Originally Posted by markwebb
The Rivendell bikes look good, and I love the Rivendell philosophy to cycling, but their prices are just too high. Mercian makes a hand-built traditionally-lugged frame that is just drop-dead beautiful for a lot less. You can get them custom made, but they also have a large in-stock inventory, too. I paid less than $1K shipped for my Mercian frame with a Campy headset and Campy dropouts, and it is much better built than a Rivendell. I've been on rides and ridden with Rivendell owners, and when we compare bikes the British Rivendell wins hands-down. I love the whole Rivendell thing and I like their bikes, but with Rivendell you're buying the name at a higher price than what it's really worth.
I grew up with Britrish bikes (Mercian, Jack Taylor and Bob Jackson) and the way I ride is very influenced by the old British cycle touring tradition of putting a saddlebag on the back and enjoying a day out on a lugged bike. So now that I find myself in the USA I'm a fan of Riv bikes and own a Rambouillet and a Quickbeam and they are the most comfortable bikes I've ever ridden, they high handlebar positon promoted by the Rivendell bikes is the way to go for comfort.
People seem to be fixated on Rivendells as being expensive, well some are and some are mid priced. My Quickbeam cost $1400 for the entire bike, admitidly its a singlespeed (well 4 gears actually), but for such a nice lugged frame bike I think its reasonable. And Rivendell now offers the Bleriot frame for $800 which with its 650b wheels would make for a great touring bike.
Comparing Mercians with Rivendells is interesting, is the quality of the finish different, I know the lugs on a Mercian are a lot fancier and the paintwork can be very intricate, but how does the construction campare. Actually I find the finish (lugs and paintwoirk) on Mercians to be a bit over the top, not Hetchins garish, but too jus too fussy. I like the simpler lugs and paintwork on the Rivendells