Well, an update. I received the frame and it instantly made me feel like an idiot for starting this thread. My god, the thing is gorgeous. Who cares about the Riv-associated lifestyle brand. If Grant can make bikes this beautiful and well crafted, he can talk about hatchets all he wants.

But the story doesn’t have a happily ever after ending, unfortunately. The frame has crash damage—small downtube ripple—that the seller didn’t know about (he’s the second owner), and he’s kindly agreed to take it back. It was not a little devastating, because the thing is so freaking nice. Now I only hope another Riv falls into my lap one day...