[RBW] Re: What's your Rivendell story?
I owned a 1991 BR-1. Lost that bike to a theft, but didn't lose track of Bridgestone. I was on the iBOB list back then, until the traffic got too be too much to follow. Somewhere in 1994 I saw an ad announcing that Grant had started up Rivendell. I subscribed to the Reader starting with the 'green' issue. In April of 1995 I had saved up enough money to order a Road Standard, though I was sweating over whether to spend the extra $50 for the contrasting head tube. When I called Riv to place the order and chat about colors, they had me call their guy at Waterford. Turned out someone had ordered a 56 (my size) in Sherwood Forest Green, single color, then changed his mind about the size. The 56 was hanging there waiting for me! That made the color decision easy. I still have that frame: http://www.flickr.com/photos/15750548@N04/5469420091/ The paint is original, but many different sets of parts have been on the frame. It's now temporarily out of service, to be reborn into it's second round of fixed-gear duty. Maybe with the S3X 3-speed fixed hub. A couple of years later during one of Riv's periodic cash crunches they had a few prototypes to sell off. The deal was, tell us your size and what you might want, and we'll call you if we have something that matches. They called and offered me the Mountain/Expedition frame that had been the catalog model. For $500, how could I refuse? It replaced an MB-1 that I had bought and had only had for a few weeks. I had the M/E for years but never rode it enough, and finally decided the top tube was too long for me and sold it to someone on this list. Bill On Tuesday, August 21, 2012 8:06:10 AM UTC-7, lungimsam wrote: So how did you originally find out about them, and why/where/how did you get your first Rivendell bike? -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW Owners Bunch group. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rbw-owners-bunch/-/yk3hTh_XOe0J. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
[RBW] Re: What's your Rivendell story?
Comfort. Function. Fun. Sounds like an unofficial Riv motto. On Sunday, August 26, 2012 9:53:57 PM UTC-7, lungimsam wrote: Here's mine: * 2009:* Got a modern 10-speed. Compact frame, aluminum/composite material, and spent the next two years trying to go as fast as possible. Why? Because I liked going fast, and thought it would be good to be able to keep up with others, if needed. As if... I wasn't a racer, and had no intentions of racing. But for some reason every ride had to be a time trial with me. This became very stressful, and riding wasn't fun anymore. I would actually wake up in the morning feeling scared, because I knew I had a lonely training ride ahead of me each day, and never knew what might happen bad-wise (crash?, stranded?). *2011:* Didn't wanna ride anymore. It became a chore to be feared. Only rode to escort my wife to work on her short commutes. Without her, I never would got on the bike that year. I started to wonder if those massive tubes on CF bikes were really any more aerodynamic that those thin tubed, steel 10-speeds of old. I started, for some reason, to like the traditional diamond frame with curved forks look better than modern road bikes. *2012:* March. Decided, that *this year, I was going to ride for fun only*. Take it slow, and enjoy the beauty of God's creation, and abandon the warped thinking I had in years prior about going fast. Suddenly, the pressure was off, and riding was fun again. But this year, I started having problems with my neck and shoulders - the bars seemed way too low on my race bike. Soreness. Hard to look up and around while riding. If I remember correctly, I wanted to know was anyone making frames with that old 10-speed look to them. So elegant, and I liked lugs, too. I got to the RBW site, and everything they were talking about was right up my alley with the riding I wanted to do. It just got better the more I read. The high bars, the frame geometry. Everything designed for comfort and fun, and function. I had to have one. But I couldn't swing new, so I got the used Bleriot in July. Now I can cruise in comfort and look up and all around with the high bars. I love commuting, and I am probably riding more this year than any other - and having so much fun. I hope to support RBW with a new bike purchase one day. I hope they keep doing what they are doing. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW Owners Bunch group. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rbw-owners-bunch/-/B2EffblzMUcJ. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
[RBW] Re: What's your Rivendell story?
*1984*: Bought a too-small Trek 620 touring bike. Rode it for 20 years, becoming increasingly annoyed with stiff neck and sore shoulders. *Mid-2000s:* Now in my 40s, I decided to do something about it. Added clamp-on aero bars sticking straight up like antlers. Absurd, but effective. But I couldn't reach the down tube shifters. Bought bar-end shifters and discovered that the Trek didn't have braze-ons for cable stops on the down tube. Googled clamp-on cable stops and voila! Riv was the only place selling them. I ordered them and started reading the Riv literature. It made sense to me. *2007: *After continually modifying the Trek with Riv-supplied parts (B17, Alba, Moustache, multiple stems, Rich-built 700C wheels, fenders, etc), I received permission to buy a Rivendell as a birthday present from my wife, so I ordered one of the last Rambouillets (a blue display model). Ten thousand miles later, it continues to be my favorite bike. (The Trek, with a stem raiser, trekking bars, fenders, racks, baskets, dynamo hub, lights, is my commuter and tourer.) On Tuesday, August 21, 2012 11:06:10 AM UTC-4, lungimsam wrote: So how did you originally find out about them, and why/where/how did you get your first Rivendell bike? -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW Owners Bunch group. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rbw-owners-bunch/-/9UZjciFFZmAJ. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
[RBW] Re: What's your Rivendell story?
Back in the '90s Grant was a product manager for Bridgestone. I bought a red RB-1 when Bridgestone was going out of business in the US - still riding this with over 30,000 miles on it, and, amazingly, the original rear hub and spokes (the rim has been replaced 4 or 5 times). No broken spokes ever with that wheel. The RB-1 was my initial rando bike when I started riding brevets in 2005.The RB-1 is not fender-friendly so after the 2005 season, with PBP coming up, I had my sights set on a bike more suited to randonneuring. Peter White was closing out the Rambouillets, so I bought a frame and fork (blue) and built up a bike which I rode from 2006 to 2008 (including completing PBP and a fleche) until a car hit me (actually hit the bike) and totalled the frame. Later that year an orange Ramboulliet appeared on the BobishBikesFS list and Craiglist, and it was in Seattle in my sister-in-laws neighborhood, so I bought that and kept it there so I can ride it with SIR when I am out there. I made some upgrades and bike is one I can literally ride all day and night, the bike just disappears under me. it rides even better than the blue one. Must be the color. Speaking of orange - my most recent purchase was a Velo-Orange frame which I built up, and it rides as well as my Rambouillet. Eric Peterson Naperville, IL On Tuesday, August 21, 2012 10:06:10 AM UTC-5, lungimsam wrote: So how did you originally find out about them, and why/where/how did you get your first Rivendell bike? -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW Owners Bunch group. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rbw-owners-bunch/-/krtzjvINXtMJ. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
[RBW] Re: What's your Rivendell story?
On Monday, August 27, 2012 4:02:16 AM UTC-4, Evan wrote: Comfort. Function. Fun. Sounds like an unofficial Riv motto. They could put that in latin on the next new model's head badge. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW Owners Bunch group. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rbw-owners-bunch/-/hUMOLsEv0_MJ. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
[RBW] Re: What's your Rivendell story?
In 1996, a friend passed along to me a Rivendell catalog that he'd received in the mail. At the time, I didn't ride a bike or care about bikes, but I cared about catalogs (I'm a copywriter). Well, that RBW catalog rocked my world. I read it into the small hours. After all these years I'm still a fan and a customer. Thanks mainly to Grant and to Rivendell, I even ride a bike now. On Tuesday, August 21, 2012 8:06:10 AM UTC-7, lungimsam wrote: So how did you originally find out about them, and why/where/how did you get your first Rivendell bike? -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW Owners Bunch group. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rbw-owners-bunch/-/t53kGBYRzQIJ. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
[RBW] Re: What's your Rivendell story?
Yeah, those catalogs were brilliant; pretty down-to-earth with an honest voice and sense of humor. Classic. That's what sold me. -Steve DeMont Seattle On Saturday, August 25, 2012 11:24:24 PM UTC-7, Evan wrote: In 1996, a friend passed along to me a Rivendell catalog that he'd received in the mail. At the time, I didn't ride a bike or care about bikes, but I cared about catalogs (I'm a copywriter). Well, that RBW catalog rocked my world. I read it into the small hours. After all these years I'm still a fan and a customer. Thanks mainly to Grant and to Rivendell, I even ride a bike now. On Tuesday, August 21, 2012 8:06:10 AM UTC-7, lungimsam wrote: So how did you originally find out about them, and why/where/how did you get your first Rivendell bike? -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW Owners Bunch group. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rbw-owners-bunch/-/LdUNxYSSG7YJ. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
[RBW] Re: What's your Rivendell story?
