I don't understand the Riv hate. Its not like Rivendell is the walmart of bicycles, pushing the industry in an unsavoury direction.

I am a bit puzzled by some of their Quixotic business practices, but that is the luxury of being a small single proprietorship, you can run it any way you want. Its also part of their charm. Its cool to see a business pushing things like 650B wheel and wool clothing. It makes the whole bicycle culture richer.

I like picking up the Reader and reading about horseshoes and manual typewriters. It obviously can't help them sell bikes, they write about things s like that out of interest.

I agree with their core values, like steel frames, and non-plastic clothing.

The bicycle industry is diverse and you can get similar products cheaper from other vendors like surly and urbane, but riv helps create the demand for such products.

I agree they are expensive "boutique" bikes, but nobody is forcing anybody to buy them.

I own a GB hatchet that I bought from Lee Valley. Its great for splitting kindling. GB also sell a double headed throwing axe-it looks like something out of The Lord of the Rings. I wonder who buys them?