Looking to get a long commuter and eventually touring bike. Heard good things about the trek 520 but also am hugely interested in the Rivendell bikes as they appear to be a nice handbuilt product. Rivendell is about a 1.5 hr. drive away vs. a local shop. Opinions/info. on these bikes?

Lots of money for a basic steel frame. The only real way you'll know if it's worth it is to ride one.

The Rivendell discussion is a huge can of worms. You're better off searching the forums for info on them rather than starting another debate here.

Anyway... for the cost of the more expensive Rivendell frames, you have almost endless possibilities from a range of custom builders. For example, Waterford and co-motion will both build you a bike (in this country) for the same or less money.


The Trek 520 is a solid bike. It has been joined recently by a number of lower-priced contenders.

- Surly Long Haul Trucker complete
- Raleigh Sojourn
- Jamis Aurora
- Novara Randonee
- Windsor Tourist

I would ride any of these bikes depending on my budget and required features.

Surlys and Somas are basic steel frames. Rivendells are made by a top frame shop in Japan. I wouldn't really call a handmade lugged frame "basic".

Rivendell is indeed a beautiful bike, but not magic. For instance, I think if you look at the Atlantis and compare it to a Surly Long Haul Trucker, you probably won't find the Atlantis to be twice the bike that the LHT is.

I love my Rivendells. My first one was a Rambouillet that I used for everything - commuting, double centuries, a self-supported twenty day tour of Nova Scotia. That bike can do it all. And if I could only have one bike, that would be it, since it will work for almost all the types of riding I do.

I've since added a Bridgestone MB1 that is my commuter and a Rivendell Legolas for doing double centuries.

If you can get to the shop in Walnut Creek, it's always fun to go and look what at what they've got. They'll let you test ride and you can decide for yourself.

Veronica

The Rivendell debate is indeed a can of worms.

The most contentious issue always seems to be; is it worth the price? I don't know. Some people say that an old Bridgestone is basically a Rivendell anyway. I'm rebuilding a japanese made lugged steel Centurion...and that frame was free.

Only you can decide, I suppose. Is it marketing, or is it really "worth it"?

Dang...does this make me a retro-grouch?

That depends...will you still talk to people who use brifters, or do you view them as a lesser and/or morally degraded species of cyclist?

does this apply to certain Bridgestone models, or all of them?

Mine isn't lugged, and it certainly isn't high end

what about the bridgestone 700? how is that bike rated around here? i just got one for $60

Just the lugged Bridgestones.

Unless I'm wrong, and please correct me if I am...Grant Peterson was the guy in charge of Bridgestone's North American division. His Rivendell bikes are direct descendents of those Bridgestone bikes...are they maybe even some old Bridgestone stock?

if you can get a custom bike from a reputablte buider for the same price of a "stock" frame, why not go custom?

unless you "fit" on one of his standard sizes perfectly for some reason.

for me, when i am ready to spend that much money, i am going custom.

a custom ti commuter frame sure would be sweet; and probably not much more $$$.

Gave my wife a Rivendell Bleriot last year. She loves it. Frame is about $700. What's your budget?

whew, thanks all for the feedback on the touring bike discussion (rivendell and trek 520). leaning towards trek as i have a local dealer here new info may take me sailing in other directions. thanks again.

8dollar

Eightdollar you said you lived 1 1/2 hour away from Rivendell. If you are coming from the north you might consider passing through Petaluma and visit the Bruce Gordon shop. I checked the Rivendell site and you can get one of his BLT tourers fully equipped for less then the list price for the least expensive complete Rivendell. If you need a bike purpose-built for heavy loaded touring that is. For light touring or garden variety commuting many of the other companies listed here are adequate and less expensive.

Do Bruce the favor of calling ahead if you are dropping by. www.bgcycles.com

PrincessZippy...thanks for that post. I'm not a "Rivendell hater"...but I do sometimes wonder about cost effectiveness, much like I said in an above post.

Your anecdote about your bike was a nice look at their business, and Mr. Peterson. I enjoyed reading it.

Custom is sometimes the only way to go if you have odd body geometry or quirky riding positioning. Most people can go with a stock frame and just switch out crank length, seat post, stem and bars, and they're good to go. Heck, I'm 6'6" and I was able to go stock on my new bike, with just a swap out of the stem to adjust the reach properly according to my fitting.

The big benefit to custom is being able to get precisely what you want. Do you like to stretch out? You can get a longer top tube and not have to throw a big long stem on there. Wide tire/fender clearance on a compact geometry frame? Yeah, you can do that. It's all about how much you have to spend on the build. A stock bike will typically last you a long time, but a custom bike really is an investment in your cycling comfort.

I never understood the polarizing effect that the mere mention of Rivendell causes. Some people seem to need to worship Riv like it's some kind of religion, other people harbor a burning hatred. I don't know why people can't just take it for what it is.

I think their bikes are beautiful (the Atlantis, in particular, is stunning), but they do charge a premium. If you have the extra dough to spend, I don't think you'd ever regret buying the Rivendell, but you might get more for your money elsewhere. When it came time to get my dream bike, the Atlantis was on my short list, and I also looked at the Bruce Gordon Rock n' Road, but eventually opted for a custom-built frame from Bilenky Cycle Works.

How much money are you comfortable commuting on?

I own three T700 Bridgestones. Two are 1985 year and one is 1988. So you could say they rate on the high side for me.
Ciao,
Timothy

thanks timothy. believe i just secured an 85.

this one was free... late 70's Centurion...sandblasted and powder coates..

Probably the best point raised.