Touring - Rivendell Atlantis?

Why are the Rivendell Atlantis so "damn" handsome? ....Sam

cause they are that lovely aqua marine color that everyones eyes get drawn to haha

steve

Because actual artisans actually built the bike not some dam robot in China or where ever.

its that damn lime sherbert color, looks good enough to eat. Mmm, sherbert.

I think because it's a case of proportions being just right, graceful lines, elegent lugs. It looks classy. Most compact frames have an 'overgrown mt. bike look', and oversized tubes, despite being technically appropriate, just don't draw the eye like a good steel frame. This coming from some one who has a C-dale T800 with the headshok stem that looks in many ways like a huge mt. bike. (I love it dearly, but it is utiltarian, not elegent).

I don't usually wax about how a bike looks, being a form-follows-function sort of guy, but Rivs are just SO 'right' looking. It's the difference between a truly elegant beautiful woman and, oh, Brittney Spears.

Just my humble opinion,

Steve W.
Who has been described as Classically good looking... hey "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" is a classic, isn't it?

Actress Ann Archer, for me, would fall under that category... :)

Because they're like baby bear's chair. Thery are just right.

Actress Ann Archer, for me, would fall under that category... :)+1
;)

Because actual artisans actually built the bike not some dam robot in China or where ever.

Just the lugs are made in China / Taiwan.
The rest is japanese.

Most tig welded frames are made by actual artisans. There are welding machines of course, though probably not on the scale of touring frames. Anyway, the welds I see look hand made.

When I was a kid 30 years ago, lugged frames were assembled by jinormous robots, that simultanious jigged the whole frames while multiple torch heads heated the tubes, and slugs of brazing got sucked into the joints, How It's Made, some of the Canadian content we get on the Dicovery channel shows this process by some "modern" Can. plant. Lugs don't mean hand made.

It's a nice frame because it's a step up, but unless the geometry is perfect for you, I think you are getting taken. And that isn't pretty in my book.

It's retro!

I don't know, but I do lust for one.

I think they will be overshadowed by Bleriot's and Saluki's once 650B catches on. Grant's advocacy of the "new" tyre size is very strong.

Roberto

One of the very few things I dislike about Atlantii is the maker's pretensions attached to them. Frame pedigree, ne' pretense, exudes thru to the rider I think, and not just on Rivies.


Oooh, tall head tube, long chainstays, lugs, how novel.

I agree about the pretentions, though in another sense that's called adding value, at least for some people. And they do have a coherant philosophy, the aren't exactly the originators, but they are keeping the brit bike candle burning.

The Atlantis hits the mark when it comes to: looks, craftmanship, ride, affordability, alure. There may be other bikes that outshine the Atlanitis in any one of these catagories, but there are very few that can come close in all catagories.

I think the Surly is every bit as good, and a big jump forward in affordability, and I think the Urbanite has some features over each, though alure wouldn't compare since few people have yet heard of them.

Obviously the Surly trades a little rugged for refined, and maybe a little ride speed for toughness, but for the right person what is the problem with that? They definetly have an aura about them.

That is just the frame, Rivendell have a really good package of stuff in addition to the frame.

I can't tell from the pics on their site, do they have horizontal rear axle plates or vertical? It is starting to mater with the improvements in gear hubs.

Just the lugs are made in China / Taiwan.
The rest is japanese.

Where did you get that info at? The Rivendell site mentions nothing about lugs from China on their Atlantis bikes. BUT, even if thats true, the lugs would be custom made by artisans not stamped out by a machine.

Because actual artisans actually built the bike not some dam robot in China or where ever.Well you never know......Japan is known for using robots to build everything! :p :D

The Atlantis is braised by hand by a small frame shop called Toyo in Japan according to a recent Rivendell Reader.

The Atlantis is braised by hand by a small frame shop called Toyo in Japan according to a recent Rivendell Reader.Yes, that's what they say....... ;)

It is not only what they say, it's the truth. Toyo is a small shop not much unlike Teoi in Japan. They take great pride in their work even though it is considered mass production. "Mass hand production" would probably be a better term. But there is a lot of quality in their frames for the price. If you prefer something else then that's great. Not everyone drives a Toyota because many prefer something else. The Rivendells, Surlys, Somas, Gunnars, they are all good bikes and good buys. Make your pick by what fancies you and get out and ride. Should you decide on an Atlantis then you have made a wise choice. It's a great all around bicycle.

One of the very few things I dislike about Atlantii is the maker's pretensions attached to them. Frame pedigree, ne' pretense, exudes thru to the rider I think, and not just on Rivies.


Oooh, tall head tube, long chainstays, lugs, how novel.

You may be right about the Rivendell attitude, but at least they have been consistent over the years and offer an alternative to the 99% of all quality bikes on the market today. for those people who want tall head tubes, long chainstays, lugs, quality workmanship, etc. Rivs are a good option. what's so novel about most of the mass produced bikes on the market?

Where did you get that info at? The Rivendell site mentions nothing about lugs from China on their Atlantis bikes. BUT, even if thats true, the lugs would be custom made by artisans not stamped out by a machine.

It's true: the lugs ARE made by a company called long shen in Taiwan (alan and shirleyare
the owners..forgot their last name) which
Grant Peterson claims are among THE best quality lugs made anywhere in the world.

Cheers
joe

Investment cast golf club iron heads of pearless manufacture, as played on tour, finished shinny and ready to glue, with a big name athlete behind them (Palmer), at least as complex a product as a lug, cost 6-8 bucks each, retail. A lug is a hunk of cast metal, let's not float off to the moon.

Thought the OP was talking about looks.

Well I wouldn't let that stop me!

Form follows function. So while the Atlantis is beautiful, they also claim performance advantages to the particular format. If certain aspects were non-functional that would affect some of the claim for beauty.