Doohickie

Iconoclast!

irwin7638

I love Rivendell threads, so many people want to tell GP how he should run his business. I work with small business owners (not Riv)every day as an advisor and all of them take the risk to do things as they want to do them. That being said, I have had nothing but great experiences with their products or employees. I was ready to buy a Yves Gomez from them but had a 700c wheelset chosen which would "probably not work with my size frame" They were cordial, and did not want to sell me the wrong product to make a sale(more than I can say for most LBS). I recently ordered a Hunqapillar because it fits my needs and more importantly my build perfectly. I don't see anything unattractive about it and I am looking forward getting it in the next few weeks.

Sixty Fiver

Rivendell makes a nice bike... that is undeniable.

I've seen them, groped them, and talked to their owners and we have more in common than we don't because we like classic designs, comfortable frames, and good quality components.

But they aren't the only kid on the block and there are many builders out there making bikes that are every bit as nice at a price that is comparable.

If I was to buy a Rivendell I would buy a Waterford made bicycle and pay the little extra money just to keep my money a little closer to home.

But I don't have to... because I have a frame building shop in my back yard.

surreal

couldn't resist; i have to deny it, b/c they outsource every frame they make. Even if you get the custom, it's made by Nobilette (which is a good thing, fwih.)

-rob

clasher

Yeah, I guess kijiji is where more people go these days. I should sift through it more often, thanks for the heads-up.

Doohickie

Kijiji hasn't caught on yet here. It looks like Kitchener CL on ours.

jet sanchEz

No problem, good hunting! I am in Toronto and notice that the bikes outside of the GTA are far far cheaper. You are at a huge advantage if you search the Guelph, London, Barrie and Kitchener Kijijis. I wouldn't drive out there myself for a bike but for a cheap De Rosa or a Battaglin, it is worth it

oldbobcat

I like it too. If I needed a touring bike I'd rather have one just like yours.

To me, this is more classic than anything in the Rivendell catalog. Rivendell takes whatever was goofy about touring bikes in the '70s and makes them goofier.

Grand Bois

You really have to see them in person to fully appreciate the quality of the paint and frame details.

ScottRyder 

My Blériot was incredible, I wish I hadn't sold it .. It handled beautifully, especially with a lot of weight.

Scott

surreal

How much variability is there between the various builders who supply rivendell? The only one i ever saw truly up close and personal was an atlantis, which i suspect was a toyo-built early version. (i can't recall, but this was at least 4 years ago, and it was a few years old then; i don't know when they switched to waterford.) The bike i'd tuned-up was very well-finished, looked very nice. But how does a hillborne compare to a hilsen? What, aside from the brake options, separates the hilsen from the hillborne? They're both made by waterford by some sort of unidentified steel, and designed for all-purpose riding with 40mm-ish tires. The hilsen has heat-treated steel, and fancier lugs. Does that really set ya back an extra $750?

Yes, there's been a lot of hatin' on this thread so far, but i personally do find the company intriguing, not so much the products themselves, but the copy, the personality, and the typical buyers are fascinating...

-rob

Veloria

I have seen pretty much all the models in person, except for the latest Hunqapillar and Roadeo. Lots of people ride them around Boston, plus my local Harris Cyclery stocks some models.

To answer your question:

. The Hillborne has slightly thicker tubing (halfway between Hilsen and Atlantis)
. The Hillborne has a slightly sloping top tube, whereas the Hilsen's is straight
. As you've already said, the brakes
. The Hillborne has somewhat simpler lugwork and single colour paint; whereas the Hilsen has 2-tone paint
. Until recently, the Hillborne was made only in Taiwan (and cost $1000), whereas the Hilsen has always been made in the USA

The reasons most people would get the Hillsen and not the Hillborne, are probably that they prefer the more classic look of the straight top tube and the fact that it's always been US-made.

newenglandbike

AFAIK both the Hillborne and the Atlantis use 9/6/9 tubing, but the Hillborne tubes are not heat-treated like on the Atlantis. The AHH used to be made by Toyo or Waterford at first (back in '06-'08ish), then only Toyo, and recently is only made at Waterford.

As far as differences here is what I understand

AHH

• 8/5/8 tubing TT and DT, depending on size (bigger sizes have thicker wall)
• heat-treated Reynolds 725
• silver-brazed
• windowed-paint scheme
• more rack mount points, i think

Hillborne

• 9/6/9 tubing TT and DT, non heat-treated
• brass-brazed
• single color paint w/top-mount decals

I too have seen the SH in person and they are damn nice IMHO.

sisddwg

You nailed it Snake. Agree completely.

VaMoots

Because if you read the description of the Roadeo on Rivendells site you will see it's built to their specs. Room for wide tires etc. I'd love one but can't really justify it.
They sell several frames that typical readers of this forum would like so I don't know what some of you are talking about. I get the distinct impression you don't really know what they sell but are opining anyway.
Their component prices are high. I bought a Brooks B17 for $80 and they charge $120. I understand why they charge more but I can't convince myself to spend $40 more just to support them. Sorry about that. Same with some of the other things they sell. I have not found them good about answering emails.
Anyway I'm glad they are around.

jstewse

I agree VaMoots, while I can't pay the premium on somethings they offer, they do have some unique items and I'm certainly glad that they're around.
Not everyone can scour local CL, forums, etc looking for vintage bikes for yard sale prices and bring them back to their workshops and overhaul them into nice riding and functioning bicycles, that's what we do. I think their their view and influence on cycling is a good one to have around, whether or not I personally am willing to dish out 2k for one of their bicycles. I'd rather see someone pay that for one of their bikes than go to a bike shop and get fitted for a modern race oriented bike and pay the same price.

oldbobcat

I concur that the paint and workmanship are beautiful, but the newer designs make me think of how a Specialized Roubaix would look had it been made in 1980.

Hey, that's why we have choice. I'd prefer a real 1980 touring bike. And if I wanted a new bike made in the old style, I'd call Richard Sachs.

KonAaron Snake 

I don't disagree with the principle at all, but for a Sachs you're going to wait years, and I don't think he's even taking new customers. Maybe go with Bilenky.

mattface 

Tire clearance is 32c actually with fenders, the same as The Waterford ST22 frames. If I ordered the ST-22, it would cost me $150 more for a frame that was custom made to my measurements. I would prefer that to one that was "built to Rivendell's specs".

True the Roadeo is aesthetically fancier than the base ST-22, but I personally would prefer a bike that fits better to one that is prettier, and I could have the Waterford bike in any color I want. If fancy was really a high priority, I could get any combination of custom lug work, or custom paint my heart desires for an upcharge, but for the money, I'd personally choose the base Waterford over the Roadeo.

Don't get me wrong I like the Roadeo. I just do not like it anywhere near $2000 worth. For that price I see plenty of other things I like a lot more. I love the old Bridgestones, especially the XO-1, but there' is nothing magic about Grant's designs. He's charging custom prices for off the rack production frames. I'm not saying he should change his business model. He's got a following who will pay what he asks. More power to him. Some people would choose his frames for aesthetic reasons, or perhaps for branding reasons, but for me, I see plenty of better values out there for the money.

gitarzan

The few small items I have bought at rivbike.com have a high mark up.

Further post-purchase research has proved that I could have bought the same items for fraction of the price elsewhere.

They can charge what they want for their accessories, and conversely I can buy where I want.

But retail prices online are not what it takes to keep my consumptive loyalty.

surreal

If you wanted fancy, at current exchange rates, 2 grand gets a vincitore special in 853, with custom geometry. I wonder if ppl don't buy rivendels, in part, for the smug-factor. but how can one feel smug to know that s/he has overpaid?

-rob

rekmeyata

Wow, sort of a strange post. There are a lot of "old" style custom builders out there that don't charge an arm and a leg like Sachs. Mercian is one superbe example of old world craftsmanship, in fact older craftsmanship then Sachs! I have the Mercian Vincitore and it's a superbe machine that looks gorgeous, and shows the superior workmanship that is difficult to find today. And like I said earlier, I got a lot of custom stuff done on it that Rivendell could not do; it's also a true touring bike as well especially after I got done with the customization.

I also just bought this Saturday a mint, and I mean it looks like it just got purchased from the LBS on Saturday, a very lightly used (150miles) 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe for $100. I haven't had the chance to ride it due to snow but it looks like a very sturdy bike.

I decided to buy an cheaper touring bike to tour on instead of the Mercian because the Mercian is so nice to look at I didn't want to ruin it touring...weird huh?

TimeTravel_0

call richard sachs? you realize that his waiting list is 7 years long, right?

anyways...this bike rules:

illwafer

lmao.

NormanF

Grant Petersen really came up the entire Bridgestone cult series. He and the company had a parting of ways so he went on to found Rivendell, where he could pretty much make the kind of bikes he wanted without having to answer to someone else.

They are definitely uniquely and and have a very classic feel to them.