PLP Rivendell Shop Visit
#26
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“Their headquarters in Walnut Creek, California is hidden in plain site amongst capitalist squalor.”
Good description. In fact the few times a year when I go visit my financial guy I like to ride the short cut next to their building and then down the hill past the noodle house. I can cross Main street there and use the bike rack over that side. Then up the elevator to the money offices. I am surprised to see how much space they have now. Doesn’t look that big from the outside. I am glad to see they are thriving.
Good description. In fact the few times a year when I go visit my financial guy I like to ride the short cut next to their building and then down the hill past the noodle house. I can cross Main street there and use the bike rack over that side. Then up the elevator to the money offices. I am surprised to see how much space they have now. Doesn’t look that big from the outside. I am glad to see they are thriving.
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“Their headquarters in Walnut Creek, California is hidden in plain site amongst capitalist squalor.”
Good description. In fact the few times a year when I go visit my financial guy I like to ride the short cut next to their building and then down the hill past the noodle house. I can cross Main street there and use the bike rack over that side. Then up the elevator to the money offices. I am surprised to see how much space they have now. Doesn’t look that big from the outside. I am glad to see they are thriving.
Good description. In fact the few times a year when I go visit my financial guy I like to ride the short cut next to their building and then down the hill past the noodle house. I can cross Main street there and use the bike rack over that side. Then up the elevator to the money offices. I am surprised to see how much space they have now. Doesn’t look that big from the outside. I am glad to see they are thriving.

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I find Rivendell, Grant Petersen, and Path Less Pedaled a refreshing change from bicycle news and commentary that seems 95% devoted to racing.
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#29
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There's a whole lot I like about Grant and Rivendell, even if I don't subscribe 100% to their mantra. I've found that I can get by without full cycling kit and still enjoy riding, platform pedals work almost as well as clipless for me, and I don't feel ashamed riding with higher bars and fatter tires anymore.
S24O - In 2020, with no vaccines, I could still go out and camp overnight with a couple of friends - outdoors, socially distanced, and still enjoy it immensely. That's a brilliant idea.
S24O - In 2020, with no vaccines, I could still go out and camp overnight with a couple of friends - outdoors, socially distanced, and still enjoy it immensely. That's a brilliant idea.
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If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
Last edited by gugie; 03-09-22 at 06:05 PM.
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I made a reservation for my first S24O of the season—May 14-15. Harold Parker State Forest.
#31
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As long as it's no more than 40 miles from my house. Let me pull out a map.
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If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
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#32
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#33
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starting from Oregon
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If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
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#34
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I visited the shop once and met Grant and it/he's exactly like you'd expect. He's a nice guy who's into bikes...even though the bikes have gotten a bit weird in recent years..IMO. I also rode up Mt. Diablo and took the trails back to Walnut Creek...WOW! What a beautiful area and fantastic riding. If you are into Rivendell at all I think it's a trip that's worth taking.

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I used to do sub24s before I ever heard anyone talk about them. I just thought it was a way to go camping for essentially free. It was really nice to read Grant's book and find out I was not alone in some of my biking views. Having said this, there is almost nothing I can afford from Riv. My way of riding bikes of quality is riding old bikes. To that end this forum and it's members are priceless.
#36
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[QUOTE=Bogester;22434146]I visited the shop once and met Grant and it/he's exactly like you'd expect. He's a nice guy who's into bikes...even though the bikes have gotten a bit weird in recent years..IMO. I also rode up Mt. Diablo and took the trails back to Walnut Creek...WOW! What a beautiful area and fantastic riding. If you are into Rivendell at all I think it's a trip that's worth taking.
QUOTE]
If he offered the same thing, the place would be working out of one unit and possibly gone.
But they have gone on a tangent.
Velo Orange has also, satisfy a market slice then one better go looking for the next slice of pie.
QUOTE]
If he offered the same thing, the place would be working out of one unit and possibly gone.
But they have gone on a tangent.
Velo Orange has also, satisfy a market slice then one better go looking for the next slice of pie.
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#37
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They have several models of offbeat steel frame designs produced in Taiwan every year, among other stuff. Here's my brother's Clem Smith Jr.:

Rivendell Clem Smith Jr.
It's faster than it looks! I really like it.
https://www.rivbike.com/products

Rivendell Clem Smith Jr.
It's faster than it looks! I really like it.

https://www.rivbike.com/products
Last edited by Fredo76; 03-11-22 at 03:18 AM. Reason: add website
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#38
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Grant's a world class marketer. A little to woke for me, but enjoyable to read.
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I went there back in the 90's when they were just getting started. I did get a bunch of Mavic parts like a starfish crank. I did buy a RONA (Retrogrouches of North America) shirt.
#40
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Enjoyed the video. That's the Grant Petersen I've spoken with a few times. Yes, he's opinionated, but he has solid thought-out reasons for his opinions, but he is not shyster and he is not making this stuff up to sound good. He tells you what he thinks, but he is never insulting about it. He wouldn't mind changing the world but I don't think he has the slightest interest in running the world, or even your world, and he certainly will not object if you want to buy something from his world.
The thing that people overlook about him is that his ultimate his core message: buy and ride the bike you like because it does what you want it to do. Rivendell is about selling products to a cycling population that is not interested trying to ride a Tour de France bike. Most of Riv's current line of frames/bikes are not my cup of tea, with the exceptions of the Roadeo and the Roadini. But I'm glad Rivendell is there to offer a different, assumption-challenging perspective to the cycling world.
The thing that people overlook about him is that his ultimate his core message: buy and ride the bike you like because it does what you want it to do. Rivendell is about selling products to a cycling population that is not interested trying to ride a Tour de France bike. Most of Riv's current line of frames/bikes are not my cup of tea, with the exceptions of the Roadeo and the Roadini. But I'm glad Rivendell is there to offer a different, assumption-challenging perspective to the cycling world.
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