mrv 

howdy frame builders
I'm kicking around the idea of selling several of my bikes and ordering up one of the new Rivendell Sam Clems.
I think the only way I'd get my wife to agree is if I got rid of some bikes.
The bikes that would be going are a Trek 1400 (1994, I think); a Specialized TourHopper (maybe 1990?); an '85 Nishiki I've turned into another Asian-Modification (and it's not quite done yet). I've got a '92 Schwinn Paramount that would be my speedy club bike after the Trek is gone.

First question: any opinions on the few images of the Sam Clem as shown on the Riv-site so far? The rear triangle looks different. It's some kind of trade off for the seat lug they wanted and the chain stay length they wanted.
Second: If I've got a RockHopper, I'm not far from the Sam Clem (26in wheel vs. 29in wheel is the big difference, I think). So am I gaining much? I'm gaining 'new', which I've had a bug for for a while.
Third: I'm assuming if I get the Sam Clem I'm getting a Taiwanese built bike, and getting rid of two Taiwanese built bikes and a made in the USA bike. Am I better off waiting longer to get a USA made custom bike? Something along the lines of a Harvey Cycle Works bike? Which is where I'd ultimately like to end up anyway, when I've got one out of college and one about halfway through (2~3 years from now).

Any insight and/or wisdom is appreciated.

unterhausen

My guess is that the rivendell has bent seat stays because that's what they wanted. I don't recognize that seat lug right off the bat, but I suspect the angle of the seat stay connections can easily be changed.

As far as if you would be better off with a custom bike vs. a stock bike, it really depends on if you can get what you want with the stock bike and how well it fits.

Andrew R Stewart 

The photos of your old bikes show very high bar heights WRT seats. Make sure that your fit on the Riv will work out. I do like the many braze ons of the Riv. There is so much difference between your old bikes that, as Eric said, you might define your wants better and then see how your old bikes fail to fit that bill. But maybe you've already done that and we don't know. Andy.

mrv 

The Trek and the Specialized got bar and shifter changes this winter. Trek went DT shifters, the Specialized went to Rando bars and bar end shifters. The weather is just now permitting some riding, so I'm getting the new bars dialed in to where I'm comfortable. I'll be lowering the Trek bars a bit. I'm starting off close to level with the seat.

The Nishiki got -re-disassembled so I could spray some white panels over the powder coat. I'll be building it up tomorrow - hopefully a maiden voyage next week. It does have a super tall Technonomic on it. I'm wanting it comfortable for touring and commuting.

Thinking of want I want from a bike - commuting, touring - dirt road touring. Probably not off road touring. I 'think' I want a shorter top tube than the Specialized. Seems like a long reach, and I've got Neanderthal arms already.

Thanks for the feedback!

BotSpanx

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Smudgemo

Have you called Riv and talked to them about the bike you are interested in? I'd suggest you talk to Keven or Vince and see what you get. Both are super-nice guys and answer these sorts of questions all the time.
-Ryan

bikemig 

$700 is inexpensive for a Rivendell. A little odd that the Clem comes in only 3 sizes at 7 cm increments. No doubt that saves money for Rivendell since there are fewer sizes to stock though. I like the different wheel sizes in all 3 models (26 inch, 650b and 29er). I'm interested in the bike.

I know Grant Peterson had an article somewhere where he said that the best bike is an old mtb repurposed to be a road bike. This looks like something along those lines.

Urban Velo - Bicycle Culture on the Skids

BLUG ? Clem Smith Jr. ?xplanation

A vintage mtb is probably the most versatile bike out there and this looks like a modern reincarnation of one of those bikes. Interesting. I know I really like the drop bar conversion I did of my specialized stumpjumper comp.

unterhausen

thanks for the link to the blog post explaining this weird frame. I'm surprised that helps save money, although the seat stay/seat tube joint seems to cause a lot of problems in production frames and this avoids that altogether.

fietsbob

Tom Richey did that too . it flexes a Bit reducing a smidgen of road shock ..

mrv 

Thanks for the advice.
I'll drop a note to the Rivendell folks and ask a few questions and ask about the dimensions. I'm a fan of their biking philosophy now I'm not longer trying to kill my self (and my marriage) with training for racing.

I'm still adjusting the bars a bit on the RockHopper:
Drop Bar Conversion
(i think my camera's bust, the left side of the image is blurry.... or the lens could have been sweaty)
Finally got out for a couple of hours this Saturday.

Made in the USA is important to me, I work for a car company. But we do build cars north and south of the borders.
More important than MUSA is staying married. $700 vs. $2500 - I'd need to catch my wife in a good mood to get the Quiring Cycles (made in Michigan!) or the harveycycleworks (made a few hours south in Indi).
- AND MUSA supports yous-guys, building frames and bikes.

For the Sam Clem, I have a couple of months at the $700 price to think things over. That'll give me time to contact Rivendell and ride the bikes I have with the updates.