Rivendell's $4,300 "surpise" bike-Will you one of the lucky 9 owners?
06-29-11, 03:10 PM
#53
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But hey, why not pay $4300 for a bike with a frame-set that surely has very close/identical geometry to a bike that's been built before, and a collection of parts that I'm sure you could put together for under $700 with a custom paint-job? The extra work involved in that surely isn't worth the $3000+ you'd save for a bike that you might not even like.
Last edited by 3speed; 06-29-11 at 03:21 PM.
06-29-11, 03:36 PM
#54
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Little bit of column A, little bit of column B...
But hey, why not pay $4300 for a bike with a frame-set that surely has very close/identical geometry to a bike that's been built before, and a collection of parts that I'm sure you could put together for under $700 with a custom paint-job? The extra work involved in that surely isn't worth the $3000+ you'd save for a bike that you might not even like.
But hey, why not pay $4300 for a bike with a frame-set that surely has very close/identical geometry to a bike that's been built before, and a collection of parts that I'm sure you could put together for under $700 with a custom paint-job? The extra work involved in that surely isn't worth the $3000+ you'd save for a bike that you might not even like.
The frames are going to be custom fit, with whatever extras being determined to test. AFAIK, new custom lugged frames alone cost more than $700.
06-29-11, 04:25 PM
#55
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Since there's no front derailler, must be an internal geared hub and maybe a curved seat tube!
06-29-11, 04:35 PM
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As a side note, Mark Nobilette must be a darn busy guy, building the new Rene Herse's, his own and then these. No wonder his web site price list is from 2008.
From the appearance of his work it looks truly well crafted.
06-29-11, 04:45 PM
#58
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I would hope, but I wonder how many new Rene Herses are being ordered, and there's also the fact that Mark is a bit under the radar as a framebuilder, especially considering the quality of his work and his extensive experience (he was an Eisentraut guy). He's also very nice and not a pushy or flashy personality. I think his workmanship is exceptional, from what I could see up close with the paint on.
06-29-11, 04:50 PM
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Grant does have his own 'fit', which has a lot of touring bike influence, but it's still going to be using the buyer's measurements and a frame from scratch. He dropped a note on another message board that most of the buyers were very tall, so that's something that will definitely need to be worked around.
There's no such thing as a perfect fit anyway--just particular orientations that work towards the activity you're doing on the bike. Majority of riv's stuff is semi-upright, relaxed riding.
I have my Rivendell A.H.H., and the setup just feels like a more upright, comfy road bike. Nothing crazy or esoteric about it; feels like what I'd expect from a non-competitive road bike geometry, which funny enough, was hard to find when I was shopping. Still, I have extreme reservations about jumping into a new, expensive, unknown bike, so I just looked at the offer and something peculiar.
There's no such thing as a perfect fit anyway--just particular orientations that work towards the activity you're doing on the bike. Majority of riv's stuff is semi-upright, relaxed riding.
I have my Rivendell A.H.H., and the setup just feels like a more upright, comfy road bike. Nothing crazy or esoteric about it; feels like what I'd expect from a non-competitive road bike geometry, which funny enough, was hard to find when I was shopping. Still, I have extreme reservations about jumping into a new, expensive, unknown bike, so I just looked at the offer and something peculiar.
06-29-11, 04:58 PM
#60
)) <> ((
he does a few more than those even. i know he does velo cult's rando bike (when he's not doing other jobs lol). i'm sure he has a similar deal with other smaller outfits.
06-29-11, 05:17 PM
#61
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considering there are people who will pay $2500 just for wheels, i'm not surprised all of these were sold. even if you hate the bike you will likely be able to sell it for at least what you paid simply due to the rarity and this here promotion
06-29-11, 08:05 PM
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Bets on what the frame ends up being? I'm thinking, HAS to be a Rohloff bike of some sort. Single-track adventure-tourer?
06-29-11, 09:07 PM
#65
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Grant crazy?, Charles Manson is crazy, Grant is just different then the rest of the crowd.
06-29-11, 09:30 PM
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Not plastic, but Nobilette does do titanium. I like the oddball wheel size idea, the return of 28 x 1 3/4"... it was good for hundreds of millions of Chinese before they got money for cars. They roll over everything, curbs, small dogs...
06-29-11, 09:32 PM
#68
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I would like a set of Madfibers... my birthday is coming, if everyone just gave a dollar... I'd be all set.
06-29-11, 09:53 PM
#69
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Well, as much as I was entertained by the Riv offering (I ran across it before this thread), I don't want to be the pot calling the kettle black. Anyone who coughs up 4.3k for an unknown bike is clearly fetishizing Riv, GP, Nobilette, lugs or something. But heck, the monetary value of time I've spent wrenching, polishing, ferretting, etc, cheap old bikes would make 4.3k a drop in the bucket and I don't even have a unique Riv to show for it.
And I respect GP for following his muse. He's making a living, but he certainly isn't getting insanely rich doing it, though, like another poster, I also sorta miss the Riv of the level top tube and truly sensible cycling.
With those pious qualifiers out of the way, this Riv deal reminds me of the codicil to P.T. Barnum's law of a sucker born every minute - "It is morally wrong not to take full advantage of a sucker".
So GP continues to earn my respect
And I respect GP for following his muse. He's making a living, but he certainly isn't getting insanely rich doing it, though, like another poster, I also sorta miss the Riv of the level top tube and truly sensible cycling.
With those pious qualifiers out of the way, this Riv deal reminds me of the codicil to P.T. Barnum's law of a sucker born every minute - "It is morally wrong not to take full advantage of a sucker".
So GP continues to earn my respect