A Rivendell story: Grant and Rivendell restored my interest and joy in bicycles and riding in 1998 or 1999. I had some beautiful bikes back in the late 70's and early 80's; Mercian, Trek, Woodrup. Got a good ten years of riding through college and grad school, but then career and family sort of got in the way, and I didn't ride for probably ten years. Then, in the mid to late 90's, I started looking at bikes again, but they were strange - - I felt no connection or affinity for these bikes of the late 90's. I just couldn't get interested in those bikes; they held no currency for me. One night I was drinking beer at the Reverend Rex's house, complaining about how I didn't like modern bikes. He handed me a Rivendell catalog - and baby that was all she wrote. I saw steel, wool, and a less commercialized/boy-racer approach, and was immediately charmed. A week later, I stopped in Rivendell WHQ, got some wool shorts, then picked up a Heron Road, and started riding again. Got some Rolly-Polly that breathed new life into an old Jack Taylor, and eventually ordered a Rivendell Road custom. Now, life is filled with the rides, commutes, fellowship, and challenges that come from the bike. Life is richer when you ride your bike a lot. Thanks, Grant. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW Owners Bunch group. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rbw-owners-bunch/-/J8vcTdj-TUsJ. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
[RBW] Re: What's your Rivendell story?
On Sunday, August 26, 2012 8:30:42 AM UTC-7, reynoldslugs wrote: A Rivendell story: p.s. since the Heron and the Emerald Green Road Standard, I seem to have acquired a few more as well. Here is the Emerald Green custom: http://www.flickr.com/photos/41563482@N06/sets/72157625808579123/ -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW Owners Bunch group. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rbw-owners-bunch/-/7S2bdJK7x0EJ. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
[RBW] Re: What's your Rivendell story?
At age 29 in 2008, I decided to get a bike because a handful of coworkers influenced me to start riding (and keep in mind that I had not been on a bike since I was 6 years old). I started out with a Bianchi Volpe cyclocross bike because it was an affordable do-it-all bike. Shortly after purchasing the bike and getting hooked on cycling, a fellow automobile enthusiast turned me on to Nashbar, Bikeman, and Rivbike for spare parts. I would later come to find that my buddy was also a huge enthusiast of Bridgestone and Waterford bicycles. In visiting the Riv web site, I spent a lot of time reading all of the great articles on bike materials, the shoes ruse, and the importance of having fun on a bike. Slowly, I started to get away from the spandex/skinny tire manifesto because wide tires and pretty silver bike parts were coming back in fashion. Luckily, Velo-Orange was just starting to blow up, so I had another source for parts to swap onto my Bianchi. In December of 2010, I had just noticed that the orange Sam Hillbornes arrived and I put in an order immediately. With a stockpile of parts, I built up my Sam and sold my Bianchi. I've been riding that bike almost daily since its purchase and it has gone through many different variations---currently a 1x9 no fenders and a rando bag that I made. In the past year, I picked up a poor-mans-Homer as an errand bike that I wouldn't mind locking up in public areas. So, I've got the Sam for weekend rides with the wife and the occasional century ride. And I've got a Soma Smoothie (great bike by the way) for my commute to work and errands around town). Naturally, the Smoothie has 28c tires, a Brooks saddle, and the Riv standard drivetrain. On Tuesday, August 21, 2012 8:06:10 AM UTC-7, lungimsam wrote: So how did you originally find out about them, and why/where/how did you get your first Rivendell bike? -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW Owners Bunch group. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rbw-owners-bunch/-/GQ7vD-GMkWIJ. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
Re: [RBW] Re: What's your Rivendell story?
Grant, enhanced by beer. I can relate to that! Patrick most people are born two drinks under par Moore On Sun, Aug 26, 2012 at 9:30 AM, reynoldslugs be...@perrylaw.net wrote: A Rivendell story: Grant and Rivendell restored my interest and joy in bicycles and riding in 1998 or 1999. I had some beautiful bikes back in the late 70's and early 80's; Mercian, Trek, Woodrup. Got a good ten years of riding through college and grad school, but then career and family sort of got in the way, and I didn't ride for probably ten years. Then, in the mid to late 90's, I started looking at bikes again, but they were strange - - I felt no connection or affinity for these bikes of the late 90's. I just couldn't get interested in those bikes; they held no currency for me. One night I was drinking beer at the Reverend Rex's house, complaining about how I didn't like modern bikes. He handed me a Rivendell catalog - and baby that was all she wrote. I saw steel, wool, and a less commercialized/boy-racer approach, and was immediately charmed. A week later, I stopped in Rivendell WHQ, got some wool shorts, then picked up a Heron Road, and started riding again. Got some Rolly-Polly that breathed new life into an old Jack Taylor, and eventually ordered a Rivendell Road custom. Now, life is filled with the rides, commutes, fellowship, and challenges that come from the bike. Life is richer when you ride your bike a lot. Thanks, Grant. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW Owners Bunch group. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rbw-owners-bunch/-/J8vcTdj-TUsJ. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en. -- Believe nothing until it has been officially denied. -- Claude Cockburn - Patrick Moore, Albuquerque, NM, USA For professional resumes, contact Patrick Moore, ACRW http://resumespecialties.com/index.html - -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW Owners Bunch group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
Re: [RBW] Re: What's your Rivendell story?
Beautiful -- bike, setting -- and the bags. What bags are those? How does the front attach? And what are those tires? Entirely unasked for, I know, but I can't help re-re-re-re-re-posting my own two customs (which I've been riding up hills this weekend -- great fun, even tho' I do 1/10 of the miles E Norris does). https://picasaweb.google.com/BERTIN753/BIKESMISCELLANEA#5715788058530561538 https://picasaweb.google.com/BERTIN753/BIKESMISCELLANEA#5717014724939385538 On Sun, Aug 26, 2012 at 9:33 AM, reynoldslugs be...@perrylaw.net wrote: On Sunday, August 26, 2012 8:30:42 AM UTC-7, reynoldslugs wrote: A Rivendell story: p.s. since the Heron and the Emerald Green Road Standard, I seem to have acquired a few more as well. Here is the Emerald Green custom: http://www.flickr.com/photos/41563482@N06/sets/72157625808579123/ -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW Owners Bunch group. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rbw-owners-bunch/-/7S2bdJK7x0EJ. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en. -- Believe nothing until it has been officially denied. -- Claude Cockburn - Patrick Moore, Albuquerque, NM, USA For professional resumes, contact Patrick Moore, ACRW http://resumespecialties.com/index.html - -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW Owners Bunch group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
[RBW] Re: What's your Rivendell story?
Here's mine: * 2009:* Got a modern 10-speed. Compact frame, aluminum/composite material, and spent the next two years trying to go as fast as possible. Why? Because I liked going fast, and thought it would be good to be able to keep up with others, if needed. As if... I wasn't a racer, and had no intentions of racing. But for some reason every ride had to be a time trial with me. This became very stressful, and riding wasn't fun anymore. I would actually wake up in the morning feeling scared, because I knew I had a lonely training ride ahead of me each day, and never knew what might happen bad-wise (crash?, stranded?). *2011:* Didn't wanna ride anymore. It became a chore to be feared. Only rode to escort my wife to work on her short commutes. Without her, I never would got on the bike that year. I started to wonder if those massive tubes on CF bikes were really any more aerodynamic that those thin tubed, steel 10-speeds of old. I started, for some reason, to like the traditional diamond frame with curved forks look better than modern road bikes. *2012:* March. Decided, that *this year, I was going to ride for fun only*. Take it slow, and enjoy the beauty of God's creation, and abandon the warped thinking I had in years prior about going fast. Suddenly, the pressure was off, and riding was fun again. But this year, I started having problems with my neck and shoulders - the bars seemed way too low on my race bike. Soreness. Hard to look up and around while riding. If I remember correctly, I wanted to know was anyone making frames with that old 10-speed look to them. So elegant, and I liked lugs, too. I got to the RBW site, and everything they were talking about was right up my alley with the riding I wanted to do. It just got better the more I read. The high bars, the frame geometry. Everything designed for comfort and fun, and function. I had to have one. But I couldn't swing new, so I got the used Bleriot in July. Now I can cruise in comfort and look up and all around with the high bars. I love commuting, and I am probably riding more this year than any other - and having so much fun. I hope to support RBW with a new bike purchase one day. I hope they keep doing what they are doing. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW Owners Bunch group. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rbw-owners-bunch/-/fR969zaHp2EJ. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
[RBW] Re: What's your Rivendell story?
