Rivendell Bike; Good for commuting?
01-05-13, 04:54 PM
#26
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If your bike is worth more than $800, only a fool would have it locked up for hours in big theft areas like Portland.
01-05-13, 05:15 PM
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My sarcasm seems to bury my message, unfortunately.
I reiterate the question: Why would anybody ride something like this for a 30 mile commute merely to disuade someone else enough that they won't consider stealing it?
I'm going to say again - it seems like if you're going to make the ride unfriendly - then you're both reinforcing the argument against commuting by bike and/or proving we're masochists. I only ride a crappy bike because I'm too poor to ride something I would enjoy (at the moment). Status quo will change when I can afford a nicer bike. That nicer bike will not be something I hate, or I would spend the money on a car I would enjoy - but that could be stolen too; I'll spend the money by leaving it in savings so the banks can use it to give a loan to the guy who will buy a car or bike he wants to make money off my money. That's much more appealing to me. (see my point)?
01-05-13, 07:12 PM
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Why would anybody ride something like this for a 30 mile commute ...
01-05-13, 07:17 PM
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I ride a crappy bike right now for commuting and I hate it. I hate the bike and probably would give it to someone to steal if I had a better bike. I'm not sure what world people live in that they figure they'll enjoy the fruits of their labor some other time.
If you want something and can afford it and choose not to get it simply because someone might steal it - you're already allowing yourself to be victimized. Figure out a way that you can have what you want and keep it secure. If you're going to get a Rivendell - then put in the effort (as some suggested) to make sure you can lock it and do the things that are necessary to keep it.
Or you can do what people suggest and buy the worst riding, most painful bike you could possibly find and ride it to keep the boogie man away.
Also, don't buy a nice house, because nice houses draw the unwanted attention of thieves. Instead, live in a cardboard box - nobody wants a cardboard box - so you're sure to be safer there.
(strawman, but still valid).
I seriously hate the saying, but you only do live once, why would you live in a way that you didn't want to remember?
If you want something and can afford it and choose not to get it simply because someone might steal it - you're already allowing yourself to be victimized. Figure out a way that you can have what you want and keep it secure. If you're going to get a Rivendell - then put in the effort (as some suggested) to make sure you can lock it and do the things that are necessary to keep it.
Or you can do what people suggest and buy the worst riding, most painful bike you could possibly find and ride it to keep the boogie man away.
Also, don't buy a nice house, because nice houses draw the unwanted attention of thieves. Instead, live in a cardboard box - nobody wants a cardboard box - so you're sure to be safer there.
(strawman, but still valid).
I seriously hate the saying, but you only do live once, why would you live in a way that you didn't want to remember?
All that said, if I had $3000 budgeted for a touring or commuting bike - or for a rigid MTB - I think Rivendell would be pretty high up on my short list.
01-05-13, 07:25 PM
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Rivendell bikes are a favorite of knowledgeable bike thieves, although I've heard that Rivendell has a stealth version available.
01-05-13, 07:48 PM
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You are correct to a point. My argument, for one, was not against the Rivendell, or for $79 Xmart bikes, but for $800-$1200 hybrids, which will perform 99% as well as a Rivendell (or 100%) but doe not have quite the same attention paid to style. You are paying a lot for an intangible 'niceness' that makes little-to-no difference when you are riding and not looking at the bike.
All that said, if I had $3000 budgeted for a touring or commuting bike - or for a rigid MTB - I think Rivendell would be pretty high up on my short list.
All that said, if I had $3000 budgeted for a touring or commuting bike - or for a rigid MTB - I think Rivendell would be pretty high up on my short list.
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01-05-13, 08:04 PM
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This is good. There's a whole slew of mid-priced machines available from companies like Trek, Cannondale, Giant etc. that are high enough quality that they are a joy to ride and a joy to commute on. But they're way down the list on bikes that thieves would be after. For my daily trips to the Kmart or the library or the post office, my cheap ($420) Giant Escape is great. Although not a Rivendell, it is worlds better than a BSO
But the point (and OP's question) was not - what substitution, albeit nice, would you accept to commute on. It was simply would you commute on your dream bike if it was feasible? Unless I read it wrong - which is entirely possible.
For me, I'd say that I would agree with you, to a point. I spend an awful lot of time on my bike - enough time that I want to smile with bugs in my teeth after the ride, every ride. While I know any bike could produce that experience, I'm just enough of a snob to say the bike I want to ride is the one worth owning (and riding daily).
