Rivendell

warden · Aug 31, 2024

Not just one photographer but the nice folks at Rivendell Bicycle Works have been bitten hard by the analog photography bug. Fun people, worth a follow on Instagram and their site. Their business is bikes but they bring up analog photography with great frequency as they work on their technique.

We're off to Taiwan

mtnbkr · Aug 31, 2024

warden said:
Not just one photographer but the nice folks at Rivendell Bicycle Works have been bitten hard by the analog photography bug. Fun people, worth a follow on Instagram and their site. Their business is bikes but they bring up analog photography with great frequency as they work on their technique.

We're off to Taiwan

Not surprising, Grant Peterson has always been a bit of an anachronism in the bike world. He was still pushing friction thumbshifters when the rest of the mountain bike world had gone to indexing and then trigger shifters. Sometimes it feels like an affectation though.

Rivendell bikes are beautiful (have seen some in person), but a bit overpriced for a "factory" bike (ie not handmade to order).

Chris

snusmumriken · Aug 31, 2024

Not wishing to get into a separate debate, but there is an appealing simplicity to downtube friction shifters.

mtnbkr · Aug 31, 2024

snusmumriken said:
Not wishing to get into a separate debate, but there is an appealing simplicity to downtube friction shifters.

There certainly is and I've run them myself long after indexing was the standard, but that was because they were period-correct for the bike and I happened to like them in that application. Grants assertion that they were more reliable or easier to maintain doesn't really hold up. Some folks blame him for Bridgestone's exit from the bike market when he doubled down on his ideas rather than offering customers what they wanted.

Chris

warden · Aug 31, 2024

snusmumriken said:
Not wishing to get into a separate debate, but there is an appealing simplicity to downtube friction shifters.

Yeah I have bar end friction shifters and prefer it but I know I’m in the minority. Simple is good.

As for the photos, well they’re good too, and do a good job of showing off the lovely California countryside and the way of life they enjoy.

snusmumriken · Aug 31, 2024

mtnbkr said:
There certainly is and I've run them myself long after indexing was the standard, but that was because they were period-correct for the bike and I happened to like them in that application. Grants assertion that they were more reliable or easier to maintain doesn't really hold up. Some folks blame him for Bridgestone's exit from the bike market when he doubled down on his ideas rather than offering customers what they wanted.

Chris

Have to say, I've never done anything to maintain my friction shifters since purchase of the bike in 1985; but equally, the indexed down-tube shifters on my later second bike seem bomb-proof once setting-up adjustments were done.

I can see why the kind of folk who love steel bikes might also become fascinated by analogue photography.

bags27 · Aug 31, 2024

I had a Rivendell bike years ago, a beautiful orange Rambouillet. Very old school and I love it. Grant's a great guy.

MattKing · Aug 31, 2024

And here I thought this thread was going to be J.R. Tolkien related!

Chuck1 · Aug 31, 2024

I love 6 speed freewheels and indexed shifters

mrosenlof · Aug 31, 2024

ya, I'm a Rivendell Kool-aid drinker also. I have a SimpleOne and a Cheviot racks and baskets. Strong believer in non-racey bikes.

mtnbkr · Sep 1, 2024

I'm not against the aesthetic, I just think Grant turns it up to 11 and doesn't acknowledge it isn't the answer to everything.

One of my bikes from 13 years ago (sadly gone, try as I might, I found the TT on the LHT too long for my body). Apologies for the potato quality picture, it was taken on an old Windows Phone. This was taken from one of the scenic loop trails just outside of Gatlinburg, TN. Flat pedals for this trip so I didn't need to bring bike shoes and could do non-bike things while out riding. I did many centuries, gravel rides, and S240s on this bike. There's a Brooks saddle under that cover.

Chris

MTGseattle · Sep 1, 2024

I remember hearing the chorus of "I'd love to order a Rivendell." from co-workers and colleagues during my brief forray into the bike world in '96 and '97. They certainly have stayed the course in a lot of ways. A 1" threaded headset seems almost dainty these days.
I'm also a big fan of disc brakes.
I do like the photography aspect of their site.

Rivendell

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