I think Google just ate my reply! Great topic, by the way. The short version: 1. 1997(?) Magazine article - All-Rounder bike and rider contrasted against new Cannondale MTB 2. rec.bicycles.tech newsgroup and iBOB email list. Rivendell Reader subscription. 3. Sheldon Brown and fixed gear bikes. 4. The Quickbeamhttp://www.flickr.com/search/?q=quickbeamw=25451876%40N00s=int . 5. All you fine people. Philip www.biketinker.com On Tuesday, August 21, 2012 8:06:10 AM UTC-7, lungimsam wrote: So how did you originally find out about them, and why/where/how did you get your first Rivendell bike? -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW Owners Bunch group. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rbw-owners-bunch/-/ZUiCBZrHppoJ. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
[RBW] Re: What's your Rivendell story?
Like many here, I was a fan of Riv and used their parts and philosophy for a long time before I took the plunge (this year) on a Quickbeam, which is recently built up and awesome! (Pics once I get my grubby hands on a Titanico X). Basically, i started riding seriously in high school, around 2001-2002. I bought a trek 520 touring bike for a cross-country bike tour summer-camp type thing i did between junior and senior years (great fodder for college application essays!), so from the start I was sold on the idea of steel and go-anywhere road bikes. Moved to Berkeley, CA for college, rode a bit with the Cal Cycling team to learn the local routes but didn't really appreciate the racing attitude. Around the same time, I was discovering fixed gears as a way of getting around town and was teaching myself to wrench by reading Sheldon's site and doing fixed gear conversions, so my first exposure to Rivendell was seeing Sheldon's fixed-gear Rambouillet; I loved the classic aesthetics and modern functionality. Knew of them and followed them off and on, watched with interest the re-introduction of 650B with the Saluki, and the Quickbeam, which was well-received in the fixed gear circles I ran in. Then, in 2007, I tried some moustache bars, and although they didn't really work for me, Riv sent a reader and one of the old print catalogs along with my order, and with that stuff, I was hooked as a Rivendell die-hard. It was the same Reader where they introduced the Homer. Still, I was of limited enough means in the college and immediate post college years that I didn't really feel like one was affordable, so I ended up buying a Salsa Casseroll frame to be my own budget Quickbeam/Rambouillet mashup. I've struggled with the fit on it for a while, and tried a couple of other bikes to see if I could come closer to a Rivendell type fit. The most recent was a giant 66cm Takara touring bike, but even that didn't feel right--I've now realized it was because its frame angles were all wrong (who builds a touring bike with a parallel 73/73 frame?). After that, around christmas last year, I had a conversation with my then-fiance-now-wife: So what do you really want? I want a comfy fixed gear I can ride as an everyday bike. It sounds like you want a Rivendell. Yeah, that's basically it. So a couple of weeks later we visited Walnut creek, hoping to take advantage of the SO closeout special. Vince wasn't convinced that I would fit well on a 62cm SO, even with upright bars. He said, Let me see what I have lying around, disappeared for a while, and came back with a 64cm Orange Quickbeam, a bike I had coveted since they first came out! I put down a layaway deposit on the spot, and four months later, it was mine! Four months after that (and after a move, job change, marriage, and honeymoon), it's finally built up, and even though I'm still dialing it in, I can tell that there is really something unique and wonderful about the Riv geometry and tubing spec, and this is going to be a bike that I keep for a long, long time. On Tuesday, August 21, 2012 8:06:10 AM UTC-7, lungimsam wrote: So how did you originally find out about them, and why/where/how did you get your first Rivendell bike? -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW Owners Bunch group. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rbw-owners-bunch/-/C4SL2eU7NqkJ. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
[RBW] Re: What's your Rivendell story?
In early 2006, I was looking for a handlebar replacement for my old beach cruiser. Wasn't even looking for another bike. My internet search led me to Rivendell (their old website, the one which had reviews from folks who bought Riv bikes, like the Wilbury (remember that one?); the one that still advertised the Romulus; and Goodrich-built customs; my, how times fly). Anyway, never heard of Riv before. Something happened when I saw the steel bikes in their two-toned glory. I felt, what was it...surprise? Not awe, but...a deep admiration. This happens whenever I see something where it's obvious someone spent long hours sweating the details. I had to have one. What really caught my eye was the orange Rambouillet, whose stock was dwindling at that point. I wanted a 56 cm orange colored Ram but couldn't find one. Then, I found a green 54 cm Ram frame in Tennessee (I forgot the name of the shop, but they did advertise the country bike concept in connection with their Riv inventory). Bought the green one. But then, I found, buried inside, almost like an afterthought, an ad posted on Acme Bicycle's website (Kansas City) for a 56 cm orange Ram frame. Score! Bought it. Sold the green frame. Took the orange frame to RBW for the standard build-up in October 2006. The rest is history. Sold off all my bikes; didn't need 'em; the Ram does everything I want. Hundreds of miles later (and one circumnavigation of Lake Tahoe in 2007's Bike Big Blue event) it's still a beautiful ride. Here's it is: http://www.flickr.com/photos/51853926@N05/7559324774/ Mostly ride in and around Sacramento, American River parkway, and Folsom Lake. Enjoy! On Tuesday, August 21, 2012 8:06:10 AM UTC-7, lungimsam wrote: So how did you originally find out about them, and why/where/how did you get your first Rivendell bike? -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW Owners Bunch group. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rbw-owners-bunch/-/lRr0Rura5e0J. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
[RBW] Re: What's your Rivendell story?
Rode far and wide on the Motobecane Super Mirage of my youth. Racked up miles unquantified, explored both the country and city of St. Louis from which we lived near to the northwest. Even rode on the Honda trails in the woods behind the moto dealer. Cycling became organic to me. College in the '80s (not on either coast), cycling in a big gap between the biking boom of the '70s and the MTB surge to come. Graduated, took my commission in the service and found myself searching early for a new career, in a bed in Walter Reed with two dotted Sharpie lines around my thigh, one at 6 the other at 8, whichever gave the surgeon a better flap. I was fortunate to be able to leave with both the leg, and the crutches. My colleague, who ran a bike shop in Williamsburg, VA and helped me buy a 1987 RockHopper (he talked me out of the drop bar MB-1!) two weeks before my injury, helped me fashion my discharge. He spotted me on the walk past the nurses station, carried me by the belt when I passed out and plopped me in the bed of his pickup for the escape up Georgia Avenue. I worked through process to clear form the installation and he boxed and sent the bike to my folks' house in Arkansas where I ended up in charge of my own fate and rehab. I conducted the most approximate PT as I could with materials and supplies and as soon as I reach enough ROM to ride my bike on a trainer without being jacked up off the seat by the bad leg coming around the top of rotation without enough flex. Freedom came in the form of riding again. I put clips and straps on the 'Hopper (madness people told me) and I cinched down the bad leg's foot and used the other for all of my stoplight and trail dabs. Not enough nerve coordination to walk yet, but for the first time in more than a year I was able to go into the world on my own power without crutches. Soon joined the reserves to account for not letting the admin guy end my service and slap a medical determination on me. It would have been a $3k check for the trouble. I was riding 20 miles in the mornings and again iater each day Made a business proposition to an existing outdoor outfitter of great reputation back in my college town. Wrote a plan for adding cycling using five paragraph operations order format (degree in zoology, not business). They said yes and I ran it and was one of the general managers of the company within two years. Started with Specialized and Bridgestone, doing a five star tear down and reassembly of each bike and their wheels. We were a dealer that made the reputation of brands rather than a dealer who pushed volumes of poorly assembled models based on brand equity. Bridgestone folded, my business plan included a similar break down camp scenario because my cycling department was in response to LBS not moving on market trends enough to satisfy customers used to the high level of service of the outfitter in other lines, I had a drop dead point if those LBS saw the light of day and got up to speed which they did when one of my mechanics bought one and used his med school money to turn it around (now has shop in Portland). I shut it down sold him much of the tooling and bench stock. My girlfriend and I married, moved away to the Bluegrass area and was riding an RB-1 with Sachs New Success Ergo and wheels of my own build (Open-4 36°, WS 14/15g DB) on and off road. Moved again to Pittsburgh, got out of the reserves, bought house to rehab and set in on that when 9/11 happened. My wife was stuck in Mexico City for three weeks on a business trip, saw the Shanksville plane fly over on way to fate, saw AF-1 with phalanx of preceding fighters going back to DC then silence. Not a plane for days. Nothing looked real. Slowly pulled things back into context, the neighborhood was great. Rode with a group from the coffee shop around the corner mostly around town up and down, looking at how folks pulled together, 20-30 miles each week as time and light allowed. Said yes to a friend of my wife's looking for a 4th rider on a super light cross country ride, someone with mechanic skills. I said yes but knew my RB-1 was not going to do. A chance to see the country after this big reformation of value in eight to twelve hour rides, staying in cheap motels and eating in the cafes and diners along the way. Not stock bike was rando enough for my long of leg stature. Too much top tube, too little stem extension if any. Wasn't going to go goofball and ride a too small frame with a periscope setback post. Good money chasing bad idea. Talked to Grant, Rambouillet was coming and the stock geometry was ideal for me. A custom frame would nix the whole trip. Not available this year. It arrived the night before I drove to Yorktown, VA for the start in classic RBW build. Sports the same bar tape shellac as issued including the repaired tear from the little dump in south central Colorado after a rear tire blow out. Once tire replaced the
[RBW] Re: What's your Rivendell story?
