Re: [RBW] Re: Soliciting opinions: help me pick the right Rivendell

[Pam Bikes]

Steve - I'm so glad you are enjoying your Platypus.  I've never thought of 
having black fenders.  They look handsome on your bike.

On Saturday, April 6, 2024 at 1:49:25 PM UTC-4 steve...@gmail.com wrote:

> Another Platypus recommendation:
> [image: 4D7C22F7-27BF-4ACD-9875-E249DD1C4999_1_201_a.jpeg]
>
> On Saturday, April 6, 2024 at 11:35:40 AM UTC-4 Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! 
> wrote:
>
>> [image: image0.jpeg][image: image1.jpeg]
>>
>> On Apr 6, 2024, at 11:34 AM, Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! <
>> jonasa...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> “I’m tired of projects. Wrenching is fun but riding is better, and it 
>> was never my goal to be a collector of anything. So, instead of trying to 
>> make all these old bikes “like” the bike that I want, I’m just going to 
>> actually go and get what I want and then be done with it for awhile.”
>>
>>
>> This quote resonates. I hate to see collections of bikes. I love to see 
>> bikes that are actually RIDDEN. It’s such a pleasure to see the beausage 
>> and personalization on a well-loved bike (do you know Pam Murray yet?). Get 
>> what you want, ride off into the sunset and be delighted every darn day 
>> after.
>>
>> I know my answer is predictable, but I think you should consider the 
>> Platypus. I have 2 built and am waiting on super specialty parts for a 3rd. 
>> I have them all set up differently - they are not a collection; they are 
>> all used and loved and ridden. Well, not the unbuilt one, but it will be 
>> soon! They are so easy and so comfortable, and if you’ve never had a mixte 
>> frame you owe it to yourself to get one. They are so practical that I don’t 
>> know why everyone doesn’t have one. Want to load up the back rack and not 
>> kill yourself trying to mount the bike? Get a mixte. Want to be able to 
>> suddenly stop and jump off the bike, no big deal? Mixte. Want to look 
>> dapper and whimsical and romantic? Mixte. I’ve ridden mine on gravel rides. 
>> Paved rides. Club rides. Grocery rides. I run errands and shop and I have 
>> the best time. There are a million threads about the most famous of the 
>> mixtes, Pam’s Rivendell Betty Foy, which has 76k miles on it now and she 
>> has been everywhere with it. Planes, trains, overnights, camping, major US 
>> cities, middle of nowhere, you name it. I never get tired, it’s a bike I 
>> can ride forever.
>>
>> Get the mixte!
>> Leah
>>
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>>  
>> 
>> .
>>
>>

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Re: [RBW] Re: Soliciting opinions: help me pick the right Rivendell

[Pam Bikes]

Platypus mixte.  I have the Betty Foy and use it for everything.  As Steve 
can tell you, I think he likes his alot.  I'm in Charlotte and have a 
Cheviot you can try.  It's the predecessor to the Platypus so it'd give you 
an idea.  Everyone who tries the Cheviot says it's the most comfortable 
bike they've ridden.  I ride mine daily and even if I'm under biking 
sometimes, it's always up to the challenge.

On Saturday, April 6, 2024 at 1:49:25 PM UTC-4 steve...@gmail.com wrote:

> Another Platypus recommendation:
> [image: 4D7C22F7-27BF-4ACD-9875-E249DD1C4999_1_201_a.jpeg]
>
> On Saturday, April 6, 2024 at 11:35:40 AM UTC-4 Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! 
> wrote:
>
>> [image: image0.jpeg][image: image1.jpeg]
>>
>> On Apr 6, 2024, at 11:34 AM, Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! <
>> jonasa...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> “I’m tired of projects. Wrenching is fun but riding is better, and it 
>> was never my goal to be a collector of anything. So, instead of trying to 
>> make all these old bikes “like” the bike that I want, I’m just going to 
>> actually go and get what I want and then be done with it for awhile.”
>>
>>
>> This quote resonates. I hate to see collections of bikes. I love to see 
>> bikes that are actually RIDDEN. It’s such a pleasure to see the beausage 
>> and personalization on a well-loved bike (do you know Pam Murray yet?). Get 
>> what you want, ride off into the sunset and be delighted every darn day 
>> after.
>>
>> I know my answer is predictable, but I think you should consider the 
>> Platypus. I have 2 built and am waiting on super specialty parts for a 3rd. 
>> I have them all set up differently - they are not a collection; they are 
>> all used and loved and ridden. Well, not the unbuilt one, but it will be 
>> soon! They are so easy and so comfortable, and if you’ve never had a mixte 
>> frame you owe it to yourself to get one. They are so practical that I don’t 
>> know why everyone doesn’t have one. Want to load up the back rack and not 
>> kill yourself trying to mount the bike? Get a mixte. Want to be able to 
>> suddenly stop and jump off the bike, no big deal? Mixte. Want to look 
>> dapper and whimsical and romantic? Mixte. I’ve ridden mine on gravel rides. 
>> Paved rides. Club rides. Grocery rides. I run errands and shop and I have 
>> the best time. There are a million threads about the most famous of the 
>> mixtes, Pam’s Rivendell Betty Foy, which has 76k miles on it now and she 
>> has been everywhere with it. Planes, trains, overnights, camping, major US 
>> cities, middle of nowhere, you name it. I never get tired, it’s a bike I 
>> can ride forever.
>>
>> Get the mixte!
>> Leah
>>
>> -- 
>> 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/Dn8xs6KKAAA/unsubscribe
>> .
>> To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to 
>> rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com.
>> To view this discussion on the web visit 
>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/e850c117-0610-4bd1-87c1-3ed235b1a69dn%40googlegroups.com
>>  
>> 
>> .
>>
>>

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Re: [RBW] Re: Soliciting opinions: help me pick the right Rivendell

[Richard Rose]

I am curious about the specific nature of the trails you ride. Smooth dirt? Rocks & Roots? Lots of twists & turns? If pretty much innocuous I haven’t much to add to the conversation. But if the trails you ride get a little rowdy grab yourself a lugged Susie (or any Susie/Gus). Truly capable mtb’s and smooth as silk on pavement / gravel. Get yourself a second set of wheels reserved for dedicated pavement rides.Sent from my iPhoneOn Apr 6, 2024, at 8:58 AM, DavidP  wrote:"My ideal bike would be something that could ride 15-20 miles to the trail and then 10-15 more on the trail. And also manage chipotle, beer, and post office runs."That's about 60/40 pavement/trail, add in the errands and other stuff and it's more like 70/30.What tire size is ideal for the trails you are riding? What tire size is the minimum to enjoy them? I'd probably try to aim for something in the lower half of that range given the pavement/trail mix and desire for the bike to feel sporty.If the tire size is less than 2" then that opens up the Sam (48s w/o fenders). If you'd rather have something in the 2" - 2.25" range that's Appaloosa, Atlantis, Platypus territory. Larger than that Clem or Susie.-DaveOn Saturday, April 6, 2024 at 5:50:01 AM UTC-4 Ed Carolipio wrote:Sounds like you want the OG - the Atlantis. Here's Ron talking about his third Atlantis, which is also the bike he bent the Albatross for to create the Ortho bar:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_0qSPMps48The Sam is also a good alternative: shorter chainstays and a slightly lighter frame. I don't own one but people report it is a bit nimbler on the trails than the longer chainstay models.I'd exclude the Clem, the Susie/Gus, the Appaloosa, and the Platypus since IMO they won't work as well with bendy bars with their longish front-centers. I'd exclude the AHH, the Roadini, and the Roadeo since all take caliper brakes which limits the tire widths for off road or unpaved riding.Good luck and hope you find a bike (Riv or otherwise) that helps you with your bike journey.--Ed C.Redondo Beach, CAOn Friday, April 5, 2024 at 5:43:49 PM UTC-7 Bud Suttree wrote:Hi all,

Been enjoying these forums for a while now, with my first post I’d like to lean on the immense collective wisdom here and get some help with picking out the right Rivendell model. I’ve done quite a lot of personal research and spoken to Riv at least once but would like to open things up to the group for general discussion. 

Short sketch of my problem: I love bicycles, but haven’t enjoyed riding them in a long time. I have quite a few, and they all are unpleasant to ride for one reason or another. My priorities are, in descending order: comfort, performance (perceived), utility, price/aesthetics (tie), performance (actual), and at the end would be the ability to do any outer-boundary/end-of-spectrum type activity, riding across the country or racing crits, etc. My ideal bike would be something that could ride 15-20 miles to the trail and then 10-15 more on the trail. And also manage chipotle, beer, and post office runs. 

Every time I browse the Riv offerings I become convinced I need a different model. I’m thinking maybe the Atlantis would suit me, but I don’t necessarily love the double top tube, and I’d probably be between the 57 and 59. The Appaloosa seems pretty similar, but I’m not crazy about either of the current colors. Can’t say I can tell the difference between that one and the Sam, but I like the Sam aesthetic better. I’m also tempted by the gold Susie/Wolbis, but since I’ll be riding mostly around town, worry that it might not feel as agile as the bikes I’m use to riding do.

That’s the short version — would welcome any takes or opinions. 

Longer story:

Like the rest of you, I love bicycles. A substantial amount of my attention is given to them, day after day, in one way or another. Unfortunately, lately this has not translated into actually riding them very often. It’s a paradoxical state, induced by having too many (project) bikes, none of which I can tolerate to ride for more than half an hour. It’s mostly a comfort issue. FWIW, I am a not unhealthy late 20something male with probably poorish posture from desk-jockeying. I rode an aluminum Cannondale road bike daily for five years, crashed, broke some bones and swore it off for two, then entered this present cycle. 

Economic realities necessitate the need to flip bikes and parts to fund the passion. Maybe you think that’s a dirty trade; most are. I’ve had the good fortune to pick up an outrageously rare old school BMX bike for essentially nothing that should cover a very nice Rivendell build, and hopefully obviate the need to engage in as much cycling commerce. 

Along the way, I’ve acquired an interesting stable:

93 Bridgestone RB-1 and MB-2
Custom 90s Ciocc w/ Columbus EL and Chorus
93ish lugged Trek 990
1985 Trek 620

and a cache of interesting parts, so it’s not been for nothing, but I don’t like riding any of those bikes. Had (still have?) big