particleman42

I'm all but sold on the rivendell atlantis. My only issue is I really don't like the color. What issues might be caused by my decision to have the frame painted or powder coated? I don't know much about painting a bike frame but my understanding is that powder coating is much more durable than paint. What factors should be considered when deciding between paint and powder coat?

Dr.Deltron

COLOR!
If a solid color will do, then powdercoat.
If you want metallic/pearl colored PC, it should be cleared. Either with a clear PC or quality automotive clear paint.

You can do 2nd colors or artwork with automotive paints/clears OVER a powdercoat base color.

PRICE!
Even a color/clear in PC is probably going to be cheaper than a paint job.

Check with Rivedell and see if their frames are powdercoated or painted.
If PC, you can do whatever you want right over it.
If PAINT, you will have to use paint OR strip the paint & go PC.

Barabaika

Rivendell says it can be repainted.
https://www.rivbike.com/bikes/atlantis

particleman42

Fortunately there is a Rivendell dealer a few blocks from my house. They've got my size frame in stock so no waiting and no way for Rivendell to decide they don't approve of my color choice.

I just checked with the dealer and he says they come from the factory painted, not powder coated.

skookum

The Atlantis has nice details on the lugs that would be obscured by a one colour powder coat.

Its your bike, do what you want.

Nermal

Somehow, an additional $200.00 for a different color sounds a bit steep. It's not as though they had to strip the bike and remove the old paint, and do additional prep work.

carlton

I believe Joe Bell paints it.

cs1

$200 is cheap for new paint. The Atlantis is made in Japan and they all come painted that same color. Having just one bike a different color would in fact be a custom order. IMO, just stick with the stock paint or go the Rivendell custom route. Good luck they are wonderful bikes.

Tim

Retro Grouch 

Makes me long for poor old Burley. You used to be able to buy any Burley bike in any Burley color for a $30.00 upcharge. The only catch was that you had to wait until they were painting using the color you want which was generally only a week or so. (Sigh.)

Garandman

I has an old Trek frame powdercoated - they applied a clear coat over the red. Going rate including media blasting to remove the old finish was $100 - $125.

particleman42

After learning that to have it powder coated I'd have to go with one solid color I'm leaning heavily towards painting it so that I don't lose the detail of those beautiful lugs. I dunno if $200 is a good price for a nice paint job but it seems expensive. If I go through with this I'll have it painted locally so maybe I can get a better deal in town.

Retro Grouch 

So how much are you paying fror the whole bike? How long do you visualize yourself using it as your main bike? $200 not to have to puke every time that you get on it sounds like a pretty good deal to me.

I'm sure there are cheaper paint jobs but why buy a high dollar bike and then hide it under a bargain basement paint? A year from now you will have forgotten what you bought with the money that you saved but you'll still have the bike. Will you still be happy with your decision.

MKahrl

Rivendells harken back to a time when bike makers had signature colors. Bianchi had celeste, Raleigh had forest green and root beer, Schwinn Paramount - white, Gitane - purple, Falcon - light blue, Masi - silver and red, Peugeot - white, and someone had pink, I forget who. When you went to a big ride these bikes stood out; everyone on their more plebian hacks knew where they stood next to these fine steeds.

If you're riding a Rivendell Atlantis in green or any other Rivendell color you will attract the attention of velo cognoscenti wherever you go and sometimes at great distances. Now why would you want to give that up? Unfortunately, I have yet to encounter beautiful young girls, or beautiful older women, who are huge fans of traditional high end bicycles. You're mostly going to attract men in their forties and fifties and hopefully they won't be a dreadful bore.

roadfix

Another option is to pick up a nice old lugged frame on Ebay and have that painted.

particleman42

So if my paint job isn't going to attract women, why does it matter? Besides, I'm not buying a color or a name or the admiration of strangers. My goal is to buy the most comfortable bike I can find.

barba

That is what I would do.

particleman42

I'd love to do that but have no idea what 'nice old lugged frame' to look for. If someone can tell me what to look for I'll start looking.

MKahrl

Get thee to the Classics & Vintage Forum and ask that question. The world is swimming with great road bikes from the 70's and 80's and it's just a question of finding out what to look for to avoid a crappy one. You'll get lots of great advice. If you find a bike in good shape (and there are bikes out there for sale in great shape) and you resist the temptation to "upgrade" and keep it's current component configuration and ride the bike around for a season, maybe do a century or two on it, you might find it doesn't need much in the way of changes. (Do get new cables and cable housings though).

The Rivendell Atlantis, on the other hand, is a step or three up from an ordinary high end bike from the classic era. It keeps all that was good from that era like tire and fender clearance, dropout eyelets, artful lugs, adjustable stems; it incorporates modern standards such as a wider triangle for modern wheels; and it adds elements of Grant Peterson's design philosophy such as a lower bottom bracket that gives any rider more confidence bombing down steep inclines.

The Atlantis is also specifically a bike meant for loaded touring, riding on bad roads when you feel like it, and as a good design for riders of some mass. It uses mtb size wheels to allow you to use some pretty fat tires on it. If any of these things fit your intentions it might be a good fit. And being able to buy it right now certainly has its merits. Who doesn't like instant gratification once in a while?

Dr.Deltron

+1! .

unless you live in in NYC!

R900

+1 Why try and save $50 and have a crappy paint job.

halfspeed

Be less concerned with brands than with the markers of a nice bike. Things like frame materials, forged vs. stamped dropouts, component quality and lug style can tell you a lot without having an encyclopedic knowledge of every model of every brand in every year.

halfspeed

And one more thought. If you know what you want as far as size/geometry goes, you might consider a Mercian or Bob Jackson. It'll cost you less than an Atlantis, you can specify exactly what geometry, materials, and braze-ons you want AND you get to pick your color scheme.

You'll have to wait a few months, but your bike will be uniquely yours.

The only things that you don't get are the fancy headbadge and s-bend chainstays that Riv uses.

particleman42

Thanks for the info and advice everyone. Here is my solution: https://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=270093441615