With the money from my first job pumping gas in 1971 I purchased a Schwinn Super Sport, fillet-brazed steel, typical mid-70s road bike build. Loved that bike. Rode it off and on (mostly on) through high school, college, first job, grad school and even commuted on it to my first job post-grad school. Stopped riding it in the mid080's when job change, marriage to non-biker, move to bike-unfriendly Detroit suburb caused me put it on the shelf. But I never got rid of it. Fast forward to 2010, now we live in Boulder, still have the bike, though it's a bit creaky. Had to go to Denver to find a shop that would touch it beyond putting new tires on it (Cycle Analyst on Pearl...recommended!) but they got it back on the road, and I started riding it again, mainly commuting to work. God it felt great to get back on a bike. The following summer we shared a vacation with good friends from Michigan, where we shared a houseboat in Sausilito. I had been looking for a new bike, and because of my size, the big Rivs were on my short list. I kinda knew we were close to WC, so I broached the subject of visiting Riv so I could see their selection. Turns out my friend had lived in WC for many years, had camped on Mt. Diablo with his dad, and going back for a visit to his hold stomping grounds was already on the agenda. In addition, he owned two early 90's Bridgestones. So, it wasn't a hard sell to make a stop at Riv. So, we wandered into the door that matched the address of the companyand walked right into the shipping dept. Miesha gently escorted us over to the showroom, and shortly thereafter, Grant came over to talk to us. Having spent my career as a ferrous metallurgist, we had a lot to talk about. I got to ride a Sam, and left the showroom ready to purchase. I ended up with a Homer, because the Sam was a little too small, and was riding it almost daily until my crash back in April. Still not back on the bike yet, but getting closer every day. Jim in Boulder On Tuesday, August 21, 2012 9:06:10 AM UTC-6, lungimsam wrote: So how did you originally find out about them, and why/where/how did you get your first Rivendell bike? -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW Owners Bunch group. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rbw-owners-bunch/-/MS9hmOSLjEIJ. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
[RBW] Re: What's your Rivendell story?
I had been in a gnarly bicycle accident on my old trek road bike in 2008. I was a victim of a hit and run in san francisco and i shattered my left leg. All of this put me in the hospital for six weeks and over a year of rehab and walking aids and surgeries after that. So far I've had seven surgeries, skin graft, bone graft, three fasciotomies from recurring compartment syndrome, etc etc etc. Anyway, I was eager to get back on a bicycle after this. I looked on CL, and I found an aluminum cannondale caad3. I thought this was right. I built her up with straps and I used to bungee my foldable cane to the handlebars so I could walk after riding. The cannondale had just never been comfortable enough after my injury though, and I was looking for something else. I considered a hybrid, mtb, touring frames, etc. I know I had quite a bit of bike karma out there for me, and one day there she was on CL - a 53cm atlantis, set up as an xtracycle no less, for $1000. I immediately called, said, don't sell her, I want it. I went there later that day, bought it for $900 (from the nice folks at xtracycle!). The rest is history. I haven't had ANY pain riding bikes since then, even with a mildly gimpy leg. --eli On Tuesday, August 21, 2012 8:06:10 AM UTC-7, lungimsam wrote: So how did you originally find out about them, and why/where/how did you get your first Rivendell bike? -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW Owners Bunch group. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rbw-owners-bunch/-/ahhjehF0BUUJ. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
[RBW] Re: What's your Rivendell story?
Rode a lot a lot as a kid, we used to carry shovels and hoes around to carve paths out of the woods which we traversed largely on the schwinn offering of the day. But (cue bike snob) stopped riding when my sister went off to college and I got the keys to the CJ7. My two-wheeler, while topless, did not have the cache of the jeep. Post-college, got into mountain biking with friends, checked out some B-stone product, but wound up with a '90 Specialized Rockhopper that went through a couple of front forks due to a surely questionable riding style. After landing back in Atlanta and with a regular job, the bike- commuting light came on. I started trolling the internets, and one thing or another led me to the Bob list and then the RBW website. Got a bunch of parts to re-fashion the Rockhopper -- still alive and doing well, mismatched Richey fork and all -- starting with the stem-riser to get the bars up (thanks Keven). After a couple of years I finally pulled the trigger on a Bleriot, reportedly one of the last demo's off the floor at HQ. Later, my Atlantis, for which I even had the audacity to request a special color. I've since turned on about a half dozen folks to RBW, two of whom I ride with weekly. And I got my wife a Betty. Spent half an hour on the pavement with a local office worker yesterday who spotted my 'muter, was familiar with Rivendell, and was considering an Atlantis. Disciples must evangelize when a polite opportunity arises. I still want a Homer. And a Bombadil. Those pictures of the Saluki with the hetres and red tape that went up recently (and is now my desktop photo) sounded a resonant pang in my chest cavity -- that's the bike I was coveting when I opted for the Bleriot. I think a Roadeo would be a wonderful addition to the stable. I have a home renovation to get through, but after that I should have some extra room in the garage. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW Owners Bunch group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
Re: [RBW] Re: What's your Rivendell story?
I drooled over the Romulus ad on the Harris Cyclery web site and kept hoping that someday I could afford one. By the time I could, they were not carried any more. (I hadn't yet caught on the the generally brief window of opportunity for ANY Rivendell offering) Not to shed too many tears for that lost chance, I jumped on one the blue Rams and haven't looked back since. On Thu, Aug 23, 2012 at 12:47 PM, Rick richardholc...@yahoo.com wrote: Rode a lot a lot as a kid, we used to carry shovels and hoes around to carve paths out of the woods which we traversed largely on the schwinn offering of the day. But (cue bike snob) stopped riding when my sister went off to college and I got the keys to the CJ7. My two-wheeler, while topless, did not have the cache of the jeep. Post-college, got into mountain biking with friends, checked out some B-stone product, but wound up with a '90 Specialized Rockhopper that went through a couple of front forks due to a surely questionable riding style. After landing back in Atlanta and with a regular job, the bike- commuting light came on. I started trolling the internets, and one thing or another led me to the Bob list and then the RBW website. Got a bunch of parts to re-fashion the Rockhopper -- still alive and doing well, mismatched Richey fork and all -- starting with the stem-riser to get the bars up (thanks Keven). After a couple of years I finally pulled the trigger on a Bleriot, reportedly one of the last demo's off the floor at HQ. Later, my Atlantis, for which I even had the audacity to request a special color. I've since turned on about a half dozen folks to RBW, two of whom I ride with weekly. And I got my wife a Betty. Spent half an hour on the pavement with a local office worker yesterday who spotted my 'muter, was familiar with Rivendell, and was considering an Atlantis. Disciples must evangelize when a polite opportunity arises. I still want a Homer. And a Bombadil. Those pictures of the Saluki with the hetres and red tape that went up recently (and is now my desktop photo) sounded a resonant pang in my chest cavity -- that's the bike I was coveting when I opted for the Bleriot. I think a Roadeo would be a wonderful addition to the stable. I have a home renovation to get through, but after that I should have some extra room in the garage. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW Owners Bunch group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW Owners Bunch group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
[RBW] Re: What's your Rivendell story?
