So, 2 weeks ago, my wife Stephanie told me she wanted to join the Riv family. She has three bikes currently: a Kona Sutra road bike, a Crust Bombora gravel bike, and a All City Gorilla Monsoon rigid MTB. When I met her, she just had the Kona and I was impressed with her refined taste of a steel bike with larger-that-average tires for a road bike. My stories of gravel biking piqued her interest and she wanted to try that out, but it was still at the tail end of the pandemic bike shortage and options were limited, but found the AC Gorilla Monsoon for a good deal. She never really clicked with the AC GM though, and shortly after announced she was lusting after a Crust Bombora (the bike nerd in me could not have been happier, was that when I knew she was the one for me? Mayhaps). She mostly rides the Bombora these days and wants to sell the AC GM. I recently swapped out the narrow handlebars on the Kona, but the tires are maxed out at 32mm which is fine but not ideal. So, the idea was to get a Riv road-ish oriented bike to compliment the Kona and replace the AC GM.
Of course the idea of her looking at Rivs had me gears turning. I love my Roadeo and Rambouillet, so I was definitely thinking maybe looking around for a used Ram or trying to figure out how to get a new Roadini. But the Roadini? Neither of us love the current colors (they're okay, but Stephanie was deadset against the lime - silver was just OK). Okay, maybe a Charlie Gallop? That blue she liked. But those just went out a few months ago... might be a wait til the next batch?? What I was not thinking of was the Platypus. But then I saw Will's email and no man, that periwinkle looks nice. Before I even mentioned it to her, she was looking at it herself. "Oh wow Ben, that purple Riv is so good looking!" But she had reservations. I had no wittingly influenced her with my own preconceived notions of bike design! "I thought you said I should get a Roadini? I want a road bike and this doesn't look like one. It's very pretty, but is it the right bike for me?" So, I back peddled and tried to undue my own sloppy work. Yes, I think the Platypus would do the things you want it to do. But, the right bike is something only you can decide. This was Friday evening (2 days ago) and we left it at that: she thought it looked beautiful but wasn't sure if it was right for her. So then today rolled around. Yesterday we went to the wonderful spectacle of Dolores Park in SF during Pride Weekend, which was simultaneously great and overwhelming, so no bikes were ridden. Today was still fairly nice in SF (yesterday was great weather, after a week of blastingly cold fog), so we planned on riding in the afternoon. As I was getting my bike of choice ready for the ride: I checked my phone and saw yesterday's "presale starts noon Sunday" email. That's now! Or, correction that was an hour and a half ago! Quick check of the Riv site: all frame in all sizes are gone! Of course! Platys are the most popular current frame :) I go upstairs and Stephanie must have been on the same wavelength, cause she says: "Oh, we missed the pre-sale. They're all gone :( That purple is so pretty." I mention that yeah, not surpirsed they sold out so quick and she razzs me a bit saying that I must not love her because I didn't set a reminder about the presale time :p We both fiddle with our phones, I check the Riv website again and lo! there is still 55cm Periwinkles COMPLETES! Now sure, a bare frame is ideal, but a Riv complete is still super fun place to start off. Quick rapid fire conversation ensues: "Are you sure this is the right bike for me? What about the Roadini?" There are concerns about the swept back bars and the step-thru frame. But oh man, its a beautiful bike. Anyways, I'm pretty sure that Stephanie bought the last 55 periwinkle Platypus, because will she was doing it I nearly bought it for her, but it had already changed to "sold out!" I'm real excited that she's joining the Riv family and we both agree the Periwinkle Platy is the most beautiful. She still has concerns about the Albatross bars, but I'm excited for her to try them out (full disclosure: swept back bars have never lasted long on my bikes, but maybe she'll like them???) Always fun to have another Riv in the garage, and can wait to have a vicarious new-bike-day thru her and her Platy. We'll get to trek out to the Rivendell World HQ to pick it up in person, which will most definitely be fun. And of course looking to the adventures I will get to share with her and her Platy :) Hope everyone else who wanted a Platypus was able to get one today! On Sunday, June 29, 2025 at 1:11:11 PM UTC-7 lucia....@gmail.com wrote: > Wow!!! > That’s amazing. Good on all those who scored one! > > Lucia > > Lucia Matioli > Sr Creative Consultant > goodthinkingco.com > linkedin.com/in/luciamatioli/ <https://www.linkedin.com/in/luciamatioli/> > > > > > > > On Sun, Jun 29, 2025 at 12:05 PM Leah Peterson <jonasa...@gmail.com> > wrote: > >> At 3:05 there is one lime olive 50 left. All the others…gone. Poof. >> >> On Jun 29, 2025, at 10:38 AM, David P <cycli...@gmail.com> wrote: >> >> We are going to try and get a 50cm Periwinkle frame for my wife. >> >> On Sunday, June 29, 2025 at 7:16:34 AM UTC-7 lucia....@gmail.com wrote: >> >>> Whoo Hoo for those of you gunning for a platy! >>> The lime olive color is stunning and the periwinkle is also a head >>> turner. >>> I love this description by Riv: >>> “The Platypus isn’t like that. You don’t have to find beauty in its >>> usefulness >>> and comfort, or put up with its dysfunction just because it’s pretty.” >>> >>> Good luck folks!!! >>> >>> Lucia >>> >>> >>> Lucia Matioli >>> Sr Creative Consultant >>> goodthinkingco.com >>> linkedin.com/in/luciamatioli/ >>> <https://www.linkedin.com/in/luciamatioli/> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> On Sun, Jun 29, 2025 at 6:37 AM Ryan Mulcahy <rmulc...@gmail.com> wrote: >>> >>>> >>>> I was going to wait till 26 for another bike, but I like the periwinkle >>>> so much I might give it shot, even if just to hold the frame to build in >>>> the fall. I have a Hilsen set up for road riding and a Crust Bombora. Love >>>> 'em both. If I were to get the Platy I'd almost certainly use it as a >>>> trail >>>> bike, replacing the Crust (I really like drops on the road). I'm curious >>>> to >>>> hear others on its speed, clearance, and how it does on trails. Probably >>>> won't make a decision till 3 mins before. Thanks for starting this thread >>>> Leah! >>>> >>>> >>>> On Sunday, June 29, 2025 at 8:48:52 AM UTC-4 Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! >>>> wrote: >>>> >>>>> Today’s the big day! Platypus presale at high noon PDST! Who is >>>>> gunning for a Platypus? What color are you hoping for? What if that color >>>>> is sold out - will you take the other color? Will you hunt at the Riv >>>>> dealers? >>>>> >>>>> Post all your Platy questions/thoughts/comments/plans/ruminations here! >>>>> >>>>> I’m so excited for all the new Platy people. It is my #1, all-time >>>>> favorite bike. You’re gonna love it. This thread is going to be SO FUN. >>>>> Leah >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>> 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-bun...@googlegroups.com. >>>> To view this discussion visit >>>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/d659fd29-cedd-41cc-8d2c-5ce166ae4d33n%40googlegroups.com >>>> >>>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/d659fd29-cedd-41cc-8d2c-5ce166ae4d33n%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>>> . >>>> >>> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in the >> Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. >> To unsubscribe from this topic, visit >> https://groups.google.com/d/topic/rbw-owners-bunch/oLMyXpVtbzo/unsubscribe >> . >> To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to >> rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com. >> To view this discussion visit >> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/2c2f8080-29f8-42f6-b08c-3012aed8cc93n%40googlegroups.com >> >> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/2c2f8080-29f8-42f6-b08c-3012aed8cc93n%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >> . >> >> -- >> 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-bun...@googlegroups.com. >> > To view this discussion visit >> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/8CC8C55C-2FA8-4270-8727-E3E9E7500B77%40gmail.com >> >> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/8CC8C55C-2FA8-4270-8727-E3E9E7500B77%40gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >> . >> > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. 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