Rivendell Bikes - Your Guide To Enduring Rides

Their approach to putting bikes together is, you know, quite unique. They have their own ideas about how a bike should feel and what it should do for the person riding it. It's about a kind of riding that feels comfortable, that lets you go wherever you want, whether that's just around town or on a much longer trip. They even have charts to show you how their bikes are shaped, so you can see if it's the right fit for your body, too it's almost.

In this piece, we'll talk about what makes these bikes special, from the ideas behind them to the people who ride them. We'll look at the different types of bikes they offer, what you might pay for one, and where you can actually find them. This will give you, you know, a pretty good picture of what Rivendell is all about, and why so many folks really like these particular bikes.

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Table of Contents

• Grant Petersen - The Person Behind Rivendell Bikes
• Personal Details - Grant Petersen
• What Makes Rivendell Bikes Different?
• Rivendell Bikes' Unique Building Approach
• A Look at Rivendell Bikes' Core Philosophy
• The Rivendell Bikes Way - Sticking to What Works
• Are Rivendell Bikes Good for You?
• Considering Rivendell Bikes for Your Rides
• Rivendell Bikes - Models and Choices
• Getting to Know Rivendell Bikes' Offerings
• Finding Your Own Rivendell Bikes
• How Can You Try Rivendell Bikes?
• The Rivendell Bikes Experience
• What to Expect from Your Rivendell Bikes Ride
• Where Can You Find Rivendell Bikes?
• Exploring Options for Rivendell Bikes

Grant Petersen - The Person Behind Rivendell Bikes

Grant Petersen is the person who got Rivendell Bicycle Works going. He started the company back in 1994, and it's based in the United States. Before he began Rivendell, he spent a good ten years, from late 1984 to late 1994, working with the American part of Bridgestone Cycle, which is Japan's largest bike maker, you know. During that time, he was putting together ideas for bikes and helping to pick out the features for them. He also worked on the books that showed all the bikes and their parts, so he really has a deep background in how bikes are put together, in a way.

Personal Details - Grant Petersen

Here's a quick look at some details about Grant Petersen and his connection to Rivendell Bikes.

What Makes Rivendell Bikes Different?

When you think about bikes, there are so many kinds out there, right? But Rivendell, they really stand apart. They put together bikes that use what's called "lugged steel" for their frames. This is a bit of an older way to build bikes, but it's one they believe in very strongly. They also sell bike parts that are just practical, things that make sense for how people actually ride. And their bike clothes? They look, you know, just like regular clothes, not super flashy or overly sporty, which is kind of nice, anyway.

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Rivendell Bikes' Unique Building Approach

The company, Rivendell Bicycle Works, makes frames and whole bikes using this lugged steel. This method is a bit different from how many bikes are made these days. It's about joining tubes with special connectors, called lugs, which can make for a really strong and comfortable ride. They offer bikes that are already put together, or you can get just a frame and build it up yourself. They also have a collection of bike parts and clothing that fit their overall idea of what riding should be like. It's pretty much all about building things that last and feel good, you know, for a long time.

A Look at Rivendell Bikes' Core Philosophy

Rivendell has, you know, been doing its own thing since 1994. While the bike world often brings out new, amazing technological advances every single season, Rivendell has stuck to what they know works. They've been, in a way, waving the flags for bikes that are safe, that offer a lot of comfort, and that hold their value for more than two decades now. It's about making bikes that are built to be ridden and enjoyed, not just to look good in a shop window, or something like that.

The Rivendell Bikes Way - Sticking to What Works

Their motto, which comes from their workshop in the San Francisco area, is "Wear wool, sit on a leather saddle, and ride a lugged frame." This really sums up their thinking. They believe in making things that aren't affected by what's popular at the moment. It's about building bikes with a kind of lasting quality, something that feels good and works well no matter how much time goes by. They use wool for clothes, cotton for bike bags, and leather for saddles, all things that have been around for ages and, you know, just seem to do the job right.

Are Rivendell Bikes Good for You?

People often ask if Rivendell bikes are really good, or if they're just, you know, expensive bicycles without a clear reason for the cost. Well, they are known to be on the pricier side, and they can feel a bit heavy compared to some other bikes out there. However, they are also known for being incredibly tough and offering really solid performance, especially if you're using them for touring trips or just getting around town every day. They're built to last, which means they can handle a lot of miles and different kinds of conditions, too it's almost.

Considering Rivendell Bikes for Your Rides

These bikes are quite flexible in what they can do. You can use them for getting to work, for riding on trails, or for longer trips where you carry your gear on the bike. They are, in a way, made to be useful in many different situations. The Atlantis model, for example, is a touring bike made of lugged steel that they introduced back in 1999. It's been pretty much the same since then, and it came out at a time when bike touring wasn't very popular. It's a bike that's considered, you know, very good for long journeys, offering a lot of dependability.

Rivendell Bikes - Models and Choices

Rivendell offers a few different bike models, and they come in various setups. For example, their current frame and fork sets for models like the Longboard, Atlantis, Appaloosas, Hillbornes, and Platypi can be had for less than $1,500, depending on which one you pick. If you want a whole bike, put together and ready to ride, those usually fall somewhere in the $3,600 to $4,500 range, which is, you know, a pretty good investment. They also have the Clem Smith Jr. models, where the frame and fork sets are around $900, and a complete Clem bike is about $1,700 when they have them ready.

Getting to Know Rivendell Bikes' Offerings

The new classic lugged road bike is another option from Rivendell. When it comes to wheel sizes, for riders who are about 5’0 to 5’11”, the 45cm and 52cm frame sizes typically use 27.5-inch wheels. For taller riders, those who need the 59cm frame, it usually takes traditional 700c road wheels or 29-inch mountain bike wheels. Rivendell also points out that because the top tube is low, it makes it easier to stand over the bike without issues, which is, you know, a nice bit of design for many people.

Finding Your Own Rivendell Bikes

If you're thinking about getting one of these bikes, you might be wondering where to start. There are places that specialize in Rivendell bikes, like Cycle & Coffee. They're a dealer for Rivendell Bicycle Works, and they can offer you the chance to actually try out different Rivendell models. This is a really good way to get a feel for the bike before you commit. They also help with making the bike just right for you, offering customization services, so you can get it set up exactly how you like, you know, for your riding style.

How Can You Try Rivendell Bikes?

Trying a bike before you buy it is a pretty smart idea, especially for something you plan to keep for a long time. A dealer like Cycle & Coffee can let you take a few different Rivendell bikes for a spin. This means you can feel how the lugged steel frame rides, how the handlebars feel in your hands, and how the whole bike responds. It's about getting a sense of the comfort and the quality that Rivendell aims for. You can talk to them about what you need, and they can help you pick the right model and even adjust it to fit you better, which is, you know, very helpful.

The Rivendell Bikes Experience

When you ride a Rivendell, it's a bit different. The choice of handlebar, for instance, has a lot more to do with how you sit on the bike than almost any other part. For a very long time, decades even, Rivendell has only sold handlebars from Nitto, a company based in Tokyo. This shows their commitment to specific, trusted parts that they know work well and feel good for the rider. It's all part of creating a consistent riding feel, you know, that really supports the person on the bike.

What to Expect from Your Rivendell Bikes Ride

You can expect a bike that feels solid and dependable. For instance, both the front and back wheels on some Rivendell bikes are held on with nuts, not quick-release levers. They thought the front might be quick-release at first, but it turns out it's not, which is, you know, no big deal either way. In fact, having nutted wheels might even make the front wheel a little bit harder for someone to take off without permission, which is a small but nice benefit. This kind of detail shows their focus on practicality and security. The Roaduno model, for example, got its name to make it clear that it's made for riding on roads, which, you know, simplifies things.

Where Can You Find Rivendell Bikes?

Besides specialized dealers, you can also look for Rivendell bikes in other places. For example, you can often find good opportunities on big online marketplaces. If you shop online, you can browse a very large selection of Rivendell bikes and parts. Sometimes, you can even get free shipping on many items, and you can look through different brands. This can be a way to find bikes at prices that might be, you know, a bit more approachable, especially if you're looking for a good deal on a used model or a specific part.

Exploring Options for Rivendell Bikes

It's worth checking out various sources to find what you're looking for. Sometimes, certain items might be set up as a purchase that happens again, like a subscription, or a payment that's put off until later. If you continue with such a purchase, you're agreeing to the terms and allowing them to charge your payment method at the listed prices, how often, and on what dates, until your order is complete or you cancel, if that's allowed. This is, you know, pretty standard for online shopping. If you pick multiple variations of an item, they will send you a message if any of your chosen options become available, which is helpful for keeping track of things.

This article has covered Rivendell bikes, starting with the person who founded the company, Grant Petersen, and his background. We talked about what makes these bikes stand out, like their use of lugged steel frames and their practical design ideas. The piece also went into their core philosophy of focusing on lasting value, comfort, and safety over new technology. We looked at whether Rivendell bikes are a good choice for different kinds of riding, from commuting to bikepacking, acknowledging their durability and performance. The article also touched on the various models available, their typical price ranges, and where you might find them, including dealers and online marketplaces. Finally, we discussed what the riding experience is like, from handlebar choices to wheel security, providing a detailed review of what Rivendell bikes offer.