Erik Bassett is the founder and editor of Two Wheels Better. That, without a doubt, describes Rivendell bicycles. Other will run closer to $3,000 with comparable builds, and can easily go up from there. If that feels weird, just pretend youre the captain of a tandem with a really friendly stoker who likes playing Pattycake, Pattycake, Bakers Man with your buns. View their line here, or check out own very, very long-term review of the Brooklyn Franklin single-speed. Moreover, they are rust-resistant, which makes them lasting. There are no shortcuts, period. Theres no magic, but there is some unique and thoughtful design that almost nobody else seems inclined to replicate. And for bikes that use the older, tried-and-true alternatives, it really doesnt matter. They just sacrifice extensive and convenient adjustment for more stiffness than most riders need. 15 watching. The Surly Long Haul Trucker/Disc Trucker, along with several other modern and vintage brands, will also give a similar feel for potentially less money. This is the third installment of posts about putting together a touring bike starting with a bare frame. CRUST RIVENDELL TOURING. The Rivendell Atlantis is what we've always called an All-Rounder. As a result, the road bike is pretty fast on-road. Please keep the conversation civil, constructive, and inclusive, or your comment will be removed. m@ The only concern is that steel is heavier, and that makes Rivendell bicycles heavier than most. A Nitto Campee rack and, of course, a Wald basket finished the build and added a bit of utility to the bike. You also get to pick your preferred handlebar, stem, and even brakes. built by blue lug - blue lug customer's bike catalog / ! . Since the genesis of the term "ATB", it has been co-opted to mean drop bar bikes as well. QT(%D5-5}G83T;o l//6??fU3ng~+?8\mAI9}s"ngA]xo-Z%\{u3$fPm0vrl%Xz*H^eMUmNWv*G-gdAA!|oL0're;QtOau>EUw)aJ Ck\ *Q,^{}V!C AKA, riding on dirt, not pavement. Yet, the Hunq is arguably more modern. Rivendells also tend to hold their value better than mass-market bikes. They cost less for a reason. Rivendell Atlantis 2 Touring Bike - 2011, Large | The Pro's Closet Bikes For Sale / Gravel & Cyclocross Bikes / Rivendell Sorry, this Rivendell Atlantis 2 Touring Bike - 2011, Large has been sold. Their bike framesets are now drawing interest from all over the world. Handlebar: Nitto Noodle, 480mm, 4 flare, 95mm reach, 140mm drop, 26.0mm clamp diameter. Theyre getting easier to find brand new in bike shops, as well. Around 2008, the exchange rate shifted dramatically, and the Japanese-built Atlantis was going up in price 40 percent. Rivendell SAM Hillborne Bike 62cm Nitto Randoneur Gravel Touring 700C. (BMX Pedal Size Guide! And while I have yet to shatter any speed records or clip a pedal while carving a corner, I have no qualms about challenging its limits as the spirit moves. If you order the frame and its fork, they come with the seat post, headset, and bottom bracket, all valued at $120. So, if you are looking for a lightweight bike, Rivendell isnt the best brand for you. More recently, it comes in a disc option called (appropriately enough) the Disc Trucker. These bikes are also customizable, pedal-powered, versatile, comfortable, and safer. First off, its named after a rather unique breed of horse, then, they took their two most famous touring bikes, the Sam Hillborne and the Hunqapillar, combined them and made one bad-ass road touring bike. Led by bike legend, Grant Peterson, Rivendell is beginning to make more affordable yet incredibly stylish and high production value bikes which we're excited to sell. We believe the outdoors should be respected. After setting them up, I had to shoot a few more photos. Whether thats sufficient depends on what drew you to this brand in the first place. made in small bunches. Well choose one per week to feature in a Readers Rig Dispatch and on Instagram. On their website, the folks at Rivendell Bicycle Works proclaim that the Sam Hillborne is the bike that defines us more than any other.. Versatility Rivendell bills the Atlantis as a "do everything" bike. The Atlantis more than any other model is the one most-associated with us, because it was the first production model (since 1999?) Rivendell bikes are optimized for anything from a modestly to a very upright position. The frame and its fork cost $2,800, but it cost you up to $4,000-$5,400 to get the whole thing. Keep in mind that Rivendells are designed for traditional parts, which is terrific if you prefer things like quick-release axles, square-taper cranks, and rim brakes. ATB was used to denote a new, increasingly popular form of cycling at the time: off-road riding. As a result, Rivendell bicycles are worth what you pay for. Sadly, Rivendell doesnt employ suspension systems and disc brakes on their bikes. Each bike has a head badge, and the Hunq might be their best ever (Im biased!) And suspension is par for the course on mountain and crossover bikes, so the major brands have you covered there, too. This increases the standover height, and so you ride about 3 to 6cm smaller than youd ride if the bike had a level, or way less sloping top tube. As a member of programs including Amazon Associates, I earn from qualifying purchases. However, it had a stout quality that I would surely have appreciated with a heavy load, but couldnt quite get excited about when riding unladen. What steerer and handlebar clamp diameters will be the norm? And by durable, Rivendell means a bike good for 40 years. Get far enough out of Manhattan or downtown Cleveland so that you don't spend an inordinate proportion of your less-than-24-hour trip mixing it up with thick traffic. Though it might be weighing a little more than most trail bikes, it promises the most cushioned ride on trails. Despite its high weight, it climbs exceptionally well. A bit stouter than the Atlantis but with touring accouterment for the long haul. Decals are a little different, but I hope weve earned your trust there, and you can see the attachments. Since there is the option of customizing the frame according to your body size, you are guaranteed a bike that fits you. Bad for carrying through tight staircases and cramped apartments, but marvelous for everything else! The Atlantis comes only in Atlantis greenish blue, a Testors model paint color copying the inside of Russian submarines, a color to keep them calm. If you're not familiar with half-step, it's like this: Your rear cogs are spaced evenly say, 20 per- Most of these bikes also have a longer wheelbase for ultimate stability and cushy tires for a smoother ride. Classic bike parts like friction shifters and rim brakes and quill stems have worked awfully well for decades. Available in your choice of orange or blue, with cream head tube and accents, the Taiwan-built, lugged steel frameset is a bargain at $1,300, especially considering that the price includes headset, bottom bracket, and 26.8mm seatpost. These bars were made with the blessing of Tom Ritchey by Nitto for Rivendell using a modified sweep, rise, and width, differentiating them from Toms original design just enough to call it their own. Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh. Pedal-powered. $130.00 + $10.20 shipping. If thats the majority of your riding, then a more typical cyclocross or mountain frame may be a better choice. Rivendells are mechanical bikes. The road bike fits tires that are up to 36mm and generally requires brakes with a medium reach. (Wait for me on the hills, guys!) After some years of riding 650b rando bikes with fat tires (Soma Grand Randonneur with 48mm tires and Soma San Marcos with 42mm knobbies) and 26 vintage MTB conversions off-road (With a 650b Ritchey Ascent (disc!) 50cm Bridgestone MB-1 with Ritchey fork. Rivendell bikes are expensive but well worth their price for certain types of riders. Please, pack it in and pack it out. The manufacturer also employs quality quill stems that can handle stiffer terrains. Most manufacturers even have steel-framed touring and gravel bikes with disc brakes, so thats an easy criterion to satisfy. July 26, 2022, John's Rivendell Hunqapillar 29er Klunker-76, View Thumbnails Rivendell bikes are optimized for anything from a modestly to a very upright position. Back then, Tom made each of those bars by hand, and I was enamored with the set I had scored for the Tam. Though Rivendell bikes are costlier than most, theyve reliable frames and parts, user-friendly geometries, and beautiful retro designs. This is a used Sugino AT 175 mm length crankset. How To Be Safe On An Electric Scooter: 7 Easy Tips To Get Home In One Piece, Are Kick Scooters Good Exercise? Rivendell Bicycles are painstakingly conceived, engineered and manufactured using an age-old process of lugged steel construction. Bike orders will default to $250 to the lower 48. If you want a rim brake 29er, there arent that many options. Remember, I aint racing this bike. Those brakes were requested and many of the details were specified by us, and now it is one of Tektros best-selling brakes all over the world, said Petersen. As far as I can tell, the only objective manufacturing difference is more or fewer lugs. Handlebars - Rivendell Bicycle Works Handlebars Your pick of a handlebar has more to do with your position on the bike than just about any other part. Try these similar items: CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED Specialized CruX Comp Cyclocross Bike - 2021, 61cm $3,299.99 CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED to focus on bikes built for comfort rather than speed. Here's a parts list for you to reference if we're not able to build your bike for you. Cool rivendell style townie/do everything kinda build. Fortunately, their longevity and popularity has made them easy to find secondhand. Well, it means enough clearance, raised head tube, low bottom bracket, and extended chainstays. If I had to have one bike, this would be it. As you can imagine, a 62cm steel bike might be a bit too flexy for big tires, yet the double top tube stiffens up the ride. In fact, Rivendells have the longest chainstay lengths of any production bikes I know of. An Atlantis is as happy on the road as it is on fire trails, unloaded or heavily loaded. It allows (like on Sam) a 40mm tire and a fender, so its pretty fantastic that way.. In fact, Rivendell founder/owner Grant Petersen directly guided the design of a few of their models. ), Are Subrosa BMX Bikes Good Quality Brand? Signs of use but minimal shoe rub and graphics are still in tact. If you stick to roads and light loads, our roadish frames offer superb handling and are optimized for all day comfort. Ben, as I like to call him, is wintering in Tucson where I was spending my New Years with friends . Moreover, it comes in RBW Blue and metallic green color choices that are stylish and timeless. Bicycle Spokes, Specialized 58cm Frame Bikes, Phil Wood & Co. I still dont have the wide-range half-step drivetrain dialed to work as well as it did on 26 MTB conversions, even though Im now using a 210 front derailer. Cruiser, Klunker, ATB. The Roadeo is best for road racing, touring, road commuting, and casual riding around town. What disc brake mounting standard will prevail in five years? Youll get a weirdly light feel to the steering and perhaps a harsher feel in the back over bumps. Your email address will not be published. View Gallery, By: john watson If thats your thing, youll just have to do it to yourself. More here. I believe Brooklyn Bicycle comes the closest in ride quality, and is a terrific value. BIKEPACKING.com is dedicated to exploration by bicycle. Rivendell bikes are designed to be used hard and handed down for generations of riders. Hertz Ride - Motorcycle Rentals & Tours offers new motorcycle models in Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Austria, Slovenia, and the USA. And the Tektro R559 long-reach, dual-pivot calipers stopped me when stopping was called for. Lets take a closer look at the pros, cons, and ideal rider (if there is such a thing) for Rivendell bikes. Surly is one of those alternative brands that got so big you cant really call it an alternative anymore. As for the brakes, you have the option of going for v-brakes or cantilevers. Please, pack it in and pack it out. Those models share the signature long chainstays, extended top tube for swept-back bars, and tall head tube for (mostly) upright posture. Brooklyn Bicycle Co. was directly inspired by Rivendells city bike designs. As a result, these bikes can sustain huge weights without snapping, cracking, or denting. Copyright 2023 Two Wheels Better. A good bike should be strongly built, safe to ride, extra comfortable, versatile in application, and reliable. Every Rivendell frame is steel. There are plenty of other steel city bikes, several of which Ive owned or tested, but none match Brooklyns Rivendell-y-ness.. If your bike is selected, well need a total of five photos and a little bit more info. We will always stop for a photo, or to hit a jump. This road bike is made to order. He draws on three decades of cycling and scooter experience to help you find the right ride, incorporate it into daily life, and safely enjoy the journey. The Radavist is a group of individuals who share a love of cycling and the outdoors. You need to be logged in to use these features. When you follow our sizing guide, youll have the standover clearance you like.. The previous owner, Aron Dubois, a friend of mine, did an exceptional job with the build, centered around a Rivendell fillet-brazed Bullmoose bar. It also has disc brakes, if thats your thing. Two sets of bottle bosses; rack and fender mounts; cable stops on top tube, down tube, and right chainstay; pump peg; kickstand plate. Loaded on descents, this long wheelbase makes for a predictable and comfortable ride. It's an all-'rounder, originally designed for almost anything you'll need or want to do on a bicycle: loaded touring, trails, commutes, and day rides. If your actual shipping price is more, we will reach out to you for an additional payment. Rivendell bikes are expensive because of high-end craftsmanship, but if budget is a concern, some modern steel bikes are good alternatives, as are vintage touring and mountain bikes. HWCX`E$1{ZdjMO>hnyr' EO*$i~T;~[}K\xC>}N>SN{aCDjx.;}6;g>:p>5m*7?tp>fp099_{Yw}+sV*M_)Xg88R2Yyqu^SqZgH82>v^k (>C 0 )_y,;Rv7 Quantity. Then, thirty-odd years later, Grant Petersen of Bridgestone and Rivendell fame designed the Hunqapillar, a true-to-form Klunker. It has a longer wheelbase than most bikes to allow you to ride securely at high speed. Try these similar items: CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED Cervelo R5-CX Force eTap AXS Cyclocross Bike - 2022, 58cm $6,699.99 CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED But I like all those items because you never know when youll need them, so theyre staying right where they are. The classic has evolved, but its still, and obviously, an Atlantis. In most large cities, you can find a steel touring bike from the 1980s for $150-$300. Since the genesis of the term ATB, it has been co-opted to mean drop bar bikes as well. And even when the parts break, though its rare, they are generally easy to fix. All Rivendell bicycle frames go through a set of laboratory tests that are internationally certified. Ive also had the pleasure of seeing and trying others in person, and can make at least a few generalizations that you might find helpful.My former Quickbeam, in city bike mode. Sam wont do anything stupid to you. Painting the frames costs a pretty penny, too. Even new Rivendells have a way of selling out quickly. But the real differentiation, in my book, is their geometry. Timing Chain Rear Chain. (Obviously, the stem is related.) The manufacturer also claims not to be using carbon because its not safe. It is super strong and offers you the option of using upright handlebars or drop bar. "ATB" was used to denote a new, increasingly popular form of cycling at the time: "off-road" riding. 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Atlantis is as happy on the hills, guys! to the steering and perhaps a harsher feel the!, and is a used Sugino at 175 mm length crankset theres no,!