FrenchFit 

Talk about a homegrown operation, yikes!

Nice people. Fun to see the bikes, Hillborne to Atlantis, up close and in person. What I was riding didn't quite blend in, but I felt welcome. I joked about wanting to see the "dumpster filled with carbon forks"; ... but apparently it wasn't around today. They had a good sense of humor.

If you are riding through Walnut Creek you should drop by. They have a nice clean bathroom too.

caloso

Did you buy any beeswax?

3alarmer 

When I saw the thread title, I thought you'd been dropped by a guy on a Rivendell.
I was feeling pretty bad for you....................

photogravity

That was exactly what I thought when I saw the thread title. It's nice they're so welcoming. Perchance, did you see Grant?

bjorke

BikeForums SO needs a "+1" button

FrenchFit 

Disambiguation! Dropped by pack of Rivendell riders - now that would be an experience to post about... I watched as the Rivendell pace line pulled away from me, those Teva sandals churning out a steady 60 rpm cadence, their pinstriped seersuckers flapping uniformingly in the wind, ...

GP wasn't around; on a beautiful Saturday morning let's hope he was out riding one of his Hunqapillars.

MetinUz

All stereotypes aside, Rivendell makes some nice bikes. On a recent 600K, there were 3 of us riding Rivendell's, a Romulus, a Ramboulllet, and a Homer Hilsen -- alas no seersuckers in sight.

FrenchFit 

No argument here. I hope GP lives long and prospers. More Rivendells on the road would be a positive thing as far as I'm concerned, they are beautiful to look at.

bikingshearer 

I happened by on Saturday, too, although it was after noon by the time I got there. GP was there by then. as were at least four other staffers. The place was hopping by R-dell standards. I rode over from Berkeley to pick up some of the Paul Thumbie thingies (going to use one to mount a third Shimano barcon on the handlebar of my tandem to work the drum drag brake), but sine I was on something the Rivendell folks could relate to (a 1978 Eisentraut), I got some props even with the Campy 10-speed Ergo drivetrain. Hey, I like Grant and Rivendell and think some of their ideas are great, but I am selective about my Kool-Aid consumption.

corwin1968

So did you ride any of the bikes? What were your impressions? I'm dying to get out there and try a couple of their bikes so I can decide whether to set my sights on one.

FrenchFit 

Not tempted, I have too many bikes...yes, it is possible.

The bikes were nice to look at, great looking workmanship, though it is a little confusing to me why if you want that a classic, vintage ride wouldn't you just buy a classic, vintage ride? Why buy something new that's designed to appear 30 years old? I suppose you're buying the hand craftmanship or refined geometry, modern components, etc., but...it seems anachronistic, PT Cruiser-ish. But, that's me.

I'd bet my '90 Voyaguer would smoke any of those bikes in load carrying ability and touring speed...but not in looks, craftmanship and comfort. + resale value

cccorlew

I always think I'll ride by, but then I realize I'm on a carbon bike and wearing lycra and chicken out.

bikingshearer 

Don't be such a baby. The rotten tomatoes don't sting much and wash right out.

blt

Never been to the store, and although I am selective about my Kool-Aid consumption, I am in tune with some of Grant's philosophies. The only thing that came from Grant that I own, however, is 28 years old and I still use it. His 1984 "Roads to Ride" book for the Bay Area.

I will still use it to help piece together routes and see how nasty some stretches of road will be. Yes, in the end I can get the basic information in the digital world, and arguably in better form, but there is nothing like browsing a book, looking at different stretches of road, and thinking, "Yeah, that road looks like it would be fun as part of a route I'd like to take," or thinking, "That road seems more brutal than I really want for that ride, I think I'll go a different way," or "Oh yeah, I need to ride that road again."

Of course, some descriptions have sadly gone out of date. Dougherty Rd. in Dublin was on of Grant's favorite roads, if I were at home I'd pull out the description, but basically it was a pleasant, bucolic road pretty much from 580 to Crow Canyon. The first time I rode it in 1991, it was already starting to be lost to development. Now, IMO it is at best a utility road, developed virtually the whole way. On the other hand, most roads in the book haven't really changed character. Morgan Territory? Just the same. Mines Road? Except that 14 Mile Ranch isn't a place to stop anymore, it is pretty much the same. Yes, one more advantage of the book, it is a time machine that reminds me of the way things used to be, and how some things have changed, some haven't.

cccorlew

I too have that book, which I bought new. I enjoy the out of date parts the most. Lone Tree in Antioch is an unrideable four-lane nightmare. Grant, writing in the 80s calls it something like a pleasant out of the way farm road.

I'm also pretty sure that McEwen out of Port Costa is more steep than he says it is. At least it feels that way to me!

I wonder if I took it by (I'll ride my steel bike) if he's sign it.

fat_bike_nut

I went to Rivendell at the beginning of April. Of course, I didn't have either of my bikes with me. I took the BART train from San Francisco

They're nice enough to let you test ride all sorts of bikes while pointing out good nearby paths/trails to test them on.

shiftless

I have found Rivendells to be an aquired taste.You have to love the beauty of lugged steel.Also go for ride with Mark if you can.I have found his Rivs to be anything but slow.

PrincessZippy

Grant is no slowpoke on the road either.

As far as touring capacity - I did a three week self supported tour of Nova Scotia on my Rambouillet, towing a Bob Trailer. My speed was a bit limited by the 50 pounds I was carrying behind me.

Before I started doing tris, I use to commute on my Riv as well. I know I could carry all my large teacher textbooks in the wicked huge bag I had on the rear rack. Never weighed it, but I'm sure it was heavy.

I've never quite understood the vehement and strident derision some folks seem to have for Riv. and Grant's ideas. So he has a different opinion, so what? He rides and creates what works for him. My current most used bike is a Cervelo S3 with race wheels on it. And I'm not afraid to show up at Riv on that.

Veronica

bikingshearer 

I, too, am amused by anti-Riv rants one sometimes sees. The main message Riv/GP have always espoused is to think about what you need and want in a bike and ride that, as opposed to ridng something because the Euroracers ride it. They make a case for what they think will improve the riding experience for a goodly number of people. Some of what they talk about (frame sizing, bikes that can accommodate larger tires and fenders, getting stems higher, the joys of lugged steel) I agree with in whole or in large part. The idea that you do not have to wear lycra or fancy shoes to ride is one worth airing, even though I almost always ride in lycra and fancy shoes. Some of what they advocate is, I think, a tad silly (toe clips & straps, or even simple platform or quill pedals, beat clipless - I think that is just crazy talk).

But they mainly advocate getting gear that makes sense for the kind of riding you like to do and getting stuff that will last and can be serviced. How on earth can that be a bad thing?

As for showing up at Riv on your Cervelo, they wouldn't blink an eye. But if you rode up on your Rambo with the book bag, they would most decidedly notice. Either way, they will be helpful and friendly.

cccorlew

Is it just because you are grandfathered in, what with owning a Riv already? And when you ride the S3, do they talk to you?

PrincessZippy

I've never actually ridden it in. But yeah, I can't imagine them being unpleasant.

They have always been very friendly and just want people to ride. Mark worked super hard on the build of my Legolas (yes, I have two Rivendells AND a Cervelo ) to get me the mountain goat gearing I wanted on a compact double.

Veronica

ricebowl

I can get with the message. It's the delivery that needs work . He plays the heel (WWF reference) purposely. In Grant's book intro he says "I'm not as mean or judgemental as I seem in this book." That sums up grant and some of his fans to me, they seem mean and judgmental and I'm the target audience. No one gives salsa or surly any flack when they're selling similar ideas.

I don't want to deal with snooty retro-grouches any more than I want to deal with snooty racers.

New Yorker

I agree. They sound very much like the diatribes I read about Apple products. In both words and tone. I wonder why.

PrincessZippy

LOL - I'm definitely PC. But I know it's because that's what I use and have always used. It's kind of like the SRAM, Shimano, Campy debate. One of my bikes has SRAM, the other other two have bar end friction shifters. When we travel we often rent bikes, and they usually have Shimano. I don't find it weird switching between, and I can't say that one is better than the other. I just like to ride bikes.

Of course I've never ridden a bike with Campy...

Veronica

bikingshearer 

Campy is better, damn it. Much, much better. Anyone who uses Shimano or SRAM or Huret or Sachs or Sturmey-Archer or anything else is just a brainwashed sheep mindlessly following what the mainstream press is shoving down your throat.

Translation: I use Campy and I like it. It works for me. If you tried it, you'd probably like it, too. But the other stuff works well, too.