If I didn't want to build up a frame myself, my first choice would be a bike shop that I've worked with enough to be confident of their competence and willingness to help. Obviously, choosing stem and bar and crank and saddle will work best if you are actually on the spot.
But if I had no such local shop, I'd be very ready to let Rivendell do it. I don't know about the other staff -- I daresay that others too have the needed expertise, but I'd certainly not hesitate to let Grant set up a new bike for me. I say this based on the 3 customs he designed for me. I built them, but he chose the geometry and got it just right, and I would be confident that he could extend the service to build as well as to frame design. I'd certainly hesitate to entrust a nice, new Rivendell to a shop whose bona fides were unknown to me. On Thu, Jun 2, 2016 at 9:14 PM, Tim Butterfield <timbutterfi...@gmail.com> wrote: > Hi, all. > > I have some more build questions, though not component related this time. > > What are the pros and cons of having RBW build the bike instead of having > that done at the LBS? Some factors I have thought about include: > > RBW > Pro - RBW knows the frame best and what would work on it > Con - Unless a part is RBW stock, I may have to buy most parts myself and > ship it to them > Con - RBW cannot ensure my fit of the assembled bike > Con - I cannot try out different stem lengths as easily > > LBS > Pro - Can ensure everything works together > Pro - Can order all/most parts themselves > Pro - Can ensure fit of assembled bike > Pro - Can test different stem lengths to check fit > Con - Not likely to be as familiar with building a Homer > Con - May have a preference for 'common' racer oriented gear > Con - May not be as willing to track down non-current (older) new parts > > I spoke with one LBS who said they could build it. But, after a couple of > emails to them, I have not yet received a reply, though it has been several > days. That lowers my trust factor in them. So, I either need to find a > different LBS or have it built by RBW. I'm not sure which way might be > preferable. > > What other factors would weigh for or against either RBW or the LBS doing > the build? If you know of an LBS in NW WA that you would recommend to do > the build, please share that also. I'm an hour and a half north of > Seattle, but could travel a little if needed. Another option may be to > travel the ten hour round trip south to Portland to Rivelo, though I would > prefer not to have to travel that far if a qualified LBS is right near to > me. I am willing to do that if it is the best option. > > Thanks. > > Tim > > > On Wed, May 25, 2016 at 7:14 PM, Tim Butterfield <timbutterfi...@gmail.com > > wrote: > >> I've been thinking of getting a Rivendell bicycle for a long time. I >> first joined this group to lurk back in 2010 and have been a member and >> sometimes lurker since then. But, I had not made the commitment and >> purchased a Riv. The closest I came was getting a Velo-Orange Rando. That >> was sort of rivish. >> https://www.flickr.com/photos/timbutterfield/sets/72157624827193423 >> >> Being in the suburbs of Chicago near O'Hare airport limited my comfort >> using it the way it should have been. That bike was sold before I left >> Chicago to live full-time in an RV. Once we decided to settle in >> Anacortes, WA (still in the RV), I purchased a Specialized AWOL Comp, >> definitely not rivish. >> https://www.flickr.com/photos/timbutterfield/sets/72157644371355428 >> >> It's a nice bike, but I now want something more rivish, this time, the >> real thing. I'm thinking of getting either the Roadeo or the A Homer >> Hilsen. I like the idea of the liveliness and sportiness of the Roadeo, >> but like the bit of extra versatility of the AHH also. With my weight at >> 200+ (PBH 33" or 83.8cm, age 51), I'm leaning towards the AHH instead of >> the Roadeo. I can start more roadish with the AHH and, as I build my >> abilities further, expand the bike to fit new and/or different tasks >> without having to change frames. >> >> So, I'm fairly settled on getting my first Riv, one of the two >> mentioned. My pondering now is mostly on how to appoint it. My Rando was >> more modern with the 105 setup. The AWOL was definitely modern with discs >> and SRAM setup. But, I'm not tied to that. Though I haven't used it much, >> I like the looks of a quill stem, drop bars, and downtube shifters. It >> looks clean and simple. I'm just not sure what it's like to live with. I >> expect that, like many things, it is a matter of adapting to it. But, >> using DT shifters or bar ends does set a direction as neither would work >> with an 11-speed I could have instead. I'm trying to consider the pros and >> cons of each. >> >> With my AWOL, I leave it locked to the cabana just outside my RV. Some >> RVs have sufficient inside storage for a bike. Mine doesn't. >> >> My questions to the group are these: As I am not yet doing longer >> distances, are there still benefits to the more traditional setups? If I >> pick either one, what might I later miss the other may have provided? Are >> there likely to be any weather related or other wear issues leaving a Riv >> locked to the RV park cabana like I do my AWOL? I'm doubtful of that, but >> don't want to mistreat it either. Any thing else I should consider? >> >> Thanks for any advice you have. >> >> Tim >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "RBW Owners Bunch" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >> To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. >> Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. >> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >> > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "RBW Owners Bunch" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. > Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. > -- Resumes, LinkedIn profiles, bios, and letters that get interviews. By-the-hour resume and LinkedIn coaching. Other professional writing services. http://www.resumespecialties.com/ www.linkedin.com/in/patrickmooreresumespec/ Patrick Moore Alburquerque, Nouvelle Mexique, Vereinigte Staaten ************************************************************************** ************** *The point which is the pivot of the norm is the motionless center of a circumference on the contours of which all conditions, distinctions, and individualities revolve. *Chuang Tzu *Stat crux dum volvitur orbis.* *(The cross stands motionless while the world revolves.) *Carthusian motto *It is *we *who change; *He* remains the same.* Eckhart *Kinei hos eromenon.* (*It moves [all things] as the beloved.) *Aristotle -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
