with the idea of having one of her own.

I had seen her posts about looking for the perfect bike, and she was coming up short. Then the Clementine (I don't care for its new name, it's forever a Clementine to me) was released, and she seriously considered it but shied away because she didn't want to plunk down her money without a test ride. Well, guess who ordered a Rivendell Clementine yesterday?!? She had continued to hear such good things about the bike that she did it. She really did it, and it is the first new bike she's had in 30 years.

The gal from Lovely Bicycle currently has one in her possession and is doing a write-up, probably as we speak. This is good publicity for Grant/Rivendell! And if anyone deserved a Rivendell, it's Annie. So many miles!

http://anniebikes.blogspot.com/2016/06/older-bikes-vs-new-pre-ordering.html

[LLM]

That's great.  I remember Annie's blog post last year, "Rivendell's Clementine - Now We're Talking!."  I pre-ordered this year as well.  I was thinking she hadn't had a chance to try one yet, I would offer to let her try mine (I'm not far from VT).  Looks like we'll be getting our new bikes around the same time.

First post on the Clementine by Lovely Bicycle:  http://lovelybike.blogspot.com/2016/06/brifter-bliss-for-swept-back-handlebars.html#more

[LeahFoy]

You're getting one, too? Lovely! Which color did you choose? How are you setting yours up? Congratulations!

[LLM]

Thanks!  I'm taking a chance on the dark mustard.  I'll probably add racks, fenders, and a Brooks B67S in antique brown or black.  I have some BioKork Ergon grips on another bike that I'll try on the Clem.    I like the idea of dark plum accents, perhaps in the form of tape on the forward sections of the handlebars.  We'll see!  I'm holding myself back from ordering accessories until after the bike arrives.  I, too, still think of the bike as the Clementine.

[Mark in Beacon]

Yeah, I read that post. I was a little disappointed she wasn't "ready yet" for the Boscos. Does that mean, what--you have to be 90 years old? As one of the first bikes that Riv was selling (at least for a time) as only a complete, I think it makes more sense for an experienced reviewer like LB to review the bike as envisioned. I think the Boscos are an integral part of the Clem/Clementine ride. Not saying that some people who give them a fair shot won't want to go to something else, or that that would be heresy. No, of course not. Just that hey--give Bosco a chance, especially if you are reviewing a Clementine.

[Mark in Beacon]

To me, it's kinda like if a reviewer reviewed the XO-1, but swapped out the mustache bars for drops. Kinda like that.

[Joe Bernard]

What's funny is Zap Espinoza did exactly that when he reviewed the XO-1 for Mountain Bike Action in 1992. I don't remember why..swapping bars for a test was certainly not common.

[Patrick Moore]

"Ready yet" -- she just got the bike and isn't yet used to them.

I'm a regular reader of the blog, and believe me, the author rides and reviews many bikes with swept back handlebars. Why can't she dislike the Boscos? She certainly likes the rest of it.

I liked the XO-1, but disliked the moustache bars -- what's weird about that? I'd probably like the Clem myself, and dislike the Boscos.

[Mark in Beacon]

I'm also a semi-regular reader. You've misunderstood the situation. She can't dislike the Boscos, because she has not tried them. She ordered the bike with some other swept bar (likely Albatross, from her coy shot featured in this post.) Which was part of my point. Here is a comment from a reader on the blog:

"I've had a mtn bike for a while that I converted to utility/upright/tootling-around bike, and I'm in the midst of sprucing it up a bit. Going "full Riv" with it, Bosco bars, cork grips, thumbies, etc."

Here is Velouria's reply:
I didn't think I was ready for the Bosco experience, but they do come as a standard option with a Clementine build.

And there is nothing weird about disliking any bars, as I also said. I do however feel that people are perhaps not giving themselves enough time with the Boscos to make a fully informed opinion.

[anniebikes]

Anniebikes here! Hey thanks for all the positive feedback. I'm excited to try my Clementine (rats, wished I could've ordered it in orange :( but hey, blue is classic and something I can live with for the next 30 years.) 

As for trying it locally, that would've been cool, but no need to now. I'm pretty confident I'll love it and am anxious to try the stock bars.

On Friday, June 10, 2016 at 6:11:09 PM UTC-4, LLM wrote: