What is the point of the randomly overbuilt frame? And the price? I mean seriously, I know rivendell tries to sell road-ish bikes that can fit large tires, are durable, etc... but IMO you'd have to be the grouchiest of retrogrouches to pick a rivendell over this for example:
http://www.westernbikeworks.com/prod...yclocross-bike
Light, strong, stiff, fits huge tires, way cheaper