Here's my datapoint for the Rivendell marketing department... Let's see- somehow in the 90s I got ahold of a couple Bridgestone catalogues, which I still have in my possession. Then I met Grant at a bike show at the Cow Palace in SF, in the early aughts. By then my Trek 560 was around 15 yrs old. He was there by himself with his lugs, one of which he gave me, and spoke quietly and passionately about steel. I started subscribing to RR, but never thought I'd own a Riv. I guess it was aspirational, but I like how he writes and I still think of Ti mining as suspect environmentally, because, I thought, of that great piece on metals he did in one of the B'stone catalogues. I reread it recently and I don't think he points to Ti mining's environmental impact, but that was the first time I'd read anything that compare it side-by-side with Al and steel. So great. Anyhow, fast forward to about a year ago, and while training for the Grizzly Peak Century I found my back just didn't like my Trek anymore. At the same time I was jonesing for a decent city bike, a reincarnated 70s-80s steel lugged frame, but never got around to it. Somehow, on a whim my wife and I decided to try out a coupla Rivs at RWHQ. She said, well if you rode a bike for 25 yrs by now, a new one will be as good an investment. And I had to rid of a coupla beaters/projects, which I did. And so that's how I ended up with an AHH, which still gets hit on at least 80% of the time I'm out with it. Today, I love seeing people in street clothes on bikes, bikes with slender tubes and fat tires, with fenders and front racks, lovely luggage (the nicest piece of luggage in our house is my Sackville Saddlesack!); even a canvas and leather shoulder bag (non-bike) caught my eye today. TSW Berkeley On Tuesday, August 21, 2012 8:06:10 AM UTC-7, lungimsam wrote: So how did you originally find out about them, and why/where/how did you get your first Rivendell bike? -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW Owners Bunch group. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rbw-owners-bunch/-/Z8TZOlnFkA0J. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
[RBW] Re: What's your Rivendell story?
Back in '2002, I was interested in a new touring/commute bike to replace my Specialized road bike and GT MTB. After doing some research on the web, Rivendell kept popping up, went to their website, and liked Grant's story and pitch about lugs and steel, and voila--I ordered my Atlantis. -Steve Seattle On Tuesday, August 21, 2012 8:06:10 AM UTC-7, lungimsam wrote: So how did you originally find out about them, and why/where/how did you get your first Rivendell bike? -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW Owners Bunch group. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rbw-owners-bunch/-/LctbDlocg_AJ. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
[RBW] Re: What's your Rivendell story?
I guess I'm really the new kid on the block. As a kid I had a series of cheap dept store bikes and a couple that my dad built up from frames and spare parts. I even had a Schwinn Stingray type bike but it was stolen, along with every other bike I owned up to that point. As I got a little older I got a generic 10-speed from K-Mart and rode it until the cassette fell off mid-ride and my dad took it back. The last bike I had was my dad's old, completely beat up 3-speed. I have no idea what brand it was but it had the black/white color scheme of the cheap Raleighs. Then when I turned 14 I got a motorcycle. Flash-forward to 1994 and I somehow conceived the idea that I wanted a bicycle. I did a lot of research and learned there were three basic types of bikes: road, mountain and hybrid. The hybrids fit what I wanted with their upright riding positions, wider tires, wide range of gearing and overall versatiity. I then began researching brands and settled on a Trek 730, which I bought in 1995. I rode that bike until 2007 when I upgrade to an aluminum Trek FX series bike. Last November I was asking some biking questions on a completely non-biking forum and was directed to RBW's website by a member, specifically, Grant's The Big Picture article. I found much of what Grant said in that article to be in line with what I like in a bike so I started reading more of his philosophy and ideas. Then I actually started looking at photos of Rivendell bicycles and I was floored!! They were easily some of the most gorgeous bicycles I'd ever seen. After a couple of months of drooling over their bikes, I e-mailed Grant with a question about which bike he would recommend for me and told him my circumstances. I'm sure everyone here knows about Grant's desire to help others and his generosity. He made a small gesture to my circumstances and then a rather large one! I was flabbergasted that someone running a small business would be willing to offer what he did, just in order to help someone. So, not only do I love the looks of their bikes, I'm a big fan of Grant Peterson, personally. I forgot to mention that after discovering Rivendell spent three months looking for another steel bike and ended up with the same make, model and year as I'd had earlier, only one size bigger. When my wife and I got out to California, I look forward to visiting Riv headquarters and I really want to ride a Hunqapillar. That's the bike Grant recommended for me and it's the bike that best fits my particular riding needs. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW Owners Bunch group. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rbw-owners-bunch/-/qEeB9WBJXDcJ. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
[RBW] Re: What's your Rivendell story?
Beats the crap out of me! I think I was dreaming and surfing about a custom (in the seventies, I dreamed of a Bayliss frame). That led to a bookmark on my browser years ago, years of obsessive browsing, one decisionhttp://simplecycle-marc.blogspot.com/2010/12/elves-of-rivendell-are-delivering-for.html after anotherhttp://simplecycle-marc.blogspot.com/2011/02/me-and-mixte.html, a Hunqapillar and Hilborne in the garage, traveling across country to meet like minded crazies. Yeah, it's good. Marc On Tuesday, August 21, 2012 11:06:10 AM UTC-4, lungimsam wrote: So how did you originally find out about them, and why/where/how did you get your first Rivendell bike? -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW Owners Bunch group. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rbw-owners-bunch/-/PwBM6TIzHn8J. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
RE: [RBW] Re: What's your Rivendell story?
The Like-Minded Crazies (An alternate name for The Rivendell Owners Bunch) Dat's Us! From: rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com [rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com] on behalf of Marc Irwin [irwin7...@gmail.com] Sent: Wednesday, August 22, 2012 2:50 PM To: rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com Subject: [RBW] Re: What's your Rivendell story? Beats the crap out of me! I think I was dreaming and surfing about a custom (in the seventies, I dreamed of a Bayliss frame). That led to a bookmark on my browser years ago, years of obsessive browsing, one decisionhttp://simplecycle-marc.blogspot.com/2010/12/elves-of-rivendell-are-delivering-for.html after anotherhttp://simplecycle-marc.blogspot.com/2011/02/me-and-mixte.html, a Hunqapillar and Hilborne in the garage, traveling across country to meet like minded crazies. Yeah, it's good. Marc On Tuesday, August 21, 2012 11:06:10 AM UTC-4, lungimsam wrote: So how did you originally find out about them, and why/where/how did you get your first Rivendell bike? -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW Owners Bunch group. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rbw-owners-bunch/-/PwBM6TIzHn8J. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW Owners Bunch group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
Re: [RBW] Re: What's your Rivendell story?
In my adult years, I've always ridden steel 700c bikes, and although I looked at Rivendell for a while, I didn't want to plunge into 650b bikes, which are the right size for my PBH. After a crash caused by cracked roads led to the death of a fellow local rider, I decided to ride road bikes with a minimum of 32mm tires. That decision led to my purchase of a used Rambouillet, which I set up with 32mm Paselas. I loved that ride and took the plunge on a new AHH 650b with 38mm Pari Moto tires. I love that bike, and am in the process of converting all my 700c bikes to 650b (other than the Ram). My Surly Pacer did great, and next is the old Columbus steel lugged Bianchi. Someday I hope to complete my 650b stable with a touring Bombadil when my kids grow up and can ride their own bikes. Toshi -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW Owners Bunch group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
RE: [RBW] Re: What's your Rivendell story?
rooted for them and used them as a go-to for high-quality nonracing bike parts that work well for the do-it-yourselfer. And in the 16 years since, I have enjoyed several of their models which are optimized for a Diablo-style of riding which is very similar to the riding that I like to do where I live in Southern California. I was a Rivendell customer for several years before getting one of their frames. I've always found it interesting that my own personal interest in bicycles and working on them so closely paralleled the growth of Rivendell as a company. Part of that is coincidental; it just so happens that 1995 was when I really started getting into it, and I would have gotten increasingly into bikes whether or not Rivendell came into being. But I know that having Rivendell as a source all these years has been influential. -Jim W. -Original Message- From: Marc Schwartz mschw...@nmsu.edu Sent: Aug 22, 2012 1:59 PM To: rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com Subject: RE: [RBW] Re: What's your Rivendell story? The Like-Minded Crazies (An alternate name for The Rivendell Owners Bunch) Dat's Us! From: rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com [rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com] on behalf of Marc Irwin [irwin7...@gmail.com] Sent: Wednesday, August 22, 2012 2:50 PM To: rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com Subject: [RBW] Re: What's your Rivendell story? Beats the crap out of me! I think I was dreaming and surfing about a custom (in the seventies, I dreamed of a Bayliss frame). That led to a bookmark on my browser years ago, years of obsessive browsing, one decisionhttp://simplecycle-marc.blogspot.com/2010/12/elves-of-rivendell-are-delivering-for.html after anotherhttp://simplecycle-marc.blogspot.com/2011/02/me-and-mixte.html, a Hunqapillar and Hilborne in the garage, traveling across country to meet like minded crazies. Yeah, it's good. Marc On Tuesday, August 21, 2012 11:06:10 AM UTC-4, lungimsam wrote: So how did you originally find out about them, and why/where/how did you get your first Rivendell bike? -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW Owners Bunch group. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rbw-owners-bunch/-/PwBM6TIzHn8J. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW Owners Bunch group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW Owners Bunch group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
RE: [RBW] Re: What's your Rivendell story?
and have rooted for them and used them as a go-to for high-quality nonracing bike parts that work well for the do-it-yourselfer. And in the 16 years since, I have enjoyed several of their models which are optimized for a Diablo-style of riding which is very similar to the riding that I like to do where I live in Southern California. I was a Rivendell customer for several years before getting one of their frames. I've always found it interesting that my own personal interest in bicycles and working on them so closely paralleled the growth of Rivendell as a company. Part of that is coincidental; it just so happens that 1995 was when I really started getting into it, and I would have gotten increasingly into bikes whether or not Rivendell came into being. But I know that having Rivendell as a source all these years has been influential. -Jim W. -Original Message- From: Marc Schwartz mschw...@nmsu.edu Sent: Aug 22, 2012 1:59 PM To: rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com Subject: RE: [RBW] Re: What's your Rivendell story? The Like-Minded Crazies (An alternate name for The Rivendell Owners Bunch) Dat's Us! From: rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com [rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com] on behalf of Marc Irwin [irwin7...@gmail.com] Sent: Wednesday, August 22, 2012 2:50 PM To: rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com Subject: [RBW] Re: What's your Rivendell story? Beats the crap out of me! I think I was dreaming and surfing about a custom (in the seventies, I dreamed of a Bayliss frame). That led to a bookmark on my browser years ago, years of obsessive browsing, one decisionhttp://simplecycle-marc.blogspot.com/2010/12/elves-of-rivendell-are-delivering-for.html after anotherhttp://simplecycle-marc.blogspot.com/2011/02/me-and-mixte.html, a Hunqapillar and Hilborne in the garage, traveling across country to meet like minded crazies. Yeah, it's good. Marc On Tuesday, August 21, 2012 11:06:10 AM UTC-4, lungimsam wrote: So how did you originally find out about them, and why/where/how did you get your first Rivendell bike? -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW Owners Bunch group. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rbw-owners-bunch/-/PwBM6TIzHn8J. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW Owners Bunch group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW Owners Bunch group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
[RBW] Re: What's your Rivendell story?
Long story short. About ten years ago I was just learning and searching the web for information on Touring / Commuting bikes and came across this. http://www.etherfarm.com/synapse/archives/i_want_to_ride_my_bicycle/ I fell in love with the XO-1 on first site. That lead me to the bobish biking mail list and the history of Bridgestone and Mr. Petersons influence. Still remember the day I first saw the orange XO-1 on the site I posted above. On Tuesday, August 21, 2012 11:06:10 AM UTC-4, lungimsam wrote: So how did you originally find out about them, and why/where/how did you get your first Rivendell bike? -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW Owners Bunch group. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rbw-owners-bunch/-/l5S0ggSJkSIJ. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
[RBW] Re: What's your Rivendell story?
I saw a specialized mtn bike with alba bars and was so enamored by the beautiful curves of the bars that I asked about them. --Andy On Tuesday, August 21, 2012 8:06:10 AM UTC-7, lungimsam wrote: So how did you originally find out about them, and why/where/how did you get your first Rivendell bike? -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW Owners Bunch group. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rbw-owners-bunch/-/8rnd94GtYksJ. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
RE: [RBW] Re: What's your Rivendell story?
Saw a picture of a Homer on Peter White's site -- love at first sight. From: rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com [mailto:rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Andy Smitty Schmidt Sent: Tuesday, August 21, 2012 11:22 AM To: rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com Subject: [RBW] Re: What's your Rivendell story? I saw a specialized mtn bike with alba bars and was so enamored by the beautiful curves of the bars that I asked about them. --Andy On Tuesday, August 21, 2012 8:06:10 AM UTC-7, lungimsam wrote: So how did you originally find out about them, and why/where/how did you get your first Rivendell bike? -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW Owners Bunch group. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rbw-owners-bunch/-/8rnd94GtYksJ. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en. -- To ensure compliance with Treasury Department regulations, we advise you that, unless otherwise expressly indicated, any federal tax advice contained in this message was not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of (i) avoiding tax-related penalties under the Internal Revenue Code or applicable state or local tax law provisions or (ii) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any tax-related matters addressed herein. This email (and any attachments thereto) is intended only for use by the addressee(s) named herein and may contain legally privileged and/or confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient of this email, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this email (and any attachments thereto) is strictly prohibited. If you receive this email in error please immediately notify me at (212) 735-3000 and permanently delete the original email (and any copy of any email) and any printout thereof. Further information about the firm, a list of the Partners and their professional qualifications will be provided upon request. == -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW Owners Bunch group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
[RBW] Re: What's your Rivendell story?
I rediscovered bicycling in late 1994 and bought my first modern road bike in early 1995. It was actually lugged steel, a Performance bike. I happily rode it for a few years, training for and riding my first Century. But I was under the go-fast, weight-weeny spell and upgraded to a titanium frame when I got the chance. Through the years, I was on the bicycle forums and websites more often than I was on the bike. But I did put quite a few miles on the Ti bike, and I still love it. I knew about Rivendell, but thought they were terribly expensive. I also remember pricing a Heron when I was shopping early-on, and I couldn't afford it. After being essentially off the bike for several years, I started tinkering and modifying my steel frame for my daughter, who had become a pretty serious cyclist. She was delighted with the result. In the course of looking for parts for her bike, I became reacquainted with RBW and also Velo Orange, which is local to me. And that in turn lead to some riding on my own, some modding of the titanium bike, and lots of window shopping at the RBW site and others. Late in 2010 I got the lust for a Riv, specifically a Sam. It was still pushing the budget me, even though I had a little more leeway than I had in 1994. I didn't end up getting a Sam, but saw a 51 Bleriot on eBay and had to bid for it. Got into a rather furious bidding war at the end (much to the delight of the seller, I'm sure), and ended up winning it, for a bit more than I had hoped. I was thrilled, to say the least. I delighted in building it up with a mix of my road STI drivetrain parts, some lightly used Rivish parts that I already had, and new parts from Riv and Velo Orange. I am trying to become worthy of this bike. Cheers, Steve On Tuesday, August 21, 2012 11:06:10 AM UTC-4, lungimsam wrote: So how did you originally find out about them, and why/where/how did you get your first Rivendell bike? -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW Owners Bunch group. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rbw-owners-bunch/-/DQTUVfIXPyQJ. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
[RBW] Re: What's your Rivendell story?
I picked up some of the last few years of the Bridgestone catalogs (1992, 1993, 1994) for which Grant Petersen lavished much effort and creativity. A bit later, I began reading about the development of the Rivendell bicycles (from around 1994, after Bridgestone withdrew from the U.S. market) in the Bicycle Guide magazines of the period. At some point, I subscribed to Grant's Rivendell Reader from the first copy (green cover, never again) and then ordered a Rivendell Road Standard bike in 1996. I had the bike painted a custom color, Light Saddle Metallic, that was one of the colors available for the first generation Waterford era Schwinn Paramounts, introduced in 1981. I also had the frame pin striped (this was all done at the Waterford Wisconsin bike company). With some difficulty (I had to get Grant to intervene) I was able to get them to paint match a Silca frame pump. Since that time I've kept up with Rivendell's various activities with the Rivendell Reader, catalogs and the on-line website. Bought lots of stuff from Riv over the years. Rivendell and Grant Petersen have really done much for the bike industry, he's one of a kind. Jim Cloud Tucson, AZ On Aug 21, 8:06 am, lungimsam john11.2...@gmail.com wrote: So how did you originally find out about them, and why/where/how did you get your first Rivendell bike? -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW Owners Bunch group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
[RBW] Re: What's your Rivendell story?
It doesn't seem so long ago, but the mid 1990s era was a different bicycle world. Steel was dead, road riding was stagnant and those frames were moving to aluminum and titanium. Mountain bikes were getting complex with suspension. There was little internet use, thus we were not all tied together as community, and mailorder shops were still mainly selling through catalogs. I had a 1993 MB-1 that I loved and buddies were racing on RB-1s that they praised. Grant was brilliant starting the Bridgestone Owners Bunch with a small catalog of esotric articles (ala RivReaders to come) and esoteric parts. The wool jerseys were ultra-retro and ultra-cool to me. I bought a musette bag and hat and coin purse. Then of course Bridgestone USA folded and I was bummed to miss out on the blow-out sale on the XO-1s. Grant sent the BOB members a new catalog with some of the same BOB esoteric parts, but also now English saddles and saddlebags. That excited me as I had a 1966 Robin Hood 3speed that needed a new saddle. I bought a B17 (eventaully replaced with a Chamion Flyer) and Carradice Nelson Longflap. http://www.flickr.com/photos/79695460@N00/3993215438/in/set-72157607471577085 Then Rivendell offered a new upgraded of the XO-1, a Waterford built AllRounder. I ordered it in the summer of 1995 and it arrived in January 1996. http://www.flickr.com/photos/79695460@N00/5265783630/in/set-72157607471577085/ In keeping with my history of racing the AllRounder was ordered too small. Grant was talking of this new to me new position where the saddle goes further back and the handlebars come up. I wanted off my too small road bike that was becoming more and more uncomfortable. In 2000, prompted by an upcoming price increase, I ordered a Curt Goodrich built Road Standard. It was bulit to fit the largest tires I would ever ride, a 28mm (Ha!). This it would do with fenders or a 32mm without. http://www.flickr.com/photos/79695460@N00/400396875/in/set-72157607471577085/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/79695460@N00/7439691084/in/photostream/ This was the last bike I would ever need. I was set with a 3speed, AllRounder, mountain bike, and custom road bike. (Ha again!) In 2004 Rivendell offered the first Quickbeams. I remembered my racing winters spent on a fixed gear increasing my 'suppless.' But this bike offered a multitude of gearing and tire options. I had to have one http://www.flickr.com/photos/79695460@N00/7832253824/in/photostream that I run with gear inches of 71, 63, 61, 55, and 50. Most recently there was an orphan Legolas on the website. I already had the AllRounder for multi-surface rides. But I was intrigued to try the very lightweight tubing and ended up buying it anyway. http://www.flickr.com/photos/79695460@N00/7616540094/in/photostream/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/79695460@N00/6922766182/in/photostream/ I love it and love riding Jack Brown Greens or Schwalbe 35 cross tires on it. Now the custom road bikes RollyPolys seems a bit too harsh and too small. I love what the company has given me, a new way to enjoy cycling after the racing years. And I have loved their products over the years (though I am now lost with double top tubes and extra stays). Now there are many companies offering an non-racer point of view to bikes and components, and it was Grant's vision that was the genesis for most. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW Owners Bunch group. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rbw-owners-bunch/-/hcRR9gNPtjcJ. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
[RBW] Re: What's your Rivendell story?
I used to work at Baskin Robbins for 8 years. About every other Saturday my buddy Will would come by on his bike to get a scoop of ice cream. Intrigued that he biked everywhere I figured I needed a hobby for the summer so I asked him one Saturday where would be a good place to buy a bike. He suggested Cycles of Change ( Now it's called Changing Gears) a non-profit bike shop ran to give under privileged youth job experience working on used bikes. At first I wanted to just buy a mountain bike but because of the rarity of them getting a entry level road bike my size my buddy Will was animate about me getting that bike. I figure it would be an investment if I bought something nice now instead of paying more latter. So the flood gates were open. Biking to school and work was the norm. I never once thought that what I was riding was not meant for commuting or that I put my life in danger riding on a carbon fork and spokeless wheels. Ignorance was bliss in my terms. Eventually one of the rides that I did with Will and the lovely folks of Changing Gears ended up at Rivendell. Not really understanding what the hype was all about I never understood how magical Rivendell was until my first time there. Short description of that particular ride can be found here. Typically pictures proved that my photography has grown. ( not by much) http://flic.kr/s/aHsjoVF9Cc After that trip and many trips after that I was Rivendell crazy. But on my meager college budget I didn't have the funds for a new bike. So I did what many of guys did I scourged the interweb for a use Rivendell bike in my price range. And so thats how I met Rene on craigslist. Originally I was planning to buy his Italian Frame but after some talking I found that we both had very similar ideals when it came to biking, despite our huge age gap. He so happened to have a frame he was planning to build up but never got to over the years. After many months of begging he finally sold the frame to me. I used my first paycheck from my first real job to buy my first Rivendell bike my Bleriot. Pictures proved I built up the first one. http://flic.kr/s/aHsjoJjbFx After buying the Bleriot from Rene he suggested going on this list to find parts. And I guess the rest is history. -Manny So many stories) Acosta -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW Owners Bunch group. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rbw-owners-bunch/-/pCoSpKRaqbsJ. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
[RBW] Re: What's your Rivendell story?
Way back in the day I convinced my parents that a road bike was what I needed and they fronted me the $ so I could go to REI in Berkeley to pick something out. Spent a fair amount of time there chatting with familiar sales guys and ended up with a Peugeot. Actually memory is fuzzy from the late 70's high school era so it might have been a Gitane. Or something else. But a nice road bike no matter the label. Had been riding the typical Schwinn banana seat bikes until that point. Anyway, ended up going to college in Davis and really getting into cycling. Fair number of centuries and double Cs. Then lost interest until 1994 when I wandered into the local bike shop thinking about getting a mountain bike. Wanted to see what the fuss was about. Instead took an '93 XO-1 out for a spin and was blown away by the bike. Read the Bridgestone catalogs and put the pieces together that Grant had been the main person helping me with my first real bike purchase. Could not make the money work so ended up buying an XO-4 as I would be doing more road than trail riding. Still have that bike. Still fairly stock. About to become more Riv-ish with Albas and some racks. It is a great bike. Since buying the XO-4 I watched Riv but time was not right for another bike. In the last few years though I have added a few bikes. Now have a Ram and a Bomba. My wife recently got a Betty. She loves that bike. Insists on keeping it in the living room. Always a great experience dealing with Riv and Grant. On Tuesday, August 21, 2012 8:06:10 AM UTC-7, lungimsam wrote: So how did you originally find out about them, and why/where/how did you get your first Rivendell bike? -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW Owners Bunch group. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rbw-owners-bunch/-/vYdHYNrto8UJ. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
[RBW] Re: What's your Rivendell story?
Like many folks on here (I'm guessing) the bicycle truly was my first taste of freedom in the small town where I grew up. Hence I am a bicycle fanatic, and inevitably came to Rivendell from riding vintage bikes and BMX, and being accustomed to steel as a frame material that is reliable even if well-used, crashed or dented. I have owned a few vintage treks (still have an '88 520 with a sky-high bb), centurions, and still have a sweet old specialized sequoia, and I had many friends who rode Surlys, IFs and Sevens. I like lugged bikes, and gravitated to bikes like the Bombadil back when it had parallel TT and it was the only one with a 2TT in their lineup, except for the 71cm AHH, and the 650b mountain bike just seemed like an epiphany (still does).Also the Quickbeam because it was so unique and yet so familiar at the same time- the silence and simplicity of SS/fixed combined with the quick-release shift mechanism is awesome. I make use of that feature gladly depending on where I'm going. The more I ride it, the more I love the way the QB rides. Anyway the rest was history for me. Riv has unbeatable customer service and have just done so much good for bicycling in general.I even got to visit their HQ once at the end of a US/Canadian tour a couple of years ago.They bought me lunch and it was awesome. I love that when you call them up, there is a decent chance that Grant Petersen answers the phone. Talking to GP about bicycles is a real privilege. How many bicycle companies are like that. They are definitely not in the same price range as other bikes, but as time goes on they all prove to have been bargains. Matt -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW Owners Bunch group. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rbw-owners-bunch/-/SbqGThQkABwJ. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
[RBW] Re: What's your Rivendell story?
Like many folks on here (I'm guessing) the bicycle truly was my first taste of freedom in the small town where I grew up. Hence I am a bicycle fanatic, and inevitably came to Rivendell from riding vintage bikes and BMX, and being accustomed to steel as a frame material that is reliable even if well-used, crashed or dented. I have owned a few vintage treks (still have an '88 520 with a sky-high bb), centurions, and still have a sweet old specialized sequoia, and I had many friends who rode Surlys, IFs and Sevens. I like lugged bikes, and gravitated to bikes like the Bombadil back when it had parallel TT and it was the only one with a 2TT in their lineup, except for the 71cm AHH, and the 650b mountain bike just seemed like an epiphany (still does).Also the Quickbeam because it was so unique and yet so familiar at the same time- the silence and simplicity of SS/fixed combined with the quick-release shift mechanism is awesome. I make use of that feature gladly depending on where I'm going. The more I ride it, the more I love the way the QB rides. Anyway the rest was history for me. Riv has unbeatable customer service and have just done so much good for bicycling in general.I even got to visit their HQ once at the end of a US/Canadian tour a couple of years ago.They bought me lunch and it was awesome. I love that when you call them up, there is a decent chance that Grant Petersen answers the phone, or that whoever answers the phone is going to be super knowledgeable and helpful.Talking to GP or anybody from Riv about bikes is a real privilege.How many companies are like that. They are definitely not in the same price range as some other bikes, but with their quality and well-thought-outness, as time goes on they all prove to have been bargains. -Matt On Tuesday, August 21, 2012 11:06:10 AM UTC-4, lungimsam wrote: So how did you originally find out about them, and why/where/how did you get your first Rivendell bike? -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW Owners Bunch group. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rbw-owners-bunch/-/P4NDCeF28bkJ. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
[RBW] Re: What's your Rivendell story?
I received a catalog from them at a Seattle bike show..heck it could have been Grant who handed it too me. I had been riding a recumbent until then but had a Bianchi race bike back in the 80's and a Nishiki 'touring' bike that I had Davidson cycles modify and paint. My wife and I also owned two of the first lugged Stumpjumpers purchased from Greenlake cycles in Seattleso to make a long story short, I appreciated the lugged steel frame idea and the practical side of riding as I had been a bicycling commuter when it wasn't that popular to be one. In fact my first road bicycle was a Volkscycle brand that (I think a 25 inch frame but too big for me) I rode the beans out of it to high school in the 70's and a 20 mile round trip no less. I've always worked on my own bicycles and wanted something I understood and didn't like the new indexed shifting. As a guy in my 40's I had a beer gut and wanted to ride something comfortable and flexible. The narrow tires just didn't seem right for my then 280+ pounds. I purchased several old bikes and Rivized them and a Surly Trucker as I slowly worked my way to my first Rivendell which turned out to be a SimpleOne then later a Sam Hillborne. As of late I have a strong desire to downsize and simplify and have only one bicycle and I may sell every bicycle I own and buy either a Hunk or an Atlantis in my size with a generator lighting system and top components. That's probably what I will do... soon. On Tuesday, August 21, 2012 8:06:10 AM UTC-7, lungimsam wrote: So how did you originally find out about them, and why/where/how did you get your first Rivendell bike? -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW Owners Bunch group. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rbw-owners-bunch/-/Or46Szg_q9cJ. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
Re: [RBW] Re: What's your Rivendell story?
Great conversation! Now we need to read your story @lungisam!!! Anyway, my parents bought my an '84 Allez while in HS. Rode it all over during HS and college. Serious, a lot of miles on that bike, but I did figure out it was a bit too small for me (a 58cm) and that it didn't quite fit the bigger tires I was being drawn to. Graduation in '94, what do I need? A mountain bike! So I stumble across B'stone JUST prior to their going out of business liquidation sale through Beverly Hills Bicycle (so what you will about them, they treated me right!). End up w/ an a '94 MB-2http://www.flickr.com/photos/cyclotourist/2863214487/and a '93 MB-6 for my wife (also a Gary Fisher HKEK, but that's an other story...). Rode those all over, Big Bear, commuting, trails, beach, whatever. And now I'm hooked. Become a BOB member, but just don't have the $$$ to pick up a blow-out XO-1. That's the one that got away you know! Couple years go by, and I am able to get an RB-T. WOW, that was a GREAT bike! Skinny-tubed rough-stuff bike that goes anywhere. I'm passing mountain bikers on the trails both way on it. It's official, I'm now an under-biker! Y2K and I finish grad-school and am gainfully employed for the first time. Damn, I need a bike that does it all. I'll probably never be able to do this again, so better do it right... custom Rivendell it is! A year or so later, what started out as a 29er ends up as a 700c all-rounder do it all bike. Probably should have got an Atlantis which was just starting production around the same time. Probably should have got vertical drop outs, but I thought this was the one bike that would do it all. Probably should have kept it as a full-on 29er tire, but I had a MB-2 for that. So a few compromises I designed into it that I shouldn't have, but still it ends up as the bike I hope to have as long as I know what bikes are. And what better bike to have a virtual-shinehttp://www.flickr.com/photos/cyclotourist/sets/72157602592825848/built for!?!?!? So that's my story and I'm sticking to it! On Tue, Aug 21, 2012 at 7:51 PM, charlie cl_v...@hotmail.com wrote: I received a catalog from them at a Seattle bike show..heck it could have been Grant who handed it too me. I had been riding a recumbent until then but had a Bianchi race bike back in the 80's and a Nishiki 'touring' bike that I had Davidson cycles modify and paint. My wife and I also owned two of the first lugged Stumpjumpers purchased from Greenlake cycles in Seattleso to make a long story short, I appreciated the lugged steel frame idea and the practical side of riding as I had been a bicycling commuter when it wasn't that popular to be one. In fact my first road bicycle was a Volkscycle brand that (I think a 25 inch frame but too big for me) I rode the beans out of it to high school in the 70's and a 20 mile round trip no less. I've always worked on my own bicycles and wanted something I understood and didn't like the new indexed shifting. As a guy in my 40's I had a beer gut and wanted to ride something comfortable and flexible. The narrow tires just didn't seem right for my then 280+ pounds. I purchased several old bikes and Rivized them and a Surly Trucker as I slowly worked my way to my first Rivendell which turned out to be a SimpleOne then later a Sam Hillborne. As of late I have a strong desire to downsize and simplify and have only one bicycle and I may sell every bicycle I own and buy either a Hunk or an Atlantis in my size with a generator lighting system and top components. That's probably what I will do... soon. On Tuesday, August 21, 2012 8:06:10 AM UTC-7, lungimsam wrote: So how did you originally find out about them, and why/where/how did you get your first Rivendell bike? -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW Owners Bunch group. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rbw-owners-bunch/-/Or46Szg_q9cJ. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en. -- Cheers, David Redlands, CA ** The good thing about *science* is that it's *true* whether or not you * believe* in it. -- *Neil deGrasse Tyson*. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW Owners Bunch